Text: University Physics - Revised Edition by Harris Benson; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A calculus-based introduction to classical Newtonian mechanics including: vectors, translational and rotational kinematics and dynamics, work, energy, impulse, and linear and angular momentum.
The course objectives are specific and indicate the ways you can demonstrate achieving these goals. These objectives map to the course content. Examples of objectives:
Define position, velocity, and acceleration
Understand Newton's Third Law
Create complete and clear force diagrams
The final grade will be calculated based on the following components:
Daily Quizzes 10%
Section Tests 60% (there will be four of these)
Final Exam 30%
Homework. Regular problem sets will be suggested. These will not be graded, but these are the best preparation for quizzes, tests, and exams. Do these habitually and honestly. These problem sets consist of questions, exercises, and problems from the text. For these, you may refer to the publisher's Solutions Guide, posted on reserve in the library. Group study is encouraged, but as in any team situation, you'll learn best by active and thoughtful participation.
Daily Quizzes. An important part
of nearly every class period is a short quiz. Material for these will be
drawn from each day's reading or homework. Attendance is obviously reflected
in these, and more crucially, performance on these quizzes will indicate
whether you are keeping up with the course progress. There will be roughly
twenty to thirty of these (call it N). I will average by dividing
by N-2 , so that if you miss a couple days you won't be
hit too hard.
Regular and prompt attendance and active class participation are so important to this course that if you miss more than three class periods, I reserve the right to withdraw you from the class roll.
Section Tests. These tests will be
given in class, covering material discussed since the last section test.
No notes, books, programmable calculators [changed 4/9/03: programmable/graphing calculators are
allowed], or interpersonal aid may be used. Essential equations will
be provided on the accompanying
equation sheet (don't forget it!), which may or may not be useful
for those particular problems. Questions may be in a variety of formats.
Typically the first page will be conceptual questions, followed by several
pages of two or three "worked-out" problems which require solutions of several
steps. These steps will be practiced in homework/study guide assignnments.
You will be allowed to use the equation sheet (clean, with no notes),
a calculator, and something to write with. No books, notes, friends,
or other assistance will be necessary or acceptable.
Final Exam. The final exam will be given at the determined final exam time, and will cover the salient material from the entire course. This is intended to be an opportunity for you to pause and synthesize ideas. The Final Exam is taken in common with other sections of Physics 114.
Extra Credit Near the end of the term, you will have the opportunity to improve your score in the section test area by completing a writing assignment. I call it a Depth Charge Report, because it is intended for you to study a very narrow aspect of the material with more depth. Details of the assignment will be provided on another page .
Evaluation. Grading will emphasize understanding. Therefore, the process of solution may often be awarded partial and sizeable credit, and minutiae such as arithmetic errors carry less weight in scoring. Again, practice on homework problems will help establish habits that will score higher: solutions must demonstrate clear thinking. An example might include a clearly labeled force diagram and fully symbolic algebra -- plug in numbers LAST. Appeals are welcome if you feel that a quiz, test, or exam has not been graded fairly. Extra credit may be awarded if you discover a significant error on a section test, midterm, or final exam. Prepare your argument in writing, either by prose explanation or clearly-worked solution, then visit me personally.
Motivated by the goals and objectives of the course, these policies and procedures are intended to foster a safe and constructive environment for learning physics. To maintain this kind of environment, the instructor reserves the right to take any reasonable action sanctioned by University policy, including but not limited to failure on an assignment or withdrawal of student from the course. Disruptive behavior (including excessive talking), ethnic or racial discrimination, or sexual harassment will not be tolerated. Please turn off cell phones and pagers.
Academic Integrity. I expect the highest level of academic integrity from students in Physics 114. The daily quizzes, section tests, and exams are designed to reflect individual performance, and are not collaborative efforts. None of the tests or exams will be open book; no texts, notes, or other references may be used, with the exception of a distributed list of equations. Plagiarism (the use of another's ideas as your own) is not acceptable. Evidence of cheating, or anything contradicting these policies, may result in a score of zero on the assignment or other action at my discretion. Please know and practice the Kettering University Code of Academic Integrity, found on page 40 of the student handbook.
Office Hours. I will be in my office
at the scheduled times, except under unusual circumstances. However, please
feel free to visit me in my office whenever my door is open. A third alternative
is a prearranged meeting set up in class, via email, or by calling my office.
Techniques. The physics in this class can often seem like a monumental challenge. The pattern for engaging the material could be:
read and wrestle with the sections in the text relevant for the next class meeting,
prepare questions for the discussion, try working example questions, etc.;
participate in the class - maintain complete notes, raise questions whenever you have them
-- and use the daily quizzes to check your understanding;
dig into the homework and study guide relevant to that day's content,
use the solutions only after your own efforts and group work;
bring up sticky points in class - if you had trouble, it's likely others did as well.
Fight the good fight.