1 8/27/01Syllabus for 33-131: Matter & Interactions IBruce Sherwood and Ruth ChabayDepartment of Physics and Center for Innovation in LearningOffice hours: Almost any time, but call to see whether someone is there (phone numbers on p. 4)Course web page: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/33-131Overview of the coursePhysics 33-131, which includes classical mechanics and thermal physics, is the first course in a two-semestersequence of introductory calculus-based physics courses offered to science and computer science majors.This course deals with the nature of matter and its interactions. The variety of phenomena that we will be ableto explain and understand is very wide, from the orbit of a planet to the speed of sound in a solid. The main goal of this course is to have you engage in a process central to science: the attempt tomodel a broad range of physical phenomena using a small set of powerful fundamental principles.The specific focus is on learning how to explain the nature of matter and its interactions in terms ofa small set of physical laws that govern all mechanical interactions, and in terms of the atomic struc-ture of matter.TextbookThe textbook is Matter & Interactions I: Modern Mechanics by Ruth Chabay and Bruce Sherwood (JohnWiley & Sons 2002). We will cover almost all of the topics in this textbook. See the table of contents at thefront of the book (which also includes the contents of Volume II).PrerequisitesThe math needed is a good knowledge of algebra and a basic knowledge of derivatives, which can be obtainedby studying calculus concurrently. Class meetingsFull-class lecture/discussions are MWF 8:30 in Doherty Hall 1212.Small-group sections are in Doherty Hall A325 (basement, near connection to the 5th floor of Wean Hall):TTh 9:30 (section A) Daniel Hennessy, dh2@andrew, office Wean 6404, 8-3771TTh 12:30 (section C) Daniel Hennessy, dh2@andrew, office Wean 6404, 8-3771TTh 4:30 (section D) Ruth Chabay, rchabay@andrew, office Hamburg Hall 3039B, 8-5714Workshop: optional evening problem-solving sessions are in Doherty Hall A325.In-class activities and responsibilities• You are responsible for attending all classes, and attendance will count toward your grade.• Bring the textbook and a scientific calculator to class.• MWF classes will be devoted to lectures, discussions, and experiments.• Tuesday and Thursday classes will be devoted to working on problems or doing computer modeling.• If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Handouts will normally be postedon the course web site, http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/33-1312 8/27/01Outside classYou are responsible for the following outside class:• Read the assignment sheet carefully, study assigned textbook sections, and turn in assigned problems.• An assignment to study sections of the textbook means:• Read the assigned textbook sections thoughtfully.• Do the “stop and think” activities.• Write brief solutions to the in-line “exercises” and keep them in a notebook.• Homework solutions must include complete, legible explanations of your work.• Expect to spend about 7 hours per week outside of class studying for this course.This is a 12 unit course, which means that in addition to the 5 hours of class per week you are expected tospend about 7 hours studying outside class. If you typically spend much less than 7 hours of outside study,you are unlikely to be able to learn the material. If you typically spend much more than 7 hours of outsidestudy, it is extremely important that you consult with us about ways to study more efficiently.QuizzesUsually at the beginning of each Friday lecture/discussion there will be a quiz—come on time! These quizzesare based on class discussions and textbook study.ExamsThere will be three hour exams and a 3-hour final exam. All exams are closed-book, but relevant formulasand constants will be provided where needed. Exams are given in the evening to allow you to take extra timeif you need it.If an unavoidable problem comes up involving illness or family matters, contact the lecturer no later than theday of the exam. Makeup exams will not be given (in the case of an excused absence we will average yourother exam scores).GradesThe final grade will be determined on the following basis:40% final exam (a 3-hour exam covering the whole course)35% three hour exams (see assignment sheets for dates and times)15% homework, including computer problems10% quizzes, attendanceExam grades are on an absolute basis: A 88-100%, B 75-87%, C 62-74%, D 50-61%, R 0-49%. There is no“grading on the curve” (grade as rank in class). However, the grade boundaries may be lowered if an examturns out to be more difficult than intended.Class attendanceCredit is given for class attendance.Too many students do not realize how important it is to come to class, and giving credit for attendance is oneway of emphasizing its importance. In an introductory physics course where lecture attendance was not re-quired, roll was taken in two consecutive lectures. It was found that 87% of the A students came to both lec-tures, 75% of the B students, 54% of the C students, 33% of the D students, and 10% of those students whowere failing. Very similar results have been obtained in calculus and in another introductory physics course.Regular class attendance keeps you well connected to the course, so that you know at all times what’s goingon, what are the most important points, etc.The most common cause of missing classes is lack of sleep. If you find that you are getting to bed very lateand are missing classes, you need to get help in setting priorities and managing your time, so that you can getadequate sleep and attend classes regularly.3 8/27/01How to use the textbookA key component of the course is the textbook, in which you are asked to analyze phenomena, to work outsmall examples, to make some of the steps in derivations, etc.Textbook study assignments can be done after the associated class discussion, though some students find thatthey get more out of class if they read ahead. You might try both methods and see which works better for you.The class covers the high points of the new material, and you are expected to go back over all of the assignedmaterial in the textbook and work the exercises in detail, to help fix the new concepts in your mind. Classdiscussion will not cover all of the assigned material; it is essential that you study the textbook carefully.It