Physics 221 is a 4 credit-hour, introductory physics course with laboratories. The class material is divided into 12 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 221 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
| Section 1: Shaun Vavra svavra2@vols.utk.edu Richard Lai rlai3@tennessee.edu |
Section 2: Ben Thornberry bthornbe@vols.utk.edu Ryan Goodman rgoodma7@vols.utk.edu |
| Section 3: Serajus Chowdhury mchowd13@vols.utk.edu Shaun Vavra svavra2@vols.utk.edu |
Section 4: Cary Rock crock2@tennessee.edu Amit Sanyal asanyal@vols.utk.edu |
| Section 5: Zoha Laraib zlaraib@vols.utk.edu Cary Rock crock2@tennessee.edu |
Section 6: Ryan Goodman rgoodma7@vols.utk.edu Serajus Chowdhury mchowd13@vols.utk.edu |
| Section 7: Richard Lai rlai3@tennessee.edu |
In-class Teaching Assistant: Raghav Chari rchari1@vols.utk.edu |
All instructors will have office/tutoring hours at different times during each week. Students from all sections can attend any instructor's office/tutoring hour.
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, 11:20 - 12:35, room 415, Nielsen Physics Building) and once per week, by section, for 2 hours and 30 minutes in a studio physics classroom (Mondays
or Tuesdays, room 207
Nielsen Physics Building). The traditional second meeting in the large lecture
hall is replaced by online activities that students schedule themselves.
Students are expected to complete the online class modules on time. Each
module consists of two sets of online class materials that student are required
to study, two homework assignments, one laboratory write-up, a class participation
discussion forum, and optional extra credit opportunities.
All assignments for each module must be completed by the
date shown on the schedule.
Links for the submission of all assignments are on Canvas. Students should
use the online discussion forum to engage with the instructors and each other.
Students are responsible for their own learning.
The textbook for the class is
College Physics 2e - OpenStax.
This is an online textbook with spaced practice problems and feedback.
The College Physics textbook can also be downloaded as a PDF.
Homework assignments are based on the material covered in the online modules. They are found under Assignments on Canvas and must be submitted on time.
The lab instructor will teach the laboratories and grade the lab reports. Each section has its own lab instructors. Students cannot earn passing grade for the course, unless they earn a passing grade for the labs.
Students earn class participation credit by attending class and by contributing questions, answers, hints, comments, etc to a Canvas discussion forum. For in-class participation students need to register their mobile device or computer as a "clicker" for this class.
There will be two 90-minute exams, on March 21 and on May 11. The exams are online. Exam 1 questions are about material covered in modules 1 - 6, and exam 2 questions are about material covered in modules 7 - 12. Students will take the tests online using the Chrome browser with the Proctorio extension during any 90-minute period between 7:00 am and 11:30 pm on the test day.
Up to 50 points extra credit will be available for answering extra credit questions on Canvas. These questions are challenging, but students are encouraged to discuss them in the discussion forum.
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.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations please let me know how I can
help you.
If you have a documented
disability, please contact Student Disability Services (SDS). This will
ensure that you are properly registered for the services provided by SDS.
Please review the Campus Syllabus for information that is common across all courses at UTK.