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).  T
he 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.