PHYS UN1401: Introduction to Mechanics and
Thermodynamics
Fall 2025 Syllabus – Section 001
Instructor information
Instructor
Email
Office
Eric Raymer, Ph.D.
er2741@columbia.edu
826 Pupin
TA Information
See your recitation section’s CourseWorks page for TA information.
Class Meeting Location and Times
301 Pupin
Monday and Wednesday, 10:10 am – 11:25 am
Office Hours
826 Pupin
Monday and Wednesday, 9:00 am – 10:00 am and 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Course Website
CourseWorks:
http://courseworks.columbia.edu
WileyPLUS:
http://www.wileyplus.com/go/login
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1. General information
Course Overview and Objectives
PHYS 1401 is an introduction to classical mechanics and thermodynamics. Our primary goal in this
course will be to develop a comprehensive understanding of how and why motion occurs in a variety of
scenarios, and to learn the fundamental rules that govern motion in our universe. By studying
thermodynamics, we will understand how thermal energy is stored and transferred within various
systems.
We will work to revise our intuition for the ways in which mechanics and thermodynamics are present
in our everyday lives. By virtue of living in the world and making observations, we all have mental
models and preconceptions about the physical laws that everyday objects obey. Examining those
preconceptions with a critical eye and revising them when necessary is an essential part of learning
physics.
Problem solving will play an important role in this class, and we will work to develop quantitative
reasoning skills that can be useful in whatever discipline you choose to pursue. Problem solving is a
way to develop your understanding of the topics we study in the course and will help to build the
conceptual framework you develop throughout the semester. The conceptual models you will have at
the end of the course will allow you to flexibly reason through a variety of problems and scenarios.
Course Format
This will be an in-person course, and I strongly recommend attending each lecture to take full
advantage of the class sessions. The course will include active learning activities and small group/pair
discussion, so your participation is essential.
Textbook sections corresponding to each lecture will be posted weekly.
Pre-lecture assignments and problem sets will be assigned weekly.
Recitation meetings will take place once each week and give you a chance to reinforce key concepts
and practice problem solving skills in a small group setting. Please register for a PHYS UN1404
recitation section with me as the instructor if you have not already done so.
The associated laboratory, PHYS UN1494, is an independent course that is scheduled and graded
separately from this lecture.
Prerequisites
Pre/corequisite: MATH UN1101 (Calc. I) or equivalent.
In terms of the specific mathematics you will need, you should be comfortable with: solving algebraic
equations, using basic trigonometry (sine, cosine, tangent functions), working with vectors and vector
components, and solving systems of simultaneous equations in two and three variables. We will
introduce differentiation and integration in lecture and use them mostly with simple polynomial and
trig functions.
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2. Contact Information
Email
I can be reached via email at: er2741@columbia.edu. As a course policy, all emails should be sent
using your Columbia University email address. Email from other services is sometimes blocked by CU
email filters, and I cannot guarantee that I will receive it. It is also difficult for me to verify your
identity if you use a non-CU email address.
The best way to receive help regarding homework or course concepts is to attend office hours or help
room (more information below). I answer emails regarding homework as time permits. Due to the
number of students I work with each semester, a timely response to this type of question is not always
feasible.
Office Hours
I will hold weekly office hours at the times listed on the front page of the syllabus. These are optional
but can be very helpful. Office hours will allow you to talk with me in person, interact with your
peers, resolve any questions you have about the course material, and practice key concepts and skills.
No question is too trivial to bring to office hours. Any question you have is likely to one that someone
else has as well. Please bring all questions you have to office hours, but also attempt to answer your
questions to the extent of your ability beforehand so that we can make the best use of our time. You
are welcome to stay for as much of the office hour period for as long or as little as you like (space
permitting).
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3. Course Content and Navigation
Course Website
To access the course, log in to CourseWorks with your UNI: https://courseworks.columbia.edu/ You
should see a link to our course on the Dashboard.
