Engineering 203
Mechanics of Materials
Spring 2015
Prerequisites: Statics, ENGR 201 with a 2.0
Textbook:
Mechanics of Materials, Beer, Johnston, DeWolf & Mazurek, Fourth edition, 2003
Instructor:
Mark Gorski
Bldg 18 Room 114
Phone 533-3250
Office Hours: 9:30 – 10:20 M – F or by appointment
e-mail: mark.gorski@sfcc.spokane.edu
Purpose:
Mechanics of Materials, also known as Strength of Materials, is a logical sequence to the
Statics course. In Statics the student learned to analyze the forces acting on a body. In
Mechanics of Materials the student will learn how large the body must be to support the load.
Coverage:
Will include the following but not be limited to:
Materials:
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Axial stress and strain, Mohr’s circle
Shear and moment diagrams
Stresses in beams and beam design
Beam deflections
Torsion in circular sections
Column theory
Combined loading
Connection failures
Indeterminate structures
Computer solutions to problems
Pencil and pen
Three-ring notebook – required - containing this syllabus, all your homework and notes.
Engineering computation paper
Assignments: To be announced
Homework: You can plan on two hours of work outside of class for every hour in class. One or two
homework problems are usually assigned daily. Work is subject to pickup after one day of
grace (i.e. assigned on Tuesday, due on Thursday). Homework is viewed as practice for the
method and principle that was explained during class. You are encouraged/required to
compare your work with your classmates.
Homework is graded on neatness, format, effort, completeness, and accuracy. Work must
be done in the correct format, stand alone, be neat, and have step-by-step calculations (see
the homework example). Problems are to be done on engineering computation paper, one
side only and, generally, one problem to a page. You can be sure of a full 10 points if the
problem is correct and laid out completely with the step by step procedure.
No late homework is accepted unless you have previously called (emailed) telling me that
you are sick or some other valid reason. Homework points count the same as quiz points. If
you don’t do the homework you will not pass this class.
Quizzes:
Quizzes are normally given weekly and will consist of one or two homework type problems.
Quizzes are viewed as your proof that you can produce in a timely manner, i.e. practice on
the homework and produce on the quizzes. Timely means that you may not have the time
that you feel was needed. Answers must be supported by work.
In addition, I may give reading quizzes over assigned reading prior to the material being
discussed. You are expected to read assignments and to know something. Usually these are
true or false, knowing concepts and definition of terms. My expectation is that you should be
able to get 10 out of 15 points on quizzes of this type. These reading quizzes will be given in
the first ten minutes of class – if you are late, you miss the quiz.
Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive (over the entire quarter) and be individual. This is a
instrument to assess your knowledge of the subject matter – it is not a learning tool. You will
not get it back and we will not go over it. Your work must be neat, complete, and make
sense. All answers must be supported by your work. It is scheduled for Thursday, 18 June.
Grading:
(Tentative)
Homework 45%
Quizzes 35%
Comprehensive Final Exam 20%
I use a total points grading method. This means that points on homework, quizzes, and the
final all count for the same. You should keep track of your total points and percentage and I
will try to give you your current percentage after each quiz.
As a general rule, there are no make-ups for quizzes or homework. Students are expected to
attend each class. If you are sick, call my office (or email) and leave a message before class.
Grades will be assigned based on the percent of the total points that you earn, as follows:
100%
92%... 3.6
84%... 3.0
76%... 2.3
68% ... 1.6
Additionally, must
99%
91%
83%
75%... 2.2
67%
take every quiz and
98%
90%... 3.5
82%... 2.9
74%... 2.1
66% ... 1.5
must score at least
97%... 4.0
89%
81%... 2.8
73%
65%
60% on the final in
96%... 3.9
88%... 3.4
80%... 2.7
72%... 2.0
64% ... 1.4
order to get a 2.0 for
95%... 3.8
87%... 3.3
79%... 2.6
71%... 1.9
63% ... 1.3
the course.
94%... 3.7
86%... 3.2
78%... 2.5
70% ... 1.8
62% ... 1.2
93%
85%... 3.1
77%... 2.4
69% ... 1.7
61% ... 1.1
60%... 1.0
Additional:
Turn off all cell phones before entering class.
All material turned in for grading (exams, quizzes, homework) must be done in pencil - not
pen. Homework is to be labeled neatly, with answers circled or underlined Any work that is
not done neatly will be returned without being graded.
If you have a handicap that requires some special consideration, please let me know so that
you can be accommodated.
Please, no eating during class. Drinking coffee or pop is okay as long as you clean up your
mess.
If you terminate your participation without officially withdrawing your final grade will be
0.0.
Cheating:
The definition of cheating is any unfair advantage over your classmates. Having copies of
homework or quizzes from past years is an unfair advantage. Comparing homework
answers and methods is encouraged. Copying another’s homework is cheating.