PHY 4222/5228: Mechanics II -- Fall 2016

Syllabus

Lectures: MWF 10:10 -- 11:00, HCB 212

Lecturer: Nick Bonesteel
Office: 410 Keen (Physics Department); A313 (Magnet Lab)
Tel.: (850) 644-2516 (Keen); (850) 644-7805 (Magnet Lab)
E-mail: nbonesteel@fsu.edu

Office Hours:  Office hours will be held on MW 1:00 -- 2:00 in 410 Keen.  Additional office hours will be held on Thursdays from 2:30 -- 3:30.  If these times are not convenient, please feel free to contact me at any time to arrange an appointment.  (The best way to do this is by e-mail.)

Prerequisites: Mechanics I (PHY 3221).

Main Text:
John R. Taylor, Classical Mechanics, (University Science Books, 2005). 

Course Web Page: http://courses.physics.fsu.edu/~phy4222-fall16/

Course Topics:  

Homework: Problem sets will be assigned every Friday, and will be due at the beginning of class on the following Friday.  Solutions will be posted on blackboard. No late homework will be accepted except for the case of excused absences (see below).   Discussion of the homework among students is encouraged, but each student should hand in his/her own solutions.  Since a significant portion of your final grade will come from these weekly assignments, homework will be accepted and graded only if written in a neat and orderly fashion, and if the answers are justified by showing complete work.

 

Exams: There will be two 50 minute midterm exams, tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 14 and Friday, November 18, and a final exam.

 

Grading: Course grades will be determined by your performance on the assigned problem sets, the two midterm exams, and the final exam.  The percentage contribution of each to the overall grade will be as follows:

 

 

I anticipate using the following grading scale: A(100-90) B(89-80) C(79-70) D(69-60) F(<60). Class participation will be a relevant factor in determining the final grade for those cases that fall on the borderline between grade ranges.

 

 

Homework Assignments:

 

 

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 12:30-2:30pm, HCB 212

University Attendance Policy:
Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness.

Academic Honor Policy:
The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University's expectations for the integrity of students' academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge to ". . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University." (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found at http://fda.fsu.edu/Academics/Academic-Honor-Policy.)

Americans With Disabilities Act:
Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:
(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class.

This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.

For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:

Student Disability Resource Center
874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
sdrc@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/

Free Tutoring from FSU:
On-campus tutoring and writing assistance is available for many courses at Florida State University. For more information, visit the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Tutoring Services' comprehensive list of on-campus tutoring options - see http://ace.fsu.edu/tutoring or contact tutor@fsu.edu. High-quality tutoring is available by appointment and on a walk-in basis. These services are offered by tutors trained to encourage the highest level of individual academic success while upholding personal academic integrity.  

Syllabus Change Policy:
Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.