School of Physics

Traditional Introductory Physics I
Mechanics
PHYS 2211 A, B, & C

Old Announcements

You are responsible for everything posted here.

Nov 30
Final Exam Time and Location
The final exam period has been set by the Registrar's Office. The Final Exam for all PHYS 2211 sections will be administered Friday, December 10, 6:00–8:50pm. Students should go to the following rooms, which are the same as the rooms used for quizzes. If any student goes to the wrong room, it is likely that there will be insufficient seats and/or exam forms in that room!
The standard formula sheet, and Table 12-2 from your text, Moments of Inertia of Objects with Uniform Density will be provided with the Exam.
There will be four Free-Response problems, together worth about half the points on the exam (13% each). There will be 16 Multiple-Choice questions worth the rest (so, 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 believe that topics in the course will be covered roughly evenly — that is, there will be no special emphasis on material after Quiz #4.
Your Free-Response work will be scanned into Gradescope for grading. To make this go more smoothly, write darkly and neatly. Blue or black ink is recommended. Do not make any erasures in your Free-Response work. Cross out anything you do not want evaluated. Box your answer.
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.
Nov 30
Reading Day Study Session
Tutoring and Academic Support is hosting Intro Physics Study Sessions (now Studypalooza) from 9am to 5pm on Reading Day, Wednesday, December 8.
Nov 23
Concept Test
A Concept Test for Extra Credit will become available in Canvas at midnight, Sunday, November 28. It is due at midnight on the following Sunday, December 5. Note that it is timed—once you start, you must finish in 60 minutes.
Nov 23
Quiz #4 Results
Results for Quiz #4 are available as a percent in the Canvas Gradebook under Quiz 4.
The Gradescope link in the Canvas navigation menu will take you to Gradescope, where you will be able to see how you did on each Free Response problem and Multiple Choice question. Note that the FR problems were graded as a percent, but the MC questions were graded as points. That is, 100 on a FR problem isn't 100 points, its 100% of the 16 points the problem was worth. This was not a 352-point quiz!
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded, you should contact Dr. Murray (the request regrade button in Gradescope is simplest, if that's your concern) by the last day of class, Monday, December 6.
Nov 16
Quiz #4 Solutions
Solutions to Quiz #4 have been posted. I hope to have scores available Friday afternoon.
Nov 09
Quiz #4
Quiz #4 will be administered on Monday, November 15, at 6:30pm. The format will be slightly different from previous quizzes, to address concerns with the weight of individual MC questions. There will still be three 16-point FR problems, with two associated 6-point MC qustions. Four stand-alone MC questions will be worth 7 points instead of 8. There will be a pair of 6 point MC questions about the same situation (this should prevent the extra question from making the quiz too much longer, as you'll have the same number of situations analyze as on previous quizzes). Each question of this pair can be answered independently.
Students should go to the following rooms for this quiz, 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! You may want to review the Quiz Rules. Don't forget your photo ID.
Your quizzes will scanned into Gradescope for grading. To make this go more smoothly:
  • Write darkly and neatly. Blue or black ink is recommended. Do not make any erasures in your free-response work. Cross out anything you do not want evaluated. Box your answer.
  • Bubble your answers to the multiple-choice question on the front page. If you change your answer, Gradescope understands a neat X through a MC bubble.
    • A neat X to change a MC answer
  • The formula sheet is on the back of the front page. This page may be removed during the quiz if it makes things easier for you, but it must, of course, be submitted as it has your name and MC answers on it.
  • Initial the odd pages in the top margin, in case the pages of your quiz get separated.
  • If the page for a free-response problem has insuffcient space for your work, ask a proctor for an additional sheet. If you wish this work to be evaluated, put your name on the sheet and make a note on the problem page, so graders will know where to find your work.
Remember that 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. 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.
Nov 05
Final Exam Period
The final exam period has been set by the Registrar's Office. The Final Exam for all PHYS 2211 sections will be administered Friday, December 10, 6:00–8:50pm. A direct (#1) conflict should be extremely unlikely, but it is possible to have three exams scheduled on the same day (a #2 conflict). Check the exam schedule for your other classes now, and contact Dr. Murray by email as soon as possible, but certainly by Friday, November 19, if you have a conflict. Please note:
  • Friday, December 10, 6:00–8:50pm is NOT the period corresponding for MWF 9:30 classes
  • Physics will handle all other conflicts, even though standard policies might indicate otherwise
Final Exam format will be announced as soon as it is determined.
Oct 29
Quiz #3 Results
Results for Quiz #3 are available as a percent in the Canvas Gradebook under Quiz 3.
