In-Class Quizzes

There will be 3 in-class quizzes, held at normal class time.  They will cover the material in the lectures and readings since the previous quiz.  All quizzes are closed-book, closed-notes multiple-choice tests. They will account for 30% of your final grade.

The in-class quizzes are scheduled for the following Fridays at normal class time:

Quiz #1: Friday, September 26:

The average was 73%. The median was 77%. There were a total of 39 questions.
The question that was dropped was the one about what would happen to Earth's orbit if the orbital speed suddenly increased by a factor of 10. The correct answer was that the Earth would go onto a hyperbolic orbit because the orbital speed would be much larger than the escape speed. However, another answer said that the Earth would move onto a more highly elliptical orbit with larger semi-major axis. Although this is not strictly true, I felt that those who put down this answer grasped the basic point about speeds and orbits that I was trying to make in class. For this reason, I decided to drop the question, effectively increasing everyone's score.

The grade breakdown with the curve is as follows: A: 39-34 (34=90%); B: 34-29 (29=80%); C: 29-24 (24=70%); D: 24-19 (19=60%); E: 19-0.

You can use the following equation to figure out your curved score:

[curved score] = 0.02 x [raw score] + 0.22

In this equation your raw score is a number out of 39 and the returned curve score is a percentage.

Example: raw score = 20. Curved score = 0.62 = 62% = D-.

Example: raw score = 24. Curved score = 0.70 = 70% = C-.

Example: raw score = 33. Curved score = 0.88 = 88% = B+.

Quiz #2: Friday, October 31:

The average was 77%. The median was 77%. There were a total of 40 questions.

The grade breakdown with the curve is as follows: A: 40-35 (35=90%); B: 35-30 (30=80%); C: 30-25 (25=70%); D: 25-20 (20=60%); E: 19-0.

You can use the following equation to figure out your curved score:

[curved score] = 0.02 x [raw score] + 0.2

In this equation your raw score is a number out of 40 and the returned curve score is a percentage.

Example: raw score = 20. Curved score = 0.60 = 60% = D-.

Example: raw score = 24. Curved score = 0.68 = 68% = D+.

Example: raw score = 29. Curved score = 0.78 = 78% = C+.

Example: raw score = 36. Curved score = 0.92 = 92% = A-.

Quiz #3: Friday, December 5:

The average was 76.5%. The median was 80%. There were a total of 40 questions.

The grade breakdown with the curve is as follows: A: 40-35.5 (35.5=90%); B: 35.5-31 (31=80%); C: 31-26.5 (26.5=70%); D: 26.5-22 (22=60%); E: 21-0.

You can use the following equation to figure out your curved score:

[curved score] = 0.0222 x [raw score] + 0.111

In this equation your raw score is a number out of 40 and the returned curve score is a percentage.

Example: raw score = 20. Curved score = 0.55 = 55% = E.

Example: raw score = 24. Curved score = 0.64 = 64% = D.

Example: raw score = 29. Curved score = 0.75 = 75% = C.

Example: raw score = 33. Curved score = 0.84 = 84% = B.

Example: raw score = 36. Curved score = 0.91 = 91% = A-.

Makeup quizzes are only offered by advance arrangement with the professor. Exceptions are for legitimate, documentable emergencies.  If you will be away on an official University-sponsored activity (e.g., ROTC, sports teams, band, etc.), please bring me a letter from your coach, director, etc. in advance of the quiz.  Quizzes must be made up by the Wednesday after the quiz you missed, otherwise that quiz becomes the one that I will drop in computing your final grade.

The lowest score of the 3 in-class quizzes will be dropped in computing your final quiz grade.  Together, the 2 remaining in-class quizzes will account for 30% of your final grade.

Further information on the in-class quizzes will be posted here as it becomes available.

Please see the syllabus for further details on grading policies.