PHYSICS 221 SYLLABUS – Spring 2014
Instructors: Prof. T. J. Moffett (8:30 Lecture)
Office: Room 244 Physics Building
E-mail: tmoffett@purdue.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Prof. V. Barnes (9:30 Lecture)
Office: Room 375 Physics Building
E-mail: barnes@purdue.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Recitation Instructor: Kevin Ralphs
Office: Room 137 Physics Building
E-mail: kralphs@purdue.edu
Office hours: to be announced
Class: Room 112 Physics Building
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 8:30 & 9:30
Textbook: College Physics, Nicholas J. Giordano, Hybrid College Physics Custom
Loose-leaf, 2nd; Vol. 2, ISBN 9780495999959, Pub: Cengage Learning. (Note: If you
purchased the College Physics text fall 2013 for Phys 220, ebook includes text for Phys
221)
Physics 221 Laboratory Manual, A. Lewicki, 2013/2014 Edition
Course Website: http://www.physics.purdue.edu/phys221
CHIP Administrator: Dr. V.K. Saxena
Office: Room 142, Physics Building
E-mail: saxena@purdue.edu
Lab Coordinator: Dr. A. Lewicki
Office: Room 142, Physics Building
E-mail: lewicki@purdue.edu
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course has three components: lecture, recitation, and lab. The lectures will be
focused on developing an understanding of fundamental concepts; the recitations will be
devoted to developing problem-solving skills; and the labs will give you a chance to test
the laws of physics presented in the lectures. Note that different people are in charge
of different components.
PREREQUISITES
College algebra and trigonometry
LECTURE
In a lecture session, new material will be introduced. It will also be your chance to ask
questions on the materials that you find hard to understand (based on pre-lecture
reading). You should not be shy about doing so. Demonstrations will also take place
during lectures to illustrate key physics concepts. If you are not prepared for lecture,
you will quickly fall behind. Much research shows that regular attendance in lecture and
recitation classes will be rewarded with better grades. You are advised to go over the
assigned reading material before coming to each lecture. To encourage active
participation we will have short quizzes in class. You will need an iClicker to participate
in the quizzes. iClickers can be purchased at the Purdue bookstore. You must register
the serial number of your iClicker via the Student Gradebook in CHIP or you will
NOT receive any credit for the quizzes. The qizzes will begin during the second week
of class. The quizzes will occur at random times during a class. You will receive 1 point
for answering each quiz and 1 additional point if you give the correct answer. ALL
quizzes in a given lecture must be answered in order to receive any points. You are
NOT allowed to switch to another section without approval from both Lecturers.
There will be test runs to check your iClickers during the first week of class. No
excuse will be accepted for the loss of credit due to iClicker malfunction or your failure
to register iClicker in CHIP.
RECITATION
In a recitation session, you will learn how to apply the concepts to solving actual
problems. You will see examples of various types of problems that are relevant to the
materials covered in the lectures and learn the techniques of solving them. A fraction of
the time will be spent specifically on homework problems, providing tips on how to
solve them but not the final answers. iClicker quizzes will also be given at random times
to gauge your learning in recitations, just like in lectures.
HOMEWORK
We will use the Computerized Homework in Physics (CHIP) system for homework.
Each homework problem has randomly generated input values so each student will have
a unique answer. Make sure that you use your own input values when solving each
problem. To receive credit your answer must be within ± 1% of the correct answer, so
you are advised to carry at least 4 significant figures in your calculations. The
CHIP homework is always due by 11:59 PM on Mondays.
The CHIP grading policy is as follows:
A – Multiple-choice problems have a limited number of attempts depending on the
number of possible answers. You will receive 100%, 75%, and 50% credit if you
answer correctly before the specified deadline, less than three days after the deadline,
and more than three days but less than one week after the deadline, respectively. No
credit will be granted after one week past the deadline. Note that there is a limit on
the number of attempts allowed.
B – Numerical problems have a maximum of 5 attempts before the deadline to obtain
100% credit. If you require between 6-10 attempts before the deadline you will receive
50% credit. Within three days after the deadline and within 5 first attempts, you will
receive 75% credit. More than three days but within one week after the deadline and
within 5 attempts, you will receive 50% credit. No credit is granted after one week past
the deadline or after using all 10 attempts. Questions about the problems can be asked
directly from the CHIP site. This is preferred as information relating to your problem is
directly transmitted with your question. Details on the grading policy can be found by
clicking on the “Grading Policy Details” button found on any of the assignments in
CHIP.
