Syllabus

Fundamental Physics I [Physics 131] Fall Semester, 2004

Professor: Dr. John K. Elwood

Physics 131 Lab Manual, Robert A. Cohen [required]

Lecture Times: Tu, Th, and F from 9:00 - 9:50 AM in Gessner 118

Course Web Page: Access the course page from my home page at:

http://www.esu.edu/~jelwood/

    To Chat with John:      email: John.Elwood@po-box.esu.edu
                Office: Gessner 201
                Office Phone: 422-3408
                Office Hours:     Tu    5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
                         Th    10 AM - 12 PM
                         F    10 AM - 12 PM

              * and by appointment. I am usually here! *

Course Description: This course represents the first half of a two semester introduction to the principles and methods of classical physics. Topics include kinematics, Newtonian mechanics, gravitation, waves, and heat. Mathematical methods beyond high school level that are useful in basic physics are incorporated with this course.

Course Prerequisites: MATH 135.

Special Needs: Students who are eligible for accommodations are invited to make an appointment to deliver their letter from the Office of Disability Services and to discuss their accommodation requests.

Grading: The points that you earn on Homework, Quizzes, Laboratories, and the Final Exam will determine your grade for the course. They are worth, respectively:

Homework 20%

Quizzes [4] 35%

            Laboratories            25%
            Final Exam            20%
                            100%


   Your grade will be determined according to the prescription:

        90%-100%        A
        80%-89.9%        B
        70%-79.9%        C
        60%-69.9%        D
        Below 60%        E

Homework: One of the more unique features of this course is the way that the homework is handled. Homework assignments will be distributed roughly once per week, and will consist of two different types of problems: Type A and Type B. Each homework assignment will contain approximately 5 Type A problems, and a prerequisite for taking any of the Quizzes is that you have been "checked-off" on every Type A homework problem assigned up to that point. To get checked-off, you simply need to turn in a correct solution to the problem. If a solution that you turn in is incorrect, I will indicate what is wrong with it and return it to you. You may submit solutions to any of the Type A problems as many times as you wish, but remember, if you don't get every problem right by the cutoff date, you won't be allowed to take the Quiz. This will pretty much cause you to fail the class, since 35% of your points come from Quizzes. As an added incentive, doing all of the Type A problems correctly will get you the full 20% of the homework points described above.

Okay. Now what about those Type B problems? I expect you to do those as well, but I won't look at your solutions to them. Instead, I will keep solutions outside my office for all of the Type B problems. You are heartily encouraged to work them out in complete detail, and then check your answers against the solutions. It is not uncommon for me to take as much as 50% of the Quiz material from Type B problems, either directly or in slightly modified form.

If you forget to pick up homework in class, extras will be kept in a folder outside of my office (Gessner 201), and will also be posted to the course website. I will place graded Homework in the tray outside my office if I can't return it directly to you, and will keep a running checklist on my door that shows who has been checked-off on which Type A problems.

Quizzes: Four quizzes will be given throughout the course of the semester, with each one covering approximately three weeks worth of material. As far as the quizzes are concerned, you will be responsible for all of the material that we cover in class, homework, handouts, and in the assigned readings up to and including the lecture prior to the quiz date. Missed quizzes may be made up only in extreme circumstances, and, as a rule, only if you perform an incredibly intricate and painful ritual of atonement to my satisfaction. If you know in advance that you must miss a Quiz, you can greatly enhance the possibility that I might let you make it up by telling me in advance of the Quiz date. The quizzes will be given in class on Tuesdays. The Quiz dates are: September 21, October 19, November 9, and December 7.

Laboratories: The laboratories for the class are held in a PSI format in which each student works at his or her own chosen pace. For further details, see the PSI Laboratory Description and Course Policy that I have handed out. Collectively, the laboratories [including the Lab Final] are worth 25% of your grade.

Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive. Any material covered in lecture, homework, handouts and the assigned readings is fair game for the final, although it will likely concentrate most heavily on the latter material in the course. As mentioned above, it is worth 20% of your grade.

Retention of Student Material/Garbage Reduction Act: Student exams, homework, and other contributions that are not picked up will be kept for one year after the close of the current term. That is, all contributed student material may be destroyed at any time following the first week of the Spring 2006 semester.

Good luck in the Class! May you learn something neat!