General Physics I: Mechanics and
Thermodynamics
PHY 161.001 --- Fall 2008 Syllabus
Physics Department --- Mercer
University
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Text:
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 3d
edition, by Fishbane, Gasiorowicz and Thornton
email: balduz_jl@mercer.edu office:
SEB 205,
phone:
478-301-2229
office hours:
MWF 3-4pm, or by appointment (try email)... Course web page: http://physics.mercer.edu/balduz/GenPhys/phy161home.htm |
This course is the first in the two-semester sequence PHY 161/162 General Physics I/II, a calculus-based introduction to physics. The main theme in this course is that of mechanics of point particles and extended objects. Following a brief introduction to physics and a mathematics review, we will consider a series of major topics: Kinematics, Newton's Laws of Motion, Energy, Momentum, Rotations, and Oscillations.
Students will learn to think scientifically about the
physical world, analyze systems mathematically, reach qualitative conclusions,
and compute accurately numerical answers to specific questions. Although we
will cover a number of topics and physical systems, the students’ goal should
be to learn to think about nature and solve problems as physicists (scientists)
do. This course is intended primarily for physics, chemistry, math, and
engineering majors, but is also recommended for others with good mathematical
aptitude, including pre-med students and life sciences majors. Students must
already have a working knowledge of geometry, algebra, and trigonometry.
Co-requisite courses are MAT 191 Calculus I, and PHY 121L Basic Physics
Lab I: Students must be concurrently enrolled or have equivalent prior
academic credit.
Lectures: During scheduled class periods the instructor will discuss the theoretical and conceptual aspects of the course topics, present examples, go over solutions to textbook and practice exam problems, answer questions, ask questions to stimulate thinking and discussion, and try to get the class interested in physics. We will also have quizzes and exams. When possible, we will see classroom demonstrations.
GRADED GROUP WORK: Chapter quizzes (one per chapter, for 25% of the total grade): After a chapter has been covered in class, on the day previously announced by the instructor, there will be a multiple-choice quiz on that chapter. Students may work individually or in groups, and they may use the textbook or any other resources they bring to class. However, each student must hand in their own separate quiz paper. Their name must be written on the paper, and they must sign the paper themselves; otherwise they will receive no credit... After the quiz papers have been collected in class, the instructor will go over the solutions. There will not be any make-up quizzes: If a student misses a quiz, they will receive a zero for that quiz unless they have a valid excuse.
GRADED INDIVIDUAL WORK: Exams and Final Exam
Exams
(four,
for 50% of the total grade): The regular individual exams (A, B, C and D) will include
mostly quantitative numerical problems, and some qualitative questions. They will be open-book. I.e., students
may bring only their textbook (no notes); they must also bring their own calculator. Each exam will count for about 12.5% of the
total grade, but this will vary slightly depending on the material covered. The topics and
tentative dates for the exams are as follows:
Exam A (F 9/19): Kinematics [Ch. 1, 2, 3],
Exam B (W 10/15): Newton's Laws [Ch. 4, 5],
Exam C (W 11/5): Energy [Ch. 6, 7],
Exam D (M 11/24): Momentum and Rotations [Ch. 8, 9].
Final Exam (25% of the total grade): F 12/12, 9am-noon. This will be open-book,
individual, comprehensive and composed entirely of multiple choice questions.
Students may only use their textbook and a calculator.
Note: For both the Exams and the Comprehensive Exam, each student must write their name on the paper, and they must sign the paper themselves; otherwise they will receive no credit... It is unethical, and a violation of the honor code of this university, for any student to submit a paper for credit, knowing that some person whose name appears on the paper did not contribute significantly to that piece of work. This applies not only to homework sets but also to quizzes, in-class problem sets, exams, term papers, lab reports and any other work you do at this or any other school...
Grading: How much weight is given to each activity, in percentages of the final grade, is shown in the left table below. The final letter grade will be determined using the scale shown in the right table below.
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Course
web
page:
During class meetings the instructor will use both a projector and the
whiteboard. Everything presented on the projector in class will be
available on the course web page: basic conceptual material, examples and
solutions to textbook problems. Exam solutions will also be posted after these
are graded. In addition, other
materials which cannot be presented in class due to time constraints will also
be posted on the web page: additional textbook problems, old quizzes and
homework sets, old exams, and
additional practice exam problems. Former students have said that the course web
page is very helpful to them, so every student should go there often
and make good use of this resource.
Miscellaneous policies:
If changes to this syllabus are necessary, they will be implemented after discussion and negotiation with the students. Note that the accompanying course schedule is not a part of the syllabus: it is tentative and subject to revision, including dates for Exams A, B, C and D.
Missed
quizzes and exams for which no alternate arrangements were made
beforehand may be made up only if the student has an official excuse: e.g., a note from a Dean's office, or a doctor’s note.
There will be no dropped grades. All work done in the course will be counted. There will be no extra-credit work.
The College of Liberal Arts' academic misconduct policy will be followed. In addition, all students are bound by the Mercer University Honor Code.
Electronic devices: Whenever class is in session, cell phones should be turned off; and no student should communicate electronically with anyone, human or otherwise, inside or outside the classroom by any means. During quizzes and exams, no electronic devices of any kind may be used except for a calculator. Any device used in violation of these rules will be confiscated by the instructor for the duration of the class period.
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with the instructors all their work during the course, regardless of their grades. Questions about point awards should be brought up as soon as possible, as all grades will be final one week after the materials are graded and returned to the students.
Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible. If you are not registered with Disability Services, the instructor will refer you to the Student Support Services office for consultation regarding documentation of your disability and eligibility for accommodations under the ADA/504. In order to receive accommodations, eligible students must provide each instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability Services. Students must return the completed and signed form to the Disability Services office on the 3rd floor of the Connell Student Center. Students with a documented disability who do not wish to use accommodations are strongly encouraged to register with Disability Services and complete a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester. For further information please contact Disability Services at 478-301-2778 or visit the website at http://www.mercer.edu/stu_support/swd.htm.
All requests for reasonable accommodation are welcome also in regard to absence from class for school representation (i.e., athletic or other events) or personal/family problems. Let's talk about it...