"Introduction to Physics"

Physics 102, Section #1, Fall 2005

please check this page regularly for updates and announcements

material shown on these web pages is subject to revision

Latest Announcements

8/29, 5:03pm: Today in class it sounded like one student had a hardware problem with a CPS clicker, but we found after class that the problem was because the student had not successfully enrolled the clicker. That problem is now fixed. If anyone else thinks they were not getting a response on their clicker (and had a clicker number less than or equal to 100), see Josh Stephenson (tomorrow 2-5, Wed 8-11) in Regener 111 before the next class. Most likely, any such clickers are simply not enrolled successfully in our class. Also, the problem we had in class today with the CPS system not registering responses for clickers numbered over 100 has been fixed. Students with the following serial numbers on their CPS clickers need to log into the CPS system and fill in their names and/or emails so they can get proper credit for their CPS points: 125F37, 137FC8, 13CDE5, 138CC0, 1295DC, 13D27A, 12A3A1, 12658B, 138CA3, 137FC9

8/25, 11:53am: I called Einstruction.com about the CPS clickers. If you did not enter your enrollment code on the CPS clicker online registration form, then you unnecessarily paid an extra $15 to register. They will give you a credit on your credit card for the mistaken payment, but YOU NEED TO SEND AN EMAIL to paymentsupport@einstruction.com. You need to tell them you need a credit applied to your card for this reason, and you need to include your name, the name on the credit card you used, and the enrollment code that came with your clicker. EVERYONE WHO HASN'T GOT THEIR CLICKER REGISTERED YET, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO IT, and don't forget to enter the enrollment code, as well as your name and your email address. We will be using CPS on Monday (hopefully we will have that last bug fixed). Use the directions under "Required Course Materials" below to register your CPS. If you have problems with the CPS registration, look at Josh Stephenson's help pages. His help pages also give his office hours and contact information. He will be in Regener 111 today from 2-5 and Friday from 8-11.

8/25, 11 am: Comment on First WebAssign Homework: on the net force question, don't worry about the sign of the resulting net force. For this problem we only want the maximum and minimum MAGNITUDES (also known as the absolute values) the net force can have. So the numbers you enter for the answers on that question should both be positive.

8/24, 6:30 pm: This is about the WebAssign homework. The assignment is shorter than the one I showed in class, which shouldn't cause any complaints. Also, there was a question in class today about formatting of numerical answers. I put an answer for this into the "about this assignment" field within the assignment itself.

8/24, 4:30 pm: If you are having trouble getting your textbook, the first three four chapters of the book have been scanned in and posted on "ereserves". Go to ereserves.unm.edu, search for instructor "Boyd". Password is "lobo102". You can read them online or print them out. Also, Centennial library has two copies of the textbook on reserve.

Catalog Listing: P 102.001 INTRO TO PHYSICS (Call #18070), 3 Credit Hours
Meets: Monday & Wednesday, 2:00-3:15 in Regener Hall #103

Teaching Assistant: Chia-Yeh Li, cyli@unm.edu, Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1-3, Regener Rm. 111.

Official Course Description:

Designed for non-science students in all colleges as well as for students planning to major in the sciences who want a general introduction to the basic phenomena and concepts of physics.  The treatment is primarily descriptive, with practical demonstrations and applications and with a minimum of elementary mathematics.  No previous preparation is assumed.  Basic physical concepts such as energy, momentum, and electric charge are discussed as well as the properties of gravitational, electromagnetic and nuclear forces, and wave phenomena.  The basic ideas of relativity and quantum theory are introduced.  See Physcs 102L for an optional laboratory.

Required Course Materials (all available at the UNM bookstore):

1. Textbook: Conceptual Physics, 9th ed., by Paul G. Hewitt
2. Classroom participation keypad, EInstruction.com (Instructions for starting up CPS)
3. WebAssign license card (Instructions for starting up WebAssign)
4. create a UNM NetID, if you don't already have one (use this UNM form https://lamb.unm.edu/lamb-bin/SelfServ/newreq.cgi)

Grading

Late Assignments/Missed Assignments

No late homework will be accepted, and no makeup exams will be given. We have too many students in this class to try to evaluate excuses and give makeup exams.

Instead, we will drop:

• your two lowest homeworks
• your two lowest CPS days
• your lowest of the first three exams, but not the final.

You must attend the final.

If you have a question about the grading on a homework or an exam, you must let me know within a week of getting your grade.

We will do our best to make sure your grades are posted on this web site in a timely manner.

Math Requirements, How to Get Math and Physics Tutoring if You Need It

Athough the course description says "No previous preparation is assumed," you must be able to do simple algebra (and even simpler geometry) to succeed in this class. There are supplemental instruction/tutorial programs available at UNM to help students strengthen their math. The Center for Academic Program Support (CAPS), on the third floor of Zimmerman library, provides free peer learning assistance. There is also free math tutoring at the Women's Resource Center.

Hewitt's book also provides reviews of:

• Units and Systems of Measurement in Appendix A
• Graphing in Appendix C
• Vectors in Appendix D

Learning Disabilities

If you have a learning disability, you need to contact Accessibility Services and get processed into the UNM system. They are in Rm. 2021 of Mesa Vista hall, 277-3506.

Your Commitment is Required

I regard it as a privelege to be able to teach you. I enjoy teaching and I hope this class will be interesting and engaging for all of us. I want all of you to succeed. I will work hard to try to help you learn the material, but you must recognize that I cannot learn it for you, and your effort and interest will be required for this class. If you are unwilling to make an effort, or you are not genuinely interested in learning the material, please do us both a favor and don't take the class.

Students are Expected to Comport Themselves as Adults

• If you are having problems in the class, come and see me right away--the longer you wait, the worse it'll get, and the fewer our options will be. Do not waste one second being embarrassed about your performance. In particular, if you are in totally over your head, you will need to go to the registrar and formally drop the class before September 30.
• Cell phones, pagers, music players, etc. should be turned off during class.
• Students who are disruptive during class will be asked to leave, forfeiting any CPS points for that day.
• Even the "appearance of cheating" will be dealt with harshly. For example, if I see you looking at another student's exam, that is the "appearance of cheating." If a student "helps out a friend" by bringing a second CPS clicker to class, both parties are cheating and will be dealt with harshly. No cell phones, pagers, headphones, etc. can be visible during exams. Students cannot leave the classroom during exams without first turning in both their exam questions and responses.
• This listing is not a "contract." This information is provided to you as a courtesy. It is not a complete description of what you can and cannot do in class. I will do my best to be fair, but I make the final decisions about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Please, keep both of us happy--act like an adult and use your common sense.

Course Schedule with Homework Assignments This schedule will be revised somewhat as the class proceeds.

Alternative Sections of Physics 102 are available to transfer into if you have a schedule conflict or you want to be in a smaller class.

please check this page regularly for updates and announcements

material shown on these web pages is subject to revision

page last updated 8/25/2005