Outline of College Physics I, Winter 1999

Course material can be found online at URL

http://stupendous.rit.edu/classes/phys211/phys211.html

Instructor

Michael Richmond
Building 8, new wing, Office 3336
Office phone: 475-2538
E-mail: mwrsps@rit.edu

Class hours

Section 01

   Monday     2:00 -  2:50 pm   08-A300
   Wednesday  2:00 -  2:50 pm   08-A300
   Friday     2:00 -  2:50 pm   08-A300

Section 70

   Tuesday    5:00 -  6:20 pm   08-2178
   Thursday   5:00 -  6:20 pm   08-2178

Office Hours

   Tuesday   11:00 - 12:00 pm   08-3336  in my office
   Tuesday    2:00 -  3:00 pm   08-3301  in the Physics Study Center
   Tuesday    3:00 -  4:00 pm   08-3336  in my office
   Wednesday  3:00 -  4:00 pm   08-3336  in my office

You may also make an appointment to see me, by telephone or E-mail.

Grading

   30  points  quizzes
   20  points  homework 
   20  points  tests (10 points each)
   30  points  final exam
    4  points  optional experiments (2 points each)
   -----------
  104  points

Course grades are based on a total of 100 points. I will adopt one of the following two systems of assigning letter grades:

total score above 90% = A, 80% to 90% = B, etc.
middle of class distribution = C, higher = B or A, lower = D or F

I will choose the system which results in higher overall student grades.

Before each class, you will be told to read specific sections of your textbook. At the beginning of any or all class meetings, you will be given a brief quiz on that material, or material presented in the previous class. If you read the assignments in advance, and pay attention in class, you should be able to answer all questions with ease.

Homework assignments will be given each week, and will be collected one week later. I encourage you to work in groups on these assignments, if you wish. Several problems from each assignment will be graded, but you will not be told which ones. Illegible homework will be given a grade of zero. If you submit more than a single sheet of paper, you must staple them all together in the upper left-hand corner; I will deduct points for unstapled sheets.

Experiments are optional. Students may elect to do one or two experiments during the quarter. You may work in small groups (1 or 2 people) on experiments. No such assignments will be given during the final week of classes.

Textbook

Physics, fourth edition, by Cutnell and Johnson. Available in the campus bookstore, for about $95 new, about $70 used. There are associated with this textbook a Student Study Guide and Student Solutions Manual which you may also purchase.

Lab course

This course has an associated laboratory course, Physics 271. It meets for a single two-hour period per week. The lab course has its own handbook. There is also a reference manual, Uncertainties, Error Propagation, Graphing and Vernier Caliper, associated with the lab course. Both are available from the campus bookstore, for about $2 each.

Other resources

There is a Physics Study Center in the new wing of Building 8, Room 3301. A schedule posted outside the room lists times at which someone will be available to help with questions. You may also contact the Learning Development Center, in the Eastman Building, second floor. The Office of Special Services can arrange one-on-one tutorial sessions for qualified students.

If you have any special needs, you must inform me during the first week of classes. Otherwise, I may not be able to make arrangements in time to help you. Please contact me after class or at my office.

Missing classes/tests

If you miss a quiz or test, in general, you will not be able to make up the work. In order to request a make-up test, you must provide me in advance with a note explaining your absence, signed by your academic advisor and department chair. I will base my decision to provide a make-up test on this letter and on face-to-face discussion with you.

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Mar 7, 1998.