PHYS201: Introduction to Physics


Instructor: David Seckel
Room: 007 Willard
Time: 9:05-9:55, 10:10-11:00  MWF

PHYS201 is the first half of an algebra based introductory physics sequence (201-202) designed for non-majors. The course introduces kinematic variables, dynamical laws of motion, and conservation principles. Topics include linear and rotational solid mechanics, and fluid mechanics.  MATH115 is prereq.

Course News

12/4 - The "review document" is now available. It cannot be a replacement for lecture notes, but perhaps provides a useful overview of topics. Also - updated notes for Chap 11 +, to include some material added for Wednesday's lecture.

12/10 - Grades on MyCourses (webct) are updated through HW:11, WP:11, Labs:10, Quiz:4, MT1, MT2. An estimate of your final grade is included, but ... for HW, WP, Lab components of the grade I have not yet dropped the low score to compute averages. The estimates assume your grade on final is the same as your current average.

12/11 - HW 12, Q4 and MT2 are available for pickup in SHL 110. The TA office is open Thursday, Friday and Monday, but will not be staffed Monday.

12/11 - Solution for the 2nd midterm is posted
on Exams & Quizzes page, along with the formula for score adjustment.

12/11 - I have posted some information for the final on the Exams & Quizzes page. It is basically the same as in the email of 12/11, including ....

Time: Tuesday 12/16 8:00-10:00 AM
Place: Sharp Lab 130/131

12/14 - Added some material to the Lectures notes page. 1)  A review page to the chap 11 notes. 2) The course summary discussion from 12/10, it is expanded a bit, but still is limited to a high level remarks dividing the course into discussions of the equation of motion and conservation principles. 3) Daily notes.

Older news.

E-mail Contacts

Instructor: David Seckel
Discussion leaders: Tareque Aziz, Fazle Rob
Lab Instructors: Shabbar Rizvi, Noah Marder, Katie Mulrey
Course Assistant: Zhiyuan Qi

Course Links

Exams & Quizzes         Lectures          Labs         Discussion sections

Homework        WileyPLUS

Syllabus            Semester Schedule           Weekly Schedule        Open seats


WileyPLUS

To access or register for WileyPLUS please follow this link.

WileyPLUS

It should be straight forward. If there are questions please notify me.

A description of WileyPLUS homework practices will be added here, soon.


Homework

There is a weekly cycle of assignments of handwritten and WileyPLUS homework assigned on Friday's. Handwritten work is due the following Friday and WileyPlus the Monday after that. There are some exceptions to this weekly cycle around Election day and Thanksgiving. Consult the semester schedule or the list below for details.

Assignments: Expect ~10 problems to be completed on WileyPLUS. In addition, two problems per week will be assigned to be turned in for hand grading. Assignments will be announced in class, on this web-page, and by e-mail.

Grading: Written HW problems must be prepared neatly and all work shown. Grading for written problems will be 5 pnts per problem. Here are my guidelines to the grader... "
I'd like the problems graded on 5 point basis. Students should show work, not just write down the answer. A correct answer with *no* work shown should get 2 pnts. A correct answer with basically correct logic in readable format give full credit. This is largely your judgement, I'm looking for evidence that they understand how to do the type of problem assigned. Deduct 1-2 points if the work is really quite sloppy, so that you can't tell what they did. Deduct one point for major math errors. When you deduct pnts, make a note on the paper for why you made a deduction."

To recieve full credit, on the front page of written homework you should include (Name, HW assignment, Discussion Group).  Discussion group is from 20D-24D or 30D-34D. This will simplify the work of the grader.

For Wiley Plus the standard will be 1 pnt per problem, and nominally 10 pts per problem set. Exceptions will be noted.



Due:
Hand-in homeworks are due the following Friday, either turned in in class, to my office (200 SHL), to the Phys 201 TA office (110 SHL), or my mailbox in the Phyiscs Dept office (217 SHL) by 5 PM. Wiley Plus assignments are due Monday by 9 PM.  

Return: Homework will be returned in class (hopefully the Wednesday after it is turned in), or it may be picked up during TA office hours from SHL 108.

Solutions: Hand in homework has comments included in the grading. For WP, an "answer set" will be prepared as a separate ungraded assignment. This answer set will include the same problems, but with answers visible. The way Wiley Plus works, the numerical values within a given problem will be different for the answer set than the original assignment, so you can't just plug it in, but you can check that your technique gets the correct solution for the answer set, validating what you have done for the graded assignment. Not perfect, but perhaps useful.

Edit (10/7)
-
    For Lecture 201-010 WileyPLUS will be due Monday at 9 PM.   
    For Lecture 201-011 WileyPLUS will be due Tuesday at 9 PM.

    The purpose of this change is to even the load in the TA office (SHL 110) on Monday and Tuesday.  Starting with WP assignment 5, the due date will appear as Tuesday at 9PM. Students from 010 are requested to make their access to the tutoring site on Monday. Those from 011 are requested to use Tuesday. There is no reasonable way to enforce this, and you know your own needs best. If you visit on an off day, a reasonable thing would be to give priority to those on schedule.

    Hand-in homework will be returned through the discussion groups on Thursday and Friday.


Homework assignments:

Last modified: Dec 14, 2008