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Course Policy for PHY 171Instructor: Dr. Barney Taylor, Ren 307, 785-3040, taylorbe@miamioh.edu Class Times: 5:30-6:45 Tuesday/Thursday Room: MOS 408 Course Web Site: http//:physics.ham.miamioh.edu/p171f07 Office Hours:
I work in Dayton during the day, and, unfortunately, I cannot check my MU email from work, nor can I access BlackBoard. There is a class discussion group that I may be able to check from work that should be used for questions pertaining to homework, class policies, etc. Questions about grades, absences or other personal matters should not be done on the discussion group but in person, by email or by phone. The discussion group for this class is at http://physics.ham.miamioh.edu/p171f07disc. Textbook: College Physics by Knight, Jones, and Field. Catalog Description: Physics 171, 172 College Physics (3, 3)General physics course recommended for students of the life sciences. Minimum mathematical preparation requires students to have had courses that include trigonometry. Co-requisites: PHY 183, 184. Pre-requisite for 172: PHY 171. Target Audience: PHY 171, 172 is designed to help students develop a quantitative understanding of the basic physical laws of nature, as a basis for further study in the sciences and engineering. This includes students majoring in the physical, biological, and applied sciences, and engineering. Course Purpose and Objectives: The major goals of the introductory-level physics course are: (1) to provide the fundamental knowledge of physical phenomena which forms the basis for advanced study in the sciences, and to illustrate the ways of knowing common to the sciences, (2) to develop the student's ability to analyze complex phenomena by synthesizing multiple concepts, (3) to show the student how to develop quantitative, predictive, models of real phenomena, and to examine critically the context, and validity of these models, and (4) to enhance the student's ability to understand and utilize concepts which are beyond immediate sensory perception. Course Description: We will begin our study of physics with the motion of objects as it is the most concrete (least abstract) of the topics we will cover. We will spend about the first half of the course on motion, then move on to a study of waves, light and atoms. There is equal emphasis on understanding the concepts of physics and on learning to apply your understanding to the solving of mathematical problems. Both exams and homework will be composed partially of problems and partially of questions in which you have to demonstrate your knowledge of the concepts by explaining everyday phenomena. For example, you might be asked to both explain in words why an ice skater tucks her arms in when she wants to spin faster and to calculate her new spin rate using the equation for angular momentum. We want you to leave the course understanding how a small number of basic ideas such as conservation of energy can be used to explain many different phenomena. Mathematical Background Needed: It is very important that you have good algebra skills. We will use only the most basic ideas from trigonometry but you will need to know those very well. If you have any doubt about your mathematical preparation in these areas, come see me right away. You may have noticed that the Miami Bulletin description of the course says that it is recommended that students have completed a semester of calculus. The Physics Department has changed the course so calculus is not necessary. However, you should have completed pre-calculus before taking this course. Attendance: Attendance is expected. I am sure most of you will find that the only way to keep up is to attend class. Class discussions are intended to guide your studies, supplement the material in the text and provide demonstrations of various physical concepts. Hopefully, they will help you gain insights that are not possible merely from reading the text. I expect you to read the sections to be discussed before class. Do not be disturbed if you do not understand fully on this initial reading. You will be given ample opportunity to ask questions and think about the material in class. Part of some classes will be spent on group activities in which you will be engaged with other students in the class working on tasks designed to help you better understand the concepts we are studying. The participation portion of your grade will be based on your level of particiaption in class discussions and group activities. If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out either from me or one of your fellow students what material was covered, what announcements were made, etc and to work through the material that was covered in class. Studying: It is very important that you spend some time studying physics almost every day. You will need to read the material assigned before the next class. If you come to class unprepared, it will hinder the learning of the whole class. Also, you will find that you learn much more if you work on the end of the chapter problems a little at a time instead of in a marathon session just before they are due. This is not a course in which you can be passive and expect to absorb the material. You need to be actively engaged in thinking about the concepts all the time - in class, while reading the book, while doing homework, while doing small group work, and while reviewing for exams with friends. The biggest hindrance to success in this course is procrastination. Homework: Homework comes primarily as end of the chapter (EOC) problems and questions with occasional in-class group work or exercises that are not in your text. EOC problems will be assigned for each chapter as we begin each chapter. Typically, homework will be due on Thursday and returned on the following Tuesday. The other exercises are problems and questions that I write myself or borrow from other books. They are treated the same as EOC for grading but may be due at different times. Working the homework will be necessary in order to understand the material covered and to perform well on the tests. Use of the solutions from the Instructor's solution manual (in any form - printed, web or other) is forbidden. Students submitting solutions from the Instructor's manual will be warned once. Recurrence will result in academic dishonesty charges being filed. Please come and see me if you are having difficulties with the homework. I realize that you will probably work together on the problems. I have no objections to this; in fact, I encourage it. However, I do not expect to get multiple papers that are exactly identical to one another. If copying persists after an initial warning, academic dishonesty procedures as outlined in the student handbook will be followed. Late homework will not be accepted. Exams: There will be three 50-minute exams in this course and a comprehensive final exam. The tentative dates and material to be covered are given in the semester schedule. The tests will be composed of both qualitative questions and quantitative problems. Exams may be made up only if I am informed of your problem before the exam is given, and I agree that the reason for your absence is valid. Make-up exams must be taken within one week after the regular exam. Academic dishonesty will be reported immediately and will likely result in an F in the course. Occasional unannounced 10-minute quizzes may be given over the reading that was assigned for the day or the homework that is due that day. Grading:
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