Physics 150, 215 & 215H Information Page 
 
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Brian L. Weiner

117 SWIFT BLD;   PHONE: 814-375-4700
COURSE
PHYS 150  (CLICK LINK TO SEE PREREQUISITES AND CO REQUISITES)

TECHNICAL PHYSICS I

PHYS 250 (CLICK LINK TO SEE PREREQUISITES AND CO REQUISITES) 

INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I

 (3 CREDITS for PHYS 150; 4 CREDITS for PHYS 250)
TEXT
Physics (Fith Edition, John Wiley), by J. Cutnell and K. Johnson

 

 
You are expected to check the online physics 150 / 215 page at least every other weekday. The schedule for lecture topics, quizzes and exams is dynamic and can change. You can access the class home page by opening the WWW address 
 
 
http://cac.psu.edu/~bqw 
 
then clicking
 
Courses that I teach
 
followed by
 
Physics 150: Technical Physics 
 
or
 
Physics 215: Introduction to Physics 
 
The following items should be specifically checked
  • OFFICE HOURS: 
    •  
    Monday  01:00 pm - 02:00 pm 
    Friday  01:00 pm - 02:00 pm

    And by Appointment (But come by and check my office any time, write me email or post a message on the BB!).

  • The purpose
    • of
    Phy 150, Phy 215 and Phy 215H 
     

    These courses give an introductory treatment of topics in mechanics and waves leading toward an understanding of technical applications (See the course schedule for details).
     

  • Homework assignments will be set from the text book and the online textbook website there will be quiz every 1.5 weeks on these assignments and topics we have discussed in class.

     

     Phy 215H 
     
  • The students will work on projects using Interactive Physics, World in Motion and Video Point software programs and interact with the class BB.
  • Attendance at all lectures, labs and recitations is required.
  • Assignments will be given each week.
  • Short quizzes will be given that correspond to the assignments. The quizzes will be based on assignments and lectures. Some quizzes will take the form online assignments that will be graded.
  • Makeup quizzes and tests due to absence from class must be arranged beforehand with me.
  • Late Lab Reports: 10% will be deducted from the mark for each week late, unless other arrangements have been made
  • Extra Credit can be obtained by posting class relevant material (questions, answers and information) to the class BB & by submitting the extra credit problem posted on the class web page.

    • A posting on the class BB counts up to 10% of a quiz grade 

    BB postings will get extra marks for interesting links, pictures, movies and sounds. 
  • The following mathematical knowledge is required and assumed for the course:
    • Some experience with trigonometry and basic algebra
  • If you feel uneasy about any of these topics please inform me.
  • The grades will be determined as follows:
    • Non attendance  up to 4% deducted.
    Best 8 quiz grades 20% 
    3 exam grades 60% 
    Labs 20% 
    The lab grade will be calculated according to: 
    Short lab report grades 50% 
    Final lab report grade 50%
  • Letter grades and marks correspond in the following fashion:
    • A: 93-100 A-: 90-92 B+: 87-89 B: 80-86 B-: 77-79 C+: 74-76 C: 68-73 D: 60-67 F: 0-59
  • Statement of Academic Integrity: You should also see the university statement at  http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/
     

    All students are expected to act with civility,

    personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights and property;
    and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed
    through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic
    integrity is requisite to respect for self and others and a civil community.

     

    Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts
    of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty
    include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another persons' work
    as one's own, using Internet sources without citation, fabricating field
    data or citations, "ghosting" (taking or having another student take an
    exam), stealing examinations, tampering with the academic work of another
    student, facilitating other students' acts of academic dishonesty, etc

    Cheating will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will be given an "F" on that exam and referred to the Director of Academic Affairs for further disciplinary action.

  • Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes unless prior arrangements have been made, failure to attend classes can result in a lower grade than test and quiz scores would warrant.
  • Makeup's: If you present a doctors certificate or equivalent make-up quizzes and tests will be given. Make up quizzes will also be given if you make arrangements prior to the quiz and have a justifiable reason.
  • Good Luck! I hope you enjoy the course. Please come and discuss any problems you have with the course. Silence achieves nothing.
    •