Physics 121 – General Physics I
Spring 2004

Instructor: Dr. Joseph W. Howard - "Joe"
Office/Phone: Henson Science Hall 305E, 548-5393
eMail: jwhoward@salisbury.edu
Office Hours : T/TR 10:00–11:45 a.m., W 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Class Hours: M,W,F 2–2:50 p.m., Henson Science Hall, Room 341
On the Web: http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~jwhoward/

Laboratory:

• Section 011 - Tuesday, 9-10:40 a.m., Henson Science Hall: Rm. 353 – Instructor Kanaar
• Section 012 - Tuesday, 1-2:40 p.m., Henson Science Hall: Rm. 353 – Instructor Kanaar

Textbook(s):

1. Physics, 5th Edition, by Douglas Giancoli (Prentice Hall 1998)
2. Study Guide for Physics, by Joseph W. Boyle – Optional

Course Description, Objectives, & Policies

Description

       Physics 121 is the first semester of a two semester introductory physics course (PHYS 121/123) aimed primarily at students majoring in sciences other than chemistry or physics. A comfortable working knowledge of algebra is required to study the broad area of physics such as; Newtonian mechanics, force & motion, work, energy, momentum, static equilibrium, circular motion, and fluids. While it satisfies General Education group IIIA, it is not recommended for students majoring in non-science disciplines.

Objectives

1. Understand the Basic Physics Principles Covered During the Semester

       The goal of physics is to understand the physical universe. An understanding of the subjects covered in the class will help prepare those of you who must take pre-professional exams covering physics. Beyond that, an understanding of the physical principles may help you perceive the world around you in a more comprehensible, enjoyable, and fascinating way.

2. Think Critically, Logically, & Analytically When Solving Problems

       In order to solve a problem, you must critically examine the information available in a given situation: determine an effective method to approach the problem, and carry through to the solution, including a critical examination of the final answer to see if it is reasonable. These skills are not only essential to solving problems in physics, but to solving problems in general, and are applicable to many situations in many different environments.

3. Provide Foundation for Continued Study of Physics Concepts & Practices

       The concepts studied during this introductory course provide the foundation upon which all other physics courses are built upon. This course will help the student begin a path of study that will require a mastery of the basic physical principles introduced during the course and that will be required in the future.

4. Understand the Relationship of Mathematical Representations to their Associated Physical Concepts and Principles

       The language of physics is mathematical. To model a physical situation and to solve physics problems requires the ability to use mathematical expressions that are solvable and that represent the situation. Students should be able to see the linkage between the math used to that of the physical principles involved.

5. Develop Scientific Skills, Practices, & Experimental Inquiry Techniques

       Students should understand and be able to connect physics principles to experimental apparatus, measurements, and analysis of measurement data. In addition, the ability to design, execute, analyze, and explain a scientific process is an important scientific skill.

Policies

• Attendance: Attendance is required at all lecture and lab classes. You must notify the instructor in advance if you are unable to attend a lab.
• Writing Requirement: Students will be required to complete writing assignments given as homework and in laboratory write-ups.
• Calculators: You will often need to use a calculator for quizzes and exams. Using a preprogrammed calculator in a quiz or exam to store information not available to the entire class, including solutions or equations, is considered cheating.
• Students with Disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation in this class and facilitate educational opportunities.

Academic Integrity

       Academic integrity is at the heart of education because there is no doubt that honor and the quest for knowledge are inexorably intertwined. Salisbury University is an academic community dedicated to the achievement of intellectual growth where the pursuit of freely exchanged ideas and active study is an essential element of academic excellence and development. Students and faculty are expected to meet the highest possible standards of personal, ethical, and moral conduct. These standards require personal integrity, a commitment to honesty without compromise, as well as truth without equivocation. Academic trust means respecting these truths and principles, without which no university can exist.

• Academic Dishonesty: This instructor adheres to the policy of academic dishonesty as it appears in the college catalog and outlined in the student handbook (pgs 50-52).

A Word about Physics

       This is a physics class and, therefore, it has similarities to all other physics classes. Physics is a conceptual and mathematical science and will require using mathematics and mental models as tools for solving problems. For some students, the math serves as an obstacle to learning physics.

       Some students believe that if they can follow the lectures in class, then they have learned physics. This is not true. To learn physics, a student must do a significant amount of work outside of class thinking about, and interacting with, the course material. No one ever learns physics by simply reading about it or listening to someone talk about it. You learn it by making the effort to understand the material, building mental pictures, and by solving problems using the principles learned. The standard requirement in a college class is that you spend two hours outside class working on the material for every hour in class. Since this is a four-hour class, you should plan on spending at least eight hours per week outside of class interacting with the material and solving problems. Few students will be able to succeed in this class without investing that amount of time.

