• Regularly scheduled office hours with be conducted over Zoom (see link on Canvas):

  Saturday 1-2pm Ethan

  Sunday 1-2pm Basie

  Monday 4-5pm Christopher

  Monday 6-7pm Derrick

  Tuesday 3-4pm Max

  Tuesday 4-5pm Nicole

  Tuesday 5-6pm Ethan

  Wednesday 11-noon Liz

  Wednesday 4-5pm Max & Basie

  Wednesday 6-7pm Ethan

• Liz also has an open-door policy (come by my office Wngr 499 and I'll talk to you if I'm free), or you can make an appointment for in-person or remote office hours with either Liz or Nicole by e-mailing us directly.

• 1) Solve problems with symbolic (rather than numeric) parameters
• 2) Evaluate and articulate whether an answer is reasonable using limiting case analysis, dimensional analysis, or multiple solution paths.
• 3) Coordinate multiple representations (e.g. verbal/text descriptions, diagrams, algebraic equations, free-body diagrams, matrix equations, spacetime diagrams, etc) to solve intermediate mechanics problems
• 4) Use Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian methods for solving mechanics problems
• 5) Use Lorentz transformations to describe physics situations in inertial reference frames
• 6) Apply conservation laws appropriately in non-relativistic and relativistic situations

I will determine your course grade by taking the higher of these calculations:

1. HW & Exams: 40% Required Homework, 30% Midterm Exam, 30% Final Exam
2. Exams Only: 50% Midterm Exam, 50% Final Exam

• Homework: The best way to learn the material of this course is to attend class and do the homework.
  • Practice Problems: I will sometimes provide Practice Problems. These are meant to be review or relatively simple examples for you to check whether you understand the material. They will not be graded. I will sometimes post solutions. I recommend that you at least read each practice problem. If you don't know how to do it, ask for help.
  • Required Problems: Some Required Problems will be graded for correctness; other will be graded for completeness. Solutions will be posted online.
  • Late Homework: I really want you to do the homework, so I will absolutely accept late homework (with a penalty of 20% for late work). When you know that an assignment will be late, let me and the grader know as soon as possible. Turn in what you've completed at the due/date time (it'll help us with grading logistics). Any work that is turned in on time will not be subject to the late penalty.
• Exams: All exams will be administered remotely. More detailed information about the exams will be posted on the course webpage.
  • Midterm: The midterm will occur during the scheduled class meeting time (see the course schedule).
  • Final: The final exam will occur during the scheduled exam time.

Grading Scale: Course letter grades will be assigned using the following lower bounds for each grade bin. These lower bounds may be adjusted down as needed.
A = 93%, A- = 90%, B+ = 87%, B = 83%, B- =80%, C+ = 77%, C = 73%, C- = 70%, D = 60 F = 0%

Additional Guidance

• You are strongly encouraged to work on assignments, including coding and plotting, collaboratively. Science is inherently a social and collaborative effort. So that I can best support your learning, turn in assignments that you have written up independently.
• Appropriate resources on assignments include: working with each other, graduates of the course, the course TAs, or me; textbooks; other online materials, etc. Do not use homework solutions from previous years and do not share your completed homework solutions with other students (in other words, collaborate through discussion, not copying).
• Document your resources appropriately. If you find a homework problem worked out somewhere (other than homework solutions from a previous year), you may certainly use that resource, just make sure you reference it properly. If someone else helps you solve a problem, reference that too. An appropriate reference might be "Liz Gire (private communication, 9/12/19)" or "I worked with Liz Gire on this problem". Representing someone else's work as your own without reference - also known as plagiarism - is unethical, but collaboration and exchange of ideas is healthy. You can avoid having collaborative efforts take on the look of plagiarism by acknowledging sources as described above and by writing up your work independently.
• The problems in this course will likely take longer than problems you've seen in previous courses. However, if you find that you have worked on a problem for 1/2 hour without making forward progress, seek help from classmates or the instructional team.

Recommended Textbooks

• Classical Mechanics by John R. Taylor, 2005, ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1891389221
• The Geometry of Special Relativity by Tevian Dray, 2010, ISBN: 9781466510487

If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 please consult OSU Quarantine and Isolation guidelines to determine your next steps. If you are unable to attend a class session please review the recording. After viewing the recorded session please email me and summarize what you heard and saw, add your contribution and questions.

If you are ill (or caring for someone who is: I am here to support your success during these challenging times, too. Please reach out to me directly if you are concerned about your ability to engage in course activities while you are ill. You can do so by sending me an email. You need not disclose private medical information or provide documentation of your illness. The Office of the Dean of Students can also assist you if you are navigating a range of extenuating life circumstances including but not limited to prolonged illness, hospitalization, financial concerns, etc. They can be reached via Zoom chat or audio Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at https://paradigms.oregonstate.eduhttps://beav.es/4qQ or by email at support.odos@oregonstate.edu.

COVID-19 precautions: During this public health emergency we all have a shared responsibility to each other to take steps to reduce spread and transmission of COVID-19. This includes getting fully vaccinated as soon as you are eligible, following all OSU and public health authority guidance and regulations, including maintaining physical distancing at all times, wearing face coverings in shared spaces, and staying home if you are sick or have been in close contact with a known or suspected COVID-19 case. If you need to stay home due to illness or potential exposure, please contact your instructor who will work with you to facilitate your continued engagement with the course material and make up assignments with no penalty for lateness. For the updates from OSU on COVID-19 safety and mitigation measures, visit: https://paradigms.oregonstate.eduhttps://covid.oregonstate.edu/.