Syllabus

Personnel

Course Coordinator:	Michael R Thoennessen, Tibor F Nagy
Instructor:	Juan Carlos Zamora Cardona
Teaching Assistant:	Jesse Joseph Sakstrup, Felix Ndayisabye, Juan Carlos Zamora Cardona, Adam Eric Johnson, Samuel August Sheler Edwards

Instructor Information

Section 001: Dr. Tibor F. Nagy.
Homepage: http://www.pa.msu.edu/~nagy_t/
Office: BPS 1253.
Phone: (517) 884-5508.
Email: nagy_t@pa.msu.edu or nagytibo@msu.edu.
Office hour: Tuesday noon-1:00 PM, BPS 1248.

Section 002: Dr. Michael Thoennessen
Homepage: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/~thoennes
Office: Cyclotron 2016
Phone: (517) 908 7323
Email: thoennessen@frib.msu.edu.
Office hour: Wednesday, 1-2pm, Cyclotron 2016

Teaching Assistants: Felix Ndayisabye (ndayisab@msu.edu), Samuel August Sheler Edwards (edwar506@msu.edu), Adam Eric Johnson (john3604@msu.edu), Jesse Joseph Sakstrup (sakstrup@msu.edu).

Course Description

PHY 231 is an algebra-based general physics class, recommended for a variety of majors. Topics include: kinematics, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy, momentum and collisions, oscillations, rotational motion, gravitation, solids and fluids, waves and sound, temperature, heat, thermodynamics.

Prerequisites

MTH 103 or MTH 116 or MTH 124 or MTH 132 or LBS 117.

Class Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Room: BPS 1410.
Section 001 (Nagy): 3:00-3:50 PM,
Section 002 (Thoennessen): 4:10-5:00 PM.

Helproom Hours

Physics help room: BPS 1248. Teaching Assistants: Felix Ndayisabye (ndayisab@msu.edu), Samuel August Sheler Edwards (edwar506@msu.edu), Adam Eric Johnson (john3604@msu.edu), Jesse Joseph Sakstrup (sakstrup@msu.edu).
Hours: Friday: noon-3:00 PM: Samuel; 3:30-6:30 PM: Felix; 4:00-7:00 PM: Jesse.
Monday: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM: Adam; 1:00-4:00 PM: Samuel; 3:30-6:00PM, 7:00-9:00 PM: Felix; 4:30-5:30 PM Jesse.
Tuesday: 1:00-6:00 PM, 7:00-9:00 PM: Felix; 1:00-5:00 PM: Jesse; 2:00-6:00 PM: Adam; 5:00-7:00 PM: Samuel.

You are also encouraged to use the discussion board inside LON-CAPA. If you don't understand a problem, or you need help, just click on the "Post Discussion" link and post your question. If you know the answer to somebody else's question, just don't be afraid to post your answer. Don't forget: The best way to learn is to teach. (Doscendo discimus.)

Project Information

Honors option: Honors option is not be available for PHY 231.

Exam Information

For each exam, each student should bring a picture ID, two #2 pencils, an eraser, a calculator with fresh batteries. (Graphing calculators are allowed, but not necessary.) On the exams the students must work individually and rules and procedures regarding academic dishonesty are strictly applied without exceptions.

Students with disabilities or other circumstances that require special arrangements should inform their instructors as soon as possible (ideally in the first two weeks) and well ahead of the exams so that proper arrangements can be made. Please present the instructor with your RCPD form.

Make-ups: Attendance of a make-up exam requires advance approval from the instructor and evidence of a serious conflict (e.g. Doctor, Dean, Coach etc) must be provided at least one week before the exam date. In case of sickness where you cannot contact us 1 week in advance, you should inform us at least prior to the actual exam time. As a rule, make-up exams are scheduled BEFORE the regular exam dates.

Exam #1: February 08, Wednesday, lecture hour and room: BPS 1410.
Exam #2: March 15, Wednesday, lecture hour and room: BPS 1410.
Exam #3: April 12, Wednesday, lecture hour and room: BPS 1410.
Final exam: May 01, Monday, 8:00-10:00 PM, location: Section 001: VMC E100; Section 002: BPS 1410.

On the midterm exams a two-sided handwritten help sheet is allowed together with the sheets from the previous midterm exams. On the final exam the three two-sided help sheets from the midterms together with a fourth two-sided sheet are allowed.

Deadlines

Homework is located online at the loncapa.msu.edu website. The homework sets will be available at least 10 days before they are due. All homework will be due at 11:59 PM on the days given below. Corrections will open up on Thursday afternoon, one day after the exams; and they will be due on the next Tuesdays at 11:59 PM.

Clicker Registration: January 17th, Tuesday.
Set 0: January 17th, Tuesday.
Attitude Survey (pre): January 18th, Wednesday.
Concept Test (pre): January 19th, Thursday.
Set 1: Chapter 2: January 24th, Tuesday.
Set 2: Chapter 3: January 31st, Tuesday.
Set 3: Chapter 4: February 7th, Tuesday.
Correction #1: February 14th, Tuesday.
Set 04: Chapters 5 and 6: February 21st.
Set 05: Chapter 7: February 28th, Tuesday.
***** Spring Break *****
Set 06: Chapter 8: March 14th, Tuesday.
Correction #2: March 21st, Tuesday.
Set 07: Chapters 9 and 10: March 28th, Tuesday.
Set 08: Chapter 11: April 4th, Tuesday.
Set 09: Chapter 12: April 11th, Tuesday.
Correction #3: April 18th, Tuesday.
Attitude Survey (post): April 26th, Wednesday.
Concept Test (post): April 27th, Thursday.
Set 10: Chapters 13 and 14: April 28th, Friday.

Grading Information

Percent weights: Homework: 20%. Three midterm exams: 3x15% = 45%. Final exam: 30%, Attitude Survey: 1+1=2%, Concept Tests: 1+1=2%. Clicker questions: 4%. Total: 103%.

Clicker questions: Correct answer: 3 points. Incorrect answer: 1 point. Not present: zero point. There are no make-ups for the clicker questions.

Homework: Every homework question is worth 1 point.

Midterm exams: Maximum score on each midterm: 50 points. The midterm exams will have correction exams as a homework. 30% of the positive difference between the correction exam and the in-class exam will be added to your in-class exam score as bonus. For example, if you got 35 points on the midterm and got 46 points on the correction exam, you new total will be 35 + (0.3)*(46-35) = 38.3. In this case, if you got less than 35 points on the correction exam your total would still be 35.

Final Exam: Maximum score on the final: 100 points. The final exam will not have correction.

Grading scale:
4.0 >= 94%,
3.5 >= 86%,
3.0 >= 78%,
2.5 >= 70%,
2.0 >= 62%,
1.5 >= 54%,
1.0 >= 46%,
0.0 < 46%.

This grading scale might be lowered, but it will not be raised.

The Spartan Code of Honor: As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do.

Textbook

Andrew Rex, Richard Wolfson: Essential College Physics, Volume 1, 1st edition, 2010. ISBN-10: 0-321-61116-0, ISBN-13: 978-0-321-61116-1.
We will use i-clicker in this class.