PHYS 15200 - Mechanics

IUPUI Fall Semester 2011

The URL for this site is http://webphysics.iupui.edu/152/152fall11/info.htm

Class/Section Number/Location/Time/Instructor:

Course Description:

This is the first semester of a two-semester introduction to calculus-based physics for students majoring in engineering, mathematics, and the physical sciences. The following topics will be covered: uniform and accelerated motion; Newton's laws; circular motion; energy, momentum, and conservation principles; dynamics of rotation; gravitation and planetary motion; properties of matter; simple harmonic and wave motion. 4 credits.

Prerequisite or Corequisite:

MATH 16600 (Calculus II) or equivalent. Students should have a basic understanding of differential and integral calculus. But more importantly, a solid background (two years) of algebra and basic trigonometry is essential.

Required Materials: available at the IUPUI Bookstore at the Campus Center

1) A basic scientific calculator (Graphing calculators are not allowed during exams)

2) smartPhysics:Volume 1, Mechanics, Single Course SmartPhysics (access card)

    ISBN-10: 1-4292-9502-3    ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-9502-4

3) Turning Technologies ResponseCard RF student response device ("clicker")

Note:

There is no official "hard-copy" textbook required for this course. All instructional materials may be accessed through smartPhysics. However, we recommend any one of the following texts as a supplementary resource:

• University Physics, Young and Freedman (Addison Wesley)
• Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Tipler and Mosca (Freeman)
• Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Serway and Jewett (Brooks/Cole)
• Fundamentals of Physics, Halliday, Resnick, and Walker (Wiley & Sons)

You may purchase an older edition at a reduced price through half.ebay.com, amazon.com, etc.

Organization

Pre-Lectures/Checkpoints/Lecture Participation:

You are required to complete the current Pre-Lecture and Checkpoint assignments in smartPhysics prior to each Lecture. Pre-Lectures are multimedia learning modules that introduce the main concepts and equations for each unit. Embedded within each Pre-Lecture are questions designed to probe your understanding of the material just covered. You may attempt each question several times; each question must be answered correctly in order to advance to the next topic presented in the Pre-Lecture. Each Pre-Lecture is worth a maximum of 2 points.

A Checkpoint assignment is available only after each Pre-Lecture is completed. Checkpoint questions are typically more difficult than those of the Pre-Lecture, so you are not expected to get every answer correct. Your score depends on your "good-faith" effort. Each Checkpoint is worth a maximum of 3 points.

There is no late credit (makeup) for Pre-Lectures and Checkpoints. You may miss up to 3 Pre-Lectures and 3 Checkpoints without penalty to your final semester grade.

There are two Lecture sessions each week. Since you have already been introduced to the main concepts and equations in the Pre-Lecture, the Lectures will spend relatively little time in the traditional format, namely you sit passively taking notes while the instructor delivers the next lesson. Lectures will instead be interactive, focusing on expanding your understanding of the material based on your prior Checkpoint answers and on your in-class responses to Clicker Questions. You will need to bring your clicker to each Lecture in order to receive credit.

Each Clicker Question is a timed multiple-choice question given to the class by the instructor. You are encouraged to discuss its solution with your fellow classmates and with the instructor. Before the time is up, you submit your choice using your clicker. The results for the entire class will be displayed and the instructor will address any misunderstandings before moving on.

You receive 1 point based on your participation in each Lecture. You also receive up to 1 extra-credit point for each Lecture based on the fraction of Clicker Questions that you answer correctly. For example, if you get 50% of the Clicker Questions correct in 22 lectures, then you have earned 11 extra-credit points.

There is no late credit (makeup) for Lectures. You may miss up to 3 Lectures without penalty to your final semester grade.

Homework/Recitation Participation:

There are typically two Homework assignments due each week through smartPhysics. You may work an entire problem or part of a problem as many times as you wish, however there are two deadlines associated with each Homework assignment. If you submit your answers by the earlier deadline, you can earn a maximum of 8 points (100%) for that assignment. If you submit your answers by the later deadline, you can earn a maximum of only 6 points (75%) for that assignment.

There is no late credit (makeup) for Homework. Each missed Homework assignment receives a zero and will be added into your final semester grade.

