Statics

PHY 305

Fall 2015 Syllabus

Instructor:

Prof. Scott Nutter

Office: Science Center 147

Phone: 572-5369

E-Mail: nutters@nku.edu

Home page: http://www.nku.edu/~nutters

Links:

Homework Assignments

Office hours: W 2:00-3:00 PM; R 2:00-3:00 PM, or by appointment, or (take a chance!) drop by. I respond to e-mail!

Course meeting time and location: MWF 9:00 - 9:50 AM in SC122.

Course description: Forces on bodies at rest; vector algebra; force systems; equivalent force systems; distributed forces; internal forces; principles of equilibrium; application to trusses, frames, and beams; friction.

Learning Outcomes: Students completing this course should be able to make basic statics calculations based on correct, detailed free body diagrams of rigid bodies.

Prerequisites: C- or better in PHY 211 or PHY 220, and MAT 228 or MAT 229.

Text: Vector Mechanics for Engineers – Statics, 10^th edition. F. Beer and E. R. Johnston.

Also required: straightedge, scientific calculator capable of computing trigonometric functions and their inverses.

Recommended: 800 Solved Problems in Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics (Schaum’s Outline series)

Mathematical Handbook (Schaum’s Outline series)

By midterm we will be doing double integrals with functions of the integrands as limits. Can you do these?

Homework and grading scheme: There will be three exams plus a comprehensive final. In addition, you are expected to turn in weekly homework. Homework problems will be assigned from each chapter. Due dates will be announced in class. It is important to work these problems to obtain a good understanding of the material covered (and to practice so you can do well on the exams). Solutions to the homework will be posted on Blackboard after the HW due date. Late HW will not be accepted (unless I get a really good sob story). Make sure you write up your problems in a logical, neat manner, as though you were giving it to an employer. Part of the emphasis this semester is on communicating the solutions of problems to others, so there will be style points in the HW grading. Exam dates will be determined in class. You are required to skim the appropriate chapters before coming to class. Your final grade will be determined from a combination of exams and homework weighted in the following manner:

Grading scales and weights

Grade Components	Weight
Homework	20%
3 exams @20% each	60%
Final exam	20%
TOTAL	100%

* No class 7 Sept (Labor Day), 12 October (fall break), and November 25-27 (Thanksgiving Break).

Final Exam: Monday December 7, 8:00 – 10:00 AM.

Withdrawal: The last date to withdraw from a course without a grade appearing in your transcript is September 8. The last date to withdraw with a "W" appearing in your transcript is Oct 26.

Mid-term grades will be posted in myNKU by the deadline established in the Academic Calendar (http://registrar.nku.edu/academiccalendar.html).

Attendance: You are expected to attend all class meetings for the whole scheduled time and to participate in classroom and group discussions. Excessive absences will reduce your grade. I realize many of you have a life outside of school, but your attendance and participation is an extremely important part of the educational process. Please let me know of planned absences.

Additional Notes:

Cell phone policy:  TURN IT OFF!  I understand that sometimes important things outside of school are going on in your life.  However, if what's going on is so important that you cannot be away from instantaneous contact for the hours of class time then perhaps you shouldn't be there.  Also, it is unfair to the rest of the students (and me) to hear that ringing in the middle of class.  It throws our train of thought off.  If your phone rings by accident, turn it off and let the answering service get it.  If you answer it in class, or run out of class answering it on the way, I will think of some horrible punishment for you upon your return.  In fact, don't bother returning that day.  It gives me time to plan something incredibly evil and fitting.

Credit Hour Policy Statement: In accordance with federal policy, NKU defines a credit hour as the amount of work represented in the achievement of student learning outcomes (verified by evidence of student achievement) that reasonably approximates one hour (50 minutes) of classroom instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work. For every course credit hour, a typical student should expect to spend at least three hours per week of concentrated attention on course-related work including, but not limited to, class meeting time, reading, reviewing, organizing notes, studying and completing assignments. At least an equivalent amount of time is expected for other academic activities such as online courses, laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Estimates of the time required for a typical student to complete course expectations are as follows: HW: 6-9 hrs/week; reading text: 2 hr/week; studying for exams: 5-10 hrs each.

Student Honor Code: This Student Honor Code [the "Honor Code"] is a commitment by students of Northern Kentucky University, through their matriculation or continued enrollment at the University, to adhere to the highest degree of ethical integrity in academic conduct. It is a commitment individually and collectively that the students of Northern Kentucky University will not lie, cheat, or plagiarize to gain an academic advantage over fellow students or avoid academic requirements.

The purpose of the Honor Code is to establish standards of academic conduct for students at Northern Kentucky University and to provide a procedure that offers basic assurances of fundamental fairness to any person accused of violations of these rules. Each Northern Kentucky University student is bound by the provisions of the Honor Code and is presumed to be familiar with all of its provisions. Students also should aspire to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the highest degree of ethical integrity in all matters, whether covered in the Honor Code or not. The success of this commitment begins in the diligence with which students uphold the letter and the spirit of the Honor Code. Students may view the complete honor code at http://deanofstudents.nku.edu/policies/student-rights.html#policies.

Accommodations due to disability: The University is committed to making reasonable efforts to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to avail themselves of services and programs offered by the University. To this end, Northern Kentucky University will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. If you have a disability and feel you need accommodations in this course, you must present a letter to me from the Disability Programs and Services Office (SU 303), indicating the existence of a disability and the suggested accommodations.  More information can be found at http://disability.nku.edu

Student Evaluation of Instructor and Course: Northern Kentucky University takes Instructor and Course Evaluations very seriously as an important means of gathering information for the enhancement of learning opportunities for its students. It is an important responsibility of NKU students as citizens of the University to participate in the instructor and course evaluation process. During the two weeks* prior to the end of each semester classes, you will be asked to reflect upon what you have learned in this course, the extent to which you have invested the necessary effort to maximize your learning, and the role your instructor has played in the learning process. It is very important that you complete the online evaluations with thoughtfully written comments. 

Student evaluations of courses and instructors are regarded as strictly confidential. They are not available to the instructor until after final grades are submitted, and extensive precautions are taken to prevent your comments from being identified as coming from you. Students who complete an evaluation for a particular course (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) will be rewarded for their participation by having access to their course grade as soon as that grade is submitted by the instructor. On the other hand, any student who does not complete the course evaluation (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) should expect to incur a two week delay in access to his or her course grade beyond the university's official date for grade availability. To complete online evaluations go to http://eval.nku.edu. Click on "student login" and use the same USERNAME and PASSWORD as used on campus.

In addition, you should be aware of:

• Evaluations can affect changes in courses. Evaluations without comments are less valuable and less credible than those filled out thoughtfully. Comments that are expressed well are more effective than those that are not.
• Positive feedback is just as important as criticism. Moreover, negative evaluations without any explanation and specifics are not especially useful.
• Once grades are submitted, all evaluations are read not only by the instructor, but also by the instructor’s department chairperson.
• Evaluations not only provide feedback to your instructor, but also provide information to the department chair for use in performance evaluations. This information affects reappointments, promotions, salaries, and teaching assignments.

Comments: I reserve the right to change any part of this syllabus. If you have a question, do not hesitate to ask. I don't bite. My biggest advice would be to practice, practice, practice, i.e. do lots of problems.

Created 15-Aug-06 SLN

Last update18-Aug-15 SLN