PH 105 – GENERAL PHYSICS
WITH CALCULUS - spring, 2007
MEETINGS: TR 10:00 – 11:50 AM , F 11:00 -11:50 AM, 203 Gallalee
CREDIT: 4 Hrs
INSTRUCTORS:
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Dr. Rainer Schad |
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Office: 131 Bevill |
Office: Gallalee Hall |
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e-mail: |
=> HelpDesk |
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office hrs: by appointment |
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TEXT: Serway
and Jewett, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Vol. I, …, 5th,
6th, or 7th Ed. [not much difference, except in price]
PREREQUISITES: MA131 (or MA125)
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
This is an introductory calculus-based
course in classical mechanics and thermal physics for students in science and
engineering.
Course Topics: Kinematics in one and two
dimensions, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy, conservation of energy,
linear momentum, collisions, rotational motion, oscillations, gravitation,
fluids, thermal physics.
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course, you should have a basic introductory understanding of classical mechanics on both a qualitative and quantitative level. You should be able to solve basic mechanics problems using mathematics through differential and integral calculus. You should then have the necessary background so that you can take PH106 (or PH102).
COURSE APPROACH: The course will emphasize fundamental concepts and problem-solving techniques in physics using interactive instruction, computer-based techniques, and cooperative learning. There will be no separate lab and lecture sections as is the case in the traditional physics course. The course will be team-taught by a faculty member and a graduate teaching assistant. During classes on Monday and Wednesday (two hours each) there will be a mix of short lectures and group activities. The group activities will include short lab experiments using the computer for data acquisition and analysis and other short ‘exercises’. The exercises will consist of real-world problems and computer simulations. The one-hour Friday class will be a ‘recitation’ devoted to problem solving.
PROBLEMS: Problems from the textbook
are assigned weekly. The problem solutions must be submitted on the web using a
web-based program called WEBASSIGN
(http://webassign.net/). WEBASSIGN
can be accessed using Netscape, Internet Explorer or … and requires a student
password (mailed to you). First-Time-Users will need for initial sign-up
an access code which come with a newly bought book or can be purchased on the
WebAssign webpage.
WEBASSIGN gives immediate feedback on the correctness of each problem, and
students can resubmit problems if they are incorrect, up to a maximum of five
attempts. The numbers in the problem are different for each student, but are
not changed each time a problem is resubmitted. The first Friday recitation
session will be devoted to explaining how to use WEBASSIGN. It is
important to understand how to work a problem and not just to submit a correct
answer. Students must keep a notebook of how they work each problem and be
prepared to turn this in for spot grading as requested. Although students may
collaborate when working problems, each student should keep a record of problem
solutions (not just answers) and should submit their own answers – based on the
particular numbers in their problems.
There is an excellent website associated with the textbook that can be used by
students for assistance with working problems (http://www.pse6.com/),
including practice problems and detailed solutions to selected problems.
GRADING: Problems will be submitted each week outside of class. In-class work
will be collected at the end of each class period and will count as part of the
course grade. Occasionally, short (10 min) quizzes will be given on Friday
based on in-class work done during the week and the most recently submitted
problem assignment. Problem notebooks will also be occasionally collected on
Friday for spot-checking. Thus, class attendance is very important. There will
be no make up of missed class work. The two lowest exercise grades and the
lowest recitation grade will be dropped when computing the final course grade.
There will be two exams and a comprehensive final exam.
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Labs & Exercises** |
10% |
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In-class clicker questions |
15% |
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Homework Problems |
10% |
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Recitation = Quizzes * |
10% |
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Exam I |
15% |
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Exam II |
20% |
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Final Exam |
20% |
** The 2 lowest grades will be dropped.
* The lowest grade will be dropped.
ATTENDANCE AND MAKEUP POLICY: No makeup of in-class work or exams will be given. If you have a legitimate reason for missing a major exam, then you must inform me as soon as possible. If the reason is acceptable, then the final exam will count proportionately more. As described above, the lowest grades on labs, in-class exercises, and recitation work will be dropped.This will allow a limited number of missed classes regardless of the reason for missing.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT POLICY: All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute
academic misconduct. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be
followed in the event of academic misconduct.