Syllabus, Phys161 020x

PHYSICS 161-020X, SPRING 04

Syllabus

The third exam is Wednesday, April 28. Sample question to help you prepare. Answers to those questions, and formulas given on exam
Solution to First exam here.
Solution to second exam here.
Solutions to the quiz of March 10. Red arrows are velocities, blue ones, accelerations

Instructor: Prof. D. Brill Office: 4202 Physics Building Office hours: Tu, Th 11-12

Teaching Assistant: Eftekharzaded, Ardeshir (Payman)
Office: 4210 Physics Building Phone: 405-6191 email: eftekhar@wam.umd.edu
Office hours: M 3-5, and whenever in office at other times

Undergraduate TA: Andre Rasevic
Office: 3109 Physics Building email: andrejp@Glue.umd.edu Office Hours: M, W 2-4

Discussion Sections:

0201 Tu........ 1:00pm- 1:50pm (PHY 4208)

0202 Tu........ 2:00pm- 2:50pm (PHY 3301)

0203 Th........ 2:00pm- 2:50pm (PHY 3301)

0204 Th........ 3:00pm- 3:50pm (PHY 3301)

0205 F.......... 8:00am- 8:50am (PHY 3301)

0206 F.......... 9:00am- 9:50am (PHY 1219)

Note on Discussion Sections:

You must attend the discussion section to which you are assigned. The TA will cover material relevant to the homework and exams which may not be covered elsewhere. There will be quizzes during the discussion sections and/or during lectures, to motivate attendance -- on some quizzes you will receive full credit for each question attempted, even if your answer is wrong. Except for parts of the exams, these quizzes are the only work you hand in that will be graded by a warm human.
Quiz make-up policy: Because quizzes are to motivate attendance, make-ups will be given only in exceptional cases of cogent reason for missing the class. Anyone with such reason, wishing to make up a quiz, should come to the TA's office hours, Monday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Physics Bldg 4210. If these times are in a conflict with the student's schedule, the student must contact the TA to schedule another time.
For your benefit and the benefit of the TA, please come prepared to discussion sections, i.e. read the chapters, review your lecture notes, and attempt the homework problems, so you will be prepared to ask questions in the discussion section. Remember, the TA is there to give you help when you are stuck, not to dole out answers to the homework.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

PHYS 161 is the first semester of a three-semester calculus-based introductory physics course on classical physics for engineers. It satisfies the physics requirement of the Engineering College. Pre- or co-requiste is MATH 141. Calculus (derivatives and integrals) will be used regularly in this class.

TEXTBOOK

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Volume 1 by Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewett, Jr., 6th edition, Thomson

HOMEWORK

You will need to sign in to access the solutions. The User Name is phys161 and the password is the location of the lecture hall (number only) of this course.
For most of us the only way really to learn physics is to do problems. Therefore homework generates a significant portion of your grade. You are encouraged to work together with other students in small groups to complete the homework.However, you must participate and not simply copy the answers or formulas.

READING and SCHEDULE

Assigned reading in the text for each week is given in the Schedule. The course will cover Chapters 1 through 11, and 13 of Serway and Jewett. You will be responsible for all material in the assigned reading whether or not it was covered in lecture, plus material introduced in the lecture that is not in the textbook. It is strongly recommended that the assigned reading be completed before the class to help you follow the lecture and to ask questions in class. Don't be concerned about interrupting my lecture.

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING

There will be three 50-minutes mid-term exams and the usual 2 hours final. All students must take the final exam to pass the course. There will absolutely be NO make-up exams except for the usual University-sanctioned reasons.
Your final grade will be computed approximately as follows, using "curved" grades for the exams:


worst hour exam	10%
two best hour exams	30%
Final Exam	25%
Homework*, Discussion, Quizzes	35%

*Two lowest scores to be dropped

Where To Go When You Need Help

Physics is naturally a cumulative subject; the knowledge learned at each stage builds upon previous knowledge. Do not fall behind and don’t wait until just before an exam. The following recourses may be useful:

Slawsky Clinic - offers free tutoring in Physics 161 and other subjects. Physics 161 times are every day from 11 to 12 and from 1 to 2.
TA or Instructor Office Hours - if you can't make these, phone or email the TA or instructor and ask to make an appointment.
The Learning Assistance Service (2201 Schoemaker Bldg., 301-314-7693) can help student having difficulty with the academic demands of University courses. Their counselors can help with time management, reading, note taking, and exam preparation skills.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Along with certain rights, students also have the responsibility to behave honorably in an academic enviroment. Academic dishonesty, including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any abridgement of academic integrity standards will be referred directly to the Assistant Dean and forwarded to the University's Office of Judicial Affairs. Confirmation of such incidents can result in expulsion from the University. Students who are uncertain as to what constitutes academic hishonesty should consult the University publication entitled Academic Dishonesty.