Mailing List

This class is set up with its own mailman-based mailing list at the address

        phy41@phy.duke.edu.

I would like this list to be used FIRST with questions on homework problems, exam problems, or things you didn't understand from lecture or recitation or lab. This is because you all will learn the most from teaching each other, and the list enables discussions to occur that are very instructive to all that participate. List membership is required, not optional, and the instructors including myself will use it exclusively for communications "to the entire class", some of which may not otherwise make it into lecture announcements.

Your mail to the list will go to the entire class, including me, Dr. Mary Creason (your lab professor) and your TAs. Ideally, one of your classmates will answer your questions, but if not the instructors are there as backup and your questions should get answered. The list archives all traffic so you can go back and look at answers later to study.

Use ``latex''-style encoding of greek letters and equations to discuss mathematical relations on list. Some examples:

\vec{F} = m\vec{a}
\x(t) = \frac{1|{2} a_0 t^2 + v_0 t + x_0
v_f = \sqrt{2 g H}

are expressions we'll encounter in the first week or so. They render in latex as:

$$\vec{F} = m\vec{a}$$

$$x(t) = \frac{1}{2} a_0 t^2 + v_0 t + x_0$$

$$v_f = \sqrt{2 g H}$$

With a bit of practice (especially practice involving the actual use of latex to write up algebraic text) you'll be able to read algebra in this sort of ascii encoding as easily as you read the real thing.