Fundamentals of Physics
PHY 105 Section 1/2
Summer 2008
Instructor:
Mr. Raymond ZichOffice: 310 Moulton Hall
Office hours: TW 10:00 — 11:00 am or by appointment
Email: zich@phy.ilstu.edu
Telephone:
438-7009Class Meetings: MTWR 11:00 am — 12:15 pm MLT 214
Labs: Section 2 MW 8:00 — 10:50 am MLT 217 (TA Mr. Ryan Rappa)
Texts: Physics a World View 6th Ed., Kirkpatrick and Francis, required
Experiments for Physics 105 Fundamentals of Physics, Stipes Publishing, required
Needed for class: scientific calculator
Overview:
In this course you will get an introduction to the topics and scope of physics. We will look at the concepts and applications of mechanics, heat waves. electricity and magnetism, and light. Examples of these topics in everyday life will be considered. Problem solving abilities and applications of physical concepts will be stressed in this class.
Format:
The class will consist of
Lecture, in which we will cover material from the text and supplemental material. The lectures will
include examples, demonstrations, videos, material from the Internet, and discussions. There will be occasional in-class quizzes or activities,
so reading the appropriate material before the lecture is strongly suggested, and will make the lectures more meaningful. Ipods, cell
phones, and laptop computers are a distraction, so, as a courtesy to others, please leave these devices off during class. During each
class period we will cover a lot of material, and some material presented will not be part of the textbook. I will occasionally make
announcements of changes to the class schedule or requirements in lecture. For these reasons attendance is required. If you miss a class
you cannot make up any exams, or in-class activities, and it is your responsibility to get class notes and announcements for that day.
and
Labs, in which you will complete and write up activities related to the course topics. There are eight laboratory activities,
plus other activities as announced.
Your attendance at lab is required, and you must bring your lab manual to do the the experiments.
Each lab must be completed during the week it is scheduled, in Moulton 217.
You may not submit a Lab report late or make up a missed lab. Labs for section 2 are MW 8:00 to 10:50 am.
Information on the labs and lab reports is available here.
Please straighten up your lab station when you are finished.
When no experimental laboratory activities are scheduled other activities such
as videos may be scheduled.
Grading:
There will be three exams and a comprehensive final exam. The lowest exam score of the first three will be dropped; however,
you must take the final exam. The final exam score will not be dropped. Missing two exams or the final is grounds for failing the course.
Each exam will be multiple choice and will cover material from the book, lectures, internet reading, and the homework. Questions will be split
between conceptual and math-based problems. Pay close attention to the examples, Tutorial Quizzes, and the end-of-chapter questions/problems.
Exams will be closed book and closed notes, but you may bring a 3" x 5" card with notes and formulae. No Ipods, cell phones, or devices other
than a calculator will be allowed during the exams. Exams (except the final) will generally be 50 minutes, and will be followed by lecture.
There will be homework assignments and Reading Quizzes that will be handled online through Mallard (see below). No Mallard activity scores will be dropped.
There will be unscheduled quizzes and activities in class.
There will be eight laboratory activities during the semester (and perhaps additional activities). Lab rooms are used for several courses, and the
equipment changes from week to week, so no makeups are allowed, but your lowest lab score will be dropped.
I do not assign letter grades to individual assignments or exams. Letter grades will be estimated for Academic Progress Alert (APA) grades, and
assigned at the end of the course according to the scale below.
There is no extra credit in this course.
Credit will be divided as follows:
|
Three one-hour exams |
40% |
|
Homework |
15% |
|
Labs |
15% |
|
In-class Activities |
10% |
|
Final |
20% |
|
A |
90 % and above |
|
B |
80 - 89.9 % |
|
C |
70 - 79.9 % |
|
D |
60 - 69.9 % |
|
F |
below 60 % |
|
Course Topics, Reading, and Activities |
||
|
Week |
Topic |
Lab/Activity |
|
May 19-22 |
Introduction to Physics |
|
|
Kinematics |
Secrets of the Psychics & Powers of Ten (W) |
|
|
May 26-29 |
Falling Bodies |
Memorial Day Holiday |
|
|
Newton's Laws |
M-8: Addition of Forces (W) |
|
June 2-5 |
Circular Motion & Gravity |
M-6: Newton's Second Law (M) |
|
|
Torque Exam 1 |
M-4: Acceleration Due to Gravity (W) |
|
June 9-12 |
Energy and Conservation |
Einstein's Universe (MW) |
|
June 16-19 |
Momentum and Impulse |
M-10: Velocity of Projectile (M) |
|
|
Waves Exam 2 |
M-14: Simple Harmonic Motion (W) |
|
June 23-26 |
Thermodynamics |
T-4: Specific Heat of Metal (M) |
|
|
Electrostatics |
|
|
June 30-July 3 |
Electric Circuits |
E-2: Ohm's Law (M) |
|
|
Magnetism Exam 3 |
O-2: Thin Lenses (W) |
|
July 7-10 |
Optics |
|
|
July 10 |
Final 11:00 am |
|
Mallard Activities:
The best way to learn physics is by working problems and answering questions. To this end you will be asked to complete homework assignments which will be handled online by Mallard. This is a Web-based educational system. You can do the work anytime and anywhere you have access to the network. Assignments will consist of at least five problems. You may work on each assignment up to five times, with the highest score earned counting as your homework/quiz score. The due dates for the Mallard assignments are listed on the Mallard Lessons Page next to the assignment. Start your Mallard assignments early, as I am not responsible for computer problems (server down, Resnet down, slow access or interruptions due to heavy use). To use Mallard, use the link to go to the PHY 105 Mallard site, and login using your ULID as your ID and your UID number as your initial password. Look for assignments on the Lessons Page. The due date for assignments will be shown next to the assignment.
Math tutorials:
These tutorials will give you some extra help in understanding and using some of the mathematical concepts used in this course.
Kenny Felder's Math and Physics Help
General policies:
A working knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry is expected. A scientific calculator is required for this class.
You are responsible for any material covered in class whether or not you are present. If you have questions or problems come see me during my office hours or
other times you can find me. If you read the associated text material before the lecture, and attempt (not just read) the
examples the homework will be much easier. If you have difficulty with understanding concepts or completing assignments come see me. You should expect to
spend a minimum of two hours outside studying for each hour of lecture.
You are adults in a college setting. Please exhibit good manners during class. Avoid coming to class late or leaving early. Please do not read newspapers,
etc., talk with others, or eat during class. Ipods, cell phones, and laptop computers are a distraction, so, as a courtesy to others, these (and similar)
devices must remain off during class. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated, and persons disturbing the learning environment will be asked to leave.
Any behavior that disrupts the class or detracts from the learning experience of your classmates may reduce your grade in the course. Repeated disruptions
or refusal to correct such behavior at the request of the instructor may result in serious reduction in your grade, even to the point of failure in the course.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Anyone found cheating will automatically receive a failing grade for
the course. Use of cell phones, ipods, or hand held computers during a test or quiz is cheating.
Tentative Class Schedule:
This is a tentative class schedule and significant deviations may occur as announced in class.