Physics 141: Principles of Physics Summer I 2010 (Corequisite: MATH 141 or MATH 221) Instructor: Dr. Christopher Krenke Email: ckrenke ‘at’ gmail ‘dot’ com Office: Physics 4219 Office Hours: Tuesday 4:15 - 5:15 pm, Thursday 4:15 - 5:15 pm or by appointment Teaching Assistant: Yigit Subasi Email: ysubasi ‘at’ umd ‘dot’ com Office: Physics 4207 Course Website: www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys141/ckrenke Class Meetings: Lecture: All weekdays 5:30 - 6:50 pm, Physics 1402 Laboratory: Tuesday & Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Physics 3314 Discussion: Monday & Wednesday 7:00 - 7:50 pm, Physics 1402 Required Texts: Text: Serway and Jewett. Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Vol. 1, 7th edition. ISBN: 9780495112433 Laboratory Manual: Physics 141 Laboratory Manual (UMCP) About the Course: Physics 141 is the first part of a two semester introduction to many topics in classical and modern physics. The course is calculus based and will cover the fields of classical mechanics, oscillations, waves, fluids, and thermodynamics. The focus of this course will be on both physical concepts and the mathematical language used to describe them. A major goal of this course is to improve students’ scientific critical thinking and mathematical problem solving skills. Note: This is an accelerated course and it is absolutely essential that you keep up with the work. If you fall behind, there is no time to catch up. Also, since there is less time to digest information, I expect that slightly more class time than usual will be devoted to solving example problems, leaving less time to introduce new topics. Therefore, it may not be possible for me to cover everything in lecture. I understand that your time is valuable and I will do my best to cover as much as possible. However, if this is not possible, you are responsible for any material not explicitly discussed in lecture that may show up on homework and exams. I will do my best to point out what is required reading. However, a good rule of thumb is, unless stated otherwise, you are responsible for everything contained in volume I of Serway and Jewett (Ch. 1 - 22). Course Requirements: Homework: Homework will be assigned every day and is due the following day at the beginning of lecture. Two problems will be selected and graded in detail. In addition, I will often recommend optional problems that do not need to be turned in. Remember, the only way to become a good problem solver is to practice!! Work as many problems and examples as possible. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively on assignments. However, relying too heavily on peers will likely reduce your ability to develop the skills required to perform well on tests and other future solo endeavors. Homework guidelines*: - Homework must be neat. The TA reserves the right to not grade homework he/she feels is sufficiently illegible. - Answer must include the proper units. Points will be taken off if units are not present in the final answer. - In all but the simplest problems, you should provide explanations for steps taken to arrive at a solution. This aids the TA in grading, but also forces you to think carefully through problems. Furthermore, it is much easier to review your work (before an exam, for example) if your ideas have been written down. Explanations do not need to be lengthy, or even complete sentences. However, they should be logical. *These guidelines are effective for quizzes and exams as well. Quizzes: One quiz will be given each week during discussion. The quizzes will generally be conceptual in nature and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The quizzes serve to test your understanding of recently covered material and provide me with another way of monitoring student progress. Exams: There will be three midterm exams and a final exam scheduled during regular class times. Exams will contain a combination of multiple choice and problem-solving questions designed to test both qualitative and quantitative understanding. The exams will not be designed to test your ability to memorize, but rather your understanding of key concepts, principles, and techniques. An “equation sheet” will be provided containing various formulae and constants. Calculators are permitted on exams. Tentative Exam Schedule: Exam 1: Monday, June 14 Exam 2: Friday, June 25 Exam 3: Friday, July 2 Final: Friday, July 9 Laboratories: Students are required to complete all the laboratories and turn in all the lab reports to be eligible for a passing grade in the course. You will be given two opportunities to make up a lab. However, you cannot make up more than one lab. If you miss more than 1 lab during the semester, the grade is an automatic F by non-negotiable DEPARTMENT RULES, since you cannot make up more than one lab. Please read the complete experiment in the lab manual and complete all the questions listed in the “prelab” before the lab begins. The prelab questions are due at the beginning of the lab. The lab report is due at the end of the lab. You will not be given extra time to turn in the report. So, it is a good idea to prepare for the lab by making all the necessary tables before coming to the lab and bringing the necessary supplies (pencil, ruler, graph sheets etc) with you. If you are confused about something in the manual, please send your TA an email. For some of the experiments (very few) your TA might allow you 1 extra day to turn the lab in. The lab schedule can be found here. Other information about the lab will be provided by the lab instructor. Grade Evaluation:

Physics 141: Principles of Physics

Summer I 2010

(Corequisite: MATH 141 or MATH 221)

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Krenke

Email: ckrenke ‘at’ gmail ‘dot’ com

Office: Physics 4219

Office Hours: Tuesday 4:15 - 5:15 pm, Thursday 4:15 - 5:15 pm or by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Yigit Subasi

Email: ysubasi ‘at’ umd ‘dot’ com

Office: Physics 4207

Course Website: www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys141/ckrenke

Class Meetings:

Lecture: All weekdays 5:30 - 6:50 pm, Physics 1402

Laboratory: Tuesday & Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Physics 3314

Discussion: Monday & Wednesday 7:00 - 7:50 pm, Physics 1402

Required Texts:

Text: Serway and Jewett. Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Vol. 1, 7th edition.

