Welcome to PH201-203 Online
This is the web page for General Physics in the online format. These courses might be referred to as "College Physics" or "Algebra-based Physics" at other institutions. This is a sequence of three introductory physics courses using the textbook Physics, 3rd edition by Walker. These courses are entirely online, including the labs which you will do with provided kits.

You can take these courses from anywhere in the world with a reliable internet connection. You can register for these courses through Chemeketa Online, a division of Chemeketa Community College, in Salem, Oregon, USA. If a course is full when you attempt to register, then check frequently to see if anyone drops. I will not allow anyone to register over the limit or after the first week of class. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at ejensen6@chemeketa.edu.

Once you enroll, please download the syllabus and read the course calendar from the following table:

Comparison to Traditional Format
Class average grade is 3.0, which is higher than that of my face-to-face classes, 2.5. But the number of hours spent on task is higher, the cost is higher, the average incoming GPA is higher (explaining the higher grades), and the dropout rate is higher. If you have a choice, you may be better off taking a traditional physics course.

Transferring Credit
Transferring credit depends on decisions made by the registrar at your home institution, but there has never been a serious problem for any of my students. Chemeketa is regionally accredited (the most prestigious accreditation) and the course is mainstream in content. We use a quarter system, so transferring credit to an institution on a semester system can be awkward if you only take one course here. I suggest you download the course syllabi above and present them to appropriate people at your home institution before enrolling.

We will use three different web sites in this course.

Newterra
The web site you are on right now is open to the general public. The calendar should be your first stop whenever you go online.

MasteringPhysics
The second web site we will use is called MasteringPhysics. It contains an interactive online homework system that is based on current physics education research. Unless you purchase a new text with an access code included, you will need to separately purchase an access code.  Please follow the instructions for registration.

ELearn
The third web site we will use is eLearn. Use your user name and password from My Chemeketa to access this site. Consult eLearn support (503-399-7399) if you have difficulty accessing it. We will use elearn to report grades, host discussion groups, post lab reports, e-mail, and deliver exams.

This is a difficult class made more challenging by the delivery method. The necessary mental, temporal, and physical resources are significant.

Mental Resources
The prerequisites for the courses are listed above. You should have a strong grasp of algebra, trigonometry, and vectors before beginning PH201. You are not required to have any formal training in physics to begin PH201. I recommend that you have some competence using a digital camera, web browser, word processor, and spreadsheet program. If you do not have the necessary mental resources to successfully complete the class, you should consider acquiring them and enrolling at a later date.

Temporal Resources
These are not self-paced courses. You will need to commit a significant amount of time each week to complete the work necessary to master the physics topics. You will read the text, perform and write up labs, do homework, take quizzes, run computer simulations, post messages, and do other activities as posted in the class calendar. All told, you should expect to spend from 10 to 20 hours per week on this class. If you do not have the necessary temporal resources to successfully complete the class, you should consider enrolling at a later date.

Physical Resources
In addition to paying for the required tuition and fees (about $350 in-state and $1000 out of state), you will need to procure a variety of physical resources to complete this class. I make every effort to keep costs down, but this class is likely to be more expensive than others at Chemeketa. Please consult the following list and acquire the necessary resources as soon as possible:

1) You will need a computer with good internet access, MS Word or equivalent, and MS Excel or equivalent (cost varies).

2) The textbook, Physics, Walker, 3rd edition, Pearson Prentice Hall is available from the Chemeketa Bookstore and other sources. The text costs approximately $100 from the Bookstore and $30 from other sources. This will be the text for all three courses. You can also purchase an e-book from MasteringPhysics for about $40.

3) Lab kits must be purchased separately. See the above fees and mail a check (to "CCC Science Storeroom") to the following address:

Erik Jensen
Chemeketa Community College
Building 8, Room 236
4000 Lancaster Dr. NE
Salem, OR  97309

You may also make arrangements to purchase the kits in person. Other options are to purchase them from former students or build your own. You will not need the kits until the second week of class.

4) You will need to procure additional lab equipment including a digital camera (low resolution such as a cell phone is fine), metric tape measure, string, and scissors.

5) You will need to purchase a subscription to MasteringPhysics based on instructions. This subscription will be valid for all three terms and costs approximately $40.

Extra Credit
Find an error in a web page or document on this site and receive a one point bounty. This includes simple things such as typos and dead links. If an error is made repeatedly, you only get one point. You can also obtain extra credit for discovering errors in our text. Please post errors to eLearn. See the extra projects page for other suggestions.

Help
If you need help with this class or outside issues, there are numerous resources available at Chemeketa which are listed in the class syllabus. You might also consult my help page. You can post to the class discussion board or send me an e-mail through eLearn.