. . . and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. (Alma 30:44)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office:	N147 ESC
Office Hours:	TTh 4:00--5:00 PM
Telephone:	422-6078
Email:	david.neilsen@byu.edu
TA:	Michael Besselman

INTRODUCTION

In classical mechanics we return to a study of Newton's laws and some of the material covered in Physics 121. After an exciting course on modern physics, such as Physics 222, this material might seem to be something of a physics backwater. (More blocks sliding down planes?) However, during this semester I think you will find classical mechanics to be surprisingly rich, interesting, relevant, and very modern. Students are expected to develop practical problem solving skills in addition to an understanding of the underlying theory. Course homework assignments and exams will focus on the practical application of theory to solving problems. A student's mastery of these skills will be determined by performance on all course assignments and exams.

REQUIRED TEXT

• Classical Mechanics, by John R. Taylor

ADDITIONAL TEXTS

These books are not required for this class, but they are classics in the discipline. You can profitably consult these books to supplement the material in Taylor. Each book has been through several editions, and several copies are available in the HBLL.

• Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems by Thornton and Marion
• Analytical Mechanics by Fowles and Cassiday

SCHEDULE

A tentative course schedule lists reading assignments, lecture topics, homework due dates, and exam dates. The schedule is available on the course web page.

EVALUATION

Grades will be calculated based on homework, two mid-term exams, and a final exam. The relative weights for each category are:

Reading Quizzes	10%
Homework	45%
Midterm Exam 1	15%
Midterm Exam 2	15%
Final Exam	15%

READING

Reading assignments for each class period are included on the course schedule. Please read these assignments before class and come prepared to discuss your questions. I will not have time in class to present all of the material from the text book, and I will try to concentrate on the more difficult concepts and examples of their application. This allows us to use class time more effectively, but it also requires that you come prepared with the necessary background.

To encourage reading before class, we will have a short reading quiz at the beginning of class. The quiz will cover material from the current reading assignment or the previous lecture. The three lowest quiz scores will be dropped.

WRITING

The ability to write clearly and effectively is an essential skill for physicists. Traditionally, students first discover this fact when they are in graduate school and finally confront the necessity of writing a thesis, but this occurs too late in today's world. You must be able to communicate your ideas clearly to your colleagues in order to contribute to your field. You must be able to explain to your employer (and funding agencies) why your work is significant, meaningful, and worth supporting. If your colleagues can't understand your papers, they'll think that you have nothing interesting to say. If your employer does not understand the significance of your work, you might lose your job.

Writing is difficult work. Fortunately, work becomes easier with practice. Rather than having one big term writing project---a writing marathon---we will work out with regular sprints: (1) writing will be part of every homework problem, and (2) short essay questions and lab reports will occasionally be assigned. For more information on the first point, see the section below. Regarding the second point, a few extended lab reports will be assigned this semester. Additionally, essay questions may address larger questions related to the course material, such as: Are Newton's laws logically consistent?, What can we learn about physics from Kafka?, Do we live in the best of all possible worlds?

HOMEWORK

Working problems is essential for understanding physics beyond the superficial. Thus, you may expect some challenging homework assignments in this class. Homework will be collected at the beginning of class on the assigned day. Late homework will be accepted for reduced credit for up to one week after the original deadline. Homework received by the next class period after the original deadline will be penalized 20%, and homework received during the remaining week will be penalized 50%.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your homework is legible, logically organized, and can be understood by a reasonable person. TAs and instructors are not trained in reading tea leaves, augury, haruspicy, or similar arts. Therefore, you are required to explain the logic of your homework solutions in complete English sentences. Please follow these guidelines when writing your homework:

• Write on only one side of the paper.
• Begin a new page for each homework problem.
• Include a statement of the problem
• Include a figure and definition of variables (if appropriate)
• Include one or more sentences that explain your solution method

In explaining the solution method, I am not looking for paragraphs that repeat information from the text. ("Both potential and kinetic energy can be defined. Energy is conserved. Energy makes me happy.") Rather, I am looking for evidence that you understand the physics concepts relevant for the problem and have a logical plan to find the solution. English sentences should be the signposts that guide the reader through the solution. As an example, consider this outline where ellipses may represent several lines of equations:

This problem can be solved using conservation of energy and momentum. . . . Energy conservation gives . . . . Momentum for this system is . . . . Combining equations (2) and (5) above, solve for the velocity. . . . Finally, take the time derivative to find where the acceleration and force are zero. . . .

Notice how much information a few sentences can contain. While I did not specify a concrete problem, I'm sure that you could now easily write a question whose solution would fit this example.

It's not possible to invent hard and fast rules on what must be written that will cover every problem that we will see this semester. Above all, be reasonable. Don't feel obligated to write a paragraph to explain a three-line problem. On the other hand, two sentences probably will not adequately explain a three-page solution. Homework assignments that do not meet this standard may be penalized, returned for resubmission, or both.

COLLABORATION

I strongly encourage you to work together on homework assignments. In talking through problems, you will find that will understand them much more thoroughly. This process should be beneficial for everyone involved. However, the written solutions that you turn in must represent your own work.

EXAMS

There will be two mid-term exams and a final exam in this course. The mid-term exams will be available in the university testing center. There will be no make-up exams.

GRADE APPEALS

Errors are occasionally made in grading homework and exams. Appeals for grade changes should be submitted to me in writing. Appeals should be submitted in a timely manner, usually within two weeks after the assignment has been returned. After the last day of class I will only consider appeals relating to the final exam.

HELP

Feel free to visit with me during my office hours (TTh 4:00--5:00 PM) or at other times by arrangement. I will try to accommodate student questions any time I am in my office.

HARASSMENT

Harassment of any kind is inappropriate at BYU. Specifically, BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well. If you encounter sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, or other inappropriate behavior, please talk to your professor, contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 367-5689, or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may adversely affect your success in this course, please contact the University Accessibility Center at 422-2767. Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with the student and instructor by that office.

CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM

The serious study of the physical and mathematical sciences requires uninterrupted concentration and focus in the classroom. Having small children in class is often a distraction that degrades the educational experience for the entire class. Please make other arrangements for child care rather than bringing children to class with you. If there are extenuating circumstances, please talk with your instructor in advance.

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