ME361 Dynamics-summer 2017
Time and
Place: MWF 10:20 -12:10, Engineering Building
#1234
Instructor:
Prof. Thomas
Pence, EB2452, 353-3889,
pence@egr.msu.edu
General
Policy: Absence from class can cause serious
confusion; students are expected to attend lectures which is the
standard
forum for class communication. Students are expected to prepare for class by
reading the text material and examining the sample problems in the text. Class
absence is not an excuse for being unaware of course announcements or course
materials. If you are absent, please see the course web page for any
announcements you may have missed. I cannot supply lecture notes for missed
lectures, because the lectures will concentrate on problem solving, and this is
not well communicated by written notes.
Office Hours:
Pence
(EB2452) 12:15-1:15 on MWF (right after class).
I am happy to meet with students during office
hours so as to clarify course issues. If you have a conflict with my office
hours please contact me to schedule an alternative time. Students are expected
to prepare for office hours by giving forethought to their questions prior to
attending office hours. Office hours do not substitute for class attendence.
When asking a question on a specific topic or problem you must bring to my
office the course notes for that topic as well as the work that you have already
done with respect to the issue under consideration. If you stop by my office at
a time other than scheduled office hours, without having made prior advanced
arrangements with me, it may be necessary to ask you to come back at a later
time.
Texbook: Vector Mechanics for
Engineers: Dynamics
by Beer, Johnston, Cornwell & Self, 11th edition, McGraw-Hill,. ISBN
978-0-07-724916-8
Homework: Doing lots of problems is clearly
the best way to learn the material. The sample problems in the book
are usually very good. It is important to try to do the problems by
yourselves first before examining the solutions. Problems
associated with each lecture appear on the schedule
where I indicate the sample problems to master, and some suggested
homework problems from the book as well. These have the answers at the
back of the book (but, unlike the sample problems, not the method).
Working on them in study groups is permissable, even encouraged.
The Lectures: Please
prepare for class by reading the textbook on
the material to be covered at that day. This will make the lectures easier
to understand, so that the lectures can then be used to clarify issues.
Because the lecture period is long, we will take a short break. On
days that do not have a quiz we will try to use a portion of the time for some
kind of interactive activity. Examples may include having students
take turns presenting worked problems to the class. More generally,
students will be responsible for many of these activities. This
aspect of class participation will be factored into your overall course grade.
Quizes:
We shall have six quizes as indicated on the class
schedule.
Each quiz will be about 30 minutes length. The time in
the lecture when the quiz will occur may vary.
They will typically be on the most recently covered material, usually the material since
the last quiz, but some kind of review quiz may occur. I will let you know what to prepare for. Quizes
will typically be closed-book, closed notes,
but in each case you may bring in a formula/study sheet (one standard page,
front and back). All problems will be constructed so that they
may be worked by hand and it may be that calculators will not be allowed
depeding on the quiz.
There is a rising concern among employers
that students are not mastering fundamentals and for this reason it is likely
that partial credit will not be awarded or will be awarded sparingly.
All six quizes have the same worth as regards the
determination of your course grade.
No make-up quizes will be
given, in view of the quiz drop rule indicated later.
Final: A final will be held on the last day of
class. The final exam will consist of three distinct parts,
each of which will have the same worth as a quiz in the
determination of your course grade. Thus the final exam is worth
three quizes. One of the three parts of the final will cover the
most recent material since the last quiz. Another of
the three parts of the final will address earlier material in the course.
I have not yet decided on whether the third of the three parts will address new material or review
material, but I will let you know beforehand. The previous quiz rules
apply for the final exam.
Grading
Scheme: Since the final is worth three quizes, you will have the
opportunity to accrue scores in the equivalent of nine quizes.
Your three worst quiz grades, or their equivalent from the final,
will be dropped. Thus the dropped matter will either be: three
quizes, or two quizes and one part of the final, or one quiz and two parts of
the final, or no quizes and complete final exam. Your course grade is based on the total value your
top six quiz equivalents and on your class participation (regarded as one
additional and non-droppable quiz equivalent). The following
table will then be used by me in determining course grades based on your seven
quiz equivalents:
best six quizes
|
>=90% |
>=85% |
>=80% |
>=75% |
>=70% |
>=65% |
>=60% |
<60% |
course grade |
4.0 |
3.5 |
3.0 |
2.5 |
2.0 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
0 |
In the unlikely event that this table will produce overly low grades,
some cut-off percentages may be lowered. In th is sense, the
above is a table of lower bounds. However, do not count on this, so
plan according to the table (note the term "unlikely event").
Email:
While email is useful for the communication of quick information and for the
clarification of easily expressible matters, detailed technical issues are best
handled in office hours. When email is appropriate, all such communication must
comply with professional standards. In subject lines, please use: "ME 361
student" followed by a modifier, e.g., "ME 361 student, HW 2 prob. 3". An
appropriate salutation (e.g., Prof. or Dr.) as well as contact information
should be included in the message.
Ethics:
Engineers must adhere to a rigorous code of professional ethics. Unethical
conduct in ME361 will result disciplinary action. Unethical conduct in this
class includes, but is not limited to, cheating on exams and supplying
information to others on exams (students bear responsibility for ensuring the
security of their examination papers). In addition, the Spartan Code of Honor
reads
As a Spartan I will strive to uphold
values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my
work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth
more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at
Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to bulid personal integrity
in all that I do.
If you have any
questions, your instructor is available to discuss issues of
professional
expectations and ethics.