Physics 135 is a online, first-year physics course for majors in mathematics, physics, computer science, and the physical sciences. It is a 4-credit hour course. Only students which have already completed a first-year calculus course are allowed to register for Physics 135 without co-registering for Mathematics 132 or 141.
The course designed for asynchronous online delivery. Students do not attend formal lectures or lab sessions at fixed times, but they have to adhere to a strict course schedule. The class material is divided into 10 modules. For each module students are expected to submit assignments and lab reports online on time. For class participation credit students must contribute questions, answers, hints, or comments to a discussion forum. Optional extra credit assignments associated with each module must also be submitted on time.
Physics 135 is a general education course. Please allow enough time in your schedule for this 4 credit-hour course.
Dr. Marianne Breinig (Physics)
Office: 202 Nielsen Physics Bldg.
Office Hours: MW 2 pm - 3 pm and online by appointment
Phone: (865) 974-7842
Email: mbreinig@utk.edu
Rebecca Godri
Email: mxh166@vols.utk.edu
The instructor and the lab instructor will have scheduled and by-appointment office hours in-person or online via ZOOM.
There are no formal lectures. Students are expected to complete two online sub-modules per week. Students are required to complete the online laboratories, homework assignments, optional extra-credit assignments and participate in discussions before the due dates listed on the schedule. Links for the submission of all assignments are on Canvas. Students should use online discussion forum to engage with the instructors and each other.
"University Physics, Volume 1", a free, online textbook by OpenStax College (https://cnx.org/).
The link to the HTML version is
https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-introduction.
A PDF copy of the book can be downloaded from the OpenStax website.
A link to the workbook is on Canvas.
Homework assignments are based on the material covered in the on-line modules. Students are expected to complete two class modules per week and submit the assignments associated with each module on time on Canvas.
The lab instructor will help students with the laboratories and grade the lab reports. Students cannot earn passing grade for the course, unless they earn a passing grade for the labs.
Students earn class participation credit by contributing questions, answers, hints, comments, etc to a Canvas discussion forum.
There will be two 90 minute exams, on October 17 and on December 9. The exams are online. Exam 1 questions are about material covered in modules 1 - 5, and exam 2 questions are about material covered in modules 5 - 10. Students will take the tests online using the Chrome browser with the Proctorio plug-in.
Up to 50 points extra credit will be available, distributed over the 10 modules.
Each exam is worth a maximum of 125 points. All homework assignments together are worth a maximum of 100 points and the all lab reports together are also worth a maximum of 100 points. Class participation is worth up to 50 points. Extra credit points are added to the total score from tests, homework assignments, laboratories, and class participation..
| 450 and above | 90% and above | A |
| 435-449 | 87% - 89% | A- |
| 415-434 | 83% - 86% | B+ |
| 400-414 | 80% - 82% | B |
| 385-399 | 77% - 79% | B- |
| 365-384 | 73% - 76% | C+ |
| 350-364 | 70% - 72% | C |
| 335-349 | 67% - 69% | C- |
| 315-334 | 63% - 66% | D+ |
| 300-314 | 60% - 62% | D |
| 285-299 | 57% - 59% | D- |
Students must notify the instructor promptly and submit documentation if they miss an assignment or lab with a valid excuse and request an extension. Late notifications will not be accepted.
In Canvas, please go to "Account", "Notifications", and set your notification preferences so that you receive announcements notifications and conversations immediately. Review the announcements in Canvas regularly.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students. If you anticipate or experience a barrier in this course due to a chronic health condition, a learning, hearing, neurological, mental health, vision, physical, or other kind of disability, or a temporary injury, you are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services (SDS) at 865-974-6087 or sds@utk.edu. An SDS Coordinator will meet with you to develop a plan to ensure you have equitable access to this course. If you are already registered with SDS, please contact your instructor to discuss implementing accommodations included in your course access letter.
Student Disability ServicesPlease review the Campus Syllabus for information that is common across all courses at UTK.