PHY211 (Fall 2019) Syllabus

Syracuse University - Department of Physics

Physics 211

General Physics I

(Mechanics)

Fall 2019

This course is primarily about motions of objects and forces, which underlie these motions. Some particular examples of the motions you will study include "free fall", collisions between objects (such as cars), rolling and spinning.
The theory that describes the above phenomena was developed by Isaac Newton in the 17th century and is called "classical mechanics". Historically, this theory gave a foundation for development of all modern physics. Therefore, this course is an introduction to physics in general. Physics in turn provides a foundation for most other natural sciences and engineering.

Text:

Young & Freedman, University Physics (Volume 1 is sufficient), 14th edition, with Student Access Code to Mastering Physics (ISBN:9780133978216, Pearson 2016)

Everybody must purchase access to Mastering Physics, which gives electronic access to the textbook for the duration of the semester. You can buy the access code at SU bookstore for $129.40 or pay online when registering at masteringphysics.com (class ID is SUPHY211FALL2019).
If you wish to have a hardcopy of the textbook you may be able to purchase one, for example, on Amazon.com or work with the SU bookstore on special order. Printed versions tend to be expensive. Even if you get one, you still have to buy access to Mastering Physics which will be used as online homework assignment system. Older (12e, 13e) or newer (15e) editions of the textbook have similar but not identical content, and numbering of sections/problems can be different.

Instructor:

Prof. Tomasz Skwarnicki

Office: Physics Building, Rm. 317
Phone: 443-5979
E-mail: tskwarni@syr.edu
Office hours: Tue 2:15-4:15pm.
Faculty Page

Pre- and Co-requisites:

Working knowledge of high school level algebra and trigonometry is required. Calculus will also be used. Calculus is covered in the co-requisite course (MAT 285 or MAT 295). Useful formulae are summarized in Appendix B of the textbook. The math department runs Math Clinic in Carnegie 120 (hours are posted on the door) if you need assistance with math.
Students are required to enroll in the laboratory course PHY 221 (see below), unless your program does not have the lab requirement. Your grade in PHY 211 may be withheld if you don't co-register for the laboratory. Prof. Sampere (E-mail: smsamper@syr.edu ) is in charge of the PHY221 course.

Lectures:

Twice a week: Tuesday, Thursday 11:00am-12:20pm, Stolkin Auditorium, Physics Building.
See the course calendar for lecture topics. You are expected to attend the lectures.
Talking or distracting other students in any other way during the lectures will not be tolerated. Violators will be asked to leave the lecture hall and their course grade will be lowered.

Three Midterm Exams will be given at the lecture hours. The Final exam will be given at special time listed below. Seats will be preassigned for each midterm and the final exam.

Electronic Clickers or Internet-based Response Methods

To fully participate in lectures you must either get an electronic clicker (Turning Technologies ResponseCard RF LCD), or use a smart phone or laptop with help of the software provided by Turning Technologies. More details can be found on the web page dedicated to the lectrure response methods.
Your responses will be recorded and used to assign bonus participation credit . Each clicker has a unique Device ID (see the back of the clicker), which you will register with your name on the class website (please be aware that this is different than registration at the manufacturer's web page). No registration is needed when using the app or web based interface.

Reading assignments:

Reading assignments for each lecture are given on the course calendar. You are strongly encouraged to do the reading in advance, since the lectures will not contain a complete presentation of all material but instead emphasize important (and possibly difficult) points.

Workshops (recitations):

There are two one-hour workshops each week. You will be asked to work on problem solving. Assignments will be handed out in workshop. Bring a scientific calculator to the workshops. You are expected to work in groups of 3 or 4 students. These workshops are an essential part of the course. Attendance is required and will affect your final grade at the 5% level.

You can miss up to 2 workshops (including medical and family emergencies!) with no penalty. A graduate Teaching Assistant (TA) will be in charge of the workshop sessions. He/she will collect and grade your Problem Set homework assignments and record your attendance. An undergraduate coach may also be assisting students during the workshop. Times of different workshop sections, their locations and instructor names are listed elsewhere . You are not allowed to attend a different workshop section than the one you are registered for. You will not receive credit for attendance or homework turned in at a wrong section.

Homework:

Homework will consist of web-based Mastering Physics (MP) assignments and written assignments called "Problem Sets".

Mastering Physics homework assignments: You will access them via internet at masteringphysics.com. To register for the MasteringPhysics class you will need to supply e-mail address (please use SU email address), course id SUPHY211FALL2019 , and purchased access code. New assignments (2 MP sets each time) will be usually released on Wednesday and they will be due in a week. The four lowest scores for the assignment sets (equivalent of two weeks of work) will be dropped. Mastering Physics homework will contribute 15% to your final grade.
Problem Sets: They will be handed out at Friday workshops and posted on the course web page. They will be collected a week later at the beginning of the Friday workshop. The solutions you turn in must be in your own handwriting. If you are going to miss the Friday workshop but you want to turn in your homework early you can do it but you need to arrange for that with your workshop instructor. Late homework will not be accepted. The lowest two Problem Set scores will be dropped. Problem Sets homework will contribute 15% to your final grade.
Solutions to Problem Sets will be posted on the course web page after the due date. Teaching Assistants will not always be able to write down detailed comments on your written homework assignments. It is your responsibility to check your work against the posted solutions.