The Gradescope link in the Canvas navigation menu will take you to Gradescope, where you will be able to see how you did on each Free Response problem and Multiple Choice question. Note that the FR problems were graded as a percent, but the MC questions were graded as points. That is, 100 on a FR problem isn't 100 points, its 100% of the 16 points the problem was worth. This was not a 352-point quiz!
The question about the power of drag (ProbG in Gradescope, #7 on the posted solution) went quite badly, and was converted to extra credit. If you wish to confirm your score in Cavas by your own calculation, find the points earned on each FR problem by multiplying the percentage score by the value (16 points), then add the points earned on all the MC questions other than ProbG. Divide the total by 0.92, then add any points earned on ProbG. The result should match the score posted in Canvas. Scores may exceed 100%.
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded, you should contact Dr. Murray (the request regrade button in Gradescope is simplest, if that's your concern) before Quiz #4 is administered on Monday, November 15.
Oct 26
Quiz #3 Solutions
Solutions to Quiz #3 have been posted. I hope to have scores available Friday afternoon.
Oct 19
Unofficial Mid-Term Grades
Unofficial Mid-Term Grades are available under PostEm in Canvas.
Oct 19
Quiz #3
Quiz #3 will be administered on Monday, October 25, at 6:30pm. Students should go to the following rooms for this quiz, 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! You may want to review the Quiz Rules. Don't forget your photo ID.
Your quizzes will scanned into Gradescope for grading. To make this go more smoothly:
  • Write darkly and neatly. Blue or black ink is recommended. Do not make any erasures in your free-response work. Cross out anything you do not want evaluated. Box your answer.
  • Bubble your answers to the multiple-choice question on the front page. If you change your answer, Gradescope understands a neat X through a MC bubble.
    • A neat X to change a MC answer
  • The formula sheet is on the back of the front page. This page may be removed during the quiz if it makes things easier for you, but it must, of course, be submitted as it has your name and MC answers on it.
  • Initial the odd pages in the top margin, in case the pages of your quiz get separated.
  • If the page for a free-response problem has insuffcient space for your work, ask a proctor for an additional sheet. If you wish this work to be evaluated, put your name on the sheet and make a note on the problem page, so graders will know where to find your work.
Remember that 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. 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.
Oct 11
Quiz #2 Results
Results for Quiz #2 are available as a percent in the Canvas gradebook under Quiz 2.
The Gradescope link in the Canvas navigation menu will take you to Gradescope, where you will be able to see how you did on each Free Response problem and Multiple Choice question. Because the FR problems were graded as a percent, but the MC questions were graded as points, it was necessary to treat each student's quiz as if it were two quizzes in Gradescope, one with the FR problems and one with the MC questions. (The score posted in Canvas is your combined score.) Gradescope also shows you an internal code like ProbG d/b that is used to identify a particular question and its correct answer and (when appropriate) half-credit choice, despite the fact that it has a different question number on different versions of the quiz.
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded, you should contact Dr. Murray (the request regrade button in Gradescope is simplest, if that's your concern) before the next quiz is administered on Monday, October 25.
Oct 05
Quiz #2 Solutions
Solutions to Quiz #2 have been posted. We hope to have scores available later this week.
Sep 28
Progress Reports
Progress Reports (Mid-Term Grades) have been sent to the Registrar.
Sep 28
Quiz #2
Quiz #2 will be administered on Monday, October 04, at 6:30pm. Students should go to the following rooms for this quiz, 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! You may want to review the Quiz Rules. Don't forget your photo ID.
Your quizzes will scanned into Gradescope for grading. To make this go more smoothly:
  • Write darkly and neatly. Blue or black ink is recommended. Do not make any erasures in your free-response work. Cross out anything you do not want evaluated. Box your answer.
  • Bubble your answers to the multiple-choice question on the front page. If you change your answer, Gradescope understands a neat X through a MC bubble.
    • A neat X to change a MC answer
  • The formula sheet is on the back of the front page. This page may be removed during the quiz if it makes things easier for you, but it must, of course, be submitted as it has your name and MC answers on it.
  • Initial the odd pages in the top margin, in case the pages of your quiz get separated.
  • If the page for a free-response problem has insuffcient space for your work, ask a proctor for an additional sheet. If you wish this work to be evaluated, put your name on the sheet and make a note on the problem page, so graders will know where to find your work.
Remember that 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. 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.
