College Physics I [1511]: Fall 2015
- Course Work:
- This is a 4 semester-hour course with lab. CLAS guidelines are that
students should expect to spend two hours per semester-hour on study
outside of class. This means 8 hours per week on homework, reading, and
other course preparation.
- Exam Schedule:
- Midterm 1: Friday, Oct 2, Ch. 1-6
- Midterm 2: Friday, Nov 6, Ch. 7-11
- Final Exam: TBD [2 hrs], Ch. 1-16
- Grading
- Homework 20%
- Labs 20%
- Midterms 15% Each
- Final Exam 30%
- Participation Extra Credit (see below)
- Homework
- Weekly homework assignments are to be completed online using WileyPLUS.
All assignments must be completed by the time specified.
Late homework will not be accepted. You are allowed to work with other students
on the homework, but each student must calculate the solutions to his/her own
questions and submit the answers on WileyPLUS. WileyPLUS homework is
electronically graded
- Labs
- The laboratory assignments are a key part of the course, to be held under the
supervision of your teaching assistant, who will also grade the laboratory
reports. Questions about laboratory grading should be directed to your TA.
Eating and drinking in the laboratory is not allowed. Only 9 of 10 labs
will be
counted toward grading; however, there will be no make-up labs.
- Exams
- Midterm exams will be held during regular class hours on the dates specified
above. The final exam will be two hours, scheduled during finals week at a time
to be announced. Midterm exams will cover the material specified above, and
the final exam will be comprehensive. Exams may cover material not explicitly
discussed in class - reading is important! There will be no make-ups for the one-hour
exams except in truly extraordinary circumstances for which the student comes
to the instructor before the exam to plan a make-up.
- Exams will be closed book, will be multiple choice, and will include
both conceptual questions and questions requiring calculations. Absolutely
no cheating on exams will be tolerated. Anyone caught copying or allowing
someone else to copy from his or her exam will receive a zero for the
exam, and may face disciplinary action
- Reading
- Reading assignments must be completed before lecture. Completion of the
reading is essentialfor class discusion to be productive, and tests may
include material not explicitly covered in class. Reading is important!
- Participation
- Participation will be tracked by student's response to clicker questions during
class. These questions are un-graded, so any response counts as participation. If
your participation grade is greater than 90%, then your worst midterm score
will be improved by 10% (the total midterm score cannot exceed 100%).
- Absence Policy
- Attendance is encouraged but not required for all regular class meetings, but
any opportunities for extra credit through class activities will not be
made up for any reason in the event of
absence. Attendance during scheduled exams is required and make-up exams
will only be given if the student comes to the instructor with appropriate
justification before the exam to plan a make-up.
- Communication
- Students may communicate with the professor by phone, e-mail, or in person.
However, e-mail messages and phone calls may not be answered promptly (other
than in true emergencies). Students with issues or questions should if at all
possible raise them in person, in discussion, by attending office hours, or by
scheduling an appointment with the professor.
- Physics Tutorials
- Teaching assistants are available for free tutoring in the TILE Commons
Room, 310 Van Allen Hall, during posted hours. While you are strongly encouraged
to seek help from the TAs and the instructor, do not expect them to do your
homework for you.