Syllabus for PHY 201-103 (4023) Fall 2007
Dr. Howard Richards
Science 277 MWF 1:00-1:50
696-6466 Physics201@computationalphysics.us
Dr. Howard L. Richards
Office: Science 105
Phone: (304) 696-6466
Office Hrs: M-F 10-11:50; M 2-2:50
*
; or by appointment
E-mail: Physics201@computationalphysics.us
College Physics, 7th ed., by Raymond A. Serway, Jerry S. Faughn, Chris Vuille, and Charles A. Bennett, Thompson, 2006, ISBN: 0-534-99723-6.
201-203 General Physics. 3 hrs. I, II, S.
A course in general physics for all science majors with the exception of physics and engineering majors. 3 lec. (PR: MTH 127 or 130 and
MTH 122 or 132; CR: PHY 202 and 204 for 201 and 203, respectively;
201 must precede 203)
This course is the first half of a one-year introductory course in physics that uses algebra and trigonometry but not calculus. It is designed for students having their main interest in Biology, (Pre)Medicine, Architecture, Technology, or the Earth and Environmental Sciences. At the end of this course the student should be able to apply physics to solve simple problems in mechanics, including vibrations, waves and sound and problems involving kinetic theory and thermodynamics.
The method of instruction in this class involves feedback from the class, in consequence of which not all material may be treated fully. Priority will be given to the earlier chapters, which are essential to any understanding of later material.

Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories – such as the conservation of momentum, the conservation of energy, and the 0 th —2 nd Laws of
Thermodynamics

Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends) .
Terminology examples: the scientific, rather than popular, meanings of
“momentum”, “energy”, “impulse”, and “force”. Method examples: discovering multiple ways to solve the same problem, such as energy conservation rather than
Newton’s Laws to find velocity at the bottom of a slide.

Learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions).

Developing specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by professionals in the field most closely related to this course (including preparing for the MCAT).
* Office hours are subject to change, with notice given in class and on the web page. The instructor will make a serious effort to be in his office during office hours, but circumstance will sometimes require him to be elsewhere. Students are strongly urged to make appointments in advance when possible.
1 http://www.computationalphysics.us/courses/phy201/fall07/

Syllabus for PHY 201-103 (4023) Fall 2007
Dr. Howard Richards
Science 277 MWF 1:00-1:50
696-6466 Physics201@computationalphysics.us http://www.computationalphysics.us/courses/phy201/fall07/ 2

Syllabus for PHY 201-103 (4023) Fall 2007
Dr. Howard Richards
Science 277 MWF 1:00-1:50
696-6466 Physics201@computationalphysics.us
10% Attendance
10% Warm-ups & Puzzles
10% Homework from Textbook
30% Online Homework
40% Exams
A = 90+
B = 75-90 -
C = 60-75 -
D = 50-60 -
Students making a score of less than 1/2 the class average on the final exam will fail the class.
If the class average is 80, you must make at least a 40 to pass. The final exam must be taken – a zero is certainly less than 1/2 the class average.
"W" withdrawal period begins Monday, August 27
Computer Services Unavailable September 1—3
Labor Day
Exam 1
Exam 2
Monday, September 3
Friday, September 28
†
Wednesday, October 24
†
Last day to drop individual course Friday, October 26
Thanksgiving Break
Exam 3
November 19—24
Monday, November 26
†
Dead Week
Last day to drop ALL courses
Wed., Nov. 28—Tues., Dec. 4
Tuesday, December 4
Final Exam Friday, December 7, 12:45—2:45

Online Homework : Part of the homework will be assigned and graded using the
University of Texas Homework Service at https://hw.utexas.edu
. This part of the homework will typically consist of 10—15 problems or questions.
o TO REGISTER AS A STUDENT START AT https://hw.utexas.edu/bur/studentGuestEID.html
and obtain a UT EID.
(You should not need to do this if you have used the UT service before.) o Next, register with this class. The “unique number” for PHY 201 is
35201 . (West Virginia was the 35 th
state in the Union.) o On most weeks, the online homework will be due at 11am on Monday.
The first online assignment is due at 11am on August 27. o Always try the practice problems before attempting the graded homework!

Homework from Textbook : Each homework set will include 1 or 2 problems from the textbook. o These problems must be worked out in full detail , showing a logical sequence of steps . Getting the correct answer is less important than showing the correct technique! Define variables; keep units throughout calculations; draw free-body diagrams or other illustrations when appropriate. Give equation numbers from the textbook when available. o Textbook problems will be due at the beginning of class , typically each
Monday. Problems 6, p. 19, and 32, p. 20, are due August 27.
†
Dates for Exams 1—3 are tentative and subject to change. http://www.computationalphysics.us/courses/phy201/fall07/ 3

