Course Policy for PHY 172

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.

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. Chapter 1 and Appendix A have a quick review of mathematics. 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 strongly recommends a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus (MTH 151 or 153).  The Physics Department has recently changed the course so calculus is not necessary.  However, you should have completed pre-calculus (MTH 123 or 125) before taking this course.

Attendance: Attendance is required. 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. We will sometimes engage in 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 attendance, whether you come to class prepared, whether you participate in class discussions, and your involvement in the group activities.

If you do have to 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.

Studying: It is very important that you spend some time studying physics almost every day. You will need to read the material assigned for the next class and often you will have a brief written assignment which we will then discuss or extend in small group work 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.

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 papers that are exactly identical to one another.  Discuss the problems and then write up your answers independent of one another. If copying persists after an initial warning, academic dishonesty procedures as outlined in the student handbook will be followed.

Grading: