General Physics I (SCI 3101) Fall2017
Indiana Academy
Meeting Times: (B209)
M W F: 8:00 - 9:00; 9:00 – 10:00AM(lecture)
T:8:00 – 10:00; 2:00 – 4:00 PM (lab)
Instructor and Office Hours:
Mr. Jeff Sayers email:
Office: Elliott B027A
Office hours: M, W: 11 AM -2PM; Tues: 12 PM - 2PM;and by appointment.
The above hours are my posted hours—feel free to stop by anytime my door is open or make an appointment to be sure to see me at a prearranged time.
Text and Materials:
Kinetic Books, Conceptual Physics,Ninth Edition.
Laptop computer, scientific calculator, lab notebook
Course Description:
General Physics I is the firstsemester of a two semester introductory course in physics.Thefirst semester focuses on mechanics (motion, forces and energy), which is the foundation for further topics in physicsas well as our basic understanding of many other scientific principles.Conceptual understanding of these topics is emphasized, as well as the vital role mathematicsplays in describing and quantifyingscientific ideas and relationships.
Besides giving an overview of basic principles of physics, the primary goal of the course is to illustrate and teach what goodscience is and how it works: This includes asking good questions, careful observation and measurement, critical quantitative analysis, and constructing logical conclusions based on that analysis. Such critical thinking and analysis skills are valuable intellectual skills which science is particularly adept at teaching but which are of great general intellectual value.
Class attendance, preparation and expectations
Pay attention in class and takeselectivenotes that reflect the main points of the class discussion. Ask questionsto insure you understand what the main points of the class discussionare.Regularly review your notes outside of class;use your textbook as a valuable resourceto help you learn and understand the main concepts covered in class. It is very important to study and learn the material as we cover it in class assuccessive classes will build on concepts covered previously. Pay special attention to learn the vocabulary, definitions and mathematical symbolismpresented in class.
This class does not have a paper textbook. Instead you will have a digital textbook installed on your laptop. Therefore you must bring your laptops to every class. However you must also bring paper and a writing instrument to class for taking notes and working practice problems.
Tardy and unexcused-absence policies:
A student late to class/lab up to 5 minutes will be marked ‘tardy’.
A student late to class/lab for more than 5 minutes will be marked ‘absent’.
Sleeping in class is treated as an unexcused absence.
Students who sleep, read or work on materials not related to the class activitieswill be counted absent. Refer to your student handbook for polices related to attendance, tardiness, excused and unexcused absences.
There is also a separate 2 hour lab period each week. You must be enrolled in a lecture and lab section with the same instructor. Come to lab prepared by looking over the lab assignment and preparing a data sheet for lab. Bring pencil, paper, calculator and laptops
to lab.
POLICY FOR MAKE-UP WORK:
Make-up work will be allowed only for the excused absences. You must make arrangements for the make-up work before or immediately after the excused absence. You must make every effort to make contact with your instructor in this regard personally or by a written note, e-mail, or phone.
LATEWORK POLICY:
In general, late work will not be accepted. Exceptions may be granted in special cases.
Statement on Diversity
Ball State University aspires to be a university that attracts and retains a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We are committed to ensuring that all members of the community are welcome, through valuing the various experiences and worldviews represented at Ball State and among those we serve. We promote a culture of respect and civil discourse as expressed in our Beneficence Pledge and through university resources found at
Course requirements:
Laboratory: Much of the course content will be applied and illustrated in your lab activities. Each week we will perform a lab experiment/activity during the lab period. Successful completion of each weeks lab will entailperforming the experimentcarefully, recording pertinent data and observations completely, and turning in a complete and correct write-up of your lab analysis and results.
Lab reports (data, analysis, and results) are due at the beginning of the next lab. Late reports will not be accepted.
Failing to satisfactorily complete and/or turn in more than three lab reports will result in a grade of D* for the course.
If you miss a lab because of an excused absence, you are expected to obtain data from another student and turn in your lab analysis by the regular due date.
Further details for lab are contained in a separate lab syllabus you will receive in lab.
Homework and Quizzes: Homework problems based on lab exercises and class presentations will be provided and occasionally, homework problems will be assigned in class. Homework will not be collected or graded but single problem quizzes based on homework problems will be given each Friday.
Bonus Points: Extra assignments may be offered for bonus points occasionally. Also, scores on a pretest at the beginning of the semester and a posttest at the of the semester do not count directly in the total points but may be factors in the awarding of bonus points.
