The University of Texas at El Paso

Department of Physics
Syllabus for PHYS 2320: Introductory Mechanics

COURSE INFORMATION INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

PHYS 2320: Introductory Mechanics Hari Nair, Dr.
CRN: 14185 Written Communication: Blackboard
Term: Fall 2024 Phone Number: (915)747-7544
Delivery Method: In-person Office Location: PSCI, Room 223 C
Meeting Day and Time: TR, 7:30 am – 8:50 am (Aug 26 – Dec 05) Office Hours: By appointment
Location: PSCI 208 Email: [email protected]
COURSE DROP DATE: Nov 1st

Randall D. Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A

Strategic Approach 5e, Pearson.
Chapters 1-11.

An account in Mastering Physics (Pearson) is required. Use this code to

register for this course – nair13290
IMPORTANT
- Exam dates and assignment deadlines are final.
- Extension of homework assignment deadlines and make-up exams are allowed only if absences are
supported with genuine document proof for emergencies or unavoidable circumstances.
- Special requirements must be notified in writing in the first week of the course itself.
- There are no extra credit opportunities.
- Questions about assignment and exam scores must be submitted within one week of the deadline.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING; DEADLINES; EXAM DATES
Homework assignments and exams will be distributed through the learning management system called Mastering
Physics, by Pearson. Students must purchase this product. The instructions to register for the course in Pearson
and how to access it are provided in a separate document which is uploaded to Blackboard:

Exam 1 (5 Sep 2024) 10 points

Exam 2 (8 Oct 2024) 10 points
Exam 3 (7 Nov 2024) 10 points
Homework 25 points
Surprise quizzes 15 points
Workshops/seminars 10 points
Final exam (Dec 12th, 7 AM – 9:45 AM) 20 points
Grades >90 points = A, 89-80 = B, 79-60 = C, 59-45 = D, 44
or less = F
COURSE DESCRIPTION
PHYS 2320 introduces mechanics with the help of calculus. The basic notions of classical mechanics of motion are
introduced first, leading to the ideas of kinematics in one and two dimensions. An understanding of vector algebra
is essential. Eventually, Newton’s laws and dynamics of motion in one and two dimensions are dealt with.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND UNIVERSITY LEARNING OUTCOMES
(1) Understand and solve kinematics and dynamics problems in one and two dimensions.
(2) Develop a physics-based understanding of classical objects that obey Newton’s laws.
(3) Develop critical and problem-solving skills and numerical abilities.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

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Some course content is delivered via the Internet through the Blackboard learning management system. Ensure
your UTEP e-mail account is working and that you have access to the Web and a stable web browser. Google
Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are the best browsers for Blackboard; other browsers may cause complications. When
having technical difficulties, update your browser, clear your cache, or try switching to another browser.
You will need to have access to a computer/laptop. You may need the following software: Microsoft Office, Adobe
Acrobat Reader, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, and Java. Check that your computer hardware and software
are up-to-date and able to access all parts of the course. If you do not have word-processing software, you can
download Word and other Microsoft Office programs (including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more) for free via
UTEP’s Microsoft Office Portal. Click the following link for more information about Microsoft Office 365 and follow
the instructions.
IMPORTANT: If you encounter technical difficulties beyond your scope of troubleshooting, please contact the UTEP
Help Desk as they are trained specifically in assisting with technological needs of students. Please do not contact
me for this type of assistance. The Help Desk is much better equipped than I am to assist you!
COURSE COMMUNICATION
Office Hours: I will have office hours for your questions and comments about the course. Office hours can be in-
person or virtual, all by appointment.
Email: I will make every attempt to respond to your e-mail within 24 hours of receipt. When e-mailing me, be sure
to email from your UTEP student e-mail account and please put the course number in the subject line. In the body
of your e-mail, clearly state your question. At the end of your e-mail, be sure to put your first and last name, and
your university identification number.
Announcements: Check Blackboard announcements for any updates, deadlines, or other important messages.
EXCUSED ABSENCES AND/OR COURSE DROP POLICY
According to UTEP Catalog, “At the discretion of the instructor, a student can be dropped from a course because of
excessive absences or lack of effort. A grade of “W” will be assigned before the course drop deadline and a grade
of “F” after the course drop deadline.” See Policies and Regulations in the UTEP Undergraduate Catalog for a list of
excuse absences. Therefore, if I find that, due to non-performance in the course, you are at risk of failing, I will
drop you from the course. I will provide 24-hour advance notice via email.
OR
I will not drop you from the course. However, if you feel that you are unable to complete the course successfully,
please let me know and then contact the Registrar’s Office to initiate the drop process. If you do not, you are at
risk of receiving an “F” for the course.
MAKE-UP WORK
Make-up work will be given only in the case of a documented emergency. Note that make-up work may be in a
different format than the original work, may require more intensive preparation, and may be graded with penalty
points. If you miss an assignment and the reason is not considered excusable, you will receive a zero. It is therefore
important to reach out to me—in advance if possible—and explain with proper documentation why you missed a
given course requirement. Once a deadline has been established for make-up work, no further extensions or
exceptions will be granted.
ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF SUBMITTING WORK IN CASE OF TECHNICAL ISSUES
I strongly suggest that you submit your work with plenty of time to spare if you have a technical issue with the
course website, network, and/or your computer. I also suggest you save all your work in a separate Word
document as a backup. This way, you will have evidence that you completed the work and will not lose credit. If
you are experiencing difficulties submitting your work through Blackboard, please contact the UTEP Help Desk. If it
is Mastering Physics, you should contact Pearson Helpdesk. You can email me your backup document as a last
resort.
INCOMPLETE GRADE POLICY
Incomplete grades may be requested only in exceptional circumstances after you have completed at least half of
the course requirements. Talk to me immediately if you believe an incomplete is warranted. If granted, we will
establish a contract of work to be completed with deadlines.
ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY
The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students, staff, faculty, job applicants,
applicants for admissions, and other beneficiaries of University programs, services and activities with documented

