School of Physics

Traditional Introductory Physics I
Mechanics
PHYS 2211 M

Old Announcements

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Jul 24
Final Exam: Time, Location, Format
The Final Exam will have four Free-Response problems, together worth about half the points on the exam (so, 13% each). There will be 16 Multiple-Choice questions worth the rest (3% each). Some of the Multiple-Choice may require a bit more calculation than the Multiple-Choice did on the quizzes, but many will be strictly conceptual. I intend that topics in the course will be covered roughly evenly — that is, there is no special emphasis on material after Quiz #3.
The same standardized formula sheet that was provided for the quizzes will also be provided for final exam. Additionally, Table 12-2 from your text, Moments of Inertia of Objects with Uniform Density, will be provided.
Remember that the Final Exam for PHYS 2211 will be held Exam Period Five, Monday, July 31, from 8:00 to 10:50am. Students should go to Howey-Physics L1, which is different from the rooms used for quizzes.
You may want to review the Quiz and Exam Rules. Don't forget your photo ID.
Remember that calculators that cannot store text may be used on the final exam. Note that if your calculator keypad includes a complete alphabet, that's a very good sign that it cannot be used. Do not expect to be provided with an appropriate calculator if you do not bring your own.
Remember our expectations for your work on the free response problems, which are the same good problem-solving practices you should be using on the homework, anyway.
  • Units should be shown with any value that has a unit
  • Algebraic manipulations should be performed with symbols, not values
  • Consider, but do not obsess over, significant figures
You may find an example helpful.
Jul 21
Quiz #3 Results
Results for Quiz #3 have been posted under PostEm on T-Square. You will find your score, your form number, your responses for multiple-choice questions 1–7, and credit issued for free-response questions I–III. You will find correct answers to the multiple-choice questions, by form number, in a table "MC Answers" on the Quiz Solutions page.
The quiz went a bit better than the previous ones, but it would be kind of mean for me to say, "Well, the class did better, so I won't 'adjust' the grades and you'll end up with worse scores". So once again, the Free-Respone problems were re-weighted. Each student's best problem was worth 18 points, their middle problem was worth 16 points, and their worst problem was worth 14 points.
The question about the thermal energy went poorly and was converted to an extra credit question.
If you wish to calculate your quiz score yourself, add the points earned on all MC questions other than the extra credit question. Add points earned on the FR problems, giving each its proper weighting. Divide the result by 0.92, and add any points earned on the (now) extra-credit question. Round properly. This should match the score posted on T-Square. Scores may exceed 100%.
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded once it has been returned, you should see Dr. Murray before the Final Exam is administered on Jul 31.
Jul 20
Quiz #3 Solutions
Solutions to Quiz #3 have been posted. I hope to have grades posted Friday afternoon. Quiz forms should be available after class on Monday, then in my office 'til next semester.
Jul 12
Quiz #3
Quiz #3 will be administered during class on Wednesday, July 19. Students should go to the following rooms, which are the same as for previous quizzes. If any student goes to the wrong room, it is likely that there will be insufficient seats and/or quiz forms in that room!
Calculators that cannot store text may be used on the quizzes and final exam. Note that if your calculator keypad includes a complete alphabet, that's a very good sign that it cannot be used. Our expectations for your work on the free response problems are the same good problem-solving practices you should be using on the homework, anyway.
  • Units should be shown with any value that has a unit
  • Algebraic manipulations should be performed with symbols, not values
  • Consider, but do not obsess over, significant figures
You may find an example helpful.
Be sure to locate your room and read the Quiz Rules before the first quiz. Don't forget your photo ID.
Jul 12
Out of Office
I am out of the office from Wednesday, July 12, and will return on Monday, June 17. Official office hours on July 12 are cancelled. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Jun 29
Quiz #2 Results
Results for Quiz #2 have been posted under PostEm on T-Square. You will find your score, your form number, your responses for multiple-choice questions 1–7, and credit issued for free-response questions I–III. You will find correct answers to the multiple-choice questions, by form number, in a table "MC Answers" on the Quiz Solutions page.
The question about the mass of Titan went poorly and was converted to an extra credit question.
The quiz went remarkably similarly to Quiz #1, so once again, then the Free-Respone problems were re-weighted. Each student's best problem was worth 22 points, their middle problem was worth 16 points, and their worst problem was worth 10 points.
If you wish to calculate your quiz score yourself, add the points earned on all MC questions other than the extra credit question. Add points earned on the FR problems, giving each its proper weighting. Divide the result by 0.94, and add any points earned on the (now) extra-credit question. Round properly. This should match the score posted on T-Square. Scores may exceed 100%.