       Finally, physics is an objective science. Problems assigned in physics will usually have objective answers. Consequently, grading standards tend to remain high in physics and other science classes.

Course Philosophy.

       I want you to enjoy Physics 121. The material we will be covering is fascinating and applicable. Its implications can be observed in almost everything you interact with everyday. In order to make this class as interesting and useful as possible, I will need to get feedback from you. Please feel free to ask questions in class and to come by my office during office hours. During the semester, I will give you opportunities to write a summary of which concepts are difficult, and of which you find interesting.

       You can only understand physics by personally interacting with the material and solving problems. Consequently, I emphasize three methods of learning in this class:

1. Reading and thinking about the assigned material before it is discussed in class.
2. Solving problems using the physics concepts and principles.
3. Discussing the material and solving problems in class, including working with your classmates.

       Thinking about problems and solving them on a regular basis will allow you to learn and appreciate the subject matter in a natural way, without having to cram everything at the last moment. Remember that this is a four-hour class so you should spend about eight hours per week outside class interacting with the material.

Course Structure & Assignments

       The course will be divided into 8 units. Each unit will be about one to two weeks long and will consist of the following graded assignments:

1. One or Two Reading Quizzes
2. Homework Problems
3. Quiz or Midterm Exam or Final

       A few days before each unit begins, I will distribute a detailed description of the material and problems covered in that unit. A calendar listing the tentative due dates for course assignments is attached as the last page of this syllabus. The calendar may be revised at the discretion of the professor. The eight units are outlined as follows:

Unit Chapters Subject 1 1-2 Introduction & Kinematics in One Dimension 2 3 Vectors & Kinematics in Two Dimensions 3 4 Newton's Three Laws 4 5 Circular Motion & Gravity 5 6 Work & Energy 6 7 Momentum 7 8-9 Rotational Motion & Equilibrium 8 10 Fluids (If time permits)

Reading Quizzes

       It is important that you read and ponder the material covered in class before we discuss the material. Therefore, we will begin every chapter with a Reading Quiz, which will consist of a few questions that you can answer in just a few minutes if you have read the assigned material attentively and thoughtfully. Please note that the Reading Quiz will take place before we have discussed most of the material in class. Class lectures will be used to clarify and elaborate on concepts that were difficult to understand during your own study.

Group Work

       Occasionally, classroom groups may be created during the semester. The groups will allow you to work together with your peers to understand the material. Group activities will include discussion of homework, as well as working on other problems designed to help you understand the material. All activities in the groups will be cooperative, not competitive. A good group member is not necessarily one who knows the answers. A good group member is one who comes prepared and regularly participates in the work, whom enters into the spirit of trying to help his or her fellow group members answer questions, work problems, and better understand the material.

Homework

       Homework assignments will be given for each unit. The homework will consist of about 15-25 problems assigned mostly from the text. Homework will be due by 5:00 p.m. on the date specified. It may be turned in during lecture, to my departmental mailbox, or deposited in the box outside my office. Here are some suggestions for how to get the most knowledge and help out of the homework:

• Read the problems as soon as you get them. You don't have to spend any time working on them; just think about them as you read and study the material.
• Don't procrastinate!!You will have at least a week to work on the problems. Don't wait until the last minute to do them. In particular, you will have an opportunity to ask questions in class to help you further understand the problems. Many students find that it is very helpful to attempt the problems even before the material is discussed in the class lecture.
• Ask Questions!!If you are having problems with the homework, seek help!! You may discuss the problems with your classmates as well as with me during office hours.

       Although you may discuss the homework with your classmates, all work handed in must be your own. Copying another person's work is plagiarism, and will be considered cheating. I encourage you to talk with others in order for you to get a general understanding of the work. However, each person must work out detailed solutions of the problems individually. Doing the homework is the best way to prepare for the quizzes and exams, since test questions will be similar to problems assigned for homework.

Active Participation

       Because learning requires active participation, and not just passive listening, we will be doing various activities in the classroom that involve student participation. These activities will help the student learns and give the instructor valuable feedback on how well the students have mastered the course material. The exact nature of this participation will be described in more detail at the time the assignments are given.

Quizzes, Exams, & Final

       There will be an exam or quiz at the end of every unit. The quizzes will be held at the end of class and will cover material from one unit. The midterm exams will be held during regular class time and will cover material from two units. The final will be comprehensive, covering material from the entire semester. The best preparation for these tests is a thorough understanding of the material and an understanding of the problems done for homework.

