THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

PHYSICS 455

Lecture # 1 :

Mon. 6 Jan. 1997

Getting Acquainted

I. Physics 455 on the World Wide Web:

The Web Course Tools (WebCT) site provided by Murray Goldberg & Co. of the UBC Dept. of Computer Science will be used to post supplementary information, notices etc. for the course and to facilitate convenient communication among students and instructor. The first assignment (handed out in class) explains how to access the P455 WebCT site and you must have read and understood it or you wouldn't be here reading this!

The course description, including logistical details such as marking scheme etc., is on the Web site under Course Notes, as are a tentative syllabus and some initial ``Hypertext Handouts.'' Birger Bergersen has kindly offered his complete course notes from Physics 303 last term (the equivalent Honours Physics course) and these are included in my Course Notes as well. They are not required reading for this course but you may find them a useful supplement.

In any case, do have a look at all the parts of the P455 Web pages from time to time; they are the official forum for announcements and news about the course.

II. Office Hours:

A ``conflict sheet'' was passed around to see when would be the least bad time for me to hold office hours. It looks like Thursday 08:30-10:30 AM produces the smallest number of conflicts. I will either be in my office (Henn 320A) or in Hennings 222 at those times unless called away on urgent business. See the Web pages for updates.

III. Reading and Textbook:

For the next week or so you should read Chs. 1 and 2 in Kittel & Kroemer. We will start on Ch. 3 next week, so don't drift too far behind.

IV. Midterm(s):

Do you prefer 1 or 2 Midterms? If you would like to do a Term Project instead, let me know well in advance. (See the Course Notes in WebCT.)