Syllabus

Personnel

Course Coordinator:

Tibor F Nagy, Corey E Musolff, Martin M Berz

Instructor Information

PHY 183B: Dr. Tibor Nagy
Office: BPS 1253, Phone: (517) 884-5508,
Email: nagy_t@pa.msu.edu or nagytibo@msu.edu,
Web: http://www.pa.msu.edu/~nagy_t/.

PHY 233B: Professor Martin Berz
Office: BPS 3253, Phone: (517)285-8562.
Email: berz@msu.edu.
Web: http://bt.pa.msu.edu/berz
Office hours: by appointment

Support: Dr. Corey Musolff
Email: musolffc@msu.edu.

Teaching Assistants: Dhruva Kadiyala (kadiyal9@msu.edu), Logan Maier (maierlog@msu.edu), Benjamin Geoffrey Sims (simsben1@msu.edu).

Course Description

PHY 183B: on-line calculus-based physics course, for students majoring in engineering or physical sciences. Topics include: kinematics, Newtonian dynamics, work, energy, power, conservation of energy and momentum, system of particles, circular motion, rotational motion, static equilibrium, gravity, solids and fluids, harmonic oscillations, wave motion and sound.

PHY 233B: bridging course from the algebra based PHY 231 (or equivalent) class to the calculus based PHY 183 class. Topics include: kinematics, Newtonian dynamics, work, energy, power, conservation of energy, momentum, system of particles, circular motion, rotational motion, static equilibrium, gravity, solids and fluids, harmonic oscillations, waves and sound.

Prerequisites

For PHY 183B: Calculus I: MTH 132 or MTH 152H or LBS 118.

For PHY 233B: PHY 231(C) and MTH 132.

Helproom Hours

Physics help room: BPS 1248.

Teaching Assistants: Dhruva Kadiyala (kadiyal9@msu.edu), Logan Maier (maierlog@msu.edu), Benjamin Geoffrey Sims (simsben1@msu.edu).

Help Room hours:
Tuesday: 4:00-7:00 PM: Logan, 6:00-9:00 PM: Dhruva.
Wednesday: 1:00-4:00 PM: Ben, 4:00-7:00 PM: Logan.
Thursday: 1:00-4:00 PM: Ben and Dhruva.

Project Information

Honors option is not be available for this class.

Exam Information

Exam #1: February 13th, Thursday, 5:10-6:10 PM, VMC E100.
Exam #2: March 19th, Thursday, 5:00-10:00 PM, 60 minutes ONLINE.
Exam #3: April 16th, Thursday, 8:00-10:00 PM, 60 minutes ONLINE.
PHY 183B Final Exam: April 27th, Monday, 120 minutes ONLINE between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM EDT.
PHY 233B does NOT have a final exam.

Maximum score on each midterm exam: 50 points. A one-sided, hand-written, 8.5 by 11 inch US letter sized help sheet is allowed on each midterm plus the help sheet(s) from the previous midterm(s). The midterm exams will have corrections as a homework: 30% of the positive difference between the correction and the exam will be added to your exam score as bonus. The corrections are optional. The corrections can only raise your scores, they CANNOT lower your score.

For the exams you will need a scientific calculator with fresh batteries, sharp pencils and an eraser. Graphing calculators are allowed, but not required.

Deadlines

Students with Disabilities: MSU is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified individual services accommodation (VISA) form. Please present this form to your instructor at the start of the term no later than the end of the first week of class. Requests received after this date may not be honored.

Grading Information

Percentage weights for PHY 183B: Homework: 27%, Midterm Exams: 3 x 16% = 48%, Final Exam: 25%.

Percentage weights for PHY 233B: Homework: 28%, Midterm Exams: 3 x 24% = 72%. There is NO Final Exam.

Homework: Every homework question is worth 1 point. Maximum score on the midterm exams: 50 points. Maximum score on the final exam: 100 points.

Grading scale:
4.0 >= 92%,
3.5 >= 84%,
3.0 >= 76%,
2.5 >= 68%,
2.0 >= 60%,
1.5 >= 52%,
1.0 >= 44%,
0.0 < 44%.

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

Recommended text book: Wolfgang Bauer, Gary D. Westfall: University Physics with Modern Physics, Volume 1, McGraw-Hill. (Either the 2nd or the 1st edition will be fine. 2nd edition: ISBN 10: 0-0774-0963-9 ISBN 13: 978-0077409630, 1st edition: ISBN 10: 0-0773-5483-4 ISBN 13: 978-0077354831.)

Any other calculus based physics text book will work fine, for example Randall D. Knight, Halliday-Resnick-Walker, Giambattista-Richardson-Richardson.

We will use LON-CAPA, MSU's own free and flexible web-based course management system. If your book has a course management system bundled with, don't open it and don't try to access it, because we will not use it.