College Physics I [1511]: Fall 2016
- 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, Sep 30, Ch. 1-6
- Midterm 2: Friday, Nov 4, Ch. 7-11
- Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 12, 8:00-10:00pm, 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. Only the top 11/12 math and top 11/12 conceptual assignment scores
will count towards the final grade.
- 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 the top 9 of 10 lab scores
will be
counted toward the final grade; 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 (an equation sheet will be provided), 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 essential for 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. Extra
credit worth up to 2% of the total possible class points will be awarded based upon your participation,
with
the exact formula specified in the syllabus.
- 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 always be answered immediately (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.