SYLLABUS Phys120

Autumn Semester 2005 (Class #9696)

Instructor: Daniel Kroll: 216 South Engineering,
Phone: 231-8968
Email: daniel.kroll@ndsu.edu

Lectures: Tues and Thurs 3:30 - 4:45 AM in Stevens Auditorium.

Office Hours: Wed, 9:00 – 12:00 AM.
Feel free to contact me in person, by phone,
or e-mail to set up a meeting at other times.

Text: Inquiry Into Physics (5th Edition) by Ostidiek and Bord

Course Description

PHYS120 is an introduction to the fundamentals of physics: space, time, motion, matter, energy, work, power, and electric and magnetic fields. These basic principles are used to study a range of applications relevant to every-day life. Homework, which will involve both reading and problems, will be assigned on a regular basis. Students will use the LON-CAPA on-line software to solve the homework problems. Information about LON-CAPA can be found on
http://www.physics.ndsu.nodak.edu/loncapa/index.htm. We will study the states and properties of matter, gravity, temperature, heat, waves, sound, electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves. An understanding of basic algebra is a prerequisite. The goal of the course is to develop the ability to logically apply the basic laws of physics to many different situations. Considerable effort will be directed towards developing the necessary problem-solving skills, with discussion of relevant examples from everyday life, modern technology, medicine, and biology.

Extra Help: If you find you would like some extra help, the Physics Department provides teaching assistants. Their office hour schedule can be found at
http://www.physics.ndsu.nodak.edu/undrgrad/taoffhrs-f05.htm. I also recommend that you make use of the tutoring available through SSSS. For details, see
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/trio/sss/sss.html.

Composition of final course grade

Tests: There will be three tests and a final. Students are required to take two tests and the final. Since the final is comprehensive, it is best to take all three tests. Students taking all three tests will have the lowest score dropped. The tests count for a total of 40% of the final grade.

Exams will be open book. Note, however, that this is a double–edged sword. The fact that it is open book can hurt as much as help. Too often, students rely on the book and waste too much time thumbing through looking for a solution.

Letter grading for the course: A total average of 89.5% or more ensures an A, 79.5 to 89.4% ensures a B, 69.5 to 79.4% ensures a C, and so forth. Depending on the class average, curving may be applied.

Tests schedule

Test 1: Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Test 2: Thursday, October 25, 2005
Test 3: Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 12, 2005; 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Final Exam will be comprehensive with about 50%±20% emphasis placed on material covered following the third test. Ability to use the basic laws of physics we have studied (such as Newton’s laws) in problems is essential.

Prior consent from the instructor (except in the case of emergencies) is required to take a make-up test. Make-ups must be scheduled before the regular test date. Make-up tests are given only in the case of Mandatory University activity, extreme personal hardship, or medical exigency.


Homework Assignments: Worth 30% of the final grade. They will be completed within the LON-CAPA system. Effort invested in working problems  plays an important part in learning physics. Mastery of LON-CAPA homework and the material discussed in class, as well as reading the text, are required to do well. It is best to read ahead in the text since this prepares you to think about and ask questions related to lectures. Utilize the Brooks/Cole’s Web site for physics, which contains a home page for Inquiry into Physics, fifth edition, at http://physics.brookscole.com/ostdiek, where you can access practice quizzes for each chapter and hyperlinks that relate to each chapter’s contents. 
 
Web-based LON-CAPA homework problems will be assigned in class and must be completed by the due date assigned with each problem set. For numerical problems, each student receives an individualized version of the problem. You will receive a course homework score based on the percentage of the assigned problems that you answer correctly by their due date.
 
Accessing LON-CAPA: Go to the physics department’s web site, http://www.physics.ndsu.nodak.edu/ and click first on the LON-CAPA link and then the PH120 link. Your login is normally the first part of your NDSU e-mail address without the period (e.g., firstnamelastname). Your password is your EmplID number. If you have a pop-up blocker running, the LON-CAPA remote control probably will not work. Use the menus system instead. Our LON-CAPA administrator is Nathan Schoenack, Ph. 231-7047, e-mail nathan.schoenack@ndsu.edu.


The Personal Response System will be used in the anonymous mode during class time to enable students to test their knowledge of the material, provide feedback for the instructor .

Students with disabilities or special needs