Course Information SP2009
|
Instructor |
Dr. John Jaszczak |
|
Office |
102
Fisher |
|
Office Hours |
Tuesday
and Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. or by appointment |
|
Phone |
487-2255 |
|
E-mail |
|
|
|
|
|
GTA |
Wil Slough |
|
Office |
Hamar
House |
|
Office Hours |
Tuesday
and Thursday 1:00 pm. – 3:00 p.m. or by appointment |
|
E-mail |
|
Class E-mail List |
ph2100sp09-l@mtu.edu |
|
PH2100 Website |
|
|
Blackboard/WebCT |
|
|
MasteringPhysics |
|
|
Course Calendar |
|
|
Course Information |
A
printer-friendly version of this document is available on blackboard, and here. |
INTRODUCTION
The
Fundamental Questions
Questions
are crucial to learning. It’s
through the process of inquiry that we construct our knowledge of the natural
world. We will address the following
three fundamental questions in our study of classical mechanics:
1. How do we describe motion?
2. What are the causes of changes in motion?
3. What properties of a system of particles do not
change as the particles interact?
The Goals
The
goals of this course are for you to become familiar with kinematics, dynamics,
and conservation laws - the conceptual framework of classical mechanics - and
to develop the robust problem-solving skills required by professional engineers
and scientists. Our study of physics
will emphasis thinking and reasoning. We
will stress the use of qualitative reasoning, pictorial and graphical
reasoning, and reasoning by analogy; we will also make use of mathematics to
help us understand and describe patterns and relationships that exist in
nature.
The Methodology
The basic instructional methodology of Physics 2100 can be summarized
as follows:
1. Read about it (textbook)
2. Untangle it (interactive lectures)
3. Practice with it (end-of-chapter homework)
4. Challenge yourself (web-based graded exercises and problems)
The order of the
above items is very important. Your first
exposure to any material will be when you read about it in the textbook (1)
prior to lecture. The purpose of the textbook is to provide
background for lectures, to be a resource for detailed explanations, to be a
reference and a study guide, to offer practice problems, and to teach a robust
problem-solving strategy.
The interactive
lectures (2) will not simply regurgitate what you have read; rather, the
purpose of the lectures is to be inspiring and stimulating, to clarify the
textbook, to explain confusing issues, to urge you to think critically, to give
you lots to think about, and to spark further interest in the material. This is not a traditional approach. Your participation is needed both prior to
and during each lecture! It is
also very important to take notes during class.
Lots of practice is required
to become a proficient problem-solver.
Roughly one day each week will be set aside to allow us to practice
solving end-of-chapter concept questions, exercises and problems (3). It is vital
that you work the assigned end-of-chapter concept questions, exercises and
problems BEFORE coming to class where we will go over as many as possible. The
problem-solving strategy used in class will be the same as that used in every
example exercise in the textbook.
To cap things off, you will
demonstrate what you have learned by completing web-based graded exercises and
problems (4). These activities will
include skill builders, self tutoring problems, and end-of-chapter problems.
BACKGROUND
We expect students to have a
solid grasp of trigonometry and to be able to differentiate and integrate
simple functions such as polynomials, sines and cosines. This requires knowledge of calculus at the
level of MA1150, MA1151, MA1160, or MA1161.
The study of physics can help to solidify your understanding of
calculus.
No prior study of physics is
assumed, but students enter Physics 2100 with a broad array of backgrounds,
many having studied physics in high school.
The pace of our course will be sufficiently deliberate so as to allow
the novice to learn the material. If
this is your first course in physics, you may find that initially you need to
devote more time to your studies than your more experienced friends, but the
workload tends to become more uniform as the semester progresses.
