Physics 1433 - The Physics of Star Trek - Fall 1997 Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Doug R. Ingram
Lectures: M 2:00 - 4:30 pm in BAS 219
Text: "The Physics of Star Trek" by Lawrence M. Krauss
Readings: "Contact" by Carl Sagan + material from WWW
Office: SWR 320
Hours: MWF 9:30 - 10:30, WF 2:00-3:00
Phone: 921-7722 ext. 6379 (less reliable)
Email: d.ingram@tcu.edu (more reliable)
WWW: http://www.phys.tcu.edu/~dingram/phys1433

Overview: If there's anything more mind-boggling than the scientific advancements of this past century (nuclear physics, relativity, computer science), it may be what advancements the next century will hold for us. We'll talk about the current state of science and the principles of speculative fiction (and speculative fact). By surveying a variety of sources of fiction, including "Star Trek", we'll discuss what is plausible and what isn't.

Grading: Different components of the course are given weights as follows: 

	Homework - 40%		A:  90.0 - 100		D:  60.0 - 69.9
	Quizzes - 30%		B:  80.0 - 89.9		F:   0.0 - 59.9
	Participation - 30%	C:  70.0 - 79.9
While this seminar should not be considered an "easy A", I think it is fair to think of it as a "fun A". In other words, you'll have to do your fair share of work to earn a good grade in this course. It is, after all, three credit hours. But I think you'll find the assignments to be fun, interesting and unconventional. The homework assignments will be described in later handouts.

Quizzes will be given during most weeks just to check that you're doing the outside reading. If you do the reading, this should be an easy 30% of your grade.

Participation means that you must be both in class and you must be participating in the discussion. There are only 15 meetings of this class during the entire term. Each time you miss a class meeting, you will lose 10 points from your participation grade. Each time you are more than 10 minutes late for class, you will lose 5 points from your participation grade. I'll try to let everyone know periodically how I feel about their level of participation and given suggestions or alternatives to allow students to keep this portion of their grade at a high level.

Make-ups and Late Work

Because attendance is so critical for this seminar, I will want some documentation as to why you miss class if there is some medical, legal, or University-sponsored reason. Otherwise, I will not accept the excuse. Late homework assignments lose 50% per class period that they are late. Assignments turned in more than 10 minutes after the beginning of class on the due date are considered "late", so don't skip class to finish your assignments.