Text
Beer and Johnston, Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 7th Ed. - Required

Course Contents

Grade Distribution

1.Prerequisites by Topic (5%)
You are expected to know the following. You will be tested on them the third day of class. Please review your old course notes and texts:

2. Attention Quizzes (AQ) (5%)
Quizzes will be given after every class during the last 5 minutes. These are given for two reasons: one for making sure you are attentive in the class and the other to determine if majority of the students had difficulty with any specific topic. This way I can repeat tough topics during the following lectures.

3. Homework (15%)
Homework problems will be assigned at the end of each lecture. Tuesday assignments are due on the following Tuesday. Thursday assignments are due on the following Thursday. Each homework problem is worth 1 point. You are encouraged to work together in small groups, but keep in mind that homework is assigned in order to help you learn and keep up with the course material. You are expected to learn how to use MATLAB/Mathematica in order to solve more complex problems. You are also encouraged to do additional problems out of the text for practice. The assigned problems are the minimum necessary to master the material. The only way to learn the skills taught in this course is to apply them. Homework may not be turned in late. Solutions covered in class immediately after homework is due. It's not fair to others to hold up going over solutions because of a few late assignments. It is strongly encouraged that you complete late assignments for your own benefit. Please see me if you need help with the homework.

4. Quizzes (35%)
There will be 4 quizzes graded on a straight scale (> 90 = A, > 80 = B, > 70 = C, > 60 = D, < 59 = F). All quizzes are closed book, closed notes. Make ups are given only with a Doctor's note. It is your responsibility to make sure you have no conflicts, within your control, with these times. No ``cheat sheets'' will be allowed, but required information for difficult equations will be given to you. Quizzes will be returned as soon as possible. Solutions will be discussed during the lecture following the quiz, if time permits. All grading discrepancies must be brought up no later than one week after the quiz is returned. These exams would be on Thursdays of 2nd week, 4th week, 6th week, and 8th week of the quarter unless other days are announced in the class.

5. Project (10%)
A design project will be assigned during the quarter. You may not consult other members of the class (outside of your group) for assistance on the project. You may (and are expected to) consult the library and the instructor.

6. Final Exam (30%)
The final exam will be given during the scheduled time. Your final grade will be no less than one letter grade below your final exam grade.

Programming/Computer Usage

Please read the text and use on-line help. Syntax issues are sufficiently discussed or displayed in these resources. It is highly recommended that you learn to use Mathematica and Matlab on your UNIX account or a PC as soon as possible. Each has strengths and weaknesses. You could attend the MATLAB Workshop for further help in MATLAB

FORMAT FOR HOMEWORK PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

A.	Make a clear statement of the problem. Include given data, neat & understandable drawing, and what is to be found?
B.	Draw a force diagram for all "bodies" involved. It should show all forces involved, and will be called a "free-body-diagram" or F.B.D.
C.	Apply Fundamental Principles of Mechanics using F.B.D., and, then, write the applicable general equations. Simplify them as much as possible before replacing symbols with numbers.
D.	Solve these equations for unknowns. Beware of UNITS!
E.	Check the answers. Do they make sense?

Cheating

Don’t!!

Important Dates