PHYS 436 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Course Description

Lectures

Lectures take place from 9-9:50 am on MWF in 144 Loomis.

Homework

One homework set will be assigned each week. It will be posted on Friday on the course syllabus and will be due at 5pm on the subsequent Friday. Homework will be handed in, graded, and returned using Gradescope. Please create a Gradescope account, if you do not have one already, and use code 6XKV45 to add Phys 436.

Late homework: A 30% penalty will be charged for late homework handed in by 5pm on the Friday a week following the deadline. After that time, no credit will be given.

Discussions

Discussion sections take place on Tuesday evenings in the Campus Instructional Facility. The purpose of the discussion is not just to make you work another problem, but to get you in the habit of discussing physics with other people, which in practice is an important part of how science gets done. The expectation is that you will work the problem during your discussion section, and not before or afterward. Grading is pass-fail and based on both how well you did on the problem and whether you participated. The first discussion meets the second week of class, Tuesday, January 27th.

Exams

There will be two in-class hour exams as indicated on the course syllabus. You may bring a 2-sided letter-sized pre-prepared equation sheet of your own making. Electronic devices of any sort are not permitted. Calculators will be neither allowed nor needed.

Presentation

There will be one 10-minute presentation on a subject relating to or about a technology using a concept covered in class. Topics for the final presentation and desired presentation date (may be in-class or during your assigned discussion) must be chosen in this link by April 17th, 2026 at 5pm. Prof. Kou will notify you if an alternative topic needs to be chosen. The rubric for grading this presentation is provided in the schedule page.

Excused Absences

There may be instances where you are not able to attend discussion or an exam. Absences consistent with the UIUC Student Code may be requested via the excused absences link on my.physics and must be approved by the Physics Undergraduate Office.