Physics 1303/1403

Introductory Mechanics - Spring 2002

Course Information

Do not wait for the bookstore to order your textbook. Order online and get your book faster and cheaper!

• Lecturer: Professor Randall J. Scalise
• Lecture meeting times and place:
  • TR 9:30-10:50am in 119 Fondren Science
• Office hours: TR 11:00-12:00 in room 104 Fondren Science and by appointment.
• Contact:
  • Call or leave a message at 768-2504, or
  • Leave a note in the Physics Department Office - 106 Fondren Science, or
  • send me e-mail: <scalise@mail.physics.smu.edu>
• Text: Serway, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 5th edition, Chapters 1-15.
• Lecture Notes: Available from the bookstore or on reserve in the Library.
  
  Some of these documents are in PDF format; they require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the Adobe Acrobat Reader if you do not already have it.

  Others are in PostScript format and require the free ghostview program. Download ghostview if you do not already have it.

• Practice Exams: also available with the lecture notes
  • Exam 1 - Spring 1996, 14 pages, PostScript (222129 bytes), PDF (125128 bytes), Answers
  • Exam 2 - Spring 1996, 14 pages, PostScript (350734 bytes), PDF (152428 bytes), Answers
  • Exam 3 - Spring 1996, 17 pages, PostScript (1199948 bytes), PDF (281522 bytes), Answers
  • Final - Spring 1996, 20 pages, PostScript (1128288 bytes), PDF (299075 bytes), Answers
• Review Sessions:
  • Weekly homework review session: Mondays 7:00-8:00pm, room 119 Fondren Science
  • for Exam 1 - Monday 18 February 2002, 7:00-9:00pm in room 119 Fondren Science
  • for Exam 2 - Monday 25 March 2002, 7:00-9:00pm in room 119 Fondren Science
  • for Exam 3 - Monday 15 April 2002, 7:00-9:00pm in room 119 Fondren Science
  • for the Final Exam - Thursday 2 May 2002, 7:00-9:00pm in ??? Fondren Science
• Exam Dates: Closed book, one equation sheet allowed.
  • Exam 1 - Tuesday 19 February 2002, in class
  • Exam 2 - Tuesday 26 March 2002, in class
  • Exam 3 - Tuesday 16 April 2002, in class
  • Final Exam (Cumulative) - Friday 3 May 2002, 3:00-6:00pm in 119 Fondren Science
• Make-up Exams: You must present me with a verifiable excuse in writing one week prior to the scheduled exam. No make-ups will be given for the final exam.
• Homework Quizzes: 20 minutes long, at the beginning of lecture, closed book, based strongly on the homework.
• Make-up Quizzes: There are none.
• Reading Quizzes: Unannounced, based on the assigned reading, very short, very easy (if you have done the assigned reading)
• Homework: Due on the day of the quiz.
• Laboratory: If you need the laboratory component of this course, you may register for the four-credit Physics 1403, or you may register separately for the three-credit lecture Physics 1303 and the one-credit laboratory Physics 1105.
• Grading: (Absolute) Letter Grade Break Points
  • Exam 1 - 20%
  • Exam 2 - 20%
  • Exam 3 - 20%
  • Final - 20%
  • Homework Quizzes - 10% (Drop lowest)
  • Homework - 5% (Drop lowest)
  • Reading Quizzes - 5% (Drop lowest)
• Grade Summary - All the individual test grades arranged by four-digit code number
• University Holidays:
  • Monday 21 January 2002
  • 9-17 March 2002 - "Spring" Break
  • Friday 29 March 2002
• Syllabus
• Students with Disabilities
• 2002 Calendar
• Official University Calendar
• Homework Assignments
  • Assignment #1 : Chapters 1, 3
  • Assignment #2 : Chapters 2, 4
  • Assignment #3 : Chapters 5, 6
  • Assignment #4 : Chapters 7, 8
  • Assignment #5 : Chapters 9, 10
  • Assignment #6 : Chapters 11, 12
  • Assignment #7 : Chapters 13, 14
  • Assignment #8 : Chapter 15
• Homework Solutions: On reserve in the Fondren Library, and available electronically at poni.smu.edu
• Anonymous Feedback
• Extracurricular Activities
  • SPS - The Society of Physics Students
  • REU - Research Experiences for Undergraduates
  • Undergraduate Research at SMU
• Relevant Web Sites:
  • Nobel Laureates in Physics
  • Dictionary of Scientific Quotations
  • Physicists on the Money
  • Images of Famous Physicists (from UCSB)
  • Pictures of Famous Physicists
  • Contributions of Women to Physics
  • Physics Unit Conversion Page
  • Quark Dance . Org
  • Virtual Laboratory at the University of Oregon
  • Fourmilab by John Walker
  • JAVA Physics Simulation Library
  • Physics demonstration video clips
  • Virtual Labs
  • The Physics Gearbag
  • Explorit! Science Center
  • The Exploratorium
    • The Exploratorium Science Snackbook
  • Franklin Institute Science Museum
  • Frank Potter's Science Gems
  • Usenet Physics FAQ
  • The Mad Scientist Network

Back to Professor Scalise's Home Page