Required Material

     1.)  TEXTBOOK:
           The course will be based on the book
          College Physics, 10. Edition, by Young, Adams and Chastain
        with Modified Mastering Physics access through eCampus

      2.)  LAB ACCESS:
             Webassign Account

      3.)  optional:
             Student Solutions Manual;  Student Study Guide
 
 

     Scope and Learning Outcomes

  The course will cover basic concepts and applications of Newtonian Mechanics, Thermodynamics
  and Waves+Sound, corresponding to chapters 1-16 in the textbook.
  Upon completion of the course you will understand the basic laws and formulae in the above
  areas and be able to quantitatively apply them to pertinent physical situations and problems and
  solve the latter using algebraic methods.

    Course Grade

    The total course grade is decomposed as follows:

• Final Exam (comprehensive)     :  20%

• 4 Midterm Exams                      :  14% each

• Laboratory Experiments            :  8%

• Recitation (weekly quizzes)       :  6% 

• Online HW (Mastering Physics):  10% 

  If the grade on the final exam is better than on one of the midterm exams, that ONE midterm
 exam grade will be replaced by the average of that midterm and the final.
 This DOES NOT apply to a missed midterm exam (which is counted as zero).
 
 

   Exams

    The exams are closed book, and are held in the classroom (MPHY 203) during standard
    lecture times (except for the Final); you should only bring a pen and pocket calculator,
    capable of evaluating trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan) and logarithms.
   Special preparatory review sessions will usually be held by
    the course instructor on an evening ca. 2-3 days before each exam, see announcements on top
    of page. For files of old exams, see here or here .

    SCHEDULE:
  Midterm 1: Mon Feb 15 in class (MPHY 203, 01:50-02:40pm),
                                     material covered: Chap 1-5
  Midterm 2: Mon Mar 07 in class (MPHY 203, 01:50-02:40pm),
                                     material covered: Chap 6-8
  Midterm 3: Wed Apr 06 in class (MPHY 203, 01:50-02:40pm),
                                     material covered: Chap 9-11
  Midterm 4: Fri Apr 29 in class (MPHY 203, 01:50-02:40pm),
                                     material covered: Chap 12+14-16
  FINAL:   Mon May 09 (MPHY 203, 03:30pm-05:30pm)
                  material covered corresponds to the entire semester (Chap 1-16)
 
 

    Notes on Lectures

    Attendance in the lectures, as well as taking notes of the material presented, is mandatory.
    Furthermore, you are responsible for all announcements made in class (including
    information on review sessions, etc.).
    The material discussed in the lectures, together with the homework problems, essentially
    defines the scope of the exams. Formula sheets to be used in the exams are handed out
    in the lectures at the time the material is started to be discussed (this will allow you to get
    acquainted with the notation well ahead of the exam).
 
 

    Notes on Homework and Recitation

    The weekly assignment of homework problems can be found on your Modified Mastering Physics
    account (through eCampus); the problems are dated, especially the lecture tutorials have tight due
    dates. Cooperative work and discussions are encouraged, but every one of you should generate
    his/her individual solution set. Questions can be addressed to your course or recitation instructor,
    who will be happy to help you (preferably during office hours).
    The semester average on your online HW makes up 10% of your total course grade.
    Recitation attendance is mandatory; each week, a quiz will be given and graded, which will
    determine your recitation grade. The semester average on your recitation quizzes makes up 6%
    of your total course grade.
   
   

    Notes on Laboratory Experiments

    Lab attendance is mandatory. It follows the recitation session of your section each week in
   which an experiment is scheduled. You will conduct the Labs using the Webassign system,
   for which you need online access, see here. It includes a pre-lab assignment, lab experiment
   and post-lab analysis.
   Your Lab-instructor (who is usually the same person as the recitation instructor) will advise you on
   when (typically no more than one week after the experiment) and where the Lab reports are due.
   In certain weeks there are no formal Labs scheduled, but this extra time will be used by the
   recitation instructor to provide additional exam preparation or discussion of the solutions after
   an exam. 
   You are entitled to one make-up lab if you have to miss a regular one due to a University-allowable
   excuse.
   The semester average on your Lab-report grades makes up 8% of your total course grade
   (better than 80% on the Lab grade is mandatory to pass the course).

    Strategy

    To pass the course, you will have to keep up with the material of the course by attending
   the lectures (besides the recitation and Lab) and thoroughly work through the weekly HW
   problems (which, importantly, is the best preparation for exams and recitation quizzes).
   Otherwise, pile-up of not understood material is likely to lead to a failing grade.
   It is impossible to get a passing grade without hard work in this course.
 
 

     AGGIE Honor Code

       An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.
       Also see http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/
       Any type of cheating (copying homework, lab reports,  during exams, etc.) is
       strictly prohibited and seriously penalized.
 
 

    ADA Statement

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination
   statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with
   disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students
   with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
   reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a
   disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of
   Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Cain Hall, Room
   B118 or call 845-1637; for more info see also  http://disability.tamu.edu/
    Department of Student Life, SSD, will review your concerns and determine,
   with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All
   information and documentation concerning disability is kept confidential.
 

      Despite all the above regulations and rules (which are needed for a fair assessment
      of your grades), we hope that you will enjoy this course, and that you will achieve
      knowledge that will be both helpful in your further career and provide deeper insights
     into daily life encounters with physics!
      If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your course/
      recitation instructors who shall be glad to help you!