Announcements

Posted January 18

Welcome to Physics 325: Intermediate Mechanics I!

The instruction for this course will begin at 9 am on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 in 144 Loomis Laboratory of Physics (LLP). The complete schedule (subject to change) can be found here.

General Overview

Physics 325 is the first half of the complete classical mechanics and sequence (Physics 326 is the second half). Physics 325 will probably require more work than your previous physics courses and is a serious departure from "the plug-n-chug from the formula sheet" mode of operation with which you might have grown accustomed. Here you'll start to see how the sausage is made. It will also be more mathematical. I expect you to know first year calculus thoroughly and be prepared to go beyond that level. Mathematics topics such as matrices, multivariable calculus, and differential equations covered in PHYS 225 will be assumed. I encourage you to ask questions without any worrying about whether or not you sound intelligent. I don't promise to have all the answers.

Syllabus

The syllabus can be found here. See item 0 for the math I will be assuming that you know.

Texts

  • Taylor, Classical Mechanics
  • Marion and Thornton, Classical Dynamicas of Particles and Systems. The Fifth Edition is best, but earlier editions are also fine.
I've put these books on reserve for PHY 325 in Grainger Library.

Online access

Some of the on-line activities (e.g. gradebook) for this course run on a secure server and must be logged into. You'll see something like: Students enrolled in (and staff associated with) the course must log in using their UIUC NetID and their NetID password. If you are enrolled in the course and are having trouble logging in, send email to dkane@uiuc.edu. You should always log out of the secure server at the end of your work session.

Lecture notes

Lectures will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00-10:20 am in 144 Loomis. Lecture notes will be posted after each lecture at the course website. You will be able to access the lecture notes through the course schedule page.

Problem sessions

The problem sessions will take place weekly on Monday evenings and will last for one hour. There will be three problem sessions each lasting one hour every Monday starting at 6, 7 and 8 pm:

  • Monday,  6:00 - 7:00 pm, room 139 Loomis Lab
  • Monday,  7:00 - 8:00 pm, room 139 Loomis Lab
  • Monday,  8:00 - 9:00 pm, room 139 Loomis Lab
You are to attend one of these (the one you have registered for). Attendance at the Monday evening problem session is obligatory. Show up on time to receive full credit. If you are late by 15 minutes, we’ll take 50% of the credit. If you are late by more than 30 minutes you will not receive credit.

You will be able to access the problem session materials through the course schedule page.

Homework

Homework is an essential part of this course. The homework to be done will generally be handed out at the end of the each Wednesday lecture. I will collect your solutions at the beginning of lecture typically one week later. You may also place your completed homework in the yellow PHYS 325 box located at the beginning of the second floor "Interpass" in Loomis, but it must be in the box by 9 am on the Wednesday that it is due to receive full credit. Late work will be marked down by 15% each day that it is late and will not be graded if it is more than one week late. I don't object to people working on the homework problems together as long as the work that you hand in for grading is your own. I strongly recommend that you thoroughly struggle with the problems yourself first. You'll learn more this way and you'll do better on the exams when you're on your own. Trust me on this one.

You will be able to access the homework materials through the course schedule page in case you do not get them in the lecture.

Exams

There will be two midterm exams and one final exam. Dates will be announced. Please check the course calendar for full details.

Office hours

Office hours are during the following times and in the following locations:

  • Mark Neubauer: Wednesdays 10:30-11:30am in 411 Loomis
  • Peter Sahanggamu: Tuesdays 3:30-4:30pm in TA Commons Loomis
  • Rodrigo Garrido: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30am in TA Commons Loomis
  • Meng Zhang: Mondays 1:30-2:30pm in TA Commons Loomis

Grading

Your course grade will be based on your homework (~35%), exams (~60%) and participation in weekly problem sessions (~5%). There will be two midterm exams and a final exam.

Academic Integrity

The giving of assistance to or receiving of assistance from another person, or the use of unauthorized materials during University Examinations can be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the University.

Please be aware that prior to or during an examination the instructional staff may wish to rearrange the student seating. Such action does not mean that anyone is suspected of inappropriate behavior.

Unless a problem explicitly states otherwise, you are not to use any calculating devices or symbolic manipulation tools in any of your work. No calculators, no computers, no slide rules. And no use of electronic search tools to find material relating to solutions to problems you are working. I will only permit paper and pen, and information you can find in textbooks and reference works such as calculus texts or tables of integrals and special functions. You are on your honor to hold to this.