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Math & Physics
Introductory Physics

 


PHYS 2404 - General Physics I

Course Syllabus

Fall 2009


 

Description: Mechanics is studied.  Derivations and applications of formulas using calculus are stressed. Problem solving is a basic part of the course.  Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week.  Prerequisite: Mathematics 1402 concurrently.

Objectives: Each student will (1) develop a conceptual understanding of the basic principles of mechanics; (2) understand the development of mechanics from past to present including a knowledge of the scientists who shaped the course of mechanics and their contributions; and (3) develop a flexible, logical problem solving methodology applicable, not only to this course, but to the greater academic and career challenges ahead.

Scope: This course begins with a survey of vectors and the basic laws of motion. It continues with forces and Newton’s three laws of motion.  Work and energy, momentum and collisions are explored. Rotational motion and dynamics, gravity and Kepler’s laws are investigated using previously covered mechanical principles. The last phase of the course introduces wave mechanics and fluid mechanics.

 

Instructor:  Dr. Buxton L. Johnson, Sr.

 

Physics213_Syllabus_html_m2257b0b7.gif Present lectures that compliment the book and reinforce learning objectives; ensure that all components of the course are coordinated and sequenced according to the syllabus; provide help sessions and additional instruction as requested (only simple examples and problems will normally be worked in class); ensure testing and subsequent grading is equitable and consistent; and guide students in the performance of laboratory experiments and the subsequence preparation of laboratory reports.

 

Students:  You

 

Physics213_Syllabus_html_m2257b0b7.gif Study assigned sections prior to class; read and attempt to work through assigned problems prior to deadline; develop and maintain a general physics reference sheet (one side of an 8.5” x 11” paper for each hour exam and both sides of one sheet for the final exam); seek addition help early--use instructor’s office hours or make appointments--use Plus Center tutors; participate in study groups within the guidelines of Kentucky Wesleyan’s rules on plagiarism; visit online tutoring sites such as WebAssign; and test yourself before the exam!

 

Graded Events

 

Class

 

Physics213_Syllabus_html_m2257b0b7.gif Regular quizzes will be given during class using the Turning Point student response system.  In addition, regular weekly homework assignments will be assigned/submitted through the WebAssign online homework system.  Furthermore, three 1-hour exams and a 2-hour cumulative final exam will be administered. These exams will cover class material, class quizzes, homework assignments, and topics from laboratory.

 

Laboratory

 

Physics213_Syllabus_html_m2257b0b7.gif A laboratory experiment will be performed each week in the General Physics Laboratory and a subsequent report will be due one week later at the beginning of the next laboratory period. The first four laboratory reports will be written by hand in a laboratory book and submitted to the instructor.  The remaining eight laboratory reports will be written in Microsoft Word with embedded Excel data tables and analysis, and uploaded to Turnitin.com.  Each lab report will contain the following sections:

 

1.    Purpose

a.    describe the purpose of the lab experiment;

b.    include a diagram(s) of the experimental setup;

c.    state the math model(s) being tested.

 

2.    Procedure and Analysis

a.    document the procedures you followed during the laboratory experiment;

b.    use tables to show your experimental data;

c.    perform all your calculations;

d.    include required spreadsheets and graphs with regression lines;

e.    document your results.

 

3.    Conclusions

a.    summarize your conclusions based on your analysis of the data;

b.    discuss the specific sources of error in the experiment.

 

See a sample report.  The advance study assignment for each laboratory exercise is due at the beginning of the laboratory period.  Late advance study assignments will not be accepted for credit. Quizzes may be given by your instructor during laboratory.

