Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4 (2) of the University Calendar
PHYS 144: Newtonian Mechanics and Relativity – Fall Term 2009
Instructor: Dr. Y. J. Gu
Room 348D, CEB
Phone: 492-2292
Email:
Office hours: Mon 2:00-4:00 pm, or by appointment via phone, email, drop by, etc. The best way: email!
Class time: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00-9:50 pm
Place: CAB 265
Lab sessions: For general information and detailed lab and tutorial schedules see Physics Undergraduate Lab
(UGL) website: http://polaris.phys.ualberta.ca
Website:
www.phys.ualberta.ca/~jgu/courses/phys144/index.html
Clicker: An iClicker device is required for this course and can be purchased from bookstore.
Objective:
This course introduces common algorithms for scientific data analysis. The main goal is to demonstrate numerical solutions to problems in physics and geophysics using regression, interpolation, polynomial fitting, sorting, and monte-carlo methods. This course introduces students to scientific programming languages, primarily C.
Text Book: University Physics with Modern Physics 12th Edition (Young & Freeman)
Optional: Introduction to Classical Mechanics by David Morin (1st edition)
This optional book is slightly above the level of this course but has a clear, concise style
and contains many example problems.
Lectures: It is assumed that you will show up. Failure to do so may result in missing important announcement, handout
and impact your grades.
Pre-reqs: Physics 30, Math30, 31.
Exams: Section A01: Mid-term (50 min) 09:00 in Late October, room TBA.
Final exam (2 hours) at 09:00 on Wednesday, 17th December room TBA.
Grading Scheme
1. Assignment: 10%
2. Midterm Exam: 22%
3. Final Exam: 44%
4. Lab 20% (minimum of 50% is required to pass the course)
5. Tutorial Participation: 4%
Note that the minimum of 50% in the lab means that, no matter how high your other marks are, if you fail to get 50% for the lab mark your final grade will be an “F”. The mapping of the letter grade to GPV is shown below:
Description / Letter Grade / Grade Point ValueExcellent / A+
A
A- / 4.0
4.0
3.7
Good / B+
B
B- / 3.3
3.0
2.7
Satisfactory / C+
C
C- / 2.3
2.0
1.7
Poor / D+ / 1.3
Minimal Pass / D / 1.0
Failure / F / 0.0
Outline
A rough outline of the chapters that we will cover in the book is given below:
Chapter 01: Units, Physical Quantities and Vectors
Chapter 02: Motion Along a Straight Line
Chapter 03: Position and Velocity Vectors
Chapter 04: Newton's Laws of Motion
Chapter 05: Applying Newton's Laws
Chapter 06: Work and Kinetic Energy
Chapter 07: Gravitational Potential Energy
Chapter 08: Momentum and Impulse
Chapter 09: Angular Velocity and Acceleration
Chapter 10: Work and Power in Rotational Motion
Chapter 11: Equilibrium and Elasticity (excluding section 11.4)
Chapter 12: Gravitation
Chapter 37: Relativity
iClicker
Detailed instructions for the iClicker student response system can be found on the course website.
Registration of the remotes is optional and can be done online at http://www.iclicker.com/. Use your
CCID username for your student ID and NOT your student ID number. Registration is optional but will
make it possible to run an informal competition during the term to see who gets the most correct
responses. This will not affect grades in any way...but a small prize may be involved!
Missed Mid-term and Assignments
A student who cannot write the mid-term because of an incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction
or other compelling reasons can apply for deferral of the midterm weight to the final exam. All course
assignments will be handed in by 12:00 noon on the day they are due at the drop box on CEB 2nd floor.
Applications for a deferral of term work worth greater than 20% of the final grade, i.e. the midterm, must
be made to the professor within 48 hours of the missed exam or assignment due date and must be
supported by a completed University of Alberta Medical Statement Form or other appropriate
documentation (Calendar section 23.4[3]). Deferred of term work is a privileged and not a right; there is
no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious
breach of the Code of Student Behavior.
Deferred Final Examination
A student who cannot write the final examination because of an incapacitating illness or is suffering from
severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred final examination. Such
an application must be made to the student’s Faculty office within 48 hours of the missed examination
and must be supported by a completed University of Alberta Medical Statement Form or other
appropriate documentation (Calendar section 23.5.6). Deferred examinations are a privilege and not a
right; there is no guarantee that a deferred examination will be granted. Misrepresentation
University Policy
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provision of the Code of Student Behavior (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behavior that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.