Dear Students of PHY231 - section 003,

Welcome to Introductory Physics 231. On Monday morning 10:20 am we will kick
off the semester.  The PHY231 www site contains the essential information about
grading, calendar and policies, as well as were to go to do your homework and
old exams etc. It is located at:

http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/phy231/

Take some time to look at the site so you'll be informed about it all. Note
that this site is also used by PHY231C (online course) so a few issues are
specific for that course.  A summary of my lecture notes will also be posted
there.  Lecture notes from the other PHY231 sections is there too, so you can
read several different ways of looking at the course material.

Grading for PHY231 will be based on midterm exams (3), a final exam, homework
(LON-CAPA) and in-class quizzes. Details are on the PHY231 www site. For the
quizzes, we will use a so-called online response system. Basically, you will
answer the quizzes using a transmitter (a.k.a. 'clicker') in the class. I will
also use the system to ask questions and get online responses not used for
grading. Note that the clicker quizzes are extra credit. You will get points
for just participating and of course more points for giving correct
answers. You will need to register the clicker number (this can be done via the
homework LON-CAPA system).

The clicker is sold at the bookstores and is bundled with the recommended text
book (College Physics, Volume One, by Serway and Faughn; Volume Two is needed
for PHY232). The version sold by the bookstores is especially made for MSU and
is paperback. However, if you have an earlier edition of Serway and Faugn (5 or
6), you don't have to buy a new textbook. Note that because of the special
version of the book and the bundling with a clicker, the combined new price is
strongly reduced relative to last year, so if you buy a secondhand textbook,
make sure that it is worth it, especially since you still need a clicker.  The
bookstores only sell the new H-ITT clicker type, but if you can get an old
version of the clicker (it was smaller and has less buttons than the new one)
from someone who used it last year, that is fine as well. Just make sure it
works well.

I hope that you do well and enjoy the course. Don't hesitate to contact me if
you have any questions or problems during the semester. My walk-in hour is from
2-3 pm on Tuesday in the BPS helproom (not far from the lecture hall), but you
can also make an appointment or contact me before/after class.

See you Monday,
Phillip Duxbury
BPS 4260
duxbury@pa.msu.edu
355 9200x2301