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• Spring 2020

PHYS 123 A: Waves

Syllabus Description:

Welcome to PHYS 123A, my name is Nikolai Tolich , and I will be your lecture instructor. This is the third of a three-quarter sequence of introductory calculus-based physics. You should find this course challenging and stimulating, and I hope that you also find it interesting and enjoyable. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop calculus-based models to describe the physical world pertaining to simple harmonic motion, wave propagation, wave interference and diffraction, optics, heat transfer, and converting heat to work.

Due to the measures taken by the University, the course will be conducted entirely online. Please note that screenshots or recordings of instructors, other students, and course materials during active video (Zoom) participation sessions are strictly forbidden. Any student caught engaging in this behavior will be reported to the Student Conduct Office.

Given the sudden change not all details have been finalized, and it is also possible that some details may need to change depending on how things proceed.

Getting started

• You will need an access code for the online homework system used in this course. This access code comes with the textbook. The various options can be found here .
• Once you have an access code, information on how to access the online homework system can be found here .

Getting help

• Use the discussion board (click "Discussions" on the menu on the left) for physics questions or syllabus related questions. The TAs and I will monitor this frequently and will respond if needed. You can also use this to organize study groups, or if you are confused about an aspect of the syllabus etc.
• You are strongly encouraged to attend mine or the TA office hours on Zoom. The complete list of office hours will be published here shortly.
• For personal correspondence related to lecture, lab or tutorial respectively, contact the lecture, lab, or tutorial instructor . Contact the 12X administrator for questions regarding registering, overloading, etc... 
• Contact me if emails to others go unanswered for more than a week.

Class components

• You can see all the components required in a given week by clicking on the "Modules" menu on the left.
• Note: Asynchronous means that you can do these graded components whenever you choose, but still before a due date and time.
• Synchronous means that you need to do these at the scheduled timed.
• Lecture reading discussion: After reading the assigned reading for each day ( see schedule below ) you should complete the discussion assignment related to the reading before 11:30AM.
• Lecture video quiz: At least a week before each scheduled reading I will post videos (under the "Panopto Recordings" menu on the left) and slides (under the "Files" menu on the left) associated with the reading . Quizzes will be embedded in these videos and will be required to be completed before 11:30AM.
• Lecture homework: There will be a lecture homework that will be due about a week after the material was covered in the lecture reading and video.
• Labs sections will be asynchronous and online . They will start in week 2 . 
• The  first online lab sessions will be on Tuesday, April 7th and will continue weekly thereafter . 
• Your TA will be available via Zoom for the first hour of your lab section. For those who cannot attend the labs during the scheduled time there will be additional times during which TAs will hold Zoom meetings. See the "Zoom" tab in the left sidebar to access these meetings; find a complete schedule with Zoom links here .
• The Pivot lab activities must be completed by 5:00 PM PDT on Friday nights . Satisfactorily completed labs will be logged into Canvas for attendance credit.
• The  pre-labs are due at 11:59PM PDT on the Monday preceding a lab , starting 4/13/20 for Pre-lab 2.
• The  post-labs are due at 11:59PM PDT on the Monday following a lab , starting 4/13/20 for Post-lab 1.
• Tutorials (quiz section in registration): Tutorials sections will be synchronous and online through Zoom . They will start in week 2 . All important tutorial information can be found under the "Tutorial Information" menu on the left.

Your grade will be calculated based on the following contributions

• Midterm exam 1 on April 23rd at 5:00 PM (PDT) .
• Midterm exam 2 on May 14th at 5:00 PM (PDT) .
• Final exam on June 10th at 8:30 AM (PDT) .
• More details about the exams will be announced soon.
• Note that there are no make-up exams. So, students with outside professional, service, or career commitments (i.e. military service, ROTC, professional conference presentation, NCAA sports, etc.) conflicting with the exam dates must contact me early in the quarter to establish alternate examination procedures. Exam scores for students who miss an exam without making prior arrangements will be zero.

Your exam grade will be based on the best of the following two choices:

• 22% from each of your midterms scores and 22% from your final exam score
• 22% from your best midterm score and 44% from your final exam score
• Lecture reading discussion: You will be given credit for either asking a question or answering a question already asked on the discussion board, or discussing a part of the reading you found particularly interesting. These are graded based on a thoughtful attempt, not on correctness. This is designed to have you carefully think about the reading.
• Lecture video quiz: You will be graded based 80% on participation and 20% based on correctness, and at the end of the quarter your score will be scaled by 1.25 (but not allowed to go over 100%).
• Lecture homework: The lecture homework are done on Mastering physics and can be accessed by clicking "MyLab and Mastering" from the menu on the left.
• More details about the labs will be announced soon.
• The tutorial section grade is based on participation in each tutorial session as well as completion of pretests, but the largest portion comes from scores on tutorial homework.

Reading schedule

• Reading schedule.

Access and accommodation

• Your experience in this class is important to me, so if you have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but are not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical), please see details here .

Safe campus

• I am committed to ensuring a safe environment on campus. I suggest you check out the resources available  here .