Choose “Modules” on the sidebar to see the available modules of the course. Modules are where I will
post links to lecture notes, slides, and supplementary material. Each weekly module corresponds to
one week of course material.
Choose “Files” on the sidebar to access lecture notes and other files related to the course. These will
also be available via “Modules” as described above.
Textbook and WileyPLUS
The course textbook is Halliday & Resnick’s Fundamentals of Physics, 12th Edition (ISBN: 978-1-11977351-1). We will be using WileyPLUS for homework assignments. This requires the purchase of a one
to two semester pass, which includes access to an electronic copy of the text.
To register for WileyPLUS and purchase access to this course, go to www.wileyplus.com/go/login.
Click “Sign up now” to create an account. You will be asked to enter your course section ID (B02556)
for PHYS UN1401 to find your course and complete the registration process.
If you already have a WileyPLUS account, log in and click the yellow ‘Add more courses’ button. You
will be asked to enter your course section ID (B02556) to find your course and complete the
registration process.
Lectures
Lectures will be held in person unless otherwise noted and will serve to develop the main ideas we
encounter in the course. In addition to direct instruction, lectures will include polls, small group
discussion, problem solving opportunities, and demos. Attendance is not taken in lecture and does not
factor into your grade, but attendance at all lectures is strongly recommended.
There will not be an online/zoom option for attending lecture unless otherwise noted.
A tentative schedule of lecture topics is given on the following page.
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Tentative Course Schedule
Chapters refer to Halliday & Resnick, Fundamentals of Physics, 12th Edition.
Class Number
Date
Topic
Chapter(s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Sep 3
Sep 8
Sep 10
Sep 15
Sep 17
Sep 22
Sep 24
Sep 29
Oct 1
Oct 6
Oct 8
Oct 13
Oct 15
Oct 20
Oct 22
Oct 27
Oct 29
Nov 3
Nov 5
Nov 10
Introduction to the Course, Measurement
Motion Along a Straight Line
Motion Along a Straight Line, Concept Inventory
Motion Along a Straight Line
Vectors, Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
Force and Motion
Force and Motion
Midterm Exam 1
Force and Motion - II
Force and Motion II, Kinetic Energy and Work
Kinetic Energy and Work
Kinetic Energy and Work
Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy
Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy
Center of Mass and Linear Momentum
No class – Academic Holiday
Center of Mass and Linear Momentum
Midterm Exam 2
1
2
2
2
3, 4
4
4
5
5
Lectures 1-8
6
6, 7
7
7
8
8
9
18
19
Nov 12
Nov 17
20
21
22
Nov 19
Nov 24
Nov 26
Dec 1
23
Dec 3
24
Dec 8
TBD
Rotation
Rotation, Rolling, Torque, and Angular
Momentum
Rolling, Torque, and Angular Momentum
Fluids
No Class - Thanksgiving
Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of
Thermodynamics
Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of
Thermodynamics
Make-up/Catch-up
Final Exam
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
9
Lectures 916
10
11
11
14
18
18
All above
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4. Assignments and Grading
Add a subheading
In addition to time spent in lecture sessions, students should expect to spend approximately 6 hours
per week on work for this course. This includes completing readings, assignments, group
study/discussion, and performing any additional practice that is necessary.
Assignments
The table below lists the assignments for this course, along with the associated grade value of each.
More information about each type of assignment is provided after the table.
Assignment
Number
Grade Value of
Each
Total Value
Recitation
Attendance and
Participation
1 per week
1% each, attend 10
for full credit
10%
Pre-lecture
Assignments
1 per lecture
0.25% each,
complete 20 for full
credit
5%
Problem Sets
1 problem set per
week
Varies, two lowest
scores dropped
15%
Midterm
2 per semester
20% each, option to
drop lowest score
40%
Final Exam
1 per semester
30%
30%
Total
100%
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Course Grading Scale
In addition to the standard grading scheme above, you will have the option to drop your lowest exam
score and reweight your course grade according to alternate scheme below. You do not have to "opt
in" to this - at the end of the semester I will calculate your grade with each scheme and assign you the
higher grade.