Sep 27
Quiz #1 Results
Results for Quiz #1 are available as a percent in the Canvas gradebook under Quiz 1.
The Gradescope link in the Canvas navigation menu will take you to Gradescope, where you will be able to see how you did on each Free Response problem and Multiple Choice question. Because the FR problems were graded as a percent, but the MC questions were graded as points, it was necessary to treat each student's quiz as if it were two quizzes in Gradescope, one with the FR problems and one with the MC questions. (The score posted in Canvas is your combined score.) Gradescope also shows you an internal code like ProbG d/b that is used to identify a particular question and its correct answer and (when appropriate) half-credit choice, despite the fact that it has a different question number on different versions of the quiz.
If you have questions or concerns about how your quiz was graded, you should contact Dr. Murray (the request regrade button in Gradescope is simplest, if that's your concern). Because of the delay in posting these results, the usual before the next quiz deadline is extended to Monday, October 11.
Sep 21
Quiz #1 Solutions and Results
Solutions to Quiz #1 have been posted. We hope to have scores available later this week.
Sep 14
Quiz Locations
Quiz #1 will be administered on Monday, September 20, at 6:30pm. Students should go to the following rooms for this quiz. If any student goes to the wrong room, it is likely that there will be insufficient seats and/or quiz forms in that room! You may want to review the Quiz Rules. Don't forget your photo ID.
Your quizzes will scanned into Gradescope for grading. To make this go more smoothly:
  • Write darkly and neatly. Blue or black ink is recommended. Do not make any erasures in your free-response work. Cross out anything you do not want evaluated. Box your answer.
  • Bubble your answers to the multiple-choice question on the front page.
  • The formula sheet is on the back of the front page. This page may be removed during the quiz if it makes things easier for you, but it must, of course, be submitted as it has your name and MC answers on it.
  • Initial the odd pages in the top margin, in case the pages of your quiz get separated.
  • If the page for a free-response problem has insuffcient space for your work, ask a proctor for an additional sheet. If you wish this work to be evaluated, put your name on the sheet and make a note on the problem page, so graders will know where to find your work.
Remember that 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. 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.
Sep 03
Homework Codes
Codes for permanent access to MasteringPhysics are available under PostEm in Canvas. The MasteringPhysics people sent me no instructions, I hope the use of these codes will be obvious.
Sep 03
Class Participation and Reading Question Scores
Scores for Reading Questions (RQ) and Class Participation (CP) are available in the Canvas PostEm Tool, as percents. Note that since there is only one Reading Question each day, the only possible scores for it are zero, 13% (which is 1/8, rounded) and 100%. If you think your scores are incorrect, contact Dr. Murray.
Sep 03
Studio
Solutions to the first Studio problem has been posted. This will be done after each Studion is complete, and so will not normally be announced.
Aug 31
Measuring Mindset in Undergraduate STEM Students
A researcher at Texas Tech University, Dr. Lisa Limeri, is conducting a research study to investigate undergraduates’ beliefs about their abilities and how these beliefs relate to their educational experiences and outcomes. You are being invited to participate in this study. Your participation would involve responding to a survey about your beliefs about your abilities and your experiences in science and college, which should take you up to 30 minutes to respond to. To learn more about the study and participate, follow this link to the consent form and survey.
Aug 31
Homework Scores
Scores for the first week's homework, including extra credit for doing the Regular homework early, are available in the Canvas PostEm Tool. Note that extra credit will only appear in scores posted on Canvas, never in MasteringPhysics. Contact Dr. Murray if anything doesn't look right.
Aug 27
Practice Class Participation Scores
Scores for questions polled in the first week of class are available in the Canvas PostEm Tool. Since the first week is for practice, these points don't matter. If you see a non-zero score, you know that your account is active and your answers are being received. If you believe you have activated your TurningPoint account and answered questions in class, but are seeing a score of zero, or no score at all, contact Dr. Murray.
Aug 23
eText
The Fourth Edition of Randall Knight's Physics for Scientists and Engineers — A Strategic Approach will be provided with MasteringPhysics, so that's the edition we'll be using. The web site has been updated. Sorry for the confusion.

First Day:

Cover of Text Text
An e-text of Physics for Scientists and Engineers — A Strategic Approach (Fourth Edition) by Randall D. Knight will be provided with MasteringPhysics. If you wish to purchase a hard copy,

Attendance
You may be interested in the distribution of course grades by class attendance in PHYS 2211 for more than 2800 students in recent semesters.

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.