PHYS 20474-015 - Physics I with Lab: Mechanics Fall 2020

Lectures: TR 9:30-10:50 AM CT @ SWR 357 and via Zoom:

https://tcu.zoom.us/j/92891189628 (password provided separately)

Instructor: Dr. Yuri M. Strzhemechny

Office: SWR 373

Phone: 817-257-5793

Email: Y.Strzhemechny@tcu.edu

Web: http://personal.tcu.edu/ystrzhemechn/

Office Hours: W 8:30-9:20 AM CT, F 4:00-6:00 CT PM & by appointment:

https://tcu.zoom.us/j/368852310

Required textbook: “Essential University Physics”, Vol. 1, 3^rd Edition, by Richard Wolfson, Pearson, ISBN-13: 978-0321993724, ISBN-10: 0321993721

Lab instructions: Will be distributed via the Internet. Further information will be provided in your Laboratory Syllabi.

Course Description: This is part one of a two-semester calculus-based physics course. We will cover material dealing with classical mechanics and thermodynamics.

Grading: The course grades will be determined as follows:

A: 100 – 90 pts., B: 89.9 – 80 pts., C: 79.9 – 70 pts., D: 69.9 – 55 pts., F: 54.9 and below.

Test 1: 20 %

Test 2: 20 %

Test 3: 20 %

Final Exam: 20 %

Labs: 20 %

Three midterm tests and final exam will be administered online. Final exam will be cumulative. The tests will contain conceptual questions and problems. Good and reliable internet connection and working video cameras during the exams is an essential requirement for this class. Make-up test opportunities will be provided. Students with valid reasons for missed tests (e.g., Official University Absence, doctor's note, etc.) will have to contact me regarding make-up tests as early as possible. Poor internet connection during the test must be necessarily reported before the cut-off time of the test, no exception will be provided to students whose reporting of the poor internet connection is received by me after the cut-off time of the test, or its component. Lab is an integral part of the course and the lab grade counts for 20% of the final grade. This grade will be determined as an average of all the lab grades but one (11 out of 12), with the lowest grade dropped. The students must attend and complete at least 11 (out of 12) online experiments, with lab report submissions every week. If a student completes less than 11 experiments, the lab points will still count toward the average course grade, but the letter grade will be reduced by one letter for each missing lab (more details – in your Laboratory Syllabi.). Homework: It is crucial for you to learn how to apply conceptual knowledge for problem solving. The textbook provides excellent guidelines for you to acquire this skill. You are strongly encouraged to go through the solutions of the sample problems. In addition, for each chapter, I will supply a number of recommended problems for your homework. It is in your best interest to solve those problems in a timely manner for several reasons. First, it will provide additional training in self-education. Second, homework problems will be related to those offered in the tests and the final. I will not be grading your homework assignments but I will sure grade the tests. If you are having difficulty solving the homework problems you may want to contact me during my office hours, or perhaps get a tutor.

Class Attendance: Because of the class size, following TCU policies, half of the students registered for in-person instruction will be assigned to attend classroom lectures on Tuesdays and the other half – on Thursdays. I would not require a mandatory attendance of the lectures (in person or online) however I would highly recommend for you to attend the class (in person or online), since you will be able to ask questions during the lectures. All the lectures will be recorded in Zoom and the recordings will be available shortly after the class is over.

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 Code of Student Conduct. You may have a paper copy but it is also available on line at https://tcu.codes. Specifically I would like you to review sections dealing with academic misconduct, i.e. cheating, plagiarism, etc.

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, room 1010 or http://www.acs.tcu.edu/disability_services.asp.

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.

Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-6567.

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.