Standard scheme (same as in table above):
Alternate scheme:
10% recitation attendance
12.5% recitation attendance
20% Pre-lecture and Homework
25% Pre-lecture and Homework
20% Exam 1
25% higher-ranking Exam
20% Exam 2
30% Final
37.5% Final
Letter grades will be determined from the distribution of course grade scores, with a median falling on
the B/B+ border.
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Recitation
Recitation meetings are where you will review, reinforce, and practice problem-solving techniques in
a small group setting. Since time for problem solving is limited in lecture, weekly attendance at
recitations is essential for success. Recitations will be led by our course TAs.
Attendance at recitation sessions is required. You must attend and participate in at least 10 recitation
sessions throughout the semester to receive full recitation credit. Under this policy, recitation
absences are not formally excused, but you will be able to miss up to two recitation sessions without
penalty for any reason. If you have extenuating circumstances that cause you to miss three or more
recitations, please contact me as soon as possible.
Please plan to register for a recitation section associated with my lecture section. You will not earn
attendance credit for attending recitation sections you are not registered for, or for those
corresponding to other instructors’ courses.
Pre-lecture Assignments
The purpose of pre-lecture assignments is to give you a chance to engage with the lecture topics
before our in-class meetings. These assignments will serve as an introduction to new topics, a chance
to think conceptually about what we will learn in lecture, and a review of key prerequisite skills. We
will build on these assignments during lecture.
Pre-lecture assignments are graded for completion and are due at the beginning of each lecture. No
make-up assignments or extensions are permitted, but completing 20 pre-lecture assignments will
earn you full credit for these assignments.
Homework
Homework assignments will be made available via WileyPLUS at the beginning of each week and will
be due Sunday night of the following week. Most assignments will contain 8 + 2 problems. Solutions
will be available within WileyPLUS after the assignment due date.
WileyPLUS asks you to submit a numerical answer to the problems that you solve. To become
acquainted with the system and the types of input that it accepts, I recommend working through the
preliminary assignment: “Intro to Physics Questions.” There is no credit associated with this
assignment, but it provides some key information about how to use the WileyPLUS system.
To account for difficulties that you may face in working with WileyPLUS, you will have seven attempts
for each free-response homework question. Fewer attempts may be granted for multiple choice
questions or other types of questions. The system will be set to grant a 5% tolerance on answers you
submit, which should account for any differences in your answer due to rounding or errors with
significant figures. With these settings, nearly all wrong answers are due to miscalculation or faulty
reasoning rather than an error with the system. Please do not ask for additional attempts on
homework problems; it is unfair to everyone if I make exceptions for individual students.
Working on homework problems with classmates is encouraged, but please make sure the answer you
submit is one that you could arrive at on your own via your own independent solution.
Your two lowest homework scores (i.e. the scores that would have the greatest negative impact on
your grade) will be automatically dropped at the end of the semester. If you miss an assignment for
any reason, this policy will automatically drop that score. Additional drops or individual extensions on
homework assignment deadlines are not available.
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Extensions on homework assignment deadlines are not an option for this course because solutions are
released on WileyPLUS after the due date. For fairness, I am unable to grant requests for additional
attempts on individual homework questions.
Midterm Exams
Midterm exams will serve as periodic assessments of understanding and will consist of short answer
problems similar to those assigned in the homework.
Exam format: 3-4 long response problems, with formula sheet provided. A graphing or scientific
calculator may be used. No books, no notes, no phones/tablets/laptops, no internet or collaboration
permitted.