COURSE SUPPLIES
- Textbook: Physics
for Scientists and Engineers: A
Strategic Approach, 2nd edition, Randall D. Knight (bundled with a
Student Workbook and a Student Access Kit to MasteringPhysics)*
- iclicker classroom
response transmitter (hanging on the wall near the entrance to the Course
Books section of the campus bookstore)
- scientific calculator
- straight edge
*Some
Textbook Options:
Option 1: Purchase
the textbook from the campus bookstore for $177.50. The textbook comes bundled with
a Student Workbook and a
Student Access Kit to MasteringPhysics.
Option 2: Purchase
the textbook online in electronic form (eBook) along with MasteringPhysics
access for
$79.50. This can be done at http://www.masteringphysics.com. Note that the Student Workbook,
which is recommended but not
required in PH2100/PH2200, is not included in the eBook.
As you weigh the various textbook options, be
aware that the bookstore will buy back used textbooks for up to
one-half the purchase price. Also, a MasteringPhysics account (with or
without the eBook option) lasts two years.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Your grade for Physics 2100 will be based on the total number of
points that you accumulate on the various graded activities. The total possible score is 1046 points,
broken down as follows:
|
Reading
Quizzes |
54 |
|
|
Participation |
60 |
|
|
Graded Homework
(MasteringPhysics) |
200 |
|
|
Exam I |
120 |
|
|
Exam II |
150 |
|
|
Exam III |
150 |
|
|
Final Exam |
300 |
|
|
MasteringPhysics Extra
Credit |
12 |
|
Letter
grades for the course will be determined by total points earned in the
following manner:
|
A |
900-1046 |
C |
700-749 |
|
|
AB |
850-899 |
CD |
650-699 |
|
|
B |
800-849 |
D |
600-649 |
|
|
BC |
750-799 |
F |
0-599 |
|
Reading
Quizzes
Beginning on Wednesday,
January 21st, each interactive lecture session will begin with a
single-question multiple-choice reading quiz.
The classroom response system described below will be used to record
your answer to the quiz question. The
quiz is intended to encourage you to read the relevant assignment prior to
attending lecture. The reading
assignments are located on the Assignment
Schedule. Twenty 3-point reading
quizzes will be given for a total of 60 points; however, you can earn a maximum
of 54 points. Thus, you can miss two
quizzes (including any absences) and still earn the maximum number of reading
quiz points.
Reading technical material is
a skill that can be developed with practice. Read actively with questions in
mind.
A passive approach to reading
physics wastes your time. Read with a
pencil and paper beside your book and jot down questions and notes. Read to
learn, not merely to cover material. Be
sure to answer the Stop to Think questions that are sprinkled throughout
each chapter - the answers with full explanations are located at the very end
of each chapter. Test your comprehension
of a reading assignment by completing the related exercises in the Student
Workbook. After completing the workbook
exercises, you can approach the end-of-chapter exercises and problems with
confidence.
Participation
During each interactive lecture
and each problem-solving session, you will respond to several questions using
the classroom response system. Questions
will be cast in a multiple-choice format, and you will answer by pressing a
letter on your pocket-size wireless transmitter. Your response will be collected by a receiver
mounted on the front podium and routed to the presentation computer. You will receive 2 points for responding to a
majority of the questions asked, independent of whether your answer is right or
wrong.
Two points are available for
each of 34 class sessions for a total of 68 points; however, you can earn a
maximum of 60 points. This allows you to
miss up to four classes (including excused absences) without participation-point
penalty.
Here are some details about the
classroom response system: The portable
radio frequency transmitter operates with three AAA batteries. The transmitter shuts off automatically when
not in use; the lifetime of the batteries is about 200 hours. In addition to the On/Off button, the transmitter
has 5 buttons for choices. When a
question is asked, check the Power LED to ascertain that the transmitter is on,
then press your choice of letter A through E.
If the Vote Status LED flashes green, your answer has been registered by
the receiver; if the Vote Status LED flashes red, resubmit your answer. You may change your answer as often as you
like; the system records only your latest response.
