PHYSICS 211-003 GENERAL PHYSICS I WITH LAB

Fall 2004 Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Shamanthi Fernando                       

Dept: Physics and Geology
Office: Science Center 145
Phone:572-6519
E-Mail: fernando@nku.edu
Studio Physics home page : http://physics.nku.edu/new/studiophysics.htm

My Home page : http://www.nku.edu/~fernando/

OFFICE HOURS:

MWF: 9-10.00 am. H: 2-3.00pm
 

LECTURE TIME AND LOCATION:

MWF 10-11.50 am at SC 127.

CREDIT HOURS:

5.00

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES:

Non-calculus introduction to classical physics using guided inquiry activities. Topics include kinematics, forces and Newton’Äôs laws of motion, circular motion, work and energy, momentum, rotational motion, static equilibrium and fluids. Assumes knowledge of algebra and basic trigonometry

 A general studies course (natural science). PREREQ: One semester of college level mathematics or equivalent.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Text (required): Physics by Cutnell and Johnson fifth edition


 OBJECTIVE:

 

Objective is to achieve a good understanding of basic concepts and to be able to apply these concepts to a variety of physical situations. Students will acquire skills in scientific methods, critical reasoning and problem solving. In PHY 211 we will focus on Mechanics and Fluids.

 

You are required to read the appropriate chapters before coming to class.

 

 

SCHEDULE: The topics will be covered in the following order.

 

Chapter

Topic

1-9

Mechanics

11

Fluids

ATTENDANCE:

You are expected to attend all lectures and labs and to participate in classroom discussions. Excessive absences will reduce your grade.

GRADING POLICY


Your grade will be judged on your performance in Home work, Quizzes, three tests and the Laboratory. Points will be allocated to each of these in the following manner:

GRADING SCALE:

Grade Component

Weight

HW/Quizzes

15

Labs

10

3 test grades @25% each

75

Total

100

 

GRADE WEIGHTS

Total points

Your Grade cannot be lower than

90% or more

A

80% or more

B

70% or more

C

60% or more

C

50% or more

D

 

Important Notice for First year students

First year students will receive mid-term assessments of their performance.

¬…  Mid-term grades will be issued only to students who have successfully completed fewer than 30 semester hours;

¬…  Students will be able to access mid-term grades through Norse Express as soon as faculty submit the grades;

¬…  Mid-term grades are not part of student's permanent records; they will be replaced by final class grades when these are submitted;

¬…  Mid-term grades do not guarantee a good or bad class grade; they reflect a current level of performance that can be altered by the quality of subsequent work.

¬…  Mid term grades will be given on October 30th.

HOMEWORK:

Suggested Homework problems will be assigned from the text book and other sources. It is important to work physics problems to obtain a good understanding of the Material covered. You are required to hand over all the homework problems. The due date will be announced in the class. No late homework problems are accepted. Two problems out of each homework set will be graded. It is important that you show the work in an organized manner clearly showing the final answer with appropriate units. Each home work set will be given 10 points.

QUIZZES:

A quiz will be given Wed’Äôs of every week. It will be on the material covered in the previous week. Each quiz will be graded out of 10 points. The total points for Homework and Quizzes will account for 15% of the final grade of this course.

PROJECT/REVIEW ARTICLE

You will be asked to write an review article on a topic related to what you learn in this course. This can be done towards the end of the semester. The score of this article would be equivalent to two lab reports. You are required to give a brief presentation on your article at the end of the semester. The date will be announced.

EXAMS:

Exams are closed book and notes. The exam dates are set, but the topic ranges may change. Typically, the material for an exam will be completed one week before the exam. Students are expected to know some basic expressions or equations used in Physics. Exams will consists of problems and questions similar to suggested homework problems, examples from text, and problems and questions discussed in the lecture. There are no make up exams unless I decide your reason for missing is acceptable. If you miss an exam, you get a zero. The first two tests will be held during the class hours on the given date. The final exam will be held on the dates given for each section. Following are the tentative schedule.

 

Test

Date

Chapters covered

1

Sep 29th

1-4

2

Nov 1oth

5-7

Final

Dec. 15th 10.10 ’Äì12.10 pm

Comprehensive

LABORATORY

General Physics 211 accompanies a weekly laboratory. Experiments are based on the material covered in the lecture. The handouts for the labs will be given to you during the semester by the instructor. The total points earned in labs would account for 10% of the grade in this course.

 

BLACK BOARD:

All the material related to the course will be posted in  the blackboard. This include solutions to each chapter, homework assignments, grades etc.

 

WITHDRAWAL

The last date to withdraw from a course without a grade appearing in your transcript is September 11th. The last date to withdraw with a "W" appearing in your transcript is October 30th.

 

SUGGESTIONS FOR DOING WELL IN GENERAL PHYSICS

STUDY HINTS


1). Form a study group.
2).Read the entire chapter quickly to obtain the main ideas and concepts.
3).Attend the lectures: ask questions in class or after class.
4). Re read each section of the chapter slowly trying to understand each idea the author presents.
5). Work through all sample problems in the text and all examples given in class.
6). Read and understand the Review and Summary at the end of the chapter. Try to memorize the equations in the summary.
7). Write your own review notes with all the facts and equations you need to solve problems. Update your notes as needed while solving the problems.
8). Work on the assigned problems.
9).If help is needed, ask for help from the instructor or ask help from a tutor at the Learning Assistance center.
10). Discuss the problems in your study group. Write solutions for each problem. Make sure each member of the study group understands the solutions.
11). Do not get behind on the scheduled material and problems. Try to spend time, at least every other day, studying physics and working problems.

HINTS FOR TAKING EXAMS

  1. Before the exam

    1).Review the summary in the text, your class notes and your review notes.
    2).Study all examples done in class
    3) Study all sample problems in the text.(try solving the problems with the solution covered)
    4).Study all assigned problems
    5). Try taking a sample exam. Pick several sample problems or assigned problems and try to solve each problem with no aids, in a time of 20 minutes or less.
    6).Attend any exam review sessions.

    B. During the Exam

    1)First read each exam problem.
    2)Begin with the problem you find the easiest.
    3)Write neatly. Draw a diagram. Show all work.
    4)If unable to solve one part of a problem, go to the next part.
    5)Check the units of your answer. Check that your answer makes sense. Make sure all items requested are answered.
    6)Allocate enough time for each problem. If stuck on one problem go to the next problem and return to where you got stuck later.
    7)If time is available, recheck each problem before submitting the exam.

 

 

COMMENTS:

I reserve the right to change any of the above due to any unforeseen reason. If you don't understand any part of this syllabus, ask for clarification during the first week of the classes.
Furthermore, if you have any questions about the course material don't hesitate to come to see me. If you follow the study hints I have given you above, the chances of you becoming successful in this course is high. But most importantly, if you have any questions, ASK!. Don't wait till the last moment to cover the entire syllabus. Remember, do LOTS OF PROBLEMS!!. Good luck and hope you will enjoy this course.