General Physics (PH201) Summer Term 2008
Course
Information
Instructor: Jim
Ketter Office:
WNGR 315 Office
Hours: MTuWTh 12:00 to 1:50
Phone: 737-1712 email:
ketterj@physics.oregonstate.edu
Course Website:
http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu/ph201
Prerequisites:
MTH 111, MTH 112. The two most important mathematical skills that you will need
for this course are solving simultaneous equations and adding, subtracting and
finding components of vectors. You are advised to review the material from
MTH 111 and 112 at your earliest convenience.
Texts:
Required: Physics (7th edition) by Cutnell and Johnson
(Wiley, 2007) and PH 201 Lab Manual. Optional:
Student Study Guide and Student Solutions Manual by Cutnell and Johnson. All of
these are available at the OSU bookstore.
Calculators:
You will need a calculator for lecture, recitation, lab and exams. Graphing calculators (i.e. those with a
SOLVER feature) and laptop or palmtop computers may not be used for exams.
You should have a "scientific" calculator that has trig, log and
exponential functions. If you want to know whether or not your calculator is
acceptable or not for exams, then consult the instructor well before the first
exam.
Suggested
Problems: The importance of working many problems cannot
be overemphasized; there is no better way to become proficient at solving
physics problems. The assigned problems
are intended as a minimum set for you to master. Solutions to these
assigned problems will be posted on the website. It is recommended that you do
as many problems at the end of each chapter as possible. Practice is the best way to prepare for exams.
Laboratory:
Original work and attendance are required for all scheduled labs. Read the lab instructions BEFORE coming to
lab. Lab reports are due by the end of the lab period. You must attend all labs and submit satisfactory work on all of them in
order to pass the course. If you miss a lab, try to arrange to make it up
during that same week. If you can't, there will be two make-up days at the end
of the term. You can make up at most one lab during the last two
days.
Recitation:
Recitation consists of weekly problem sessions with an experienced TA. Class
meetings will be devoted to analyzing and solving problems from the textbook
and other sources. The recitation grade will be determined by homework assigned
and collected by the TA.
Exams:
There will be two exams a midterm and a final. The midterm will be given in
class at the end of the 2nd week. The final will be given in class
at the end of the 4th week. The final will be comprehensive, i.e. it
will cover the entire course. Exams are closed book, but formulas will be
provided. Please arrive for exams five
to ten minutes early and bring your student ID card, several #2 pencils and an
approved calculator. You must present your student id card when turning in your
exam.
Exam
Grading: The TAs will grade
the exams. Partial credit will be assigned based on a rubric for the given
problem. Generally, the numerical answer is worth only a small part of the
total points; setting up the problem, providing appropriate diagrams (vector
diagrams, free-body diagrams, etc), and identifying the relevant equations
account for most of the points. The grader can only grade what you have written
down. Never leave a problem blank. On multiple-choice questions, if you dont
know the answer, then put down your best guess. If you dont want something
graded, then either clearly cross it out or erase it completely.
Academic
Integrity: All students are expected to uphold the highest
standards of honesty and integrity in their academic work. Lab reports are done
as group work, as are problems solved during recitation. All other graded work, including recitation homework problems and
exams, is to be done on an individual basis. Any incidence of academic
dishonesty will be dealt with in accordance with OSU policies.
Students
with Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who need special accommodations should make
an appointment with the instructor as soon as possible to discuss the
accommodations.
Final
Grades: Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
Midterm 40%, Final 40%, Recitation 8%, Lab Reports 8%, and in-class
participation 4%. If you choose to not participate in class, then your final
exam score will count for 44% of your final grade. The 8% for lab is all or
nothing. If you pass all of the labs, then you get the full 8%. If you don't,
then you don't pass the course. The grade scale is as
follows:
90
100% = A
85
89% = A-
82
84% = B+
78
81% = B
75
77% = B-
72
74 % = C+
68
71% = C
65
67% = C-
62
64% = D+
58
61% = D
55
57% = D-
0 54% = F