EXAMS
There will be two midterm exams and one final exam. The final exam will be cumulative.
The chapters covered on each midterm exam and the room for each evening exam will
be posted on the course web site before the exam date. We will not respond to e-mails
asking what will be on the exam or where you need to take the exam. All exams will
consist of multiple-choice questions and be closed book. You MUST show your student
ID before you are allowed to take an exam. Those with adaptive learner status must
email to or speak with Prof. Barnes or Prof. Moffett no less than one week before
each exam to receive special arrangement.
The exams will take place on:
Midterm Exam 1 -----Tuesday, Feb. 25, 8 - 9:30 PM ELLT 116
Midterm Exam 2 -----Monday, Apr. 7, 8 - 9:30 PM STEW 183
Final Exam: TBA
Two normal lecture days will be “no lecture” in lieu of these evening exams. Please use
this information to resolve any exam conflict as soon as you notice it. You must notify
Prof. Barnes or Prof. Moffett of the situation no less than two weeks before each
exam, along with the name and contact information of the instructor and his/her email
for the other class. Note that if the other class offers makeup exams, the situation would
not be considered a conflict. The data and time of the final exam will be announced later
on the course web site.
ABSENCES AND EXCUSED GRADES
There is no way to make up missed midterm exams or iClicker quizzes. Unexcused
absences will be assigned a zero score. Excused (EX) grades will be given only in one of
the following circumstances: (1) illness; (2) personal crisis (e.g. automobile accidents,
required court appearance, death of a close relative, weather conditions that make it
impossible to get to the university); and (3) required attendance at an official Purdue
activity. You must contact Prof. Barnes or Prof. Moffett as soon as possible but
before the exam, except for emergency situations, to discuss your situation. Appropriate
documents (e.g., a written note from a doctor, with his/her name and phone number
included) will be needed to judge the merit of the excuse. No more than one exam can be
excused. Missing the final exam cannot be excused. At the end of the semester, an
EX grade will be replaced by the average score of the exams that you have taken. As
for iClicker exercises, 2 lowest lecture scores and 1 lowest recitation scores will be
dropped in the derivation of your final grade. This is meant to cover all circumstances
that prevent you from attending lecture or recitation classes, so there is no need to
submit any document for missed lectures or recitations.
GRADING
Your final grade will be based on a possible 1,000 points derived as follows:
2 Midterm Exams
Final Exam
Laboratory
CHIP HW
Recitation iClicker
Lecture iClicker
TOTAL
150 points each
300 points
150 points
150 points
25 points
75 points
1,000 POINTS
The exact cut-offs for letter grades will not be determined until the end of the semester.
Note also that you must pass (50% or better) the lab in order to pass the course.
The requirements for passing the lab are given in the separate document on lab policies.
It is important to note that the lab is administered separately from the lecture. Dr.
Lewicki is the person in charge of the lab. During the semester, you should regularly
check that your exam, homework, and iClicker quiz grades have been correctly entered
into your Gradebook in CHIP. It is your responsibility to bring any issues with your
assigned grades to the attention of Profs. Barnes or Moffett immediately and
certainly have them resolved before the final exam week. We will NOT consider
any unresolved issues during the final exam week.
GETTING HELP
You are strongly encouraged to seek help from the instructors in person on any
questions that you may have. You may get additional help from teaching assistants in
The Physics Help Center that is located in Physics Room 11. Hours when the help room
is staffed will be posted on the door soon after the semester starts. To report problems,
you should contact:
Dr. Saxena, CHIP-related or homework-related issues
Dr. Lewicki, lab-related issues
Prof. Barnes or Prof. Moffett, Lecture and General Course Issues
If you email, please make sure that you include “PHYS221” on the subject line, to avoid
having your message appear as spam and thus filtered out.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Cheating will not be tolerated. Just don’t do it! It is not fair to other students or to you.
If you are willing to put in the effort of attending classes and doing homework, you will
have no problem earning a respectable grade. Discussing homework problems with other
students is not considered cheating and is in fact encouraged. However, direct copying
of others’ work is considered cheating. Use common sense. If a student is found to be
cheating on homework or iClicker exercises, s/he will receive 0 points for that part of
his/her grade, and possibly F for the course in more serious cases. A student caught
cheating on an exam will receive an F for the course and be reported to the Dean of
Students. In more serious cases, the student may be suspended or expelled from the
University. The same applies to all parties involved in cheating.
EMERGENCY
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading
percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester
calendar or other circumstances. Please check the course web site for information about
changes in this course