PH2100 University Physics I: Mechanics

Policy and Syllabus Spring 2001

Lecturers :

	Dr. Gary Agin
Dr. John Jaszczak
Office:	103 Fisher Hall	102 Fisher Hall
Phone:	487-2907	487-2255
Email:	gagin@mtu.edu	jaszczak@mtu.edu
Office Hours	By arrangement	By arrangement

Lectures:

1:05 - 1:55 P.M.	Monday & Wednesday	Fisher 135	(Dr. Gary Agin)
2:05 - 2:55 P.M.	Monday & Wednesday	Fisher 135	(Dr. John Jaszczak)

Attendance is expected at all lectures. You are responsible for all material covered in lectures as well as reading and problem assignments. It is highly recommended that you read the assigned sections before each lecture. Reading assignments are found on the assignment schedule. You will find animated/interactive versions of many of the examples and problems on the Student Tools CD-ROM. A small icon in the margin of the text will identify these. Lectures will cover ideas, concepts, sample problems and demonstrations.

Textbook:
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 5th edition, Serway & Beichner, with
Student Tools CD-ROM (Saunders College Publ).

Course Description:
PH2100 is the first course in the calculus-based physics sequence covering introductory classical mechanics. Topics include Newton's laws, work and energy, the universal law of gravitation, systems of particles, rotational motion, oscillations, and transverse waves.

Grading:
Your grade for the course will be based on your performance on the hour exams, recitation work and the final exam. The weight attributed to each segment of the course is as follows:

For each of the four segments of your grade, you will be given a numerical score from 0 to 100. For an indication of your standing relative to the class, you may use the following table:

Letter grades for the course will be based on the above scheme with the provision that the cutoffs are subject to change. All questions regarding the grading policy for the course should be addressed to the lecturer. Questions regarding the grading of specific exams and quizzes should be addressed to your recitation instructor.

Recitation Sections
You are expected to have worked on the assigned homework problems before attending recitation. Homework problem assignments are found on the assignment schedule. Answers to the odd-numbered problems are found in the book. Answers to all the problems are available on the web. [Ask your recitation instructor or lecturer for the username and password. The password should not be passed on to others.] Recitation is the place that questions can be posed to and by your instructor. It is vitally important that you attempt to understand and solve all the assignments.

Your recitation instructor will set the policy for the determination of the recitation part of your grade. This will consist of at least 6 short quizzes and and may include additional quizzes and collected homework. Quizzes will frequently consist of problems similar to those assigned as homework and will be graded by your recitation instructor. Variations in length, difficulty and frequency of quizzes will occur among the recitation instructors. An attempt is made to overcome these variations with the requirement that the scaled average recitation score for any one section be equal to the average of the adjusted hour exam scores for that section.

Hour Exams
The times set for the hour exams are as follows:

Since these times were published in the scheduling booklet when you enrolled in this course, it is your responsibility to appear at the scheduled times to take the exams. Any conflict should be cleared by changing the conflicting event. No late exams will be given. Unexcused absences will be graded as zero. Your recitation instructor will inform you of the location of the exam for your section.

The door will open at 5:55 p.m. and everyone should be seated in the assigned seat and ready to begin work by 6:00 p.m. Papers will be collected one hour later. An unexcused absence from an exam will be graded zero. Questions and problems on the exams will be similar to examples from the textbook, and the assigned questions and problems from the textbook. A photocopy of your exam answer sheet is made before it is returned to you. All regrades will be done from the photocopies.

During a recitation class following each hour exam, you will be given an opportunity to earn "redemption points" which will be added to the score you receive on that exam. A portion of the designated recitation class will be used for you to rework a limited number of problems which you missed on the exam. A special form will be provided for this and it must be attached to your original answer sheet. Be sure to bring your exam booklet to this class. While the actual recemption work you hand in must be your own, you may discuss the problems and rework the test before coming to class.

Final Exam
The final exam is scheduled during final exam week. The time and location will be published by the University. You may ask you recitation instructor about the location of the exam for your section. The exam will be a full two hours long. The structure and grading of the final will be similar to the hour exams. The essential difference is that more answers will be required. An unexcused absence from the final exam will be graded zero.

Equation Sheet
An equation sheet will be provided for you to use while working the assigned homework problems. The same equation sheet will be provided fo you to use on all examinations. No other equation sheets will be allowed. You should also bring your equation sheets to the scheduled recitation sessions where you will have the opportunity to earn "redemption points".

Extra Help
If you wish to have additional help, the Physics Learning Center is located in Fisher 019B. They offer individual weekly appointments, learning teams, and a "walk in" service. The appointment schedule fills early in the term. The "walk in" hours are posted on the door of Fisher 019B and you can get occasional help this way. Do not expect the coaches to do your homework for you. They know which problems are on the assignment and will not work those specific problems before recitation.

Notice MTU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with MDisabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at MTU, please call Dr. Gloria Melton, Associate Dean of Students, at 7-2212. For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department chair, or the Affirmative Action office.

Questions or comments? Email gagin@mtu.edu or jaszczak@mtu.edu