Recitation: Recitation sessions will be organized after the first week of classes. Problems from the textbook will be reviewed in detail. Attendance at the recitation sessions is mandatory.

Textbook: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (3rd Ed.), by Fishbane, Gasiorowicz and Thornton. The accompanying Student Solution Manual is recommended as a study aid but is not required.

Course outline: The course will cover the fundamental laws of mechanics, kinematics and dynamics, work and energy, rotations, gravitation, and oscillations (FGT chpt 1 - 13), as well as special relativity (FGT chpt 39). While the course will follow the text quite closely, the emphasis will sometimes be different, and some topics in the text will not be covered. You are responsible only for the material covered in the lectures.

My Coordinates:

Homework: A set of typically 8 - 10 problems, selected mostly from the textbook, will be handed out in class each Monday and will be due by the end of the lecture on the Wednesday of the following week. No late homework assignments will be accepted for grading under any circumstances.

Exams: There will be two midterm tests and a final exam. The midterms will be given during class time, on dates to be announced later. The 3-hour final exam will be held during the university exam period in December.

Course Grading: The final course grade will be computed as a weighted average of the grades on the homework assignments (20%), midterms (15% each), and final exam (50%).

Absences: There will be no make-up exams. To be excused from a midterm, you must have a valid personal excuse from the Dean's office or a medical excuse from your physician. Students who miss a midterm test with an excused absence will receive a final grade based on their other work. Students who miss a midterm without an excused absence will receive a grade of zero for that midterm. It is necessary to take the final exam in order to satisfactorily complete the course.

Where to get help:

• Ask questions during the lectures if something is unclear.
• Attend the recitation for additional practice at problem solving.
• Come and see me with any further questions you have. My office hours are set aside explicitly for this purpose. If you cannot come during those times, email me so we can arrange a time to meet.
• The homeworks are to encourage you to keep up with the material. You are permitted, and even encouraged, to work together on the homeworks with your classmates, who are often the best source of help available. (Note, however, that you are required to hand in your own copy of each homework for grading.)
• The Help Room will be staffed by TA's who can answer questions on specific problems. Hours of the Help Room will be posted shortly after the semester begins.