Introductoy Mechanics
Welcome to Physics 1303, Introduction to Mechanics. Although Physics is exciting in itself, I view the main goal of this course as a guide to help you learn to think for yourself and develop the confidence to solve any problem you encounter during your career. Although the subject itself is just the medium I hope you will find that learning physics will enrich and expand your view of the universe and our role in it.
How this course works
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.
How to get your questions answered
Contact Information
Office: Room 102 FS Bldg
Office hours: Tuesdays 2:00-4:00 pm, or by appointment
Phone: (214) 768-2498
Fax: (214) 768-4095
E-mail: rvega@smu.edu
How to get help
To contact me please use the Canvas Class Webpage message facility. This is the preferred contact method.
If necessary you can also email me directly.
We have a teaching assitant, Yingnan, with whom you may also interact.
TA: Yingnan, Xu, yingnanx@mail.smu.edu
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will meet the expectations from the Quantitative Reasoning student learning outcomes:
Students will be able to develop quantitative models appropriate to problems in Physics.
Students will be able to assess the strengths and limitations of quantitative models and methods used in Physics.
Students will be able to apply symbolic systems of representation.
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.Students will be able to test hypotheses and make recommendations or predictions based on results.
Students will be able to communicate and represent quantitative information or results numerically, symbolically, aurally, visually, verbally, or in writing.
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 Policies
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.
Grading Policies
Grading is my least favorite part of teaching and probably your least favorite part of learning also.
I want you to think of me as your coach or team member to help you achieve your best performance in class
Although I cannot grade based on effort I do place a lot of weight of measurable improvement. If, for example, you achieve a higher percentage in the final exam than in the midterms, your midterm scores will be scaled up.
OVERALL COURSE GRADE
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
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.
University Policies on Dissabilities, Sexual Harassment, etc.
Please see this link: Dissabilities and Sexual Harrassment
Lecture Calendar
Please click on the "calendar" link above and to the right.