Course Syllabus

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Fall 2020    Fundamental Concepts of Physics I, PH201  Syllabus

 

Contact Info:

Instructor: George Heck

E-mail address: heckg@arcadia.edu

Office Hours: by appointment

Class website: Canvas

 

Required Text: Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!   https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics

Hardcover:

ISBN-10: 1938168003

ISBN-13: 978-1-938168-00-0

Paperback:

ISBN-13: 978-1-50669-809-0

Digital:

ISBN-10: 1-947172-01-8

ISBN-13: 978-1-947172-01-2

iBooks Part 1:

ISBN-10: 1-938168-04-6

ISBN-13: 978-1-938168-04-8

iBooks Part 2:

ISBN-10: 1-938168-04-6

ISBN-13: 978-1-938168-04-8

 

If you find having a hard copy text book works best for you, any introductory algebra based physics text published in the past 10 or so years will do; typically, this means any of the last three editions of a particular text. In general, a "University" text means it uses calculus and a "College" text means it is algebra-based. Some standard authors for algebra-based courses are Cutnell & Johnson; Serway & Faughn; Giordano; Knight, Jones, & Field; Urone.

Online homework system is facilitated through OpenStax Tutor, an external tool. OpenStax Tutor is integrated with Canvas, all you need to do is access the first assignment (Chapter 1 Reading) and it will guide you to register. This service costs $10 per student per semester. This is THE ONLY additional cost you will have associated with this class; no cost will be associated with a lab manual or a textbook.

 

 

Introduction: This course is an introduction to physics. It is not calculus based but the underlying mathematical basis uses calculus. We will use a somewhat advanced algebra. However, rather than arming you with a set of equations that you can blindly use to solve problems, we will focus on problem solving techniques. We will aim to develop a conceptual understanding of basic physics’ principles.

 

 

Attendance and the Synchronous/Asynchronous class:

The class will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous class times. During the first few weeks of the semester most classes will be synchronous. (The schedule of synchronous and asynchronous will be determined but will be consistent from week to week). Students are expected to attend all scheduled synchronous classes and labs. Students who are absent for any reason, should inform the instructor by email or phone as soon as possible. No makeup labs or exams will be scheduled. During the synchronous zoom lectures, I expect you to be “video” present (camera on). There will be times, I understand, when it might not be optimal, if so, please kindly excuse yourself. Class attendance will not be formally taken. However in class quizzes will be given which will indicate absences and attendance.

 

 

 

Homework: We will use OpenStax Tutor web-based homework system. Assigned homework sets will be completed through the system and graded instantly. Note that late assignments will still be accepted but with lower possible scores.

Follow instructions below to sign up for OpenStax tutor (only done the first time).

 

 

 

  1. Sign in to Canvas and enter your PH201 Canvas course.
  2. Select the Modules tab on the left and find Chapter 1 Modulus.
  3. Select any of the two assignments and access them, you will be guided to register and pay for the service.

 

 

 

 

Lab:  Lab course is designed to complement and improve understanding of material learned in the lecture section. Labs are an integral part of this course and attendance and participation is mandatory. There will be approximately 10 Experiments during the course of the semester.  Each of these experiments contains a pre-lab and post-lab that will be used to determine your grade.  When calculating your total lab score, your lab with the lowest score will not be taken into account. The total lab score will be included, as a weighted part, to the overall course grade. 

Write-ups (instructions and explanations) for each lab will be provided by the lab instructor.

 

 

Exams: Three exams will be given during the semester. Dates to be determined. There are no make-up exams. These will be synchronous Canvas quizzes and all sections will utilize LockDown browser and Respondus monitor. If you know you will have to miss an exam and have a documented, valid reason for doing so, please come and discuss it with the instructor as soon as possible. You must also provide in writing the explanation  for your excusal. If the reason is considered valid, your remaining exam will be reassigned a different weight. If I get nothing in writing from you, a score of zero will be assigned for the exam you missed.