ICLICKER REGISTRATION
INSTRUCTIONS: In order to receive credit
for both the reading quizzes and participation exercises, please provide me
with the eight digit identification number located on the back of your
transmitter. To do so, take the iclicker
registration quiz in Blackboard in which you’re asked to enter your eight
digit transmitter number. Complete the
quiz by
If the iclicker registration
quiz does not appear, turn off the popup blocker in your browser and try again.
If you're unable to complete the
iclicker registration quiz on time or if during the course of the semester you
find it necessary to change your transmitter number, please send me an email
with your new transmitter number.
I will show your registered
clicker ID in Blackboard so that you can be certain that you have entered, and
the system has recorded, the correct clicker ID.
Graded
Homework (MasteringPhysics)
MasteringPhysics is a
state-of-the-art online tutorial and homework system. We will use two types of exercises within
MasteringPhysics: tutorial problems and end-of-chapter problems. The tutorial problems have extensive hints
and subparts that you may request if you get stuck. The end-of-chapter problems are derived from
problems in the textbook and typically have no hints. Your individual
end-of-chapter problems will be unique due to the use of random numbers for
some of the numerical parameters. For
all types of problems, once you submit your answers, your work will be graded
instantly. You will be permitted an
unlimited number of submissions for each problem part, but there will be a
deduction of 3% for each incorrect answer.
You will receive a 2% bonus for each unopened hint. Multiple-choice questions are graded
specially: in order to discourage guessing on multiple-choice questions, if a
question has n choices, each
incorrect answer results in a percent loss of 100/(n-1) for that question. This
information is summarized in MasteringPhysics by clicking on View Grading Details at the head of each
assignment.
A total of 12 homework
assignments from MasteringPhysics will be assigned for grading. Four of the assignments are worth 16 points,
and eight assignments are worth 17 points.
The point total for all assignments is 200. Each assignment must be completed by Thursday
at
The first (ungraded!)
assignment is entitled Introduction to
MasteringPhysics. This initial
assignment takes about 40 minutes to complete and consists of simple exercises
to help you become familiar with the use of MasteringPhysics. This first assignment should be completed prior
to attempting the graded assignments. The first graded homework is due on
Thursday, January 22nd, at
MASTERINGPHYSICS REGISTRATION
INSTRUCTIONS: To use MasteringPhysics, please register at the MasteringPhysics
website located at http://www.masteringphysics.com.
First time users: Click on Register: New Students. In Step 1 of the registration process, select
"Yes" if you purchased a textbook bundled with an access code, or select
"No" if you intend to purchase access online along with the eBook
option. If you select No, on the
following page select for your textbook Knight: Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2e. Complete the remainder of the registration
process using the following information:
Course
ID: MTUPH2100SP09 (where digits that look like zeros
are zeros)
Email
Address: please use your MTU email address
Student ID: your M-number
Prior users: Log in as an established user as you did
previously. Sign up for PH2100 by
entering as the
Course ID: MTUPH2100SP09
Occasional problems arise
with MasteringPhysics that are browser-related.
If the graphics or the hints to a problem are missing, turnoff the popup
blocker in your browser. If you continue
to have problems, try a different browser – MasteringPhysics recommends
the use of Firefox. Also, be sure that
you have the latest version of the Flash player installed on your
computer. If the problem persists,
contact me or the technical support staff at MasteringPhysics. It's been my experience that MasteringPhysics
responds very quickly to requests for help.
Exams
and Final Exam
The three exams and final
exam are scheduled as follows:
Exam
I
Exam
II Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Exam
III Tuesday,
April 7, 2009
Final
Exam determined after the third
week of the semester
The three exams will be 90
minutes long, beginning at
All exams will be closed book
and closed notes. You may use the PH2100
formula sheet that will be included with the exam booklet. You will need a scientific calculator for the
exams; however, equations may not be stored in calculators, nor may calculators
be exchanged.