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disabilities in order to provide them with equal opportunities to participate in programs, services, and activities in
compliance with sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.
Reasonable accommodation will be made unless it is determined that doing so would cause undue hardship for the
University. Students requesting accommodation based on a disability must register with the UTEP Center for
Accommodations and Support Services (CASS). Contact the Center for Accommodations and Support Services at
915-747-5148, email them at [email protected], or apply for accommodation online via the CASS portal.
SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY
Academic dishonesty is prohibited and is considered a violation of the UTEP Handbook of Operating Procedures. It
includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating may involve copying from or providing
information to another student, possessing unauthorized materials during a test, or falsifying research data on
laboratory reports. Plagiarism occurs when someone intentionally or knowingly represents the words or ideas of
another as one's own. Collusion involves collaborating with another person to commit any academically dishonest
act. Any act of academic dishonesty attempted by a UTEP student is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. All
suspected violations of academic integrity at The University of Texas at El Paso must be reported to the Office of
Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) for possible disciplinary action. To learn more, please visit HOOP:
Student Conduct and Discipline.
GUIDANCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The use of generative AI tools such as Chat GPT is permitted in this course for the following activities, which must
be noted or cited:
Essays and descriptive parts of the homework assignments. Special essays assigned on selected topics.
However, you may not use AI tools to complete the following activities:
Exams or numerical problems. Quizzes.
Students must cite any borrowed content sources to comply with all applicable citation guidelines, copyright
law, and avoid plagiarism. Instances that violate these guidelines will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct
and Conflict Resolution.
PLAGIARISM DETECTING SOFTWARE
Some of your course work and assessments may be submitted to SafeAssign, a plagiarism detecting software.
SafeAssign is used to review assignment submissions for originality and will help you learn how to properly
attribute sources rather than paraphrase.
RESOURCES
Help Desk: Students experiencing technological challenges (email, Blackboard, software, etc.) can submit a ticket to the UTEP Helpdesk for
assistance. Contact the Helpdesk via phone, email, chat, website, or in person if on campus.
UTEP Library: Access a wide range of resources including online full-text access to thousands of journals and eBooks plus reference service and
librarian assistance for enrolled students.
Math Tutoring Center (MaRCS): Ask a tutor for help and explore other available math resources.
The Miner Learning Center: Join peer-led study sessions in person or online to review content and discover study strategies in core curriculum
courses.
Student Success Help Desk (SSHD): Students experiencing challenges or obstacles to academic success including registration, financial, food,
housing, and transposition resources my submit a ticket request assistance to [email protected]
Military Student Success Center: Assists personnel in any branch of service to reach their educational goals.
Center for Accommodations and Support Services: Assists students with ADA-related accommodations for coursework, housing, and
internships.
Counseling and Psychological Services: Provides a variety of counseling services including individual, couples, and group sessions as well as
career and disability assessments.
UTEP Food Pantry: Non-perishable food items are available to students who are currently enrolled in classes. Bring a Miner Gold Card to
Memorial Gym, Room 105, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.