SYLLABUS (Updated 12-27-10)

PHY 110 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS
Instructor: Dr. Henry ( henryh1@nku.edu )
Web Page: http://www.nku.edu/~henryh1/
Office: SC 453 Phone: 572-5309
(Do not leave Voice Mail Message; E-Mail instead)

Texts:

(INQUIRY INTO) PHYSICS (2010-2011 Ed), Vern J Ostdiek, Donald J Bord (5th or 6th Editions may also be used)
LABORATORY MANUAL:  available for download on Blackboard. Students will need to acquire graph paper, 10x10 per inch (or finer).

Definition and Goals: Physics is an evolving science that deals with the fundamental rules of nature, thus it is the basic natural science.

We will study the techniques and methods that make science unique, as illustrated by physics. Emphasis is placed on basic physics principles and their relevance to everyday activities; building an appreciation of how science - particularly physics - is a part of our lives; applications of the techniques of science to everyday activities; and discovering the fun and enjoyment that comes from doing and understanding science.

Students are introduced to some basic physics through lecture, audio/visual and internet aids, discussion, and demonstrations. Considerable time is spent on learning the language of physics. Students demonstrate their understanding through laboratory exercises and written examination.

Students who satisfactorily complete this course will have a basic understanding of the physical laws, which should laws help them better comprehend things they encounter at home and at work which are based on these laws. They should also have an understanding of the scientific method, as it applies to practical troubleshooting at home and at work. This knowledge will improve performance in a variety of disciplines.

Requirements: Included are attendance, participation in activities, homework, laboratory exercises, quizzes, a midterm exam, and a final exam.

Attendance and Participation: Students have freely chosen this course and should be in attendance. Absences may be excused at the discretion of the instructor. Students who are tardy -- ie, who arrive after roll is taken or leave before the end of class -- will receive only half-credit for attendance. Students will not be graded explicitly on attendance and participation, but students whose attendance is 90% or more will be allowed one excused lab absence with full credit. Students are here to learn; persons engaging in disruptive behavior in class will be asked to leave and may be subject to other penalties if the behavior continues.

Homework: Homework will include reading the text ahead of time (see schedule below), and completing the odd-numbered problems at the end of each chapter. The homework problems on each topic will normally be discussed in class at the beginning of the session following the lecture on that topic. Occasionally some or all of the following will be assigned: topics for discussion, problems from other sources, and take home experiments. Homework will normally not be collected, so students can study for quizzes.

Lab Reports: Students will be divided into lab groups of 3-6 persons. Unless otherwise noted by the instructor, each group is to complete a lab report personally signed by each member of the group at the end of each laboratory session. The lab grade is normally a "participation grade," and for this reason each report must be reviewed by the instructor prior to submission, to ensure that the laboratory exercise has been completed correctly. Students who are not present for the entire lab period may receive only partial credit.

Quizzes: A 55 min chapter quiz is given at the end of each chapter unless otherwise noted by the instructor. Absences result in a ZERO unless previous arrangements are made with instructor, or in the case of a "dire emergency" (as determined by the instructor). Students are permitted to bring a copy of the "Summary of Important Equations" provided in the lecture notes, and a copy of the "Table of Conversion Factors" inside the back cover of the text.

The third quiz will be a Midterm Exam covering chapters 1-3. In calculating the student's final grade, the Midterm grade will replace the grade on either or both of the first two chapter quizzes if the midterm grade is higher than either or both of those quiz grades.

Final Exam: A comprehensive Final Exam is given at the end of the semester, covering all material (except parts of chapters 1-3). Students are responsible for knowing the time and date of exam, which will be according to the exam schedule published by NKU; absences will result in a ZERO (except in the case of a "dire emergency," as determined by the instructor). Students may bring the same materials allowed for quizzes to the Final Exam. In calculating the student's final grade, the Final Exam grade will replace the grade on any or all of the chapter quizzes taken since the midterm if the Final Exam grade is higher than any or all of those quiz grades.

Quizzes, the Midterm Exam, and/or the Final Exam are usually required to be taken on line.

Make-Ups: Any requests for make-up quizzes and/or exams will be considered only in cases agreed by the instructor to be an unforeseen emergency. Since there are two lab sections, labs may be made up only by coming to the other session (with the knowledge and consent of the instructor); excused absences are rare, only in case of very special circumstances at the discretion of the instructor.

Grades: Each student's performance is evaluated according to the following weights.

Chapter Quizzes, 28%
Midterm Exam, 27%
Final Exam, 35%
Laboratory Reports, 10%

Grading scale: 100 - A - 90 - B - 80 - C - 70 - D - 60 - F - 0

Proportional adjustments will be made for "+" and "-" grades. Grades may be "curved" at the instructor's discretion. Attendance and overall class performance may be taken into account in assigning final grades for "borderline" students.

Students will be given the opportunity to do extra credit projects at the discretion of the instructor; these projects may add a maximum of 5 points to the student's final grade as calculated above.

All quizzes and exams will be timed. If a student exceeds the time limit by more than 59 seconds on the Midterm and Final Exams, one point will be deducted from the test grade for every full overtime minute; similar point deductions may be taken from quiz grades if the overtime is excessive (in the instructor's opinion).

Some quizzes and/or exams are proctored and other quizzes and/or exams are taken without supervision. If the student's grades on the unsupervised quizzes and/or exams is significantly higher than his/her grades on the proctored quizzes and/or exams, the instructor reserves the right to calculate the student's final grade based only on the proctored quizzes and/or exams, replacing unsupervised quiz grades before the Midterm with the grade on the proctored Midterm, and replacing unsupervised quiz grades after the Midterm with the grade on the proctored Final.

Mid-Term Grades

• Mid-term grades will be issued ONLY to students who have successfully completed FEWER than 30 semester hours (those designated FR1 or FR2 on class rosters).
• Students will be able to access mid-term grades through Norse Express for Students as soon as faculty submit grades (see the Published Schedule of Classes).
• Students who receive a "D" or "F" mid-term grade will receive a warning letter from the Provost.
• Mid-term grades are NOT a part of students' 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.

Students are responsible to know the last day to drop this course with a grade of "W"

Readings: The material covered by this course is outlined by the weekly readings assigned below. Students are responsible for reading this material before it is covered in the lectures. (NOTE: every week in the Summer Session is approximately equivalent to 3 weeks in the schedule below.)

Weeks 1-2, Chapter 1, Motion
Weeks 3-4, Chapter 2, Newton's Laws
Weeks 5-6, Chapter 3, Energy and Conservation Laws
Weeks 7-8, Chapter 4, Physics of Matter
Weeks 8-9, Chapter 5, Temperature and Heat
Weeks 9-10, Chapter 6, Waves, Sound, and Ultrasound (Sections 6.1-6.3)
Week 11, Chapter 7, Electricity (Except Static Electricity)
Week 12, Chapter 8, Electromagnetism and EM Waves (Sections 8.1-8.3, 8.5)
Week 13, Chapter 10, Atomic Physics (Sections 10.1-10.2, 10.4-10.6)
Week 14, Chapter 11, Nuclear Physics (Sections 11.1-11.4) and Radiological Physics
Week 15, Chapter 12 Special Relativity (Section 12.1) and Cosmology

Depending on the field of concentration of the majority of the class, Chapter 9 (Light, Sections 9.1-9.3 & 9.7) may be substituted for one or more of the above topics.

Changes on this syllabus may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Any modifications made during the semester will be announced in class in advance of the effective date(s).

Students are responsible to read and understand all items on this syllabus before the first class. Any items not understood must be brought to the attention of the instructor within the first two weeks of class. THE SYLLABUS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED OR DISCUSSED IN CLASS, EXCEPT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

Blackboard Online System: STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO CHECK BLACKBOARD AT LEAST WEEKLY for assignments and to download and print lab experiments. Class lectures and solutions to even-numbered problems are also posted on Blackboard.

Honor Code: The work in this course is subject to the Student Honor Code. The Honor Code is a commitment to the highest degree of ethical integrity in academic conduct, a commitment that, individually and collectively, the students of Northern Kentucky University will not lie, cheat, or plagiarize to gain an academic advantage over fellow students or avoid academic requirements.

Students with Disabilities: This class seeks to comply with NKU's policies in regard to Students with Disabilities, as stated in NKU's Disability Services Website

Foundation of Knowledge General Education Program, Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry Category (Natural Science area):

This course supports two of the five program goals stated in the mission of the General Education Program: (Goal A) Critical Thinking and (Goal D) Science and Technology. The following Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s) will be assessed:
A.3. Students develop evidence-based arguments.
D.1. Students apply scientific and quantitative reasoning through problem solving or experimentation, and effectively communicate results through scientific, analytical and/or quantitative methods.
D.2. Students identify major concepts of science behind technological innovations or applications in our daily lives.
D.3. Students distinguish between scientific and non-science explanations by employing scientific methods.

This assessment is to be used for the General Education Program at NKU.  The assessment will be based on one or more selected elements taken from any of the grading areas given by X’s in the above table.  For example, A3 may be assessed by using only part of one lab assessment, or it may be assessed using just one question from a homework assignment or quiz.  The assessments of these elements will always make use of rubrics approved for the above SLO’s.  Statistical data on the level of student proficiency will be collected along with representative samples of results from student work at various levels of proficiency.

Online Instructor and Course Evaluations: Northern Kentucky University takes Instructor and Course Evaluations very seriously as an important means of gathering information for the enhancement of learning opportunities for its students. It is an important responsibility of NKU students as citizens of the University to participate in the instructor and course evaluation process. During the two weeks* prior to the end of each semester classes, you will be asked to reflect upon what you have learned in this course, the extent to which you have invested the necessary effort to maximize your learning, and the role your instructor has played in the learning process. It is very important that you complete the online evaluations with thoughtfully written comments. 

Student evaluations of courses and instructors are regarded as strictly confidential. They are not available to the instructor until after final grades are submitted, and extensive precautions are taken to prevent your comments from being identified as coming from you.

Starting Spring semester 2011, the students who complete an evaluation for a particular course (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) will be rewarded for their participation by having access to their course grade as soon as that grade is submitted by the instructor.  On the other hand, any student who does not complete the course evaluation (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) should expect to incur a two week delay in  access to his or her course grade beyond the university's official date for grade availability.

To complete online evaluations go to http://eval.nku.edu/. Click on "student login" and use the same USERNAME and PASSWORD as used on campus.