Principles of Physics I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Course

PHYS-2425-001 Principles of Physics I

Prerequisites

MATH 2413

Course Description

Fundamental principles of physics, using calculus, for science, computer science and engineering majors; the principles and applications of classical mechanics, including harmonic motion and physical systems; emphasis on problem solving. Basic laboratory experiments supporting theoretical principles presented in lecture involving the principles and applications of classical mechanics, including harmonic motion and physical systems; experimental design, data collection and analysis, and preparation of laboratory reports.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbooks: 1.Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Volume I. 4^th edition.

                    2. Laboratory Manual for Physics 2425

 

Authors: 1. Douglas C. Giancoli, Prentice Hall Publishing Company.

                 2. Y. Sun

Supplies

Graphing calculator, engineering graph paper

Student Performance

After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following topics with 70% accuracy as evaluated by the faculty:

1. Determine the components of linear motion (displacement, velocity, and acceleration), and especially motion under conditions of constant acceleration.

2. Solve problems involving forces and work.

3. Apply Newton’s laws to physical problems.

4. Identify the different types of energy.

5. Solve problems using principles of conservation of energy.

6. Define the principles of impulse, momentum, and collisions.

7. Use principles of impulse and momentum to solve problems.

8. Determine the location of the center of mass and center of rotation for rigid bodies in motion.

9. Discuss rotational kinematics and dynamics and the relationship between linear and rotational motion.

10. Solve problems involving rotational and linear motion.

11. Define equilibrium, including the different types of equilibrium.

12. Discuss simple harmonic motion and its application to real-world problems.

13. Solve problems involving the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics.

 After completing the lab part of the course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following topics:

1. Prepare laboratory reports that clearly communicate experimental information in a logical and scientific manner.
2. Conduct basic laboratory experiments involving classical mechanics.
3. Relate physical observations and measurements involving classical mechanics to theoretical principles.
4. Evaluate the accuracy of physical measurements and the potential sources of error in the measurements.
5. Design fundamental experiments involving principles of classical mechanics.
6. Identify appropriate sources of information for conducting laboratory experiments involving classical mechanics.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Students are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to:  tardiness/leaving early; electronic device noises; texting or using electronic devices for non-course related activities during the lecture; talking during the lecture; abusive, offensive, and/or disrespectful language or demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students, and/or Amarillo College property.

FOOD/DRINK:

Food and drink be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor's discretion, but food and drink are not allowed in the Computer Labs.

 PHONE/PAGERS:

Cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in silent mode in the classrooms and the Computer Labs.

Grading Criteria

Grades:  

• Expect to have homework assigned each week.  Please note the homework format requirements on page 3.  You are responsible for the requirements. Homework will comprise 20 % of the course grade.  Attendance is essential for successful completion of this course.  In order to promote consistent attendance, homework is regularly assigned and in-class quizzes may periodically be given.  Late homework is not accepted and in-class quizzes may not be made up.  The laboratory portion of this course will be graded comprehensively as a whole at semester's end. If the comprehensive laboratory letter grade exceeeds the lowest of the two midterm letter grades, the laboratory grade will appply to the lowest midterm grade in its stead.
• There will be two major exams.  Major exams will be administered in class (in which case they must be completed by the end of class), in the testing center, or as a take home test.  Each major exam will comprise 25 % of the course grade. 
• There will be a mandatory comprehensive final that will comprise 30 % of the course grade.

 

EVALUATION:

The final grades of A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), and F (below 60) will be computed as the average of the earned grades as follows:

 

Homework and Class Quizzes            20%

Major Exams (2)                                 25 %    each    

Final Exam                                          30%

 

 The laboratory portion of this course will be graded comprehensively as a whole at semester's end. If the comprehensive laboratory letter grade exceeeds the lowest of the two midterm letter grades, the laboratory grade will appply to the lowest midterm grade in its stead.

Absence from an exam will incur a zero unless there is prior notification of the instructor with approval granted or there is an emergency that could not be circumvented. Students who miss an exam because of College or business related activities should notify the instructor before the absence occurs.  Make-up exams will be given only under rare, extenuating circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor (after written petition for consideration).

 

Final examination: An in-class final exam for this course will be given during the week of Final Examinations.

 

Homework

 

Homework shall be presented on engineering (quadrille) paper, in pencil, one side only. If an error is made, erase thoroughly.  Homework with scratched out work will NOT  be accepted.  Each problem should be started on a new page.

Homework presentations shall be as follows:

• Restate the problem at the top of the page.
• Explicitly state any assumptions that you make.
• Show all significant steps.  It should be clear why each step is taken.
• Redraw figures and clearly label as needed with dimensions, labels, and units.
• Underline important intermediate results.
• Box  (not circle) final results.
• Review work to be certain all work is neat* and easy to read.

*NOTE:If I can’t read it, I won’t grade it.

Homework sets shall be stapled upper left and then folded in half along a line perpendicular to the long dimension. The student’s name, course and section number  and the date due shall be placed on the outside sheet with the fold to the left, the holes toward the bottom.

Grading of Homework:

Grades will be awarded based on the following formula:

HW mark = (presentation factor) x (correctness)

Here the presentation factor is a number between 0 and 1. This means that homework should be both correct (or mostly correct) and well presented to receive a high mark.  Be advised that if the quality of presentation is very poor, then the submission may not be marked for correctness. But don't get out your word processor. Neat and legible handwriting, preferably printing, and adherence to the above guidelines is all that is required.

 

• The Instructor reserves the right to grade any number of problem(s) per assignment.
• Collaboration between students is allowed on problem solving; however, EACH STUDENT must hand in an ORIGINAL, COMPLETE, problem set.
• NO CREDITwill be given for late homework.

 

Tests

• Grading of Tests: In complex problem analyses such as those used in this course, there are many opportunities for errors. Thus exams will be graded using "partial credit" as recognize some sections of an individual problem may have been carried out correctly even though the final answer may be incorrect.  Partial credit will only be given if the student work is logically developed, with clear and well marked diagrams, with the appropriate fundamental and auxiliary equations prominently displayed, where the substitutions into the equations are quite clear, and the assumptions used are quite obvious to the grader when grading. That is, it is the student's responsibility to present his/her work so clearly that the grader can quickly ascertain the location and nature of the error(s) and can easily follow the subsequent work through to the now incorrect solution of the problem. Thus, the student's contribution, needed to obtain partial credit, is to be able to clearly lead the grader through the student's thought process on the exam page alone. If this is not quite clear on the work submitted, credit will not be given then nor later.Partial credit is simply not negotiable.

Attendance

Attendance is required.

Calendar

Additional Information

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