There are two Recitation sessions each week. The primary purpose of Recitation is to help you to understand the material and to apply your knowledge in solving new problems. NOTE: YOU CANNOT MASTER PHYSICS WITHOUT SUCCESSFULLY SOLVING PHYSICS PROBLEMS!

You will work on two challenging physics problems in groups of no more than 3 students. There will be several instructors present to help if you have questions. It is important however for each group to do its own work. Be sure to bring your notes and a calculator. You will need to bring your clicker to each Recitation in order to receive credit.

You receive 1 point based on your participation in each Recitation. You also receive up to 1 extra-credit point for each Recitation based on the fraction of Clicker Questions that you answer correctly.

You will receive a zero for a Recitation session if

• you are absent.
• you arrive more than 15 minutes late without an appropriate excuse.
• you leave early without an appropriate excuse.
• you copy the work of students not in your group.

There is no late credit (makeup) for Recitations. You may miss up to 3 Recitations without penalty to your final semester grade.

Pre-Lab assignments/Laboratory work:

Students work in groups to perform experiments designed to illustrate the main concepts presented in the course. Each student must turn in a Pre-Lab assignment (4 points maximum) at the beginning of each lab session. You are required to set up the experiment, to take data, and to record and discuss your results on your Lab Worksheet (15 points maximum). Each student must turn in a completed Lab Worksheet by the end of the Lab session. For a complete list of Pre-Lab assignments and Lab Worksheets, go to the Calendar page.

You will receive a zero for a Lab session if

• you are absent.
• you arrive more than 15 minutes late without an appropriate excuse.
• you leave early without an appropriate excuse.
• you copy the work of students not in your group.

There is no late credit (makeup) for Labs. You may miss only 1 Lab session without penalty to your final semester grade. If you miss more that 1 Lab session, your overall course grade will lowered by one complete letter grade for each occurrence.

If you are retaking PHYS 15200, you may ask the instructor to transfer your previous Lab score. Email Dr. Ross your name and the semester when you last took the course so that he can look up your Lab score.

Exams:

There will be 3 one-hour Exams (100 pts each) consisting of 5 multiple-choice questions, 3 word problems, and a formula sheet. Students are expected to show their work to receive full credit on each word problem. There will be a 2-hour comprehensive Final Exam (200 pts) consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions, 6 word problems, and a formula sheet.

Students may use a basic scientific calculator on all Exams but no notes. Graphing calculators, calculators that are capable of storing significant quantities of text, calculators that can manipulate symbolic expressions, and calculators with infrared communications capability are not permitted. iPads, laptop computers, cell phones, iPhones, MP3 players, or other personal electronics of any kind are also prohibited during exams. If you are unsure about a calculator you plan to use, please check with one of your instructors.

There is no late credit (makeup) for Exams. If you must miss an Exam, contact Dr. Ross or the Physics Department Main Office (LD 154, 274-6900) as soon as possible. If you have a valid, documented reason for missing the Exam, you will receive credit for that Exam equal to your average score on the other two Exams. If you miss a second Exam, you will receive a zero except under extraordinary circumstances.

Grades

Note: Approximately 50 extra-credit points are available from answering Clicker Questions correctly. These pointswill be added to your total semester points at the end of the term.

The following letter grade cutoffs are guaranteed. These cutoffs may be lowered at the discretion of the instructors but they will not be raised:

Academic Integrity:

The Department of Physics takes academic integrity very seriously. The usual penalty for a student caught cheating includes an F on the assignment and an Academic Misconduct Report submitted to the Dean of Students. Further penalties may include an F for the course, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the University. Note that using another student's clicker to submit answers is cheating and will be handled as such.

Administrative Withdrawal:

A basic requirement of this course is that you will participate in class and conscientiously all assignments. Keep in touch with Dr. Ross if you are unable to attend class or complete an assignment on time. If you miss more than half our class meetings within the first four weeks of the semester without contacting me, you will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Our class meets four times per week; thus if you miss more than eight classes in the first four weeks, you may be withdrawn. Administrative withdrawal may have academic, financial, and financial aid implications. Administrative withdrawal will take place after the full refund period, and if you are administratively withdrawn from the course you will not be eligible for a tuition refund. If you have questions about the administrative withdrawal policy at any point during the semester, please contact Dr. Ross or visit http://registrar.iupui.edu/withdrawal-policy.html.