ISBN: 9780495112433

Laboratory Manual: Physics 141 Laboratory Manual (UMCP)

About the Course:

Physics 141 is the first part of a two semester introduction to many topics in classical and modern physics. The course is calculus based and will cover the fields of classical mechanics, oscillations, waves, fluids, and thermodynamics. The focus of this course will be on both physical concepts and the mathematical language used to describe them. A major goal of this course is to improve students’ scientific critical thinking and mathematical problem solving skills.

Note: This is an accelerated course and it is absolutely essential that you keep up with the work. If you fall behind, there is no time to catch up. Also, since there is less time to digest information, I expect that slightly more class time than usual will be devoted to solving example problems, leaving less time to introduce new topics. Therefore, it may not be possible for me to cover everything in lecture. I understand that your time is valuable and I will do my best to cover as much as possible. However, if this is not possible, you are responsible for any material not explicitly discussed in lecture that may show up on homework and exams. I will do my best to point out what is required reading. However, a good rule of thumb is, unless stated otherwise, you are responsible for everything contained in volume I of Serway and Jewett (Ch. 1 - 22).

Course Requirements:

Homework:

Homework will be assigned every day and is due the following day at the beginning of lecture. Two problems will be selected and graded in detail. In addition, I will often recommend optional problems that do not need to be turned in. Remember, the only way to become a good problem solver is to practice!! Work as many problems and examples as possible. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively on assignments. However, relying too heavily on peers will likely reduce your ability to develop the skills required to perform well on tests and other future solo endeavors.

Homework guidelines*:

- Homework must be neat. The TA reserves the right to not grade homework he/she feels is sufficiently illegible.

- Answer must include the proper units. Points will be taken off if units are not present in the final answer.

- In all but the simplest problems, you should provide explanations for steps taken to arrive at a solution. This aids the TA in grading, but also forces you to think carefully through problems. Furthermore, it is much easier to review your work (before an exam, for example) if your ideas have been written down. Explanations do not need to be lengthy, or even complete sentences. However, they should be logical.

*These guidelines are effective for quizzes and exams as well.

Quizzes:

One quiz will be given each week during discussion. The quizzes will generally be conceptual in nature and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The quizzes serve to test your understanding of recently covered material and provide me with another way of monitoring student progress.

Exams:

There will be three midterm exams and a final exam scheduled during regular class times. Exams will contain a combination of multiple choice and problem-solving questions designed to test both qualitative and quantitative understanding. The exams will not be designed to test your ability to memorize, but rather your understanding of key concepts, principles, and techniques. An “equation sheet” will be provided containing various formulae and constants. Calculators are permitted on exams.

Tentative Exam Schedule:

Exam 1: Monday, June 14

Exam 2: Friday, June 25

Exam 3: Friday, July 2

Final: Friday, July 9

Laboratories:

Students are required to complete all the laboratories and turn in all the lab reports to be eligible for a passing grade in the course. You will be given two opportunities to make up a lab. However, you cannot make up more than one lab. If you miss more than 1 lab during the semester, the grade is an automatic F by non-negotiable DEPARTMENT RULES, since you cannot make up more than one lab.

Please read the complete experiment in the lab manual and complete all the questions listed in the “prelab” before the lab begins. The prelab questions are due at the beginning of the lab.

The lab report is due at the end of the lab. You will not be given extra time to turn in the report. So, it is a good idea to prepare for the lab by making all the necessary tables before coming to the lab and bringing the necessary supplies (pencil, ruler, graph sheets etc) with you. If you are confused about something in the manual, please send your TA an email. For some of the experiments (very few) your TA might allow you 1 extra day to turn the lab in.

The lab schedule can be found here. Other information about the lab will be provided by the lab instructor.

Grade Evaluation:

Getting Help:

If there is ever anything that you do not understand, get help immediately! Do not fall behind because you were afraid to ask questions. We view seeking help as a sign of your commitment to the course, and this will be considered when grading time comes around. You have many options available: you may ask me during or immediately following class, or you can meet with me or your TA during office hours.

We also encourage you to draw on the strengths of others in this class to learn the material by forming a study group - however, plagiarizing will not be tolerated. The more you think about a problem, the better you are equipped to face the next one. Don't expect us to show you how to do the problems. Problems are best solved by thinking about them, not by memorizing them or watching someone else show you how to do them. Try the problems first. Don't worry, we are here to help you, but you must try first. We will give you hints or suggestions on ways to proceed when you come to us for help. You might get stuck again! Thats okay. You might have to talk us many times about the same problem. It is natural to get stuck while solving a problem. Developing the art of thinking about a problem and finding your way out is where the learning lies!

Slawsky Clinic:

The Department of Physics also offers help at the “Slawsky Clinic” which is in room 1214 (check their door for their hours). This is a voluntary service and is run by individuals familiar with Physics, who are not associated with the course directly. They may or may not be open during the summer. So please check their door for their schedule.

Academic Honesty:

Giving/receiving help on exams or plagiarizing homework and other assignments is not acceptable behavior in this class. It is okay to work with other students, but you have to explain the answer in your own words. If your answers match a peer’s answers word for word, points will be taken off. It is a common knowledge that students sometimes get a hold of the solutions manual. If your answer matches the manual word for word, or has the same variables and steps, points will be taken off. Please refer to the student academic honor page www.shc.umd.edu for details. As mentioned earlier, you are allowed to discuss with your peers while attempting homework problems, but the work that you turn in must be your own. Any cases of suspected cheating will be immediately referred to the Honor Council; this is to protect your right to due process and a fair hearing.