Physics 161 General Physics: Mechanics and Particle Dynamics

Fall, 2007

Instructor:  Professor Wolfgang Losert

 

 

Clicker registration+discussion forum + lecture notes at http://elms.umd.edu

 

UPDATE 11/26/2007:  MIDTERM 3 moved to Wed Dec 5

 

Syllabus 

 

First semester of a three-semester calculus-based general physics course. Laws of motion, force, and energy; principles of mechanics, collisions, linear momentum, rotation, and gravitation.

The course includes three weekly lectures and one discussion.

Pre- or corequisite: MATH141.

 

Professor:  Wolfgang Losert,  wlosert@umd.edu    www.ireap.umd.edu/~wlosert/, 3359 AV Williams Bldg, 301-405-0629 

Office hours:   -   10am-11am Tuesday
                       -  11am - 1pm  Wednesday [exception: Sept 5—4pm-6pm] 

                       -  email / call to make an appointment at other times. 

 

This course covers basic physical principles in the fields of mechanics.  “Understanding” physical principles will require a combination of knowledge of equations (e.g. Newton's Laws), and experience (through lots of practice in homeworks and discussion sections) in how to apply them to real world problems.   

 

Homework ONLINE:   Mastering Physics   http://www.masteringphysics.com/

 

**   I am teaching TWO lectures —please check which section you are in ***

 

Lecture M,W,F,    Sections 0301-0304    10:00am-10:50am (PHY 1410), Physics Building

Mastering Physics Course ID:  MPLOSERT161F3  -—use your university ID as your identification # when you register

 

Lecture M,W,F,    Sections 0101-0104      3:00pm-3:50pm (PHY 1410), Physics Building

Mastering Physics Course ID:  MPLOSERT161F1 -—use your university ID as your identification # when you register

 

Discussion with Teaching Assistants (TA)  (starting 9/4):

 

0101:    Tu........ 3:00pm- 3:50pm (PHY 1402)   TA:  Brian Hamilton 

TA Contact:  BRIAN HAMILTON bkham@umd.edu Physics 4219 Ph: 301-405-6073  Office hours:  Mon 2pm-3pm

0103:    F.........10:00am-10:50am (PHY 4208)  TA:  Yung-Ruey Yen

0104 :   F.........11:00am-11:50am (PHY 4208)  TA:  Yung-Ruey Yen

TA Contact:  YUNG-RUEY, YEN  yryen@umd.edu  Physics 3109  Ph: 301-405-6190 Office hours:  Thu 1.30-3pm

0301:  Tu........ 1:00pm- 1:50pm (PHY 1219)   TA:  Anita Roychowdhury

0302:  Tu........ 4:00pm- 4:50pm (PHY 1402)   TA:  Anita Roychowdhury

0303:  Th........ 9:00am- 9:50am (PHY 3301)   TA:  Anita Roychowdhury

0304:  Th........10:00am-10:50am (PHY 0405) TA:  Anita Roychowdhury

ANITA, ROYCHOWDHURY  aroychow@umd.edu  Physics 3103 B Ph: 301-405-6189; Office hours:  Wed 1:15 - 2:15, and Thu  2-3

 

Required course materials:

1)  KNIGHT:  Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Mastering Physics and Student workbook Volume 1 (Ch 1-15)
ISBN:  0805389636   - if you buy a used book you need to separately purchase access to “Mastering Physics”  the online homework webservice.

 

2) RESPONSE CARD RADIO FREQUENCY KEYPADS  - see clickers.umd.edu

 

Grading

Homework             32%

3 Midterm Exams:  33%

Quizzes                  10%

Final Exam              25%

 

 

 

Homework
Weekly web based homework assignments using Mastering Physics.  Homework due Friday morning 2.50pm (for ALL sections). 

You have to submit the homework on Mastering Physics, AND in addition submit a hardcopy of solution to TWO of the problems at the beginning of class (you need to submit the answer on Mastering Physics, and write out the solution in steps as you would in an exam including all mathematical steps and explanations for the steps.

Solving things on paper best prepares you for the course exams and future physics exams you may take.  Homework is extremely important as it will help you understand how to apply the equations and concepts covered in class.  It is extremely difficult to do well in this course without carefully doing the homework.  Giving explanations for your steps is also extremely important.  In exams, I will give partial credit for correct explanations, even if the math is incorrect. Obviously I will give no credit for incorrect math without any explanations.

 

Quizzes/class participation

You will need to complete a short quiz at the start of some lectures and discussions.  Class participation will be judged based on the number of clicker questions you answer during lecture (you will not be judged on whether you answer the questions correctly).  You are NOT allowed to use two clickers to “fill in” for another student.

 

Midterm Exams
There will be three 50 minute in class mid term exams: Wednesday, September 26, Friday October 26, and Wed Dec 5.  These exams will have questions similar to the homework and quizzes. Each counts 11% toward your course grade.

Final Exams
There will be a 2 hour final exam.  The final exam is cumulative. 

 

Section 0101-0104 (3pm):  Saturday, Dec 15   1:30pm-3:30pm

Section 0301-0304 (10am):  Wednesday, Dec 19, from 8:00am to 10:00am

Discussion 
You must attend the discussion section to which you are assigned. Your TA will cover material (homework and exams) that may not be covered elsewhere. There may be quizzes during the discussion sections. Please come prepared and ask lots of questions, i.e. read the chapters, review your lecture notes, and try the homework problems. Remember, the TA is there to help you when you are stuck, not to dole out answers. You should also remember that your TA is also a student, in this case a graduate student, and also has to take classes, do homework and teach other sections.

 

Tutoring
It is very important not to fall behind in this class, since each chapter builds on all previous chapters!  If you fall behind—or better if you want to avoid falling behind, please come to the office hours of your TA or to my office hours.  You can also use a free tutoring service in the Physics Department: the Slawsky Clinic.  It is run by a group of retired senior physicists. It is located in Room 1214 in the Physics building. The time reserved for PHYS161 is Mon-Fri  11-12, and 2-3. .  However, you can usually get help at any time they are open, from10 AM until 3 PM. See http://www.physics.umd.edu/academics/ugrad/slawsky.html

 

Honor Code
The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized  Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council.   This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all  undergraduate and graduate students.  As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course.  It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu.

 

To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment)."

 

 

Tentative Schedule as of 8/25/2007