Principles of Physics I Syllabus for 2015-2016
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

PHYS-2425-001 Principles of Physics I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Lecture: Physics for Scientists and Engineers 9th edition, Serway & Jewitt (hardcopy optional, WebAssign includes an ebook copy).

Lab: Laboratory Manual for PHYS 1401/2425, will be available on Blackboard.

Homework: You will need to get a code for WebAssign.net. This is available at the student bookstore, or direct from the site online.

Supplies

Calculator: You will need a calculator that is not your phone that can handle scientific notation, exponents, and trigonometric functions.

Computer: WebAssign uses Flash, and won’t work on most mob

Student Performance

After completing the lecture of this course, students should be able to:

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.  Describe the components of a wave and relate those components to mechanical vibrations, sound, and decibel level.

   After completing the lab part of the course, students should be able to:

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 source 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

The lecture meetings will include class discussion and some activities, so students will not be expected to sit quietly the entire time.  Students will be expected to exercise good judgement regarding when to speak and when to listen, however, both with Dr. Van Domelen and their fellow students.

To avoid disruption and potential embarrassment, please silence all electronic devices.  Outside of quizzes and exams, portable electronics will be allowed.  However, unless they are part of an assistive system (see Disability Services if in doubt), please remove any earpieces or headphones.

Academic dishonesty will at a minimum be punished by a score of zero on the relevant task.  This includes cheating on exams, and turning in lab reports for a lab that was not actually attended.  (The online homework is harder to cheat than to just do honestly, but please do not take this as a challenge.)  Additional sanctions at the College level may be applied if the situation merits.

 

Grading Criteria

          Exam 1 and Exam 2 will each be worth 15% of the final grade, Exam 3 will be somewhat longer and will be worth 20% of the final grade.

          Lab reports will make up 20% of total grade.  The lowest lab report score will be dropped, and a student with no unexcused absences will get a bonus equal to an extra perfect lab score added to their grade.

          Quizzes will make up 15% of the total grade.  No quiz grades will be dropped, but Quiz 0 will be counted as extra credit.

          Homework will make up the remaining 15% of the final grade.  No homework scores will be dropped, and you may not go back and redo homework after the due date.

          The harshest grading scale that will be applied will be as follows: 89.5% = A, 79.5% = B, 69.5% = C, 59.5% = D.  Dr. Van Domelen reserves the right to adjust the curve to be more forgiving, but will not make it harsher.  The final analysis will consider the grades of all students: a few very high scores will not prevent a relaxing of the curve if most of the class struggled.

Attendance

Student attendance in lecture and lab is expected. The fast pace of a summer course means that it will be very hard to recover from missed classes, so make a particular effort to be in attendance.

If a student has what Dr. Van Domelen considers to be a reasonable excuse for missing lab, it will not be counted against the "perfect attendance" bonus.

Calendar

Additional Information

Topics may need to shift slightly, as this is the first time Dr. Van Domelen has tried to fit this 15 week course into 6 weeks, but quizzes and exams will never cover material lectured about on the same day as the test.