Physics
131, Spring 2006 Classical Physics I
Physics 131 is semester I of a fast paced, two semester long, calculus-based
survey of classical physics. Topics for the first semester (Physics 131)
include: classical mechanics, oscillations, waves, fluid and themodynamics.
The second semester (Physics 132) includes electricity, DC and AC currents,
magnetism & electromagnetic waves, light, optics and a few topics in
modern physics. The course has three lectures per week, accompanied by
a weekly mandatory recitation with quizzes and assigned homework. Home
work is partially ONLINE and the online grades will be counted towards
the final grade. Lectures will have occasional unannounced quizzes
as a teaching tool and as a method of taking attendance.
There is a mandatory laboratory component to this course (Physics 133)
which consists of 2 hour laboratory sessions per week. There are 10
in all this semester. They require performing experiments, doing the analysis
of the data & writing laboratory reports. Submission of ALL laboratory
reports is REQUIRED for passing the course.
There are two midterms and one final examinations. The final grade
will be based on all three of the exams, the laboratory grade, and the
quiz & home work grade, and the lecture grade, by a weighting explained
below.
| Since all aspects of classical physics are covered
in only two semesters,
students should expect a very heavy work load.
Students should be willing to devote 8-12 hrs/week to do the homework and
laboratory reports every week. Students are strongly urged to opt for the
fully
equivalent but slower paced three semester course sequence
Physics
125-126-127. This course is offered at the same hour as Physics
131. Note: Physics 126 and 127 will each be offered
in one of the two summer sessions, 2006 and subsequent years.
If you are confident that your background in mathematics and high school
science is sufficiently strong and that you are able to devote the necessary
time, then good luck and welcome! There is a self-administered diagnostic
test which you should take, to help you figure out whether your preparation
is sufficient to succeed in Phy 131. There is also an honors version
of this course, Physics
141-142, but it is only available once per year, 141 in the fall and
142 in the spring. |
1. Required material:
-
Textbook: University Physics (11th edition) by Young and Freedman;
there are two versions acceptable, the thinner volume 1 and the thicker
combined volume 1 and 2. Volume 2 will be used for Phy 132.
The combined volume will save you $33.75 overall, a better price,
but a heavy weight to carry fir 2 semesters.
-
Mastering Physics student access kit. This may be (check
carefully!) bundled with Young and Freedman 11th edition if you buy it
new. If you buy it used, or if you buy a new copy which does not
have "Mastering Physics" bundled, you have also to purchase the
access kit separately. To do this, go to: http://www.masteringphysics.com/,
click on "Mastering Physics for Young/Freedman University Physics 11e,"
and proceed. The cost of "Mastering Physics" is only $2.70
per semester when you buy a new copy of Young and Freedman University
Physics vol 1 with the access kit included, but is $40 at the
book store ($36 on line) for two semesters of access if you have
to buy a stand-alone copy. To repeat: some new and all used texts
will not contain a valid licence for Mastering Physics.
-
Lab Notebook: (77610 or equivalent). This notebook (available in
the book store, has graph paper and lined paper on alternate sides.)
-
A primitive scientific calculator (with trig functions, log and
exp but without memory or programming or graphing) for homework
problems, laboratories, recitation quizzes, and exams
2. Lecture:
MWF, 8:30-9:25am, Harriman 137
Instructor: Philip B. Allen, Office B-146, phone 632-8179
E-mail: philip.allen@stonybrook.edu
Course Web page: http://felix.physics.sunysb.edu/~allen/131-06;
personal
web page: http://felix.physics.sunysb.edu/~allen/
Office Hours: TBA
You are responsible for all announcements made in lecture, plus unannounced
quizzes given in lecture. Please read the assigned text material
before
it is discussed in lecture. Please feel free
to ask questions in lecture!
Teaching Assistant: tba
Office: Physics C-xxx
Phone: (631)632-xxxx
E-mail: xxx.xxx@xxx
Office Hours: tba
3. Homework:
Every Monday in the lecture a set of homework problems will be assigned.
There are two kinds of homework: Web HW which you do using "Mastering Physics"
and End of Chapter (EoC) HW which you will hand in the following week in
the recitation. One of the homework problems may form the basis of a quiz
during recitation; the lab TA may also give occasional quizzes on lab-related
material.
4. Recitation:
The recitation provides an opportunity for informal discussion of the course
material as well as the homework problems. Attendance in recitation is
mandatory.
5. Laboratory:
Starting the week of January 31, you will perform a set of experiments
illustrating the material discussed in the lecture. After writing up the
result of each experiment you will hand in your lab report to your instructor
at a time to be determined. All lab data and your report must be in your
lab notebook. Your report will be graded and returned to you at the next
lab meeting. There will be point deductions for late hand in. You are expected
to perform and write up all laboratories. Failure to do so will result
in severe deductions from your course grade leading to certain failure
of the course if there are multiple missed labs. Details regarding the
handing in and grading of lab reports will be provided at the first lab
meeting. A schedule
of
laboratory meetings is attached.
6. Exams:
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam on dates indicated on
the attached lab and exam schedule. Midterm exams will be given during
the regular lecture hour. A primitive calculator (without memory,
programming, or graphing) will be allowed during the exam. Formula
sheets will NOT be attached to the exam and are forbidden. A set of all
necessary formulas will be posted on the web prior to any exam, and the
important ones should be memorized. Exams will include the need to
extract information from a graph and/or present it on a graph. Exams
will also include questions related to experiments done in the lab.
Practice
problems and their detailed solutions will also be posted.
7. Grade:
Your final grade will be determined by weighting the various portions of
the course as follows:
| Each Midterm |
--- |
14% |
| Final exam |
--- |
32% |
| Lecture |
--- |
4% |
| Web-HW |
--- |
6% |
| Recitation |
--- |
10% |
| Laboratory |
--- |
20% |
8. Help:
The course instructors will be available during office hours and by appointment
for help with questions related to your homework problems and and/or general
understanding of the course material. For questions concerning the laboratory
you should see your laboratory instructor. You are encouraged to come and
ask questions; we are here to help you master the course material. ABOVE
ALL - do not get behind; it is very difficult to catch up in a Physics
course. We urge you to seek help at office hours as soon as you have any
difficulty, not just before exams.
You can find the office hours of all recitation instructors and TAs
at the following link
Office
hours
9. Course schedule:
You can find the course schedule (including labs and exams) on the following
link:
Schedule
for Physics 131, Spring 2006
For your information.
If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that
may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services
(631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary
and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students requiring emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their
needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures
and information, go to the following web site http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/
Last updated January 22, 2006