Physics 221, Elements of Physics I, Sections 1-5, Spring 2020

Physics 221 is a 4 credit-hour, introductory physics course with laboratory.  There are 5 sections.

Instructor:

Dr. Marianne Breinig (Physics)
Office: 202 Nielsen Physics Bldg.
Office Hours: WF 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, M 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Phone: 974-7842
Email: mbreinig@utk.edu

Studio Session Instructors and Teaching Assistant:

Class structure:

This course is taught in a hybrid format.
Students meet once per week for one hour and 15 minutes in a large lecture hall (Thursdays, 11:10 - 12:25, room 415, Nielsen Physics Building) and once per week, by section, for 2 hours and 30 minutes in a studio physics classroom (Tuesdays or Wednesdays, room 207 Nielsen Physics Building).  Attendance is mandatory for both meetings.  The traditional second meeting in the large lecture hall is replaced by online activities that students schedule themselves. 

Students are responsible for their own learning.

• Before each class meeting student are required to study the web-based material and consult the accompanying chapter in the textbook for additional information.
• The meeting in the large lecture hall will not be a formal lecture.  Students will review the physics concepts introduced in the reading assignments and practice using these concepts to solve problems.  They will solve problems individually or in small groups.  Student responses will be collected through the use of clickers.  Students will earn class participation points and can earn extra credit points during the class meetings.  After each meeting in the large lecture hall, students will complete an on-line pre-lab assignment.
  Meeting Schedule
• The studio sessions are not just labs, and students are required to participate in all activities and stay until the session is dismissed.  Students will work in small groups.  This is a class with a laboratory, so they will perform experiments, but they will also engage in other activities.  Session instructors will guide students to further explore the physics concepts introduced in the reading assignments and gain an understanding of how these concepts apply to a wide range of real world problems and situations.  After each studio session, students must complete a online homework assignment.
  Studio Schedule

Textbook:

OpenStax Tutor, College Physics
This is an online textbook with spaced practice problems and feedback.  Students find the code to access this textbook on Canvas under Modules.

The College Physics textbook by itself can be found at
https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics  (View online),
and can also be downloaded as a PDF.

Homework assignments:

Homework assignments are based on the material covered in the web-based modules and studio sessions.   Students are expected to submit two assignments per week on Canvas, one pre-lab assignment and one homework assignment.  The assignments must be submitted on time for credit.
Assignment schedule

Exams:

There will be two one-hour, in-class exams, on February 18 or 19 and on March 24 or 25 during the first hour of the studio session, and a 80 minute final exam during the exam period.
Final exam schedule

Extra credit:

Up to 50 points extra credit will be available.  Students can earn up to 25 extra credit points by answering OpenStax Tutor questions before the class meetings, and they can earn up to 25 in-class extra credit points.

Grades:

Test 1 and test 2 are worth a maximum of 75 points each and the final exam is worth a maximum of 100 points.  The studio session work is worth a maximum of 100 points.  All pre-lab and homework assignments together are worth a maximum of 100 points.  Class participation is worth a maximum of 50 points. Extra credit points are added to your total score from tests, laboratories, assignments, and class participation.

Excused absences or missed assignments:

Students must notify the instructor promptly and submit documentation if they miss a class meeting or studio session with a valid excuse.  They also must notify the instructor promptly with a valid excuse if they request an extension on an assignment.  Late notifications will not be accepted.

Announcements:

For announcements check the Class Pages on Canvas regularly.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability, please contact  Student Disability Services (SDS).  This will ensure that you are properly registered for the services provided by SDS.

For important additional information please see the Campus Syllabus.