The doors to the exam rooms
will open at
Exam I will consist of 30
conceptual questions and traditional problems with each question worth four
points. Exams II and III will consist of
30 conceptual questions and traditional problems with each question worth five
points. The Final Exam will consist of a
total of 50 conceptual questions and problems with each question worth six
points. Both the questions and problems
will be multiple-choice. The questions
and problems will be similar to the Stop to Think questions and worked
examples found in the textbook, the assigned end-of-chapter conceptual
questions, the assigned end-of-chapter exercises and problems, the graded
homework problems (MasteringPhysics), and questions and problems posed and
answered during lecture.
There will be no curving,
scaling, redemption, or any other adjustment of exam scores.
It is your responsibility to
appear at the scheduled times to take the exams. Conflicts should be avoided by changing the
conflicting event. No late exams will be
given, and an unexcused absence from any exam will result in a grade of zero.
MasteringPhysics
Extra Credit
You may earn up to 12
additional course points of extra credit by completing all of the assignments
identified as Extra Credit in MasteringPhysics.
There are twelve Extra Credit collections of problems, one for each
chapter. Each of the twelve Extra Credit
collections of problems is worth five "MasteringPhysics points" for a
total of sixty MasteringPhysics points. NOTE: Your extra credit score that contributes
to your course grade will be computed by dividing your total
"MasteringPhysics extra credit points" by five. For example, if you earn 40 MasteringPhysics
points of extra credit, 8 points will be added to your course total.
Grade
Tracking
The results of your reading
quizzes, participation, and MasteringPhysics homework will be updated at the
end of each week and will be available to you in the grade book maintained in
Blackboard. This is where your exam
scores and ultimately your course grade may be found as well. In addition to grades, I will use Blackboard
to list your iclicker transmitter number so that you can verify that I have
your correct number. It’s your
responsibility to examine the grade book periodically for accuracy and to report
any discrepancies to me.
ACCESSING Blackboard:
Blackboard is located at https://courses.mtu.edu
. Your User ID is your campus email
address without the @mtu.edu, and, by default, your Password is the same as your
user ID. If you previously used
Blackboard and changed your password, your updated password is needed. If you have forgotten your password, take
your ID to Customer Service in room B24 of the EERC and request a new
password.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Formula
Sheet
The formula sheet appended to
this document will be provided during all exams - no other formula sheet or
table is allowed. Keep the formula sheet
by your side as you solve problems. You may download a fresh copy of the
equation sheet at: http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~jaszczak/Ph2100/sp09/formulasheet.pdf
Excused
Absences
Events beyond your control
may cause you to miss a homework deadline or an exam. Whenever possible, contact me prior to your absence to arrange to
make-up missed work. If you are unable
to notify me concerning an absence or if you need to notify several instructors
on short notice, contact the Office of Student Affairs for assistance. The Dean of Students will then inform all
your instructors that you face a situation that requires that you miss class,
and you are granted an excused absence.
It's then your responsibility to contact each of your instructors after
you recover from your illness or return to campus.
An absence is excused under
the following conditions:
- If you participate in off-campus
University-sponsored activities such as field trips, fine arts performances,
intercollegiate athletics, job fairs, etc., you are granted an excused absence
if your activity conflicts with an exam.
Furthermore, I consider plant trips, job interviews requiring travel,
and professional society meetings as excusable.
It is imperative that for an absence of this type, for which a conflict
with an exam is known well ahead of time, that you arrange with me to take the
exam earlier than its normally scheduled time.
- If you encounter circumstances beyond your control
such as illness, the funeral of any relative or close friend, or other personal
emergency, you are granted an excused absence.
You must provide verification of the special circumstances that led to
your absence. In the event of a missed
exam due to an excused absence, it is not possible to make-up the exam. Instead, an excused absence from an exam will
receive the score EX. At the end of the semester, exam EX scores will be
replaced by a weighted average of all of your non-EX scores on exams (exams and
final exam). If the final exam is missed
as a result of an excused absence, you will be awarded the letter grade of I
(incomplete) and must take the PH2100 final exam at the end of any one of the
next three semesters that you're in residence.