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded once it is returned in recitation, you should see Dr. Murray before Quiz #3 is administered on Jul 19.
Jun 29
Quiz #2 Solutions
Solutions to Quiz #2 have been posted. I hope to have grades posted Friday afternoon. Quiz forms should be returned in recitation the week of July 10.
Jun 19
Quiz #2
Quiz #2 will be administered during class on Wednesday, June 28. Students should go to the following rooms, which are the same as for Quiz #1. If any student goes to the wrong room, it is likely that there will be insufficient seats and/or quiz forms in that room!
Calculators that cannot store text may be used on the quizzes and final exam. Note that if your calculator keypad includes a complete alphabet, that's a very good sign that it cannot be used. Our expectations for your work on the free response problems are the same good problem-solving practices you should be using on the homework, anyway.
  • Units should be shown with any value that has a unit
  • Algebraic manipulations should be performed with symbols, not values
  • Consider, but do not obsess over, significant figures
You may find an example helpful.
Be sure to locate your room and read the Quiz Rules before the first quiz. Don't forget your photo ID.
Jun 19
Out of Office
I am out of the office from Tuesday, June 20, and will return on Monday, June 26. Official office hours on June 21 are cancelled. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Jun 12
Quiz #1 Results
Results for Quiz #1 have been posted under PostEm on T-Square. You will find your score, your form number, your responses for multiple-choice questions 1–7, and credit issued for free-response questions I–III. You will find correct answers to the multiple-choice questions, by form number, in a table "MC Answers" on the Quiz Solutions page.
The question about the direction of a projectile went poorly and was converted to an extra credit question.
Then the Free-Respone problems were re-weighted, so each student's best problem was worth 22 points, their middle problem was worth 16 points, and their worst problem was worth 10 points.
If you wish to calculate your quiz score yourself, add the points earned on all MC questions other than the extra credit question. Add points earned on the FR problems, giving each its proper weighting. Divide the result by 0.94, and add any points earned on the (now) extra-credit question. Round properly. This should match the score posted on T-Square. Scores may exceed 100%.
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded once it is returned in recitation, you should see Dr. Murray before Quiz #2 is administered on Jun 28.
Jun 08
Quiz #1 Solutions
Solutions to Quiz #1 have been posted. I hope to have grades posted Friday afternoon. Quiz forms should be returned in recitation next week.
May 31
Quiz #1
Quiz #1 will be administered during class on Wednesday, June 7. Students should go to the following rooms for this and future quizzes. If any student goes to the wrong room, it is likely that there will be insufficient seats and/or quiz forms in that room!
Calculators that cannot store text may be used on the quizzes and final exam. Note that if your calculator keypad includes a complete alphabet, that's a very good sign that it cannot be used. Our expectations for your work on the free response problems are the same good problem-solving practices you should be using on the homework, anyway.
  • Units should be shown with any value that has a unit
  • Algebraic manipulations should be performed with symbols, not values
  • Consider, but do not obsess over, significant figures
You may find an example helpful.
Be sure to locate your room and read the Quiz Rules before the first quiz. Don't forget your photo ID.
May 26
Recitation
The solution to the first recitation problem has been posted. This will be done after each recitation is complete, and so will not normally be announced.
May 23
Class Participation
Clicker Registration in T-Square has been disabled. If you need to register a new Transmitter or ResponseWare ID, send Dr. Murray the information by email.
May 19
Class Participation
Raw scores from the first week of class are available in T-Square under PostEm. This score's only meaning is that if it is not zero (or "dash"), your Transmitter or ResponseWare ID is properly registered and your responses are being recorded.

First Day:

Cover of Text Text
Not surprisingly, all students will need a text. We'll be using Physics for Scientists and Engineers — A Strategic Approach (Fourth Edition) by Randall D. Knight.

Attendance
You may be interested in the distribution of course grades by class attendance in PHYS 2212 for more than 2500 students from Fall 2004, when the Knight text was adopted, through Spring 2008.

Students who attend class earn better grades

You should be aware that there is a wealth of historical data in the traditional introductory physics courses that clearly point out two winning strategies: go to class and do EXTRA homework. Please take some time to look over this data; you may be surprised at how much of a difference such efforts can make, popular myths to the contrary notwithstanding.

How to Earn an "A"
Students who earned a grade of "A" in some previous semesters were invited to provide suggestions for students this semester. If you want to know how they did it, and how (we hope) you can too, read their advice.