Grading:

3 Hour Midterm Exams (3 x 15%) 45% Homework Assignments 15% Laboratory 15% Quizzes 5% Final Comprehensive Exam 20%   Total = 100%

Grade Scale: The following criteria will be used for determining letter grades:

• 90 -100% = A:Superior Work. Student demonstrates a thorough and complete understanding of the subject.
• 80 - 89% = B:Excellent Work. Student demonstrates an above average understanding of the subject.
• 70 - 79% = C:Good Work. Student demonstrates an average understanding of the material.  
• 60 - 69% = D:Fair Work. Student demonstrates below average understanding of the material and has completed most of assignments.
• 0 - 59% = F:Unsatisfactory Work. Student does not demonstrate and adequate understanding of the subject and has not turned in all assignments.

Inclement Weather

       In case of inclement weather, call the Gull Line at 410-546-6426 for weather related closing information or check the SalisburyUniversity web page.

Important Notice

       If your Physics 121 grade will affect any of the following: 1) whether you receive or retain a scholarship (athletic or otherwise); 2) your eligibility to participate in any university sponsored activity; 3) your standing with your fraternity, sorority, the university, or any other student organization; NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME CONCERNED - NOT AT FINAL EXAM OR AFTER FINAL GRADES HAVE BEEN DETERMINED!! Please do not wait until the last minute, when it will be too late for anyone to help you! Also remember, we are here to learn knowledge and most of all have FUN!!

May da 4s b w/u!

Tentative Lecture & Lab Schedule Date Monday Wednesday Friday Week's Lab Jan. 26 – 30  Introduction Approximation & Estimation Motion in One Dimension Speed Feb. 2 – 6 Speed & Velocity Vectors & Scalars Uniformly Accelerated Motion Motion Graphs Feb. 9 – 13 Freely Falling Bodies Introduction to Vectors Vector Addition Falling Objects Feb. 16 – 20 Projectile Motion Review for Exam Exam #1 (Chap. 1-3) Vectors Feb. 23 – 27 Newton's First Law Newton's Second Law Newton's Third Law Projectile Motion Mar. 1 – 5 Gravity, Weight, Normal Force Free Body Diagrams s Friction & Inclined Plane Newton's Three Laws Mar. 8 – 12 Uniform Circular Motion Gravity & Work Kinetic Energy Inclined Plane Mar. 15 – 19 Review for Exam Exam #2 (Chap. 4-5) Potential Energy Uniform Circular Motion Mar. 22 – 26 Spring Break 2004 Mar. 29 – Apr. 2 Conservation of Energy Non-conservative Forces Power Friction Apr. 5 – 9 Linear Momentum Conservation of Momentum Collisions & Impulse Energy Conservation (Part I) Apr. 12 – 16 Elastic & Inelastic Collisions Center of Mass Review for Exam Energy Conservation (Part II) Apr. 19 – 23 Exam #3 (Chap. 6-7) Angular Motion Rotational Kinematics Collisions Apr. 26 – 30 Rotational Kinematics Torque Rotational Inertia Impulse May 3 – 7 Rotational Kinetic Energy Static Equilibrium I Static Equilibrium II Center of Mass May 10 – 11 Review for Final Exam … … No Lab

Tentative Calendar of Assignment Due Dates Monday Wednesday Friday Jan. 26 – 30 ... Chap. 1 Practice Reading Quiz Chap. 2 Read Quiz Feb. 2 – 6 ... … ... Feb. 9 – 13 ... Unit 1 Quiz Chap. 3 Read Quiz Feb. 16 – 20 … … EXAM #1 (Chap. 1-3) Feb. 23 – 27 Chap. 4 Read Quiz ... ... Mar. 1 – 5 ... ... Unit 3 Quiz Mar. 8 – 12 Chap. 5 Read Quiz ... … Mar. 15 – 19 ... EXAM #2 (Chap. 4-5) Chap. 6 Read Quiz Mar. 22 – 26 Spring Break 2004 Mar. 29 – Apr. 2 … ... ... Apr. 5 – 9 Unit 5 Quiz Chap. 7 Read Quiz ... Apr. 12 – 16 … ... … Apr. 19 – 23 EXAM #3 (Chap. 6-7) Chap. 8 Read Quiz ... Apr. 26 – 30 … ... ... May 3 – 7 Chap 9 Read Quiz ... Unit 7 Quiz May 10 – 11 ...

Final Exam is Scheduled for Friday, May 14, 1-3:00 p.m.

Developer: Dr. Joseph W. Howard
Salisbury University
Last modified January 23, 2004 @12:24EST
Copyright © Joseph W. Howard. All rights reserved.
Salisbury, Maryland 21801-6862