Physics 221, Elements of Physics I, Sections 1-5, Spring 2017

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 will only 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 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:

"College Physics", a free, online textbook by OpenStax College (http://openstaxcollege.org/). 
The link to the HTML version without Concept Coach is
https://cnx.org/contents/Ax2o07Ul@9.53:HR_VN3f7@3/Introduction-to-Science-and-th
and link to the HTML version with Concept Coach is
https://cnx.org/contents/JydfSfIS@3.21:HR_VN3f7@3/Introduction-to-Science-and-th
For information about Concept Coach got to  "Home"  on Canvas.
A PDF copy of the book can be downloaded from the OpenStax website.

Homework assignments:

Homework assignments are based on the material covered in the web-based modules.   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 21 or 22 and on March 28 or 29 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 answering Concept Coach 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 125 points.   All pre-lab and homework assignments together are worth a maximum of 75 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.

Announcements:

For announcements check the Class Pages on Canvas regularly.

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

For important additional information please see the Campus Syllabus.