This page summarizes the syllabus and schedule of the Engineering Physics I course (PHY 303K) as taught by Professor Vadim Kaplunovsky in the Spring semester of 2004.
Revised 3/22.
The Engineering Physics I course is about Mechanics and Mechanical Waves. The material covered in the course is based on the first 18 chapters of the textbook, Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway and Jewett (6th edition).
Some optional sections of the textbook will be skipped, namely §6.5, §7.9, §11.6, §12.4, §17.4–6, and §18.6. The students will not be tested for the material in these sections.
Other optional sections — namely §6.4, §7.7, §15.6–7, §17.1–3 and §18.8 — will be covered rather lightly. And if the course is behind the schedule, I might have to skip some of them altogether.
Amended 3/22/04: Chapter 13 will be skipped altogether because the course is behind the original schedule.
| Week | Lectures | Material | Homework Due | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Thursday | Monday late night | Tuesday early morning | ||
| 1 | January 20 | January 22 | Chapters 1 and 2 | January 26 | January 27 |
| 2 | January 27 | January 29 | Chapters 2 and 3 | February 2 | February 3 |
| 3 | February 3 | February 5 | Chapter 4 (§4.1–3 and §4.6) | February 9 | February 10 |
| 4 | February 10 | February 12 | Chapter 5 | February 16 | February 17 |
| 5 | February 17 | February 19 | §5.8, §4.4–5 and chapter 6 | February 23 | February 24 |
| 6 | February 24 | February 26 | Chapters 6 and 7 | March 1 | March 2 |
| 7 | March 2 | March 4 | Chapters 7 and 8 | March 8 | March 9 |
| 8 | March 9 | March 11 | Chapters 8 and 9 | March 22 | March 23 |
| H | March 16 | March 18 | Spring Break | — | — |
| 9 | March 23 | March 25 | Chapters 9 and 10 | March 29 | March 30 |
| 10 | March 30 | April 1 | Chapters 10 and 11 | April 5 | April 6 |
| 11 | April 6 | April 8 | Chapters 12 and 14 | April 12 | April 13 |
| 12 | April 13 | April 15 | Chapters 14 and 15 | April 19 | April 20 |
| 13 | April 20 | April 22 | Chapters 15 and 16 | April 26 | April 27 |
| 14 | April 27 | April 29 | Chapters 16 and 17 | May 3 | May 4 |
| 14 | May 4 | May 6 | Chapter 18 | — | — |
On the first class day register with the homework computer system. Use the section number and access code provided by your instructor. Then download and read the Instructions how to use the system, logon and download the homework set #1.
The homework assignments are due at 4 AM between Monday or Tuesday. Depending on your sleeping habits, it may be Monday night (very late) or Tuesday morning (very early), see the above schedule.
You should do most of your homework during the previous week. Submit each answer as soon as practical, do not wait until the whole set is ready. If your answer is wrong, the HW computer will tell you right away and you will have time to do it right and re-submit.
When you log in to the HW system, check for HW related messages and read them ASAP, they may clarify questions or alert you to en error.
The solutions will be available on the web after the due time.
There are four evening midterm exams. Each exam begins at 7 PM sharp and lasts for 90 minutes. You should come to the exam site at least 15 minutes earlier, i.e., by 6:45 PM.
Each midterm exam covers 3 to 5 chapters of the textbook:
| Exam | Date | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 18 | 1 through 4 and most of 5 |
| 2 | March 10 | 5 through 8 |
| 3 | April 7 | 9 through 11 |
| 4 | May 5 | 12 and 13 through 17 |
Exam questions may involve lecture material not covered by the homework sets. They may also involve material studied earlier in class.
Take a look at the Exam Advisory for exam procedure and exam-related hints and advises.
The final exam is madatory and comprehensive, i.e., it covers everything taught in the course. This includes chapter 18, even though it isn't covered by the mid-term exams. (But chapter 13 and other skipped section will not be included.)
The final exam is scheduled for May 13, from 7 to 10 PM (ouch!). The procedure is the same as for mid-term exams, except the final exam is twice as long (3 hours).