PHY145

University Physics I

    CRN 22032098 (Dow 102)

     General Information and Grading Policies

Spring 2008

Instructor: Dr. Valeri Petkov

232 Dow, 774-3395, petkov@phy.cmich.edu

Office hours: Mon., Tues., Th. and Fri. 11-12, or by appointment.

Text: Fundamentals of Physics, 8th ed., Halliday, Resnick and Walker (Wiley, 2007).

Overview: HY 145 is the first semester of a year-long sequence intended for science and engineering majors. The course covers the basic principles of physics and how they apply to a wide variety of real-world situations. The goal of the course is two-fold: to develop a sound conceptual understanding of the principles and to develop the problem-solving tools necessary to apply the principles to practical situations. Lectures will be used to present concepts and to illustrate problem-solving techniques. The format of the lectures will assume that you have read the relevant material in the text before class and thus have some familiarity with the lecture topics.

Homework: Homework assignments will be administered and completed using the eGradePlus system. You will be given 19 personalized assignments, each consisting of up to 10 problems. You will submit your solutions to the problems over the Internet (see instructions below). The eGradePlus system gives you instant feedback, telling you whether your answers are correct. If not, eGradePlus allows you to try again without penalty, up to a certain limit set for each problem. Diligent students can earn all the available points from homework. Homework points will count for 20% of your final grade.

Exams: There will be five exams. The exams will consist of multiple choice/short answer questions and problems. Both quantitative and conceptual questions will be asked. The problems will be similar to problems solved in class or in HW. Exam points will count for 80% of your final grade.

No make-up exams will be given. If you must miss an exam for a legitimate reason and you notify me of the situation within two days of the exam date, I will not count that exam toward your final grade. However, you may miss only one exam during the semester.

Calculators may be used on the exams. You may also bring in one index card to the exam, containing whatever information you choose. The tests will be aimed at assessing your understanding of physics, not how well you memorize formulas.

The exams will be challenging. Expect averages between 50% to 70 %.

Grades: Your grade will be determined based on total points earned throughout the semester. The exams will contribute 80% of the total possible points. The HW total will be weighted to equal 20% of the total possible points. In the past, a student needed to amass roughly 90% of the total possible points to earn an A in the course. Average grades have been in the C to C+ range.

eGradePlus: I am happy to use the eGradePlus system for this course. eGradePlus gives you immediate feedback about answers to homework problems, helping you to assess how well you understand a given topic. eGradePlus also encourages you to make several attempts at solving problems by giving you full credit for a correct answer even if it takes you a few tries to get it. eGradePlus also provides you with an integrated suite of learning resources, including an on-line version of the text. All this turns eGradePlus into a tremendous tool for identifying weak areas in your understanding in a timely way.

eGradePlus assignments will have completion deadlines as marked in the Course Calendar below.  However, to get the full benefit of the eGradePlus approach, I strongly recommend against waiting until the last minute to do your homework!  The best strategy is to use eGradePlus daily to work on the problems related to that day's lecture. This will keep you current with course material and allow you to recognize gaps in your understanding as soon as possible.

Logging on: You will use the Internet to access eGradePlus. All you need is an Internet connection and your favorite web-browser. There are hundreds of computers located allover campus you may use. Many of you also have Internet access from your dorm room or apartment. It is your responsibility to locate machines you can use and the hours they are available. Also, it is your responsibility to obtain an access code (it comes with a new text at no extra cost) and register for the class.

To log on to eGradePlus, open your web browser and go to the following Internet address:

http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/class/cls52031/

You first have to obtain an access to the eGradePlus site using your access code and then register for the class. Once registered you can access the full content of the text book, the accompanying resources and complete the homework problems assigned by me. Just go to the class www page and Log on using your e-mail as an user ID and a password chosen by you. Detailed instructions for using eGradePlus can be found here.

Be sure to log out when you finish using eGradePlus. And it is a good idea to close your browser. If you leave the browser open, the next person using the computer may have access to your account.

Disclaimers: eGradePlus has been used successfully over the past few years in many  Physics Departments and I am confident that it will work fine for this course. However, in the unlikely event that the system fails to perform as planned and homework grades are not available, I will base course grades entirely on the results of the five exams, with each exam weighted equally.

The deadline for homework is absolute. No excuses will be accepted because of computer crashes or power outages, etc. Remember that homework problems are accepted by eGradePlus at any time day or night up until the deadline - it is not a good strategy to put your homework off until the last minute!

Tutors: Student tutors are normally available Monday through Thursday evenings in Dow 231. Hours are typically from 6 until 10 PM.

Mathematics: Physics is a quantitative science that requires mathematics in fundamental ways. We will use math freely and it is assumed that you have a thorough understanding of algebra and trigonometry. We will also use some calculus over the course of the semester, although no prior knowledge is assumed. You should have a calculator for this course and I will assume you know how to use it.

ADA: CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in its educational programs, activities or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact me as soon as possible.

Classroom civility: Each CMU student is encouraged to help create an environment during class that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone. Students who speak at inappropriate times, sleep in class, display inattention, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming to class late or leaving early, engage in loud or distractive behaviors, use cell phones or pagers in class, use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others may be asked to leave the class and subjected to discipline action.   

Final words: Physics is not an easy subject for most students. The key to success is to work hard to stay caught up. Learning in PHY 145 is cumulative - you need the concepts from the early part of the course to understand what comes later. As a general rule, you can expect to spend at least two hours outside of class - doing homework and reviewing your notes - for every hour of lecture. Remember that some concepts will come easier, some harder, but none will be impossible to understand. If you experience problems, I urge you to seek help as soon as possible. I encourage you to see me during office hours, see the tutors in Dow 231 or consult with others in the class.

COURSE CALENDAR: