Introductoy Mechanics

The essentials

• Lectures T-Th 8:00-9:20 am, in Room 123 FS Bldg

• Textbook: Halliday, Resnick and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics 12e

• Class administration and assignments will be handled through Canvas. Please check the class homepage regularly.

How to be successful in the course

• It is essential that you study the topics in your textbook before coming to class. I will also provide links to sites that may enhance your understanding.

• Please take advantage of all the study aids on the Wileyplus site.

• Please review the material as soon as possible after leaving the class and save any questions you might come up with for the next class. This step will really help you excel in the class.

• Please make use of the questions and answers section on the Canvas class webpage. You learn the most when answering questions that other students may have.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will meet the expectations from the Quantitative Reasoning student learning outcomes:

• 1. Students will be able to develop quantitative models appropriate to problems in Physics.

  2. Students will be able to assess the strengths and limitations of quantitative models and methods used in Physics.

  3. Students will be able to apply symbolic systems of representation.

  4. Students will be able to collect, organize and analyze data from a variety of sources.
     Students will be able to formulate structured and logical arguments.

  5. Students will be able to test hypotheses and make recommendations or predictions based on results.

  6. Students will be able to communicate and represent quantitative information or results numerically, symbolically, aurally, visually, verbally, or in writing.

  7. Students will have a basic understanding of the laws of mechanics and Newton’s law of gravitation.

Students will also meet these expectations from Pure and Applied Sciences student learning outcomes:

Students will be able to demonstrate basic facility with the methods and approaches of scientific inquiry and problem solving.

Students will be able to explain how the concepts and findings of science or technology in general, or of particular sciences or technologies shape our world.

How this course achieves these Student Learning Outcomes:

The above objectives will be achieved through: participation in in-class discussion of lecture and reading materials; discussion with the lead instructor(s) of reading and lecture during regular office hours; successful completion of routine homework assignments; successful completion of in-class quizzes and several in-class examinations. In addition, students are expected to show proficiency in the application of these ideas through a parallel laboratory course.

• Homework assignments will be posted on the Canvas Website, and linked to the Wileyplus homework system.

• Depending on your prior experience this course can take up to 9 hours per week or more.

• To encourage you to complete the assignments late submissions may be allowed, but you will be deducted 10 percent of your final score per day.

• You are encouraged to collaborate on the homework, but please do not just copy someone else's work or answers. That practice will definitely not help in the exams.

• You can access additional practice problems on the Wileyplus site and I strongly encourage you to do so.

Canvas Assignments

Homework is designed as practice and a key may be provided for you to check your own work. Practice writing the homework out with the notation shown in class. It is much better for your understanding of the concepts to stay on top of the homework; budget time each day to study and/or review. There will be frequent assignments on Canvas, including discussion boards and short quizzes.

Exams

Three Mid-term Exams and one Final Exam will be given. To prepare, students should review the assigned reading, homework questions, and lecture notes.

The Final Exam will be comprehensive and the date and time indicated by the registrar's office.

• Better on Final: Students who score higher on a final exam than on the next to lowest mid-term score will have their original score replaced by the average! Example: Student scores 60% on the mid-term exam originally. Then, on the final exam scores an 80%. Because of the improvement shown, I will change the original exam score to 70%.

• Worse on Final: Scoring lower on a final exam section will not lower your initial grade.

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Please click on the "calendar" link above and to the right.