COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces principles, techniques, and computational tools for a quantitative approach to basic problem-solving in physics and engineering. This is a project-based course to actively explore how programming techniques are used for solving STEM real-world problems.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Fundamental algorithms and data structures using a high-level language (Python) to solve specific scientific/engineering problems.
2. Use of digital spreadsheets to organize numbers and data. Use of formulas and functions.
3. Computational tools for plotting/graphing real-world problems scenarios.
4. 1-D and 2-D Vectors to represent and solve kinematics problems.
5. Derivatives and their meaning in physics.
6. Statistical principles and related computation tools.
7. Data collection, analysis, modeling, and their application.
8. Real-world applications of the theory and tools stated above.

COURSE REFERENCE

Instructor	Sergio Gago-Masague <sgagomas@uci.edu> Office hours: 11:30 -12:30  Thu in person/Zoom  (Calit2 4413)
TA	Mansi Chauhan <machauha@uci.edu> Office hours:      3:30 - 4:30 Mon and 12:30 - 1:30 Thur @ Zoom
Optional Textbooks	1. University Physics Vol. 1 by Moebs, Ling and Sanny (Chapters 1-4) 2. Python Data Science Handbook by VanderPlas 3. Introductory Statistics by Barbara Illowsky and Susan Dean 4. Computational Physics by M. Newman 5. Elementary Mechanics Using Python by Anders Malthe-Sørenssen 6. Collaborative Statistics by Barbara Illowsk and Susan Dean
Co-requisites	Math 2A or equivalent

GRADING SCHEME

1. Online quizzes (Canvas): 15%
2. Participation in lecture activities: 5%
3. Lab Assignments: 35%
4. Course Projects (Studios): 45%
5. Extra-Credit for completing course evaluation: 3% 

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance

Since participation plays a key role in learning, students are expected to attend each class meeting and participate fully, as full attendance increases the likelihood of learning and success in the course. Students are responsible for the material that is distributed and orally communicated during class. If you miss class, please arrange beforehand with a classmate to get notes/handouts for you. If you know you are going to miss something important, contact the instructor beforehand. If you join the class later in the quarter, you are expected to complete all missed work immediately.

E-mail Policies

Students can ask questions in the class (lectures and discussion sections) and make use of the instructor’s and assistants’ office hours. We have also set up a more public discussion forum (ED Discussion), which is integrated with Canvas; we think ED will be particularly useful for advice and tips as you work on your assignments.

You can contact the course staff by email for specific personal matters. You will usually get a response within a day or two (perhaps a bit longer on holidays/weekends). We will never intentionally ignore a message, so if you don't receive a response, write again; sometimes overactive spam filters snag a legitimate message. Using course-specific subject lines and your UCInet Email address will help your messages get noticed. 

All the course communication, including course announcements, will be made through the course Canvas space and/or the course ED forum.

Participation

In this course, “participation” is defined as being present, prepared, and engaged.  Preparation includes coming to class with the prerequisite readings/assignments completed; being engaged means that you ask and address questions in good faith, with the intention of learning and helping your classmates to learn. Your participation will be assessed through observation, completed assignments, and verbal participation.

Collegial Courtesy/Technology Policy

Electronic devices brought to class that are used for purposes other than engaging with the course can distract both the instructor and your classmates. Imagine how you would feel if you had worked very hard on a presentation and your audience looked as though they weren’t paying attention because they had their heads down looking at an electronic device; or, imagine coming to me during office hours and I was texting while you were asking for my assistance. Research in neurobiology indicates that people cannot multitask or learn well while trying to do so. Please turn off your phones and use laptops/iPads only for the purposes assigned.

Late Homework Policy

Due dates are usually 10 pm local time on the day an assignment is due. Late homework will be accepted for one week after the due date with the following penalties:

1. -1% for every late hour on the first 24 hours after the due date
2. flat 25% from thereafter until one week after the due date

No late homework will be accepted one week or more after the due date.

Sick Policy

Generally, sicknesses will be treated on a case-by-case basis. If you find that you are unable to honor a deadline or a quiz due to sickness, please get some documentation from a healthcare provider to assist me in maintaining fairness to the other students in the class.

Academic Honesty/Principles of Community

Please familiarize yourself with the latest UCI academic honesty policy: https://aisc.uci.edu/students/academic-integrity/index.php

In a nutshell - you may never use anyone else's work without clearly acknowledging the source. This includes code you find on the web, text from books, and answers from friends. Plagiarism is any work that you use that you did not create and do not credit. If you plagiarize another work without crediting the source, you will receive a failing grade for the entire course at the discretion of the instructor. Our academic system relies on properly crediting the source for everything to function. If an assignment explicitly requires you to do the work yourself, then acknowledging the source of an answer does not fulfill the requirements of the assignment. When in doubt, ask the instructor.

Accommodation Policies

If you need an accommodation to participate in this course, please contact the Disability Services Center at (949) 824-7494 as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Please review the policies on accommodation at: http://disability.uci.edu/ 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE: