Phys171: Introductory Physics: Mechanics

Spring 2004, Section 0101
M T Th F 10:00-10:50,  Room: Phy 0405


Professor: Elizabeth Beise
Room 2220-C (Physics Bldg.)
Phone: 301-405-6109 
beise@physics.umd.edu 
http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~beise 
Office hours: After class, or by appointment.		 Teaching Assistant: TBA
Room XXX (Physics Bldg.),
Phone 301-405-XXXX
XXXX@physics.umd.edu 


What the course is about:

Physics 171 is the first semester of a three semester sequence for physics majors and those desiring a rigorous preparation in the physical sciences.  The syllabus includes kinematics, Newton's laws, energy and work, linear and angular momenta, and special relativity.

Web Site: http://www.physics.umd.edu/         then go to Academics, Courses, Phys 171, Spring 2004

Or, you can get there by going to the WebCT course page:  www.courses.umd.edu

Prerequisites: 

MATH 140 (functions, limits, continuity, derivatives and applications of the derivative, sketching of graphs of functions, definite and indefinite integrals, and calculation of area) and a high school physics course or permission of department. Corequisite: MATH 141 (techniques of integration, improper integrals, applications of integration (such as volumes, work, arc length, moments), inverse functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, sequences and series.)

Textbook:  Physics for Scientists and Engineers , vol. 1, 5th ed., Tipler & Mosca (W.H. Freeman & Co).

Recommended Alternate Text:  Six Ideas that Shaped Physics, Volumes C, N and R, by T. Moore (McGraw Hill). 

Study Sessions :   Time and place: TBA.  I hope to have informal group study sessions. I and or the TA will be available during part of this time, and/or  you may be able to reach me or the TA  in our offices. Feel free to stop by the study session at any time to ask a few questions, or to stay there to study or participate in discussions of other students' questions as well as your own.

E-mail:    I encourage students to make use of e-mail for quick correspondence with me (or the grader) regarding lecture material, homework problems, or whatever. I will also use e-mail to communicate with the class at large. I can often be reached at night or on weekends by email. Please include PHYS171 in the subject line. Students are responsible for making sure I have their correct email address and checking their email daily. Important messages will sometimes be sent to the class by email.

Course web site :   Course plan, homework assignments, class notes, supplements, and homework, and exam solutions will all be posted at the course web site.

Homework:   Assigned weekly.  The assignments will likely be a mix of computer-based (WebAssign) problems and supplementary handwritten material.  The WebAssign problems will be closed out just before midnight on Wednesdays (so that you don't spend all night on homework!), and the supplementary problems will be due at the beginning of class on the assigned day (usually Thursday). Late homework accepted only under dire circumstances. If you know it will be impossible to turn in an assignment on time you must discuss this with me  in advance of the due date. Medical reasons accepted  only with a doctor's note. You are encouraged to discuss the homework with others, but what you finally complete should be your own work. Please make sure you include your name and the homework and course numbers and staple the pages together. Homework sets must show reasoning leading to the final answers in a clear and readable fashion to obtain credit.

Exams:   There will be three one-hour exams and a final.  See the class schedule for the dates.   If an exam is unexpectedly cancelled due to inclement weather, it will be automatically rescheduled for the next class session. The tentative date of the final is Wed, May 19 8:00-10:00 AM.  Please check the schedule and/or the class web page to know when the final will be. Absence from exams will be excused only under dire circumstances. If you know it will be impossible to attend an exam you must discuss this with me in advance of the exam. Medical reasons accepted only with a doctor's note. A missed exam with legitimate excuse may be replaced by an oral exam. University rules require a passing grade on the final in order to complete the course.

Grading: The course grade will be based on the homework and exams. The lowest two homework scores     will be dropped. The following weighting will be used in determining your grade:

Homework (2 lowest dropped)
 15%
Quizzes
 15%
3 Midterms combined
 45%
Final Exam
 25%

Note also that University policy requires a passing grade on the final in order to complete the course.

Tips for doing well :

Honor pledge and academic honesty:    University policy has extremely serious consequences on matters of academic dishonesty. Please refer to the web page www.testudo.umd.edu/soc/dishonesty.html . The University has adopted an Honor Pledge, which is a statement undergraduate and graduate students are asked to write by hand and sign on examinations, papers, or other academic assignments not specifically exempted by the instructor. The Pledge reads: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination." In this course it is assumed that all students have entered the University agreeing to the honor principle which would apply in general to all campus activities, so usually no specific statement is required. As for this course in particular, note that although you are encouraged to discuss homework with others, the work you turn in should be your own formulation and should reflect your own understanding. This is perhaps a fine line to judge in some cases. Please ask me if you have any questions.