Two or more exams missed as a result of excused absences will be handled
on an individual basis.
If a homework due date is
missed as a result of an excused absence, the due date will be extended after
you notify us.
Getting
Help
Office
Hours
In order to encourage you to
ask questions, We've set aside the following times for office hours: Tuesday
and Thursday
Exam Review
Sessions
We will
conduct a review session during the evening prior to each exam according to the
following schedule:
Monday February 9 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in Fisher 135
Monday March
2 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in
Fisher 135
Monday April
6 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in
Fisher 135
The
If approaching me for help
seems intimidating, you may wish to visit the
Sunday 7:00
- 9:00 p.m.
Monday through Thursday 3:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The coaches may provide help
with the graded homework assignments, but don't expect them to work the
problems for you. The coaches will
provide hints in the form of questions, which should enable you to work the
problems yourself.
MasteringPhysics
Additional practice is
available using MasteringPhysics. The
additional practice is labeled as Extra Credit and is located in the assignment
list below the 12 graded assignments.
The Extra Credit assignments consist of tutorial problems with their
built-in hints.
Drop
Dates
Drop
date with no grade: January 30,
2009 (no refund)
Drop
date with W grade:
Late drop: If after the drop date circumstances beyond
your control prevent you from completing the course, you may be a candidate for
a late drop. The process does not begin with
a course instructor but rather with the Dean of Students, to whom you confide
the details of your situation.
MTU
MTU complies with all federal
and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (
Academic
Dishonesty
New technologies engender new
forms of cheating. Some known types of
cheating and the action that will result when cheating is identified are
described below.
-Giving someone else your iclicker transmitter is just
like letting someone else take a quiz or exam for you. In the past, one of the things students liked
most about the classroom response system was the immediate feedback it provided
about their conceptual understanding of important topics. You lose this learning opportunity if you
give your transmitter to someone else.
-Copying someone else’s answers in
MasteringPhysics is cheating.
MasteringPhysics includes tools to help instructors identify
cheating. In addition, the support staff
at MasteringPhysics, if requested, will assist instructors to identify
cheating. MasteringPhysics will prohibit
students identified as cheaters from using their website.
If cheating is suspected, the
matter will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs. The penalty for cheating is not less than an
academic integrity warning and not more than expulsion.
Summary of Week One Activities
Participation in Physics 2100
requires that you perform the following activities, preferably as early in the
semester as possible:
ACCESS Blackboard: Blackboard
is located at https://courses.mtu.edu
. Your User ID is your campus email
address without the @mtu.edu and, by default, your Password is the same as your
user ID. If you previously used
Blackboard and changed your password, your updated password is needed. If you have forgotten your password, take
your ID to Customer Service in room B24 of the EERC and request a new
password. In addition to grades, I will
use Blackboard to list your iclicker transmitter number so that you can verify
that I have your correct number.
ICLICKER REGISTRATION
INSTRUCTIONS: In order to receive credit
for both the reading quizzes and participation exercises, please provide me
with the eight digit identification number located on the back of your
transmitter. To do so, please take the
iclicker registration quiz in Blackboard in which you’re asked to enter
your eight digit transmitter number.
Complete the quiz by
If the iclicker registration
quiz does not appear, turn off the popup blocker in your browser and try again.
MASTERINGPHYSICS REGISTRATION
INSTRUCTIONS: To use MasteringPhysics, please register at the MasteringPhysics
website located at http://www.masteringphysics.com.
First time users: Click on Register: New Students. In Step 1 of the registration process, select
"Yes" if you purchased a textbook bundled with an access code, or select
"No" if you intend to purchase access online along with the eBook
option. If you select No, on the
following page select for your textbook Knight: Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2e. Complete the remainder of the registration
process using the following information:
Course
ID: MTUPH2100SP09
Email
Address: please use your MTU email address
Student ID: your M-number
Prior users: Log in as an established user as you did
previously. Sign up for PH2100 by
entering as the Course ID: MTUPH2100SP09