PHYS 314-010: Mechanics

Spring 2018 Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Jeffrey W. Emmert Office Hours:
Office: HS 305H MoFr 11:00 am - noon
Email: jwemmert@salisbury.edu MoWeFr 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Phone: 410-677-5415 (or by appointment)

GREETINGS! In this course we will study the theory and application of Newtonian mechanics, covering topics
such as oscillations, general motion of a particle in three dimensions, noninertial reference systems, gravitation
and central forces, dynamics of systems of particles, and general motion of rigid bodies in three dimensions. A
good working knowledge of vector calculus is essential and integral to the course. Satisfactory completion of
PHYS 313 (Introduction to Modern Physics) or its equivalent is a prerequisite.

The GOAL of this course is for you to develop a solid understanding of Newtonian mechanics. In conjunction
with your other coursework, this class will further develop your analytical skills and hopefully encourage a
perception of the world as a more comprehensible, enjoyable, and fascinating place.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

• Analytical Mechanics, 7th edition (ISBN 0534494927) by G.R. Fowles and G.L. Cassiday
• Scientific calculator – see below

ACCESSING DOCUMENTS, SCORES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

• MyClasses: Your class scores will periodically be updated on the MyClasses course page. If you notice
an incorrect score, please notify me immediately. The MyClasses course page also links to important
documents such as the syllabus and a continually updated class calendar. MyClasses can be accessed
from the main page of the Salisbury University website.
• Email: I may occasionally communicate important announcements via campus email, which can be
accessed from the main page of the Salisbury University website. Please check your email account daily
throughout the semester.

POLICIES
• Academic Integrity: The physics department adheres to the policy of academic integrity included in
Salisbury University’s Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog and outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
Any type of academic misconduct will result in severe penalty, including the possibility of a failing grade
in the course. An Academic Misconduct Incident Report will be filed with the Office of Academic Affairs
for all incidents, as required by university policy.
• Attendance: You are expected to come to class on time, prepared to ask and answer questions and
actively participate. You are responsible for all material covered and announcements made in class. In
the event of an absence, you should obtain this information from fellow students. Unless there is an
exam scheduled, there is no need to notify me regarding an absence. Please do not come to class
within 24 hours of having a fever!
• Calculators: Bring a scientific calculator to every lecture. Only non-programmable calculators without
computer algebra systems and inter-calculator communication capabilities may be used on quizzes and
exams. A cell phone may not be used for a calculator, and calculators may not be shared.

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 • Class Behavior: Please maintain yourself during class in a mature, courteous manner that promotes
the learning process. To assist in this, turn off cell phones, put away headphones and earbuds, refrain
from engaging in extraneous conversations, and avoid distracting or disturbing your classmates.
Violators will be asked to stop or leave the room. Such behavior will affect your final grade.
• Copyright: The lectures that I deliver in this class and the course materials I create and distribute are
protected by federal copyright law as my original works. You are permitted to take notes of lectures
and to use course materials for your personal use in this course. You may not record my lectures
without my express consent, and you may not publicly display or distribute or allow anyone else to
publicly display or distribute my lecture notes or course materials without my written permission.
• Inclement Weather: In case of inclement weather, call the Gull Line at 410-546-6426 for weather
related closing information, or check the Salisbury University website.
• Students with Disabilities: If you require an accommodation in this course based on the impact of a
disability, please inform me during the first week of class.
• Writing Requirement: You are expected to demonstrate proficiency in “writing across the curriculum”
by writing logically, legibly, and lucidly.

GRADING
• Exams: There will be three midterm exams administered in lecture as well as a comprehensive final
exam. If you suspect that you will miss an exam, contact me beforehand to make necessary arrange-
ments. In extreme, unexpected circumstances (e.g., death in the family, severe illness verified by a
physician), if notice is given prior to the beginning of an exam, I may at my discretion allow you to make
up one (and only one) missed exam.
• Assignments and Quizzes: A variety of assignments and quizzes will be given throughout the semester.
I encourage you to collaborate with others in developing homework solutions. Please discuss the
material and help each other learn the concepts. However, you may turn in only the results of your
own efforts – not group solutions, and certainly not solutions directly borrowed from someone else.
Subsequent to any collaboration, the written homework solutions that you submit for grading must be
developed entirely on your own. For instance, if you develop a solution through collaboration or with
help from a website, you must put it aside and write your own solution without referring to it. Violation
of these rules concerning assignments will be considered academic misconduct. Assignments and
quizzes will not be weighted equally, but their relative values will be indicated by the number of points
they are worth. Written assignments are due in class at the beginning of class. No late submissions of
homework will be accepted, nor will make-up quizzes be provided. If you suspect that you will miss a
lecture in which an assignment is due, submit your work early or have someone else submit it for you
in class. Of your assignments and quizzes, the two lowest scores are excluded in calculating your overall
score.
• Grade Calculation: Your grade will be determined based on the following percentages:
- Three midterm exams (3 x 18⅓%) 55%
- Final exam 20%
- Assignments and quizzes 25%
Total = 100%

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• Grade Scale: Letter grades will be assigned based on the following scale applied to the total percentage
earned in the course:
90 – 100% = A Superior work; demonstrates a thorough understanding of the subject
80 – 90¯ % = B Excellent work; demonstrates an above average understanding of the subject
70 – 80¯ % = C Good work; demonstrates an average understanding of the subject
60 – 70¯ % = D Fair work; demonstrates a below average understanding of the subject and/or may
not have completed some coursework
00 – 60¯ % = F Unsatisfactory work; does not demonstrate an adequate understanding of the
subject and/or may not have completed significant coursework
At my discretion, I may lower one or more of the letter grade limits after the final exam. Apply your
energies toward earning an acceptable grade from the beginning of the semester, and if you experience
difficulties, seek help immediately!

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 Very Tentative Lecture Schedule
Spring 2018

Week Of Lecture Topics Sections

29 January Vectors, rotational transformations 1.1-1.10

5 February Coordinate systems, Newton’s laws 1.11-1.12, 2.1

12 February Rectilinear motion, harmonic motion 2.2-2.4, 3.1-3.3

19 February Damped and forced harmonic motion, phase space 3.4-3.6

Midterm Exam 1 (ch. 1-3)

26 February 4.1-4.2
Conservative forces, del operator
5 March Three-dimensional motion, constrained motion 4.3-4.6

12 March Accelerated coordinate systems 5.1

19 March (Spring Break) -

26 March Rotating coordinate systems 5.2-5.4

Midterm Exam 2 (ch. 4-5)
2 April 6.1-6.2
Universal gravitation
9 April Kepler’s laws 6.3-6.6

16 April Orbital mechanics 6.7-6.13

23 April Systems of particles 7.1-7.3

Collisions and scattering
30 April 7.5-7.6
Midterm Exam 3 (ch. 6-7)

7 May Rigid bodies 8.1-8.4

14 May Laminar motion 8.5-8.6

Comprehensive Final Exam

Friday, 18 May 10:45 am - 1:15 pm (HS 360)

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