PHY231 - Introductory Physics I
Lectures: All lectures meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in 118 PA
Sections 1 - 8
8:00 - 8:50 am
Prof. Alex Brown
Sections 9 - 16
9:10 - 10:00 am
Prof. Alex Brown
Sections 17 - 24
10:20 - 11:10 am
Prof. Maris Abolins
Textbook: Hecht, Physics: Algebra/Trig, 2nd Edition.
Course web-site: http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/current/PHY231/index.html
Homework web-site: http://lectureonline.cl.msu.edu
  • There are weekly homework assignments provided for you on the internet. The problems are individually tailored and computer graded. You may try each problem as many as 20 times - incorrect answers do not count against you and correct solutions (within the percentages indicated with each problem) are immediately credited to you. All homework for the week is due on Wednesday midnight. After this time the correct solution will be displayed on the screen and no credit will be given.
  • On your first login to the homework site, you must "sign on". The sign-on dialogue will ask you for your encryption key which may be found at http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/1999fall/PHY231/pages/keys.html. For your name you can choose any alphabetic non-numeric name you wish. Try to avoid names that others might find objectionable. Also the password can be any alphabetic name of your choosing. The class is phy231. It is important that you memorize both your user name and password as you will not be able to access your homework without them. In the unfortunate event that you do forget them, your instructors have the capability of resetting them.
  • While working on the homework, you may send e-mail to get help. This e-mail will generally be answered by 4:00 pm of the next day. There will also be a "chat-room" set up on the homework web site which can be used anytime, but on Wednesday evening between the hours of 4:00 and 10:00 pm there will be a TA online to answer your questions.
Help-room: Formal recitations in this course are replaced by a help-room in 346 Giltner Hall which will be staffed by one or more Teaching Assistants. The help-room will be open from 2:00 until 10:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Professor Tung will coordinate this activity.
Exams: There will be two one hour midterm exams: on Monday, October 4 and Monday, November 8 starting at 8:00 p.m. On those days the exams will be given at a common location (to be announced) and the regular classes will not meet. The two hour final is scheduled for Thursday, December 16, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. In addition there will be short quizzes given at the end of most lecture hours.
Grades: Your grade will be determined on the basis of your performance on homework, quizzes and the three exams.
Reading and Homework assignments: Daily reading and weekly homework assignments are summarized in the syllabus.