 

Schedule

 

Class

 

Ch 1 – Introduction & Vectors

Ch 2 – Motion in One Dimension

Ch 3 – Motion in Two Dimensions

Ch 4 – The Laws of Motion

Exam 1

Ch 5 – More Applications

Ch 6 – Energy and Energy Transfer

Ch 7 – Potential Energy

Ch 8 – Momentum and Collisions

Exam 2

Ch 10 – Rotational Motion

Ch 11 – Gravity, Planetary Orbits, and the Hydrogen Atom

Ch 12 Oscillatory Motion

Exam 3

Ch 15 – Fluid Mechanics

Final Exam

 

Laboratory

 

Lab#2Measurement Instruments

Lab#3The Scientific Method: Simple Pendulum

Lab#4Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Lab#5Projectile Motion: The Ballistic Pendulum

Lab#6The Addition and Resolution of Vectors: Force Table

Lab#7Newton's Second Law: The Atwood Machine

Lab#8Friction

Lab#9Conservation of Linear Momentum

Lab#11 – Torques, Equilibrium, and Center of Gravity

Lab#12Rotational Motion and Moment of Inertia

Lab#13Simple Harmonic Motion

Lab#14 – Standing Waves in a String

 

Detailed Class/Laboratory Schedule

Class(C) / Lab(L)

Topic

 

Study/Homework/Laboratory/Quiz

C1: M 8-31

Introduction

 

Ch 1, Sec 1-5

C2: W 9-2

Vectors I

 

Ch 1, Sec 6-9

L1A: W 9-2

Lab#2 TI – Measurement Instruments (Mass, Volume, and Density)

 

Laboratory 1, Section A

L1B: Th 9-3

Lab#2 TI – Measurement Instruments (Mass, Volume, and Density)

 

Laboratory 1, Section B

C3: F 9-4

Vectors II

 

Ch 1, Sec 9-10

Complete Intro to WebAssign

M 9-7

Labor Day

 

Have a good holiday!

C4: W 9-9

1-D Motion: Velocity & Acceleration

 

Ch 2, Sec 1-4

TP Quiz#1

WebAssign HW#1

L2A: W 9-9

Lab#3 TI – The Scientific Method: Simple Pendulum

 

Laboratory 2, Section A

L2B: Th 9-10

Lab#3 TI – The Scientific Method: Simple Pendulum

 

Laboratory 2, Section B

C5: F 9-11

1-D Motion: Constant Acceleration

 

Ch 2, Sec 5-6

TP Quiz#2

C6: M 9-14

1-D Motion: Free Fall

 

Ch 2, Sec 7-8

TP Quiz#3

C7: W 9-16

2-D Motion: Constant Acceleration

 

Ch 3, Sec 1-2

TP Quiz#4

WebAssign HW#2

L3A: W 9-16

Lab#4 TI/CI – Uniformly Accelerated Motion

 

Laboratory 3, Section A

L3B: Th 9-17

Lab#4 TI/CI – Uniformly Accelerated Motion

 

Laboratory 3, Section B

C8: F 9-18

2-D Motion: Projectile Motion

 

Ch 3, Sec 3

TP Quiz#5

C9: M 9-21

2-D Motion: Circular Motion

 

Ch 3, Sec 4-5

TP Quiz#6

C10: W 9-23

Newton’s Laws of Motion

 

Ch 4, Sec 1-6

TP Quiz#7

WebAssign HW#3

L4A: W 9-23

Lab#5 TI – Projectile Motion: The Ballistic Pendulum

 

Laboratory 4, Section A

L4B: Th 9-24

Lab#5 TI – Projectile Motion: The Ballistic Pendulum

 

Laboratory 4, Section B

C11: F 9-25

Applications of Newton’s Laws I

 

Ch 4, Sec 7-8

TP Quiz#8

C12: M 9-28

Applications of Newton’s Laws II

 

Ch 4, Sec 7-8

C13: W 9-30

Friction

 

Ch 5, Sec 1

TP Quiz#9

WebAssign HW#4

L5A: W 9-30

Lab#6 TI – The Addition and Resolution of Vectors: The Force Table

 

Laboratory 5, Section A

L5B: Th 10-1

Lab#6 TI – The Addition and Resolution of Vectors: The Force Table

 

