Instructor: Dr. Doug R. Ingram
Lectures: MWF 900-950 in SWR 357
Text: "Physics" by Cutnell, 10th edition
Prerequisites: Physics 10154 (REQUIRED)
Office: SWR 315
Hours: TR 1030-1150 and by appointment
Phone: (817) 257-7313 (less reliable)
Email:
d.ingram@tcu.edu (more reliable)
WWW:
http://personal.tcu.edu/dingram/phys10164
Overview: Probably the most important concept in this course is one that is never mentioned in any course guide. In this course, we will learn the basics of problem solving, which is the biggest obstacle any student must learn to overcome before mastering Physics. Unfortunately, it isn't easy. Learning how to solve problems requires lots and lots of practice. Along the way, you will likely learn quite a bit about Physics, and it will be important that you fully understand the concepts we will be discussing in class and applying in howework sets. Remember, though, that the main goal of this course is learning how to apply concepts and solve problems, including how to translate descriptions of problems into (usually) simple mathematical expressions and then solving those expressions and learning to quickly check your answer.
Grading: Different components of the course are given weights as follows:
Course grades are assigned on a scale as follows:
Homework and Reading Quizzes: Homework will be assigned, turned in and graded roughly once per week. Attendance will be checked periodically in a variety of ways to ensure you are coming to class. Exam questions are typically very similar to homework questions, so practice helps! You need to practice with both problem solving and concepts from the chapter to succeed in this course.
Exams: In the event of an unavoidable and documented medical or legal reason for missing an exam, I will consider the issue on an individual basis. Here is a tentative exam schedule:
Cheating: I will give you all the formulas you will need to know, so I don't expect cheating to be an issue there. It is extremely difficult to copy detailed derivations, techniques and answers from another student or source during exams, but in some sense cheating during exams is possible. If I feel that cheating is a problem, I may give you one warning, depending on how blatant the situation is. If I am certain cheating has taken place, I will resort to nuclear weapons (e.g. getting the dean's office involved).
The only other real possibility of cheating is intellectual dishonesty associated with homework assignments. If you fail to work through the homework solutions largely on your own, then your exam grades will certainly show the effects of this. I cannot really prevent you from cheating off each other on homework assignments, but I can promise that such behavior will cost you enormously on exams. Please keep in mind that the fundamentals of problem solving you're going to learn in this class will be applied in VIRTUALLY ALL of the science and/or technical classes that follow it. If you don't learn the material now, you'll really be doomed later on.
Academic Misconduct: I would like to remind you about policies and procedures regarding your rights as well as responsibilities that are published in the TCU Student Handbook. You may have a paper copy but it is also available on line at http://www.studentaffairs.tcu.edu/handbook/handbook.htm. Specifically I would like you to review Section 3.4 regarding Academic misconduct, i.e. cheating, plagiarism etc.
General Advice: Try to budget your time wisely in this course. I have constructed the course in such a way that I hope any time you spend outside of class can be spent efficiently to improve your understanding of concepts and your course grade, provided you follow my advice in class. Realistically expect to spend at least five hours per week outside of class either studying or doing homework for this class (even more if you are having trouble). Always attend class and arrive on time. Speaking from experience, I know how much it can hurt your grade to skip classes. So don't skip. Don't even think about skipping. Just fix it in your mind from the start that this is the one place you have to be every single MWF from 900-950 with absolutely no exceptions! I promise I will make it worth your while with clear, concise explanations and many helpful examples.
Disabilities Statement: Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Student Disabilities Services in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.
Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the academic term for which they are seeking accommodations. Each eligible student is responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable, professional documentation and/or assessment reports to the Coordinator. Guidelines for documentation may be found at http://www.acs.tcu.edu/disability_documentation.asp.
Students with emergency medical information or needing special arrangements in case a building must be evacuated should discuss this information with their instructor/professor as soon as possible.
Discrimination and Harassment: TCU prohibits discrimination and harassment based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, predisposing genetic information, covered veteran status, and any other basis protected by law, except as permitted by law. TCU also prohibits unlawful sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, sexual assault, incest, statutory rape, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence, bullying, stalking, and retaliation. We understand that discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence can undermine students' academic success and we encourage students who have experienced any of these issues to talk to someone about their experience, so they can get the support they need. Review TCU's Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Conduct or to file a complaint: https://titleix.tcu.edu/title-ix/.
As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep any information your share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I have a mandatory reporting responsibility under TCU policy and federal law and I am required to share any information I receive regarding sexual harassment, discrimination, and related conduct with TCU's Title IX Coordinator. Students can receive confidential support and academic advocacy by contacting TCU's Confidential Advocate in the Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education office at (817) 257-5225 or the Counseling & Mental Health Center at https://counseling.tcu.edu/ or by calling (817) 257-7863. Alleged violations can be reported to the Title IX Office at https://titleix.tcu.edu/or by calling (817) 257-8228. Should you wish to make a confidential report, the Title IX Office will seek to maintain your privacy to the greatest extent possible, but cannot guarantee confidentiality. Reports to law enforcement can be made to the Fort Worth Police Department at 911 for an emergency and (817) 335-4222 for non-emergency or TCU Police at (817) 257-7777.