Late homework will not be accepted. In particular, the MP homework expires automatically at 8pm on Wednesday (partial credit is given for assignments completed until midnight; percentage of the credit decreases linearly from 100% to 0% between 8pm and midnight). Work on the on-line assignments well ahead of the deadline, since computer or network problems may prevent you from submitting solutions at the last minute.

You are encouraged to seek help if you cannot understand a problem by yourself. Discuss the problem with your peers, or come to Physics Clinic (see below).

Midterm Exams:

Three mid-term exams will be given at the lecture hours as specified in the course calendar. The lowest mid-term exam score for each student will be dropped. The remaining two exam scores will contribute 35% towards your final grade. There will be no make-up exams.
All exams are closed book, however, you are free to bring a single double-sided sheet of handwritten notes (no photocopies). Bring a scientific calculator to the exams. Use of cell phones, laptop computers and other electronic devices other than a calculator is strictly forbidden.

Final Exam:

Comprehensive Final Exam is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec 11th, 3:00-5:00pm (Stolkin). It will contribute 30% towards your final grade. It cannot be missed. There will be no make up final. Three double-sided sheets of handwritten notes will be allowed at the final exam.

Academic Integrity Policy:

Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy reflects the high value that we, as a university community, place on honesty in academic work. The policy defines our expectations for academic honesty and holds students accountable for the integrity of all work they submit. Students should understand that it is their responsibility to learn about course-specific expectations, as well as about university-wide academic integrity expectations. The policy governs appropriate citation and use of sources, the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments, and the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verification of participation in class activities. The policy also prohibits students from submitting the same work in more than one class without receiving written authorization in advance from both instructors. Under the policy, students found in violation are subject to grade sanctions determined by the course instructor and nongrade sanctions determined by the School or College where the course is offered as described in the Violation and Sanction Classification Rubric. SU students are required to read an online summary of the University academic integrity expectations and provide an electronic signature agreeing to abide by them twice a year during pre-term check-in on MySlice.

While you are encouraged to seek help on the homework assignments, it is a violation of the academic code to seek or give assistance during the exams. The instructor is the only person you can communicate with during the tests. Please do not make any changes or marks to the graded exams, if you want to preserve a right to appeal grading mistakes.

Disability-Related Accommodations:

Syracuse University values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to a climate of mutual respect and full participation. If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), http://disabilityservices.syr.edu , located in Room 309 of 804 University Avenue, or call (315) 443-4498, TDD: (315) 443-1371 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue students with documented Disabilities Accommodation Authorization Letters, as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as possible. If you take exams at ODS office, you must take them at times overlapping with the class time.

People eligible for extra time on tests must take the exams at the ODS office at the regular exam time by either staying beyond the class time or starting up to an hour and a half early.

Religious Observances Policy:

Steps to follow to request accommodations for the observance of religious holidays) can be found at: http://supolicies.syr.edu/studs/religious_observance.htm

Please plan to use our drop policy when you have to miss an exam because of your religious observance. If for some reason, this is not possible, any make up exams may be in oral form. The homework assignments (both Mastering Physics and Problem Sets) must be submitted early if religious observance will prevent you for submitting it on the due date.

Grading:

The final course grade will be determined as follows:

MasteringPhysics homework assignments:       15% 
Problem Sets     homework assignments:       15% 
Workshop attendance:                          5% 
Midterm Exams:                               35%
Final Exam                                   30%

Please notice that 2/3 of the final grade is based on credits you can earn only during the semester. You cannot pass this course just by scoring high on the final exam.

The following grading scale will be used:

   Your score (%)  Letter grade

   93-               A
   90-93             A-
   87-90             B+
   83-87             B
   80-83             B-
   75-80             C+
   70-75             C
   60-70             C-
   50-60             D
    0-50             F

If an average cumulative class score drops below 81.5% (mid range of B-), the cumulative numerical scores of all students will be scaled up to restore the average class grade to B-. This rarely happens in practice! Only cumulative scores will be curved in this way. Individual exam scores will not be curved, but the exam score distributions will be posted. Compare yourself to the class average to find out how well you did.

Absence Policy:

In general late homework will not be accepted, and missed lectures, workshops and exams cannot be made up. Since we drop two lowest written homework scores, four on-line assignment sets (equivalent of 2 weeks of on-line homework), one midterm exam score, and we excuse two missed workshops, medical and family emergencies should not affect your grade. Please do not contact the instructor to document excused absences unless you miss more than allowed in our drop policy. Contact Prof. Skwarnicki immediately if you get sick for extended periods of time. Do not skip exams, workshops and homework assignments early in the semester - save the drop policy for real emergencies which may come later. No accommodations will be made if you get sick, but skipped other classes or assignments. The final exam cannot be missed.