Laboratory 5, Section B

C14: F 10-2

Exam 1 (Ch 1-4)

 

One hour exam

C15: M 10-5

Centripetal Force

 

Ch 5, Sec 2-3

TP Quiz#10

C16: W 10-7

Work and the Scalar Product

 

Ch 6, Sec 1-3

TP Quiz#11

WebAssign HW#5

L6A: W 10-7

Lab#7 CI – Newton's Second Law: The Atwood Machine

 

Laboratory 6, Section A

L6B: Th 10-8

Lab#7 CI – Newton's Second Law: The Atwood Machine

 

Laboratory 6, Section B

C17: F 10-9

Work Done by a Spring

Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

 

Ch 6, Sec 4-5

TP Quiz#12

C18: M 10-12

Nonisolated Systems

Kinetic Friction

 

Ch 6, Sec 6-7

TP Quiz#13

C19: W 10-14

Potential Energy

Isolated Systems

 

Ch 7, Sec 1-2

TP Quiz#14

WebAssign HW#6

10-15 to 10-16

Fall Break

 

Have a good break!

C20: M 10-19

Conservative Forces

Nonconservative Forces

 

Ch 7, Sec 3-4

TP Quiz#15

C21: W 10-21

Linear Momentum and Impulse

Conservation of Linear Momentum

 

Ch 8, Sec 1-2

WebAssign HW#7

L7A: W 10-21

Lab#8 CI – Friction

 

Laboratory 7, Section A

L7B: Th 10-22

Lab#8 CI – Friction

 

Laboratory 7, Section B

C22: F 10-23

1-D Collisions

 

Ch 8, Sec 3

C23: M 10-26

2-D Collisions

 

Ch 8, Sec 4

TP Quiz#16

C24: W 10-28

Rotational Motion

 

Ch 10, Sec 1-3

TP Quiz#17

WebAssign HW#8

L8A: W 10-28

Recitation

 

L8B: Th 10-29

Recitation

 

C25: F 10-30

Exam 2 (Ch 5-8)

 

One hour exam

C26: M 11-2

Rotational Kinetic Energy

Torque and the Vector Product

 

Ch 10, Sec 4-5

TP Quiz#18

C27: W 11-4

Equilibrium

Nonequilibrium

 

Ch 10, Sec 6-7

TP Quiz#19

L9A: W 11-4

Lab#9 CI – Conservation of Linear Momentum

 

Laboratory 8, Section A

L9B: Th 11-5

Lab#9 CI – Conservation of Linear Momentum

 

Laboratory 8, Section B

C28: F 11-6

Angular Momentum

Conservation of Angular Momentum

 

Ch 10, Sec 8-9

TP Quiz#20

C29: M 11-9

Universal Gravitation

 

Ch 11, Sec 1

TP Quiz#21

C30: W 11-11

Kepler’s Laws

 

Ch 11, Sec 3

TP Quiz#22

L10A: W 11-11

Lab#11 TI – Torques, Equilibrium, and Center of Gravity

 

Laboratory 9, Section A

L10B: Th 11-12

Lab#11 TI – Torques, Equilibrium, and Center of Gravity

 

Laboratory 9, Section B

C31: F 11-13

Planetary/Satellite Motion

Elliptical Orbits

 

Ch 11, Sec 4,6

TP Quiz#23

C32: M 11-16

Atomic Spectra

Bohr Theory of Hydrogen

 

Ch 11, Sec 5

TP Quiz#24

WebAssign HW#9

C33: W 11-18

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

 

Ch 12. Sec 1-2

TP Quiz#25

L11A: W 11-18

Lab#12 TI – Rotational Motion and Moment of Inertia

 

Laboratory 10, Section A

L11B: Th 11-19

Lab#12 TI – Rotational Motion and Moment of Inertia

 

Laboratory 10, Section B

C34: F 11-20

Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

 

Ch 12, Sec 3

C35: M 11-23

The Simple Pendulum

The Physical Pendulum

 

Ch 12, Sec 4-5

TP Quiz#26

WebAssign HW#10

11-25 to 11-27

Thanksgiving Break

 

Have a good break!