Religious Accommodations

• Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at  Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) . Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the  Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) .

Academic integrity and student conduct

• The University takes academic integrity and student conduct very seriously. Behaving with integrity and respect is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. Acts of academic misconduct may include, but are not limited to, cheating by sharing answers on exams.
• The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at  https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/ .
• If you’re uncertain about if something is academic and behavioral misconduct, ask me. I am willing to discuss questions you might have.
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Physics 1230 (P151) Fall 2022 - Dr. L. Kent Morrison

General physics i (algebra-based), section 002, phys 1230 (p151) university of new mexico fall 2022 physics.

Office hours and tutoring help .    My office hours will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00-4:45 PM in room 114 of Regener Hall. If none of these times work for you then please make an appointment.  I will not have time to communicate effectively via email so come to my office hours or make an appointment if you have questions! Other resources are:

The Center for Academic Program Support (CAPS, see http://caps.unm.edu/ ), and Private tutors

Homework .   Mastering Physics (MP) is the on-line homework system and it is required.  MP comes free with new texts purchased in the bookstore.   Once you have an access code for MP, you can register for MP in Learn using these instructions:     . All homework assignments are graded (The first HW is called “Introduction to MasteringPhysics” on how to use MP).  The MP assignments are listed in the Class Schedule (see link below). 

(a) The pre-lecture assignments are generally due at 5:00 pm before class.  If you complete your pre-lecture assignment late, you will get no credit for it.

(b) The regular homework assignments are generally due at 11:59 pm the day after the material is covered in class.  The regular homework assignments can be turned in late, but you will be penalized 10% for each day it is late.  

You should begin the pre-lecture MP assignments before coming to class.  Your new book comes with an MP package (no extra cost to you).  Whether your MP package came with the text or whether you bought access from the bookstore or online, everyone must register on line and complete the “Intro to MP” assignment and start becoming familiar with MP.  I will delayed the due date for the assignments for Chapters 1, 2 & 3, so you will enough time to register in MP  You can register simply by following the instructions available online at www.pearson.com/mastering . 

Important notes for registering:

(1) The UNM Zip code is 87131. (2)  Our Course ID is morrison82e-4 (3) Your Student ID will be your nine digit Banner ID . 

Learning Catalytics.

We'll be using Learning Catalytics for activities or assignments in our course. From the Mastering Course Home, choose "Learning Catalytics" (top right)

IF YOU PURCHASED MASTERING WITH ETEXT OR A NEW BOOK PACKAGE, you can access Learning Catalytics right away.

IF YOU PURCHASED MASTERING WITHOUT ETEXT, you'll be prompted to buy Learning Catalytics access.

IMPORTANT: When asked if you have a Pearson account during the purchase process, select "Yes" and enter your Mastering username and password. Do NOT create a new Learning Catalytics account!

JOIN A SESSION: When a Learning Catalytics session becomes available, choose "Join Session" (top right) from your Mastering Course Home page.

Learning Catalytics uses your networked device (either a smart phone, tablet or laptop) that you must bring to every class.  To register in Learning Catalytics go to Getting Started on Learning Catalytics Student .  If you do not have such a device, let me know and I will provide a workaround.

Attendance Policy

Regular and punctual attendance is required. UNM Pathfinder policies apply, which in part means instructor drops based on non-attendance are possible. This policy applies regardless of the grading option you have chosen.

Dropping the class.   If you drop the course then please let me know.  Sometimes this information does not get to me and this can lead to grade difficulties at the end of the semester

Accommodation Statement

Accessibility Services (Mesa Vista Hall 2021, 505-277-3506) provides academic support to students who have disabilities. If you think you need alternative accessible formats for undertaking and completing coursework, you should contact this service right away to assure your needs are met in a timely manner. If you need local assistance in contacting Accessibility Services, see the Bachelor and Graduate Programs office.

Course Grade : This link contains information about how your course grade will be assigned and can also be found in Learn under Course Materials.  The overall grade in MP is NOT your true grade since I drop one test and weigh the various components of your grade differently.  You can always check with me for a grade check.

CLASS SCHEDULE, READING & HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS    This is the place where the tentative schedule containing the dates when topics are covered in class, reading assignments, homework assignments, and tests will be posted.  I will update this regularly, but the due dates for the online homework are also posted on Mastering Physics (MP). 

All homework assignments will be done online using Mastering Physics (MP).  The MP pre-lecture homeworks are generally to be finished before class by 5:00 PM and no credit is given for late submissions.  The MP chapter homeworks are generally due at 11:59 pm of the day they are due.  In Mastering Physics, always answer numerical questions with 3 significant figures unless the problem specifically requests that you do otherwise.   CAUTION:  Do not wait until the last minute to work and submit your Mastering Physics homework .  You can submit your regular homework answers up to 10 days late, but you will be penalized 10% for each day they are late.  There is no credit for late submission of the Pre-lecture homework.  If you have a reason for missing an assignment, let me know and I will give you an extension on the due date.

Final Exam, 5:30-7:30, comprehensive over all material covered in class