Physics 2AM – Foothill College
Fall 2015
Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Email:
Office Hours:
Class Website:
Final Date/Time:
David Marasco
marascodavid@foothill.edu
M 9/Th 10 (4405) + W11 F 11 (PSME Center)
www.foothill.edu/~marasco + www.webassign.net
Thursday, December 10, 3:30-:30. Please inform me
immediately if you have a conflict
Required Text & Materials:
1. All readings are at our online website. However, access to any college-level calculus text is useful.
Course Objectives: We will cover how calculus is applied to problems in mechanics.
Course Grade:
Your final grade will be based on the total number of points you receive for the following:
Item
Points
Homework
40
Final Exam
60
You will get homework problems each week. You must take the final either at Foothill, or
at a proctored location approved by the instructor.
I may adjust the curve based on the class results. However, I strive for:
A = 85-100%
C = 72.5-65%
F <60%
B = 72.5-85%
D = 65-60%
Homework:
Cheating:
Homework will be assigned for every chapter. It is expected that you do the homework,
your time in class will be wasted if you are not doing the homework. Do the homework
religiously and don't get behind!
Do not cheat. A score of zero will be given on any assignment/test where cheating is involved.
Any cheating will also result in a referral to college administration. For this class cheating
means: (1) providing to other students answers or partial answers to exam questions, (2)
obtaining from other students answers or partial answers to exam questions, and (3) obtaining
information or direct answers from unauthorized materials during quizzes and exams or labs.
Students who need help in understanding exam questions should consult with me to avoid the
appearance of cheating. Please note that you are encouraged to work with your fellow students
on homework assignments. The key to physics is not “knowing formulas”, but understand how
to properly apply your mathematical tools to physical problems. In light of this fact, the
instructor may allow you to bring in a note card into tests, and if not, a formula sheet will be
provided. I also reserve the right to have “closed calculator” quizzes and exams. A calculator is
the only electronic device you may use on a quiz or exam. No bathroom breaks during exams,
if you leave the room, you are done.
If I believe that a student is cheating, even if I cannot prove it, I will retract any letters
of recommendation for the student, explaining to the party in question why I am retracting my
support.
Physics 2AM – Foothill College
Fall 2015
Disability Statement: Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a
disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. I will work with the Disability Resource
Center to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. For best results this
should be addressed as soon as possible.
Legalities: This course syllabus does not replace the college catalog and the official course outline as the legal
description for this course. This syllabus is only a tool that is being provided by me to assist in your success of
this course.
Amendments to the Green Sheet – It may become necessary to change course policies. If so, this Green Sheet
may be amended by the consent of the instructor and approval of two-thirds of the students present at the class
meeting where the change is discussed. Any change in course policy will be posted in red on the course
website.
I will make myself available as much as possible for those that need extra help. I know that you can all be
successful in this course if you attend lectures, work homework problems, participate strongly in class, work
additional problems, see your instructor if you need extra help, and work more problems. I am looking forward
to a great quarter!
Student Learning Outcomes:
A. The student will be able to apply derivatives to problems in kinematics, dynamics, energy, momentum and
related topics
B. The student will be able to apply integrals to problems in kinematics, dynamics, energy, momentum and
related topics.
C. The student will be able to solve introductory second-order differential equations.