University Extension
University of Texas at Austin
KAUST - Introduction to Engineering Physics (Spring 2017)
Lecture Fri 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM RLM 5.104
Lab Wed 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM RLM 7.116
Instructor: Dr. Shyamal Mitra
Office: GDC 6.320
Office Hours: M 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM, WF 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM or by appointment
Teaching Assistant: TBA
E-mail: TBA
Office Hours:
Location:
Required Text: Physics of Everyday Phenomena by W. Thomas Griffith
Publisher: McGraw Hill. ISBN: 978-130905-619-6
Scope of the Course
This course is designed to prepare you for the rigors for Engineering
Physics. This is a discussion and experiment based course with an
emphasis on problem solving. We will mostly work on problems using
algebra and sometimes calculus. But the goal of all the exercises that
we do in class is not to gain mathematical expertise but a deeper
understanding of the concepts in physics.
We will be covering a wide range of topics in physics: Mechanics,
Behavior of Fluids, Heat and Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism,
Wave Motion and Optics. The course is divided into four sections,
followed by a test at the end of each section.
- Unit One: Mechanics
- 2: Describing Motion
- 3: Falling Objects and Projectile Motion
- 4: Newton's Laws - Explaining Motion
- 5: Circular Motion, the Planets and Gravity
- 6: Energy and Oscillations
- 7: Momentum and Impulse
- 8: Rotational Motion of Solid Objects
- Unit Two: Fluids and Heat
- 9: Behavior of Fluids
- 10: Temperature and Heat
- 11: Heat Engines and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Unit Three: Electricity and Magnetism
- 12: Electrostatic Phenomena
- 13: Electric Circuits
- 14: Magnets and Electromagnetism
- Unit Four: Wave Motion and Optics
- 15: Making Waves
- 16: Light Waves and Color
- 17: Light and Image Formation
Home Work
There will be several homework assignments during the semester. They will
be assigned on Quest. The
homework sets will be mostly numerical problems and some conceptual ones.
I encourage students to discuss homework problems with each other but not
copy each others work. The due date for each homework assignment will be
posted on Quest. The grades for each assignment will be on Quest.
Class Work
There will be group exercises in class during every lecture period and
some lab periods. These exercises will be in Quest. You will have to
bring your laptop to class everyday.
Quizzes
There will be a quiz at the beginning of class every day. It will
consist of a single numerical problem taken from the previous day's
lecture material. The quiz will be either administered in Quest or
hand written.
Tests
There will be four tests and no final examination. The tests will
consist of a mixture of short answer questions and numerical problems
similar to the ones given as homework assignments. The questions will be
drawn primarily from the lecture material and the reading assignments.
The tests are equally weighted.
The test will be held during the following class period:
- Test 1: 01 Mar 2017
- Test 2: 22 Mar 2017
- Test 3: 12 Apr 2017
- Test 4: 05 May 2017
Make-up tests will be given only for the following reasons. In
all cases you must provide some form of documentation.
- Ill health
- Family emergency
- Official UT conflict
Having two tests on the same day is not official UT conflict!
For each test you may bring a non-programmable calculator and a single
8 1/2 x 11 sheet of handwritten notes (no photo reduction). There will
be a formula sheet and a sheet of constants attached to the test.
Questions concerning test grades should be given to me in writing along
with your test within the next class day that the test is handed back.
We will not entertain any disputes after that time.
Grades
Your performance in this class will be evaluated using your scores for
quizzes, homework, classwork, four tests and labs. The weights of each
of these components are listed below. There are no extra credit
projects or assignments to improve your grade.
- Quizzes: 10%
- Class Work: 10%
- Home Work: 10%
- Four Tests (10% each): 40%
- Labs: 30%
I will drop the lowest score on the quizzes, Classwork, and Homework.
The scores on all the tests and labs will be taken into account
while computing the weighted average. Your final grade will be
determined by your performance through out the semester.
Study Groups
Please organize yourselves into study groups of ~3 students who will
meet once a week to discuss the course. Typically, you will review
the lectures, do the reading, and attempt the homework independently
before your weekly meeting with your study group. Studying for tests
together is permitted and encouraged. If you are unsure about how to
work together with your friend in a legal, helpful manner, do come and
talk with us. Remember, it is always ok to "work together" with your
professor or TA!
Academic Misconduct Policy
While you are free to discuss the course material with your classmates
and are encouraged to form study groups for the exams, collaboration on
during the quizzes and tests is not permitted.
The quizzes and tests must be the sole work of the students turning
them in. University policy (see Dean of Students' policies on
academic integrity) will be followed strictly.
Acts that exceed the bounds defined by the approved collaboration
practices will be considered cheating. Such acts include:
- Copying answers from someone else or giving someone else your
solutions during quizzes and tests
- Copying answers from the internet during quizzes or tests
- Sending or receiving text during quizzes or tests
- Taking restroom breaks to review notes or communicate with someone
during quizzes and tests
We urge everyone in the class to take appropriate measures for
protecting your answer sheets as deemed reasonable. Any detected
act of cheating will result in a 0 for that quiz or test.
University Code of Conduct: The core values of The University of
Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual
opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected
to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and
respect towards peers and community.
University Honor Code: As a student of The University of Texas
at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University and uphold
academic integrity.
Your Responsibilities in This Class
- Your performance in this class will be determined by you! It will
require a strong dedication to learning the material and may require a
substantial time commitment to complete the assignments.
- You are expected to show up on time for class and stay for the whole
lecture. You are late if you come to class 5 minutes after the start of
the class period. You may not participate in the lecture quiz if you are
more than 10 minutes late. If you arrive more than 20 minutes late for
a lab period then you will get a penalty of having your score for that
lab be reduced by 20%.
- You are required to have your cell phones off at all times during
the class and out of sight. You may not make or receive calls on your
cell phone or send or receive text messages during lectures.
- You may not use a laptop in class unless told to do so.
- You are responsible for all material posted to the web site and
sent as email. Ignorance of such material is no excuse.
- You are responsible for all material presented in the lectures
and reading assignments. Note that lectures will include some material
that is not available in your book.
- You are responsible for protecting your work from being copied
by others during quizzes and tests.
- Your conduct in class should be conducive towards a positive learning
environment for your class mates as well as your self.
Course Time Table
- 18 Jan 2017: Classes begin
- 01 Mar 2017: Test 1
- 13 - 17 Mar 2017: Spring Break
- 22 Mar 2017: Test 2
- 12 Apr 2017: Test 3
- 05 May 2017: Test 4 and Classes end
General Policies
If you are absent from class or examination for the observance of a religious
holy day you may turn in your assignment or take the examination on an
alternate date provided you have given me written notice fourteen days prior
to the class absence. For religious holy days that fall within the first
two weeks of class notice must be given on the first class day.
Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact
the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office (471-6259 or
471-4641 TTY).