Please note that Canvas works best with the Chrome browser, Safari is not supported (you might not be able to see figures attached to the problems), please let me know if you have no other options but to use Safari.

 

Grading: Your grade will be calculated from your cumulative scores on:

 

          Attendance and class participation - 15% (quizzes based score)

          Homework – 30%

          Labs – 20%

          Midterm Exams – (10% each) 20%

          Final Exam – 15%

         

 

 

Chapter Topics:

 

 

         

 

          CH1 – Introduction: The Nature of Science and Physics

          CH2 -- Kinematics

          CH3 -- Two-Dimensional Kinematics

          CH4 -- Dynamics: Force and Newton's Laws of Motion

          CH5 -- Further Applications of Newton's Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity

          CH6 -- Gravitation and Uniform Circular Motion

          CH7 -- Work, Energy, and Energy Resources

          CH8 -- Linear Momentum and Collisions

          CH9 -- Statics and Torque

          CH10 -- Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum

                    Additional Selected Topics from Chapters 11-16, time permitted     

         

 

 

 

 

Important Notes:

 

 

  • Academic dishonesty and plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the assignment. Using someone else's ideas or phrasing and representing those ideas or phrasing as our own, either on purpose or through carelessness, is a serious offense known as plagiarism. "Ideas or phrasing" includes written or spoken material, from whole papers and paragraphs to sentences, and, indeed, phrases but it also includes statistics, lab results, art work, etc. Please see the Arcadia University  handbook  for policies regarding plagiarism, harassment, etc.
  • Your academic success is important. If you have a documented disability that may have an impact upon your work in class, please contact Disabilities Support Services in the Office of Academic Development in Knight Hall to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students.
  • Arcadia University is committed to providing a learning, living, and working environment that is free from discrimination. The University has an Interim Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct detailing our commitment to preventing and addressing such behavior. I understand the impact that sexual harassment and sexual misconduct can have and am committed to doing my part to foster an environment that is safe and equitable.
  • Please know that all faculty on campus are mandatory reporters. This means that if you disclose an experience of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct to me outside of a classroom discussion, a writing assignment, or a University-approved research project, I must share what you reported to me with Arcadia’s Title IX Coordinator. This does not mean that you will have to pursue an investigation or go through a grievance process. Even if you do not choose these options, the Title IX Office can provide supportive measures and other resources to you.
  • If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, please know that you are not alone. If you would like to speak to someone confidentially, confidential resources are provided on the Office of Equity and Civil Rights website.

 

 

Course Description:

 

This course is intended for students not majoring in physics or engineering but needing a one-year or one-semester course in physics as a requirement for their major program.  The course is part of a two-semester sequence .  Core topics include:  kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:

 

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Predict the future trajectory of an object in two dimensions with uniform acceleration.
  2. Analyze a physical situation with multiple constant forces acting on a point mass using Newtonian mechanics.
  3. Analyze a physical situation using concepts of work and energy.
  4. Analyze static and dynamic extended systems using the concepts of torque and angular acceleration.

Laboratory Course Objectives: At the conclusion of the laboratory component of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Analyze real-world experimental data, including appropriate use of units and significant figures.
  2. Relate the results of experimental data to the physical concepts discussed in the lecture portion of the class.

Course Content:

 

  • Vectors and Scalars
  • Newton’s Laws
  • Statics and Dynamics
  • Translational Kinematics
  • Rotational Kinematics
  • Rotational Dynamics
  • Work and Energy
  • Momentum
  • Gravitation

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
College Physics from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-01-8

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

 

If you purchase or own some other text, just about any introductory physics text published in the past 10 or so years will do; typically, this means any of the last three editions of a particular text. In general, a "University" text means it uses calculus and a "College" text means it is algebra-based. Some standard authors for algebra-based courses are Cutnell & Johnson; Serway & Faughn; Giordano; Knight, Jones, & Field; Urone.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due