Physics 121A General Physics I Fall 2008
with Mr. Steven B. Zides
email: phone: 597-4613 office: RMSC124-A
office hours: M 1:30-4:00, TuTh 9:30-11:00, TuTh 1:00-2:00, and by appointment
Description
A study of mechanics, heat, and sound using both experiment and theory, working at the mathematical level of algebra and trigonometry.
Class Schedule MWF 10:30am—11:20am RMSC 122
Lab Schedule Mon/Wed 2:00—5:00 or Tu/Th 2:30-5:30 RMSC 127
Textbooks Introductory Physics and Tutorials in Introductory Physics
by Touger, McDermott
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. You will be allowed four lecture absences without penalty.
More than four absences will result in a 50% deduction (per additional absence) in your class participation grade. Students who have more than four school sanctioned commitments (i.e. athletes, etc.), need to discuss their situation with me as soon as possible. If you miss seven or more classes you will be dropped from the course. Missed work can only be made up if the absence is justified and documented.
Grading
Tests (high-28%, low-17%), Lab (20%), Exam (20%), Quiz (10%), Class Part. (5%).
You will be given 55 minutes to complete each in class test. The final exam is cumulative. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of specified classes. The lowest two quizzes will be dropped. Class Participation is based on attendance and classroom performance.
Academic Integrity
The Wofford Academic Honor Code will be strictly enforced in this course. For more information visit: http://www.wofford.edu/uploadedFiles/studentLife/honorCode0607.pdf
Technology
Students must have and learn to use a TI 30XA scientific calculator. Ability to use a web browser and email will be a commonly assumed.
Class Format
Class will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, and collaborative group work, As such, students should come to class prepared to participate in classroom discussion and engage in all group activities.
Goals
· To expose students to many of the major conceptual ideas in physics.
· To engage students in the scientific method via hands on experiments.
· To develop analytical problem solving skills.
Progress during the course will be monitored through class discussions, quizzes, exams, and laboratory experiments. The latter requires care in manual execution and record keeping (data book) as well as skill to extract meaning and results (analysis) from the work so that
adequate reporting can take place.
Anticipated Lecture Progress
P[none], T[none], Rd[2.1-2.4]
2 / 09/03/08 / Wed. / Ch.2 Motion Diagrams and Motion Graphs
P[11,19,55,61,63,69,85,89 ], T[pg. 15 (5)], Rd[2.5-2.6]
3 / 09/05/08 / Fri. / Ch.2 Uniform Motion and the Kinematic Equations
P[35,39,73,75], T[pg. 17 (7,8)], Rd[2.7]
4 / 09/08/08 / Mon / Ch.2 Falling Bodies
P[45,47,49,79,93 ], T[pg. 7 (1)], Rd[3.3-3.4]
5 / 09/10/08 / Wed / Ch.3 Vectors
P[19,25,35,65,87], T[none], Rd[3.5]
6 / 09/12/08 / Fri / Quiz 1 (Ch.2) and Ch.3 Velocity and Acceleration Vectors
P[41,43,45,91,103], T[pg. 14 (3,4)], Rd[3.2, 3.6]
7 / 09/15/08 / Mon / Ch.3 Projectile Motion
P[49,51,59,69,73], T[pg. 20 (2)], Rd[4.1-4.3]
8 / 09/17/08 / Wed / Ch.4 Newton’s Three Laws
P[9,19,25,29,37,53], T[pg. 31 (1,2)], Rd[5.1-5.2]
9 / 09/19/08 / Fri / Ch.5 Single Body Frictionless Dynamics
P[3,13,17,31,33,35], T[pg. 38 (2)], Rd[5.3]
10 / 09/22/08 / Mon / Quiz 2 (Ch.3) and Ch.5 Multiple Body Frictionless Dynamics
P[39,41,43,45], T[pg. 46 (3)], Rd[5.4]
11 / 09/24/08 / Wed / Ch.5 Static Equilibrium
P[48,53,55,59,74], T[pg. 32 (3)], Rd[5.5]
12 / 09/26/08 / Fri / Ch.5 Static and Kinetic Friction
P[60,63,65,67], T[pg. 37 (1), pg. 34 (5)], Rd[none]
13 / 09/29/08 / Mon / Quiz 3 (Ch.4/5) and Review
Rd[6.1-6.2]
14 / 10/01/08 / Wed / Ch.6 Work and Energy
P[9,13,19,53,57,93], T[pg. 49 (3 skip part iv)]
15 / 10/03/08 / Fri / Test I
Rd[6.3-6.4]
16 / 10/06/08 / Mon / Ch.6 Conservation of Energy
P[23,27,41,65,69,87], T[pg. 47 (1abc)], Rd[6.5]
17 / 10/08/08 / Wed / Ch.6 Power and Intensity
P[43,45,49,73 ], T[none], Rd[7.1-7.2]
18 / 10/10/08 / Fri / Quiz 4 (Ch. 6) and Ch.7 Impulse and Momentum
P[9,17,19,25,55,65], T[pg. 53 (1)], Rd[7.3]
19 / 10/13/08 / Mon / Ch.7 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
P[29,31,37,39,41], T[pg. 55 (1)], Rd[7.4]
20 / 10/15/08 / Wed / Ch.7 Combining Momentum and Energy
P[45,46,79,81], T[pg. 63 (3) ], Rd[8.1-8.2]
21 / 10/17/08 / Fri / Ch.8 Centripetal Acceleration
