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Syllabus
Homework assignment
Physics 311A, Fall
Special Relativity

Instructor: Boris Blinov
Email: blinov (at) u.washington.edu

Office: PAB B436
Office Hours: Tue. 9:30-11:30 am
Telephone: 221-3780

Course description


The course follows closely its textbook on Special Relativity (Taylor & Wheeler "Spacetime Physics", the required text) and less closely its companion on General Relativity (Taylor & Wheeler "Exploring Black Holes: Introduction to General Relativity"). The class will consist of two lectures (Mon. and Wed.) and one tutorial (Fri.) each week. Tutorial "pretests" will be given each Wednesday prior to the tutorial. 

Class policies


Grade calculation:

  • 40% - homeworks (27% regular + 13% tutorial)
  • 25% - midterm (best of two)
  • 35% - final

Homeworks:

  • Regular homework is assigned each Wednesday, due following Wednesday
  • Late homeworks accepted until the respective Friday for a 25% penalty
  • Tutorial homeworks assigned each Friday, due following Friday
  • Only one of the problems in the Tutorial homework is garded

Exams:

  • Two midterms; best score of the two is used in the grade caclulation
  • Closed book, may use one (two for the final exam) sheet of hand-written notes