Tests: Three (or four) multiple-choice unit tests will be given in class every three to four weeks.
Final Exam: A comprehensive multiple choice final exam will be given.
Grading:
Approximate Point Distribution of Total Grade
LabReports240
Quizzes130
Homework130
Tests300
Final exam200
Total points1000
Anticipated grade cutoffs are
90% - 100% = A
88% - 90% = A-
84% - 87% = B+
80% - 83% = B
78% - 79% = B-
74% - 77% = C+
70% - 73% = C
65% - 69% = C-
0% - 64% = D*
Academic Honesty:
Students are encouraged to work and study together outside of class with whatever aids they can use. Work turned in for a grade must reflect your own work. Copying or reproducing other people’s work is cheating and will result in a zero for that assignment and may be referred to the Administration for further action. This includes sharing any electronic (computer) informationbesides raw data. Work with each other and help one another, but do your own work!
See your student handbook for policies related to academic dishonesty.
Tentative Calendar Fall2017
Week / Weekly subjects /Text
/ Lab8/14 / Introduction: Defining Science
What is science?
Science process: Scientific method
Scientific theory, models and law / Introduction
presentation / No Lab
PreTest
8/21 / Mathematics and Measurement:
Numbers, units, scientific notation, metric prefixes
Mathematic manipulation (problem solving)
setup, proportions, unit factors
Error analysis / Chap 1 / 1. Determination of Pi (Measurement and
error analysis)
8/28 / Describing motion—formulating a theory (Aristotle)
Describing motion (Galileo) identifying and defining quantities—measurement, extrapolations and conclusions
Uniform accelerated motion—modern view
(equations of motion) / Chap 2
Chap 3 / 2. Falling objects
(experimental variables and
determining g)
9/4
Labor Day Break / Falling objects—applying equations of motion
Motion in 2 dimensions: vectors and vector math
Projectile motion: 2D application
Predicting trajectories and controlling factors. / Chap 4 / 3. Projectile motion
9/11 / Test review Unit 1: science, measurement and motion
in 1 and 2 dimensions
TEST 1 / Chap 5 / No Lab.
9/18 / Circular motion: applying motion principles and
Thoughts about planetary motion.
Forces and motion—making connections
Newton’s first law: Inertia and momentum / Chap 5
Chap 8
Chap 12 / 4. Indirect measurements
(similar triangles)
9/25 / Extending first law: Conservation of momentum
Newton’s second law: F, a proportionality; weight
Newton’s second law: Impulse and momentum changes / Chap 5
Chap 7 / 5. Acceleration down an inclined plane
10/2
Parent Conf
Friday
Fall Break begins Sat. / Newton’s third law: reaction forces, interacting
bodies and conservation of momentum
Third law forces: Normal forces (and weight)
Normal forces in accelerated systems / Chap 5 / 6. Atwood’s machine
(2nd law)
10/9
PSAT 10/11
T/Th lab switch 10/12 / Analysis of circular motion
Applications: carnival rides and other interesting stuff
Newton’s Law of Gravity, Kepler’s Laws / Chap 8 / 7. Circular motion
(centripetal force)
10/16 Fall Break
Lab Tues Thurs Switch / Gravitation and planetary motion
Test review: Newton’s laws, applications and circular motion
TEST 2 / 8. Air friction
Week / Weekly subjects /
Text
/ Lab10/23 / Final topics on gravity
Energy concept and definitions: Work energy
Kinetic vs. potential energy
Total energy (PE+KE): E conversion and conservation / Chap 7 / 9. Conservation of energy
10/30 / KE forms: translational and rotational KE
PE forms: Hooke’s law, slingshots and B&A
Misc. energy topics and musings on what makes the world go round. / chap 7 / 10. Simple machines: pulleys, inclined planes
11/6 / Simple machines and energy conservation
Finish energy/review
TEST 3 Gravity and mechanical energy / chap 7 / 11. Hooke’s law
11/13 / Simple Harmonic Motion; simple pendulum / 13.TBA
11/20 / Thanksgiving Holiday
11/27 / Introduction to heat and Temperature / chap 15
chap 16 / 14. TBA
12/4 / Heat temperature and gases—gas behavior
A molecular theory of heat and temperature
Unifying ideas—connecting heat with mechanics. / chap 17
chap 18 / Final Exam Review
12/11 / Heat; Semester Wrap-up & Summary Review
/ PostTest
12/18 /
FINAL EXAMS-No Class; Christmas Break-Have a Great Holiday!
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