P[7,15,21,27,59] T[none], Rd[8.3-8.4]
22 / 10/20/08 / Mon / Quiz 5 (Ch.7) and Ch.8 Universal Law of Gravitation
P[35,39,41,65] T[none] Rd[9.1-9.2]
23 / 10/22/08 / Wed / Ch.9 Rotational Kinematics
P[9,13,15,17,69] T[pg. 65(1)] Rd[9.3]
10/24/08 / Fri / Fall Break
24 / 10/27/08 / Mon / Ch.9 Torque and Moment of Inertia
P[21,25,27,53] T[pg. 66 (2)] Rd[9.4-9.5]
25 / 10/29/08 / Wed / Ch.9 Rotational Energy and Momentum
P[33,35,38,39,73], T[none], Rd[none]
26 / 10/31/08 / Fri / Quiz 6 (Ch.8) and Review
Study for Test
27 / 11/03/08 / Mon / Test II
P[none] T[none] Rd[10.1]
28 / 11/05/08 / Wed / Ch.10 Pressure and Density
P[5,7,9,11,13,19] T[pg. 165 (1,3)] Rd[10.2]
29 / 11/07/08 / Fri / Ch.10 Buoyancy
P[27,29,68,71,72,78,79] T[pg. 167 (1,2)] Rd[10.3-10.4]
30 / 11/10/08 / Mon / Ch.10 Fluid Dynamics and Bernoulli’s Law
P[33,35,39,44,45,83], T[pg. 169 (3)], Rd[11.1-11.4, 11.7]
31 / 11/12/08 / Wed / Ch.11 Temperature and Heat Transfer
P[13,21,23,55,57,59], T[none], Rd[11.5-11.6]
32 / 11/14/08 / Fri / No Class
P[none], T[none], Rd[none]
33 / 11/17/08 / Mon / Quiz 7 (Ch. 10) and Ch.11 Calorimetry
P[27,31,35,39,47,77], T[none], Rd[12.1-12.3]
34 / 11/19/08 / Wed / Ch.12 Kinetic Theory of Gasses
P[7,11,13,17,19,21,53,59], T[pg. 171 (1,2)], Rd[12.4-12.7]
35 / 11/21/08 / Fri / Ch.12 Thermodynamics and Heat Engines
P[27,30,31,39,47], T[pg. 173 (1,2,3)], Rd[14.1-14.3,14.5]
36 / 11/24/08 / Mon / Quiz 8 (Ch.11) and Ch.14 Structure and Behavior of Waves
P[5,7,13,19,21,23,60,61], T[none], Rd[14.6-14.7]
11/26/08 / Wed / Thanksgiving Break
11/28/08 / Fri / Thanksgiving Break
37 / 12/01/08 / Mon / Ch.14 Sound and Resonance
P[45,51,53,65,79,99], T[none], Rd[14.8]
38 / 12/03/08 / Wed / Ch.14 The Doppler Effect
P[71,85,102], T[none], Rd[none]
39 / 12/05/08 / Fri / Post Test and Evaluations
Additional Class Information
Cell Phones
Cell phones are not allowed in class at any time. This includes text messaging. If you have a cell phone, please turn it off before class and store it in your book bag. Violations of this rule will result in a reduction in your Class Participation average.
Grading Scale
The final grade for this course is rounded to the tenths digit. You need the following scores to guarantee the indicated grade:
A (93.0%), A- (90.0%), B+ (87.0%), B (83.0%), B- (80.0%), C+ (77.0%), C (73.0%),
C- (70.0%), D (65.0%)
Tests
You will be given 55 minutes for each test. Tests are composed of the following:
4 multiple choice questions (4 pts. each), 3 (of 4) questions/problems (22 pts. each),
1 essay (15 pts.) and 3 points for following the test directions
· The topic for the essay will be distributed during the test review. Essays must be typed, at least 100 words and submitted in class the day of the test.
· Key formulae must be memorized. Supplemental formulae and constants will be given on the test sheet.
· You must have a working TI 30XA calculator for the tests. Bringing any other calculator to the tests will result in a 10 point penalty.
Quizzes
Quizzes will be composed of one random homework problem/question from the current chapter. These quizzes will be given at the beginning of specified classes. Formulae will be given for the quizzes. There are no early, late, or make up quizzes, so please get to class on time. When calculating the final quiz average, the lowest two quizzes will be dropped.
Class Participation
Every student will initially be given a class participation score of 90%. Over the course of the semester, those who consistently attend and participate will be bumped up to higher scores. Students with poor attendance or minimal participation will be bumped down to a lower score.
Extra Credit
Students will be given extra credit for the following:
Pretest (first day of class): 0.5% to final average
Posttest (last day of class): 0.5% to final average
Attending Visiting Speaker: 0.5% (per speaker) to final average
Random Homework Collection: 0.25% if it exists or 0.5% if it is correct
· During the semester, I will randomly collect a homework problem/question from several individuals (at a time). This collection will be done at the beginning of the class. To receive the extra credit, you must be present and have your homework available at that time.
· If you cannot attend the visiting speaker, you will be offered a 400 word alternative assignment for equivalent credit. These alternative assignments need to be submitted within two weeks of the actual speaker.