Syllabus for PHY 201-103 (4023) Fall 2007
Dr. Howard Richards
Science 277 MWF 1:00-1:50
696-6466 Physics201@computationalphysics.us
Warm-ups and puzzles are meant to be challenging but low-stress problems that allow the instructor to see how well the class understands the material and what mistakes might be common. These are graded for participation only, but students are expected to make an honest attempt at the problems. Each assignment will be assigned a grade of Satisfactory (10 points: an honest attempt was made, regardless of whether the answer was correct), Unsatisfactory (4 points: a careless or sloppy attempt was made), or No Attempt (0 points: nothing was submitted, or submission did not demonstrate even an unsatisfactory effort). The average of the assignment grades will contribute to the course grade. Warm-ups will be assigned for material that the student should have read, but which has not been discussed in class yet; puzzles are for material which has already been discussed.
Each hour exam will cover the material presented since the last hour exam, but note that mastery of earlier concepts and methods may be necessary to complete later problems. The final exam is comprehensive. All exams will contain both multiple-choice and complete-answer problems, but with greater weight to complete solutions than in the homework.
The contribution of the exams to the course grade is calculated as follows. All hours exams count as one exam unit each, but the final exam counts as 2 exam units. The lowest exam unit (perhaps a zero for a missed exam) will be dropped.
If this is the final exam, this means that the final exam carries only the same weight as an hour exam (but remember the requirement to make ½ the class average). The average score on the remaining exam units is used in computing the course grade.
Students are expected to be on-time and present for all class meetings.
An attendance record will be maintained, with possible entries of P resent, E xcused,
T ardy, and A bsent. The 10% of the course grade related to attendance is calculated as follows: the student will receive the smaller value of 10% or
12%-(number of absences + 0.5×number of tardies) .
Please see pages 128—130 of the 2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog for university policies on attendance, excused absences, and make-up work. Excused absences will also be granted for documented cases of personal illnesses that are contagious or distracting (such as ones that involve nausea) or for documented cases of family illness where the student is an important caregiver. No excused absences will be given without documentation. No excused absences will be given for moderate misfortunes, such as flat tires; this is why up to 2 absences will be
“forgiven” without being “excused”. http://www.computationalphysics.us/courses/phy201/fall07/ 4

Syllabus for PHY 201-103 (4023) Fall 2007
Dr. Howard Richards
Science 277 MWF 1:00-1:50
696-6466 Physics201@computationalphysics.us
At some time within the first 5 minutes of class, the instructor will lock the door.
Roll will be called, and all students present at that time will be marked P resent.
After roll, the door will be unlocked, and any student arriving between that point and midway though the class period will be marked tardy. (Reasonable accommodation will be made for students with documented mobility problems.)
Any student arriving after the midpoint of the class period will be marked absent.
If, however, the arrival of tardy students becomes disruptive in the opinion of the instructor, he reserves the right to leave the door locked, so that “tardy” ceases to be an option. If this becomes necessary, the instructor will announce in class that it will begin the next class period, and will remain in effect for the remainder of the semester.
Students will also be marked absent if they are discovered leaving class without permission after roll call but before the end of class.
Students with excused absences will be given make-up tests, usually shortly after the rest of the class takes the test. These tests will be similar in difficulty to the regular tests, but will have different questions/problems. Any student arriving so late for a test that at least one person has finished the test will not be allowed to take that test (and will be marked A bsent for that day). Make-up tests for students with unexcused absences will be considered only for the final exam, and then on a case-by-case basis.
Online homework will generally be due for students with excused absences at the same time as for the rest of the class, with exceptions for unforeseen or lengthy disruptions (such as hospitalization). Homework from the textbook should be turned in early if possible, or as soon as possible after the due date. Warm-ups and puzzles are time-sensitive, so they will simply be dropped from the averages when they cannot be completed due to an excused absence.
See pages 95 and 96 of the 2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog for information on the University’s inclement weather policy.
Disorderly conduct that interferes with the normal classroom atmosphere will not be tolerated.
The classroom instructor is the judge of such behavior and may instruct a disorderly student to leave the room with an unexcused absence.
More serious misconduct may result in a complaint to the Office of Judicial
Affairs. “Official University action will be taken when a student’s or student group’s behavior violates community standards, interferes either with the
University’s educational purpose, or with its duty to protect and preserve individual health, welfare, and property. When the behavior is aggravated or presents a continuing danger to the University community, accused students are subject to separation from the institution.” ‡
‡
Student Handbook , available at www.marshall.edu/student-affairs/sections/handbook/INDEX.HTML
http://www.computationalphysics.us/courses/phy201/fall07/ 5

Syllabus for PHY 201-103 (4023) Fall 2007
Dr. Howard Richards
Science 277 MWF 1:00-1:50
696-6466 Physics201@computationalphysics.us
As a rule, no food or drink is allowed in the classroom. Speak to the instructor beforehand if you need an exception for medical or other serious reasons.
All cell phones must be turned off before the beginning of class unless special permission is granted by the instructor. In that case, the cell phone must be set to silent ring mode, and the student must leave the classroom to answer any call. If a cell phone rings during class, the student may be required to leave class that day and be marked absent.
“Academic Dishonesty is something that will not be tolerated as these actions are fundamentally opposed to ‘assuring the integrity of the curriculum through the maintenance of rigorous standards and high expectations for student learning and performance’ as described in Marshall University’s Statement of Philosophy.” §
Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty will bring serious sanctions, including possible expulsion, as described in pages 106—109 of the 2007-08
Undergraduate Catalog.
Cheating on an exam will result at minimum in failing the entire course.
You may work together on practice problems (which are not graded), but do your own work on both online and textbook homework .
Students needing special accommodation must provide documentation. For more information, see http://www.marshall.edu/disabled/Documentation.htm
. Such students are also strongly encouraged to seek assistance from an appropriate university office, such as
 the Office of Disabled Student Services, Prichard Hall, Room 117, (304)
696-2271, http://www.marshall.edu/disabled/ ;
 the H igher E ducation for L earning P roblems program in Myers Hall,
(304) 696-6252, http://www.marshall.edu/help/ ;
 the Autism Center, (304) 696-2332, http://www.marshall.edu/coe/atc/ ; or
 the Student Athlete Program (for sports-related disabilities).
Eligible students should make arrangements with the instructor in the first week of the semester about special arrangements needed for classroom or testing facilities and procedures to accommodate the disability. In addition, students with medical conditions, temporary or permanent, that may require special attention
(including epilepsy) should inform the instructor.
Your privacy will be respected.
§
Ibid. http://www.computationalphysics.us/courses/phy201/fall07/ 6