C36: M 11-30

Damped Oscillations

Forced Oscillations

 

Ch 12, Sec 6-7

TP Quiz#27

C37: W 12-2

Pressure

Variation of Pressure with Depth

 

Ch 15, Sec 1-2

TP Quiz#28

WebAssign HW#11

L12A: W 12-2

Lab#13 TI – Simple Harmonic Motion

 

Laboratory 11, Section A

L12B: Th 12-3

Lab#13 TI – Simple Harmonic Motion

 

Laboratory 11, Section B

C38: F 12-4

Exam 3 (Ch 10-12)

 

One hour exam

C39: M 12-7

Buoyant Forces

 

Ch 15, Sec 3-4

TP Quiz#29

C40: W 12-9

Fluid Dynamics

Bernoulli’s Equation

 

Ch 15, Sec 5-7

TP Quiz#30

W 12-9

Lab#14 TI – Standing Waves in a String

 

Laboratory 12, Section A

Th 12-10

Lab#14 TI – Standing Waves in a String

 

Laboratory 12, Section B

C41: F 12-11

Review for Final

 

WebAssign HW#12

M 12-14

Final Exam (Ch 1-8,10-12,15)

 

8:00 to 10:00

 

ATTENDANCE – Your grade in this course is likely to be strongly influenced by your class attendance. Exam questions are designed to cover very specifically the topics as they are discussed in class. In addition, quiz questions will often appear on exams.  Six absences are allowed without affecting the student's grade.  Beyond this, each additional absence will result in a 20-point reduction in the final grade.

MAKEUP EXAMS – Students who are forced to miss an exam due to unavoidable circumstances (illness, death in the family, athletic tournament, etc.) must contact the instructor. The instructor will determine if the absence is to be excused in accordance with Kentucky Wesleyan regulations on excused absences. Students with an excused absence will be allowed to take a makeup exam. No more than one makeup exam will be approved for any student except in unusual and very well documented cases.

EXAM DISCREPANCIES – Students with exam discrepancies should record, specifically, those items they would like considered for re-evaluation and return their exam to the instructor before leaving the classroom. All other students can retain their exams. No consideration will be given to exam discrepancies submitted after the student has left the classroom.

LABORATORY MAKEUP – All missed laboratory experiments must be made up and all reports must be submitted to receive a grade in the course.  Students who are forced to miss a laboratory due to unavoidable circumstances (illness, death in the family, athletic tournament, etc.) must contact the instructor. The instructor will determine if the absence is to be excused in accordance with Kentucky Wesleyan regulations on excused absences. Only students with an excused absence will receive credit for making up the missed laboratory experiment.

LATE WORK – Only one late homework assignment will be accepted for credit.  Only one late laboratory report will be accepted for credit.

CHEATING – The first time a student is found cheating, copying, etc., a zero will be given on the compromised work.  The second time will result in failure of the course.

 

Grading Policy

Graded Event

Points

Exams(3)

 360

Final Exam(1)

 180

Class Quizzes(30)

 100

Homework Assignments(12)

 180

Laboratory Reports(12)

 180

Course Total

1000

Final Grade Assignments are based on the percentage of course points earned according to the following schedule:

  • 90% and above – A
  • 80% and above – B
  • 70% and above – C
  • 60% and above – D
  • below 60% – F

 

Academic Accommodations

Kentucky Wesleyan College is committed to providing access to programs and services for qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations to participate and complete requirements for this class, notify the instructor immediately and contact Dr. Leah Hoover at the Office of Disability Services for verification of eligibility and determination of specific accommodations.

 

Academic Help

Several Kentucky Wesleyan offices can be helpful in aiding students.