My approach is to teach physics as much as possible through examples of things that are important, interesting, or that will be important to you later on (like when taking the MCAT). I assume that you have a good chance to become an outstanding leader in your field (president or CEO of a corporation, teacher, lawyer, politician, physician, etc.), and that this is my chance to teach you the fundamental physics that you will want and need to know not only for later courses at the university but though out your professional career.
Concurrent enrollment in PHY 1214L (General Physics II Laboratory) is required. It is assumed that everyone has memorized by now all the mathematical definitions and formulae of Appendix E of your textbook.
It is assumed that everyone has successfully completed a course in college algebra and trigonometry or their equivalent and is able to use the mathematical definitions and formulae of Appendices A through E of your textbook. I expect everyone to have and be able to use a scientific calculator and to be comfortable with scientific notation. You should also have a working knowledge of the basic metric system (If drug dealers can learn to use it, so can we).
Physics,
6th Ed.by John D. Cutnell and Kenneth W. Johnson
John Wiley Publishing, New York, 2004
ISBN 0-471-15183-1
You will need to get your own copy since there will be regularly assigned readings as well as homework problems assigned from it.
The lab will meet at its scheduled time for an orientation session the first meeting. You will need to bring a copy of your lab manual: Physics Laboratory Manual for PHY 1214L and PHY 2114L, Version 2.4, by the UCO Physics and Engineering Faculty. Each student must have their own manual since each experiment has tear-out sheets that are turned in with the general report at the end of each lab. Photocopies are not acceptable. You are responsible for bringing the lab manual to each lab. The lab manual is available only from
- Advanced Printing
- 500 East 2nd Street
A multiple-choice comprehensive final exam will be given on the scheduled date for this course — Monday, August 2 @ 10:30-12:30 PM. The final exam cannot be given early or late to accommodate individual schedules. The final will consist of two parts. The first part will be over material since the last hour exam and, in effect, be a third hour exam. The second part will consist of problems covering material that you have been tested over previously. Students who miss the final exam should contact their instructor as soon as possible and no later than the last day of finals week to schedule a makeup exam. If a university emergency occurs that prevents the administration of a final examination, the students final course grade will be calculated based on the work in the course completed to that point in time and the faculty member’s considered judgment. Final exams will not be rescheduled, and a grade of "I" will not be given as a result of the missed exam.
Each exam will consist of multiple-choice problems similar to those assigned in the homework and like those some of you will encounter on the MCAT.
Your course grade will be based on the following:
- 20% Lab
- 15% Homework
- 5% Course Notebook
- 20% First Hour Exam
- 20% Second Hour Exam
- 20% Final Exam
- A ≥ 90% > B ≥ 80% > C ≥ 70% > D ≥ 60% > F .
For each lecture you will need to have a one to two page entry in your notebook. Begin each entry at the top of a new page with the lecture date and title. Try to be succinct but thorough, since you will be allowed to use this course notebook on each exam.
Your course notebook will contribute a small portion toward your course grade (5%) and your instructor will collect your course notebooks periodically during the semester for evaluation.
It is recommended that you use the following procedure for preparing your course notebook:
- Before coming to lecture, read over the sections from the textbook as indicated in the course schedule.
- Attend lecture and take notes as you normally would for any class.
- After lecture, study the related textbook sections.
- Summarize the lecture and textbook material and record it neatly in your course notebook.
INSTRUCTOR
My official office hours: MW, 1:00-2:00 PM and TR, 3:00-4:00 PM in my office (Howell Hall 221H). Other times by mutual arrangement (email or telephone to arrange).
Official hours are as listed above, but I am usually around from 9-4 each day during the week whenever I am not teaching class or at other scheduled meetings. Please feel free to come by any time especially if you want to talk about physics or school. I would ask you, however, to avoid the hour just before I teach a class if at all possible. Take your chances and drop by unannounced or telephone or email to arrange.
Each homework problem will be graded as follows: 0 (if you didn't attempt it), 1 (if you attempted it, but did a poor job), 2 (if you did a good job, but there were a few details that either weren't quite right or were missing), or 3 (if you did an exceptionally good job). After I grade each homework assignment and return it to you, I will post solutions to the homework on this web site.
Late homeworks are usually not accepted, unless there is an extraordinarily good excuse. The fact that you had an exam in some other class the next day, or a huge project, is not extraordinary.
We have a lot of material to cover, so we will get off to a running start. The following Homework Assignment is due the by noon on Friday June 11.
HW #0 - Go to the following link and complete the survey, GP 2 Survey.