Syllabus

Corequisite: Math 211 . A knowledge of calculus will be assumed in this course.

Textbooks: Understanding Physics, Parts 1 and 2, by Karen Cummings, Priscilla W. Laws, Edward F. Redish and Patric J. Cooney, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2004, Laboratory Manual Physics 111 & 231 published by the Department of Physics, 1996 and WebAssign access card.

Course Description: Physics 231N, University Physics, is a general introduction to classical mechanics, waves, hydrodynamics and theromodynamics This course is designed for students majoring in physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and related disciplines for whom a thorough grounding in the principles of physics is essential. Accordingly, students are expected to demonstrate a substantial understanding of those principles through problem solving and derivations

Midterm Examinations (highest two of three at 15% each)	30%
Classroom participation	5%
Laboratory	15%
Homework	20%
Final Examination	30%

Exams: There will be three midterm exams and a final. The lowest score of the three midterm exams will be dropped. The schedule for these exams is included on the lecture Schedule page. No make-up exams will be given. Bring a calculator to each exam. The review for each exam will contain all of the equations necessary for the exam, and these will also be attached to the exam.

Homework: Homework assignments will be submitted using the WebAssign service via the Web. The access code for WebAssign is inculded in the textbook package available at the bookstore. If you purchased you text elsewhere, you can purchase you access code online at http://www.webassign.net . Instruction on registering with WebAssign will be provided during the first lab session. The homework problems are taken from the text, however the WebAssign system will provide some random numbers in place of those in the text. These numbers, which are highlighted in red, change each time you access a problem. You should work the problem first using the numbers in the text before going to WebAssign. Each time you submit an assignment, the assignment is automatically graded and you will get immediate feedback on your result. You will have five chances to submit each homework assignment with the grade for the last submission counting as your grade for the assignment. Homework assignments and due dates are listed on the Homework page. Homework is due at 11:30 p.m. on the due date.

Collaboration: You are encouraged to work together on assignments, but because of the nature of WebAssign, you will each have problems with different numbers to complete and you must submit your solutions individually. Use of published homework solutions or the homework solution of anyone else is considered cheating. The Physics Learning Center provides a good place for you to work together on homework during business hours. Help is also voluntarily provided there by faulty and graduate students during selected hours during the week. (Please see below.)

Laboratory: OCNPS, Room 138. See the Laboratory Schedule for details. Students who fail the laboratory will fail the entire course.

Due to the nature of this course, topics will not always be covered in the lecture before the laboratory. Bring a calculator, graph paper, and a straight edge. Purchase a bound notebook. You will use this book to diagram your equipment, record data and write your lab reports. Read the assigned experiment before the lab begins and bring the required items. Attendance is mandatory. You will be allowed one (1) unexcused absence during the semester. If you have two or more unexcused absences, you will fail the entire course. It is your responsibility to inform your instructor of any absence and to arrange to make up the missed work.

Laboratory reports should be prepared according to the instructions in the Physics 231 Laboratory Manual. Your lab instructor will also discuss the format for your lab reports and the grading procedure.

The final lab exam will be given as scheduled in the Laboratory Experiments page. It will count 15% of the lab grade

Physics Learning Center: The Physics Learning Center, located in room 142 OCNPS, is a place where students can get together to work on their homework and get assistance, if needed, from physics faculty and grad students. No appointment is necessary! Students in any introductory class are encouraged to drop by the Learning Center for help on homework, lab, lecture, other course material, or just for a place to work while in the physics building.

The Physics Learning Center will be open all week during normal business hours, and some evenings. A physics staff member will be on duty to help students approximately 20 hours per week. A detailed staffing schedule will be posted on the door to Room 142 and on the web at: A small number of computers are also located in the Learning Center for use in taking reading quizzes and submitting homework to WebAssign.

Students are encouraged to use the room to work together on their assignments, even when a physics staff member is not available for tutoring.

Please note: The Physics Learning Center will be staffed starting the second week of classes.

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students may consult the "Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedures'' Manual (located in the department secretarial office) for details. A significant item is the following:

“All official disciplinary sanctions, including grade sanctions, which are assigned to a student as a result of an act of academic dishonesty, will be recorded on the student's official University transcript.”