General Physics I (PH 101, Sect. 001)
Spring 2006


Instructor: Pieter Visscher (227 Bevill, 348-4337; 217 Gallalee, 348-3773; visscher@ua.edu)
Graduate Assistant: Igor Ostrovskiy (102 Gallalee, iostrovskiy@bama.ua.edu)
Undergraduate Assistant: Haynes Haselmaier (hasel001@bama.ua.edu)
Class website http://bama.ua.edu/~visscher/PH101 (if you are reading this online you are already here)
Time and place: 2-hour studio sessions: 10-11:50 Monday & Wednesday, 203 Gallalee

1-hour recitation: Friday 10-10:50 PM, 203 Gallalee
Office hours: 227 Bevill: Monday 2-3 PM
217 Gallalee: Wednesday 3-3:45
Other times, you are welcome to stop in if I am in.
GTA office hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 1-2 PM
Text used: Serway & Faughn, College Physics (Seventh Edition)
Prerequisite: Math 100
Credit: 4 hours

Learning Objectives:
During this course, students should develop a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the description of motion and the nature of forces. The class will introduce concepts of momentum, energy, rotation, oscillations, the properties of fluids, heat, and waves. The students will develop their problem solving skills.

Class Format:
The course will emphasize fundamental concepts and problem-solving techniques in physics using interactive instruction, computer-based techniques, and cooperative learning. There will be no separate lab and lecture section. The course will be team taught by a faculty member (Visscher) and a graduate teaching assistant (Ostrovskiy). During classes on Monday and Wednesday (two hours each) there will be a mix of short lectures and group activities. The group activities will include lab experiments, mostly using the computer for data acquisition and analysis, and other short exercises, for example computer simulations. The one-hour Friday class is referred to as a `recitation' and will be devoted to problem solving and occasional quizzes, except on the exam dates given below.

The tentative schedule of in-class activities is on the web at bama.ua.edu/~visscher/PH101/schedule.htm, and contains links to worksheets for most of these activities.  Students are expected to print out and read this worksheet BEFORE each class -- they should not expect to be able to print out a copy in the classroom.

Mathematical preparation:
It is expected that you be able to use algebra and trigonometry. If you are not certain that your preparation is adequate, an online assessment is available as part of a free trial at http://www.aleks.com. You need to click on "Adult and Continuing Education" and then "math for college physics". If you find you are not well prepared, this service can be used (for a fee) as a tutorial to help get you prepared.

Homework:
Problems are assigned weekly and are normally due at 11 PM each Wednesday.  Late homework will not be accepted. Every set of homework problems will count 10 points. The problem solutions must be submitted on the web using a service called WebAssign at the website webassign.net. You can access WebAssign using any web browser.  On this page, choose "Log In". You will be prompted for your username (this is the same as your Bama username, i.e. your email address minus the "@bama.ua.edu"), your Institution (this is "ua") and your password (initially, this is your student ID, but you should change it.)  On the first day of class you should make sure you can log in, and you should do the first  (actually zeroeth) homework assignment, which consists of just one problem.  Use of WebAssign is free with a new textbook (you will be prompted to enter an access code that is packed with the textbook).  If you didn't buy a new textbook you need to buy an access code (available on their website.)

WebAssign will give you instant feedback on the correctness of your solution and students can resubmit solutions. The numbers in the problem are different for each student and will be changed when a solution is resubmitted.
It is important to understand how to work a problem and not just copy the answer. Students must keep a notebook (or loose pages) showing their actual work on each problem and be prepared to turn this in for spot grading if requested. Although students may collaborate when working problems, each student must keep a record of problem solutions (not just answers) and should submit their own answers, based on the particular numbers that iLrn gives them for each of their problems.

You are not required to use the "Physics Now" tutorial website mentioned in the textbook, although you might find it useful.  I would be interested in feedback on whether you think this is useful to you or not.

It is essential that you read the textbook, as the lectures will not cover all the material. To encourage you to read the text, there will occasionally be short assignments (consisting of one problem) on the reading, to be done on WebAssign, and due at the beginning of the studio period (10 AM).  These will be announced at the previous studio period. 

Exams:

There will be three one hour exams: Friday, Feb. 10 (10-10:50 AM), March 10 (10-10:50 AM), and April 14 (10-10:50 AM). The comprehensive final exam is scheduled for Thursday May 11 (11:30 am to 2:00 pm).

Grading

Homework problems will be due each Wednesday (11PM deadline) unless otherwise announced.  (The due date can be determined from the WebAssign site.)  In-class work will be collected at the end of each class period, unless there is insufficient time, in which case it will be announced that they are due at the next class meeting instead.  This will count as part of the course grade. Not all in-class work will be graded in detail.  Thus, class attendance is very important. There will be no makeup of missed class work. The two lowest in-class activity and the two lowest recitation grades will be dropped when computing the final course grade.  This will allow a limited number of missed classes regardless of the reason. Each exam problem will be assigned a point value.  Exams will be graded on a numerical scale in which the average A is 4.0 and the average C is 2.0, etc.  All numerical grades will be converted to letter grades according to the University of Alabama's four-point scale. 

Attendance and Makeup Policy:
Students are expected to attend all classes. Regular attendance is a crucial element in being able to pass the exams. Studies have shown a clear and direct correlation of attendance with grades. This includes the recitation session on Friday -- short quizzes will be given at many of these, which will determine the recitation grade.
It is expected that each student will take all three in-class examinations, all in-class quizzes and exercises, and the final examination. However, at the instructor's discretion one missed 50-minute exam may be excused for valid documented cause (death in family, illness, etc.) The written excuse must be presented BEFORE the exam, unless this is impossible (e. g., in case of sudden acute illness), in which case the excuse must be presented as soon as possible afterwards. No makeup exams are given -- the final grade will be based on other exams.  

Academic Misconduct

Students are expected to follow The University of Alabama's Code of Student Conduct. All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. In particular each student is expected to do his/her own work on quizzes and exams. Suspected violators of this policy will be referred to the Dean's Office in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are encouraged to work together when studying and preparing for homework, but must do and submit the homework independently.

Disability Accommodations

To request disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services (348-4285). After initial arrangements are made with that office, contact Dr. Visscher.