121 Syllabus - Spring 2020

     PHY-121 is the first part of a three-semester sequence in introductory physics offered to engineering and other science and pre-professional majors. The prerequisite for PHY-121 is MAT-270. A working familiarity with basic differential and integral calculus will be assumed.

     PHY-121 covers the subject of Newtonian mechanics including kinematics (the description of motion), and dynamics (the relation of motion to force and mass). Among the most important topics are Newton's Laws of Motion and the conservation of momentum and energy. Other topics are rotational kinematics and dynamics, Newtonian gravitation, and simple harmonic motion. A detailed list of topics can be found on the Topic and Reading Schedule which accompanies this syllabus.

     The textbook is University Physics, by Young and Freedman, 15th Edition, (Addison-Wesley, 2020.) The Looseleaf Edition is strongly recommended (the looseleaf edition is not available at the bookstore). Reading assignments are keyed to this textbook. Mastering Physics (MP) is required. The easiest way to get MP plus the Looseleaf textbook is to register for MP through our class Canvas page and then, within MP, purchase the looseleaf textbook directly from Pearson. Also required is Learning Catalytics; if you purchase Mastering Physics with etext, then you automatically have access to Learning Catalytics. For our online testing, a WebAssign account is required; this is most cheaply purchased with a credit card at WebAssign.

The text of the syllabus is also available as a pdf file.

Textbook Options Looseleaf Edition Recommended
Course Updates No Updates Yet
Active Learning
Course Format and Policies
Topic and Reading Schedule Amended Schedule Now Available
Recitation Schedule
Learning Catalytics Information Policies
Mastering Physics Information Tips
WebAssign Information Tips
Classroom Seating Teams for Feb 24 Now Posted
Course Objectives
Test Rules Quiz Rules
Sign-up Sheet   Test 3 Signup Now Closed
Test Feedback - Test 1 Test 2
Equation Sheet
Derivations: Parallel Axis Theorem<>System Kinetic Energy
             Torque and Angular Momentum About the Center of Mass
Hint for Yo-Yo Problem:Push the Trike
Links Used in Class Meetings
Math Summary:Dot Product and Cross Product of Vectors
                        Taylor Expansion

PLACES TO GET HELP
My Office Hours
TA and LA Office Hours
Physics Success Center Schedule in F186
Physics Dept Tutor List
Engineering Tutor Center
First-Year Center
Student Success Center
Success Center Online Tutoring
Textbook Sites - practice MC tests and more
Online Tutorials - interactive instruction


GRADES:   Final LC Grades Now Posted
Final MP HW Grades Now Posted
Final Exam Grades Now Posted
Final Reading Quiz Grades Now Posted
Final Quiz Grades Posted
Final CW (Classwork) Grades Now Posted
Final Recitation Exercise Grades Now Posted
Final TW (Teamwork) Grades Now Posted
Final Overall Grades Updated MON 5/11
Final Histogram Now Posted

Note that grades are not listed in alphabetical order

Quiz <> Exercises <> RQ <> LC <> TW <> CW <> Test <> HW <> Overall

Class Average Final Average Now Available
HOW TO FIGURE YOUR FINAL GRADE.   


TA's
Ryan Brosch