Exam grading: Partial credit will be awarded for work that is clearly shown and correct. Points are
only deducted for incorrect steps and calculations. Numerical errors are not carried forward and
should not result in multiple point deductions. Conceptual errors, errors in reasoning, or problemsolving errors may result in further deductions. Answers must be supported by work and explanations
that are clearly written. Blue books will be provided, and only work in the blue book will be graded.
Exam preparation: My recommendation for how to prepare for the exam is to work as many new
practice problems as possible. Re-working homework problems can be useful if they did not make
sense the first time, but it is also essential to try new problems. You want to be able to apply the
problem-solving methods you learn to new scenarios, and new problems are the best way to do this.
The end-of-chapter problems are a good place to start. Exam problems correspond roughly to the
difficulty of "medium" problems in the Halliday text. I will also provide a practice exam and solutions
prior to each exam.
Exam regrade policy: If you believe that there was a mistake made while grading your exam, you may
submit a regrade request form (to be provided). Regrade requests will be evaluated by the grader
responsible for grading that problem. Regrade requests are only for correcting mistakes. They are not
to be used to request additional partial credit or further explain an answer. All graders follow a rubric
written by me, and the partial credit assigned will be consistent with that rubric. Note: to be eligible
for a regrade request, exams must be written in (non-erasable) blue or black ink.
Missed exams: The department is unable to provide make-up exams or schedule alternate exam
times. If you miss an exam, it can be dropped according to the alternate grading scheme (see below).
Disability-related exam absences can be rescheduled through the DS office or CARDS only if you have
accommodations that permit this, and only within 48 hours.
Final Exam
The final exam will be cumulative, with a format similar to that of the midterm exams.
Missed final exams:
If you miss the final exam for any reason and wish to make it up, you must submit a request for a
deferred exam to your advising dean along with any supporting documentation required. The request
will be approved or denied based on the evaluation process of your specific college and scheduled for
a later date if approved. Being present for any portion of the final exam disqualifies you from a
deferred exam.
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5. Course Policies
Academic Honor and Integrity
I expect all students to uphold their commitment to the academic integrity standards of the
university, which can be found at: https://studentconduct.columbia.edu/
Under the Columbia University Honor Code, all work submitted in assignments and exams should be
your own. I encourage students to work together on homework assignments, but copying solutions
from other students, solution manuals, or online sources is not permitted. (Also, be aware that
solutions found online are often of poor quality or are simply wrong.) Similarly, plagiarism or the use
of any unauthorized aid on an exam is not permitted. Instances of academic dishonesty will result in a
grade of zero on the assignment or exam.
If you’re going to use a large-language model (LLM) like ChatGPT, then use it intelligently. These
models do not “know” physics (or anything, really), so you should always be skeptical of their output
and check it against another (human) source. It is never okay to turn in work that has been generated
by an LLM as your own. While that might help you get some homework points, it will set you up to fail
exams and leave you at a disadvantage in future courses.
Course Accommodations
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations for this course, students must first be
registered with their school Disability Services (DS) office. Detailed information is available online for
both the Columbia and Barnard registration processes.
Refer to the appropriate website for information regarding deadlines, disability documentation
requirements, and drop-in hours (Columbia) / intake session (Barnard).
Students do not need to provide an accommodation letter to the professor or the Physics Department
for this course. Students do not need to have the professor or the Physics Department sign DS Testing
forms for this course.
Please note that accommodations for lab courses are handled separately from lecture and must be
applied for separately.
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6.Technology Requirements and Resources
Technology Requirements
This course will require you to have access to a device with internet access. Some online activities
included in the course are best viewed in a web browser and may require the use of plugins.
Accessibility
Below is a list of the technology and software used in the course, along with links to the accessibility
information.
CourseWorks: https://courseworks.columbia.edu/accessibility.html
WileyPLUS: https://www.wileyplus.com/WileyCDA/about/Accessibility.html
Adobe PDF: https://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/training.html
YouTube: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/189278
Zoom: https://zoom.us/accessibility
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