PES 100 – Physics in Everyday Life - Spring 2009
MW 10:50-12:05 COB #128
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Robert G. Gist
Office and Hours: ENGR 244, (MT 12:30-1:30)
UCCS e-mail: rgist@uccs.edu
Web Site: http://www.uccs.edu/~rgist
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite: None
Text: Physics of Everyday Phenomena, 5th edition,
by W. Thomas Griffith.
Course Description: A non-mathematical
overview of physics and how it affects our
everyday life. Topics to be included are
balancing and equilibrium, tornadoes,
weather patterns, circus balancing acts,
air conditioners, musical instruments and
other interesting applications of physics.
Recommended for students with no science or
mathematics background.
Attendance: Attendance will not be monitored. It is each student’s responsibility to cover any
material due to missed lectures. Call 255-3346 for school closure information.
Evaluation: Your knowledge retention will be evaluated four times during the semester.
Three evaluations will be mid-term and the fourth will be during the final exam period.
Each evaluation counts as 25% of your grade. I will give you at least a week’s notice as to
the exact date of the evaluation as well as the material for which you will be responsible.
To account for emergencies, I’ll drop the lowest exam grade.
Evaluation Options: Three options will be offered for each evaluation: (1) a traditional, inclass, multiple choice exam (Scantron form required); (2) an at-home problem set to be
turned in on exam day; or (3) an essay describing and applying principles from class. You
may choose a single option, or you may do more than one option. If more than one option
is chosen, the points will be combined, up to a maximum of 100% for that evaluation.
Grades: Your overall class grade will be the average of your best three of the four evaluations
given. The letter grade ranges are posted on my website. Ranges include +’s and –‘s.
Questions, comments: It is my hope that you will feel comfortable asking questions in class.
Chances are that if you are unsure about some topic, there are others who have a similar
question. I would like the class to be as interactive as possible. If you have relevant
experience with a subject, please feel free to share comments with the class.
Disabilities: Students with disabilities should provide their letters of certification and
accommodation within the first two weeks of class. Special accommodations for tests are
required a week prior to the scheduled exam date.
Calculators: Calculators will not be required for this course. Calculators will be allowed
during exams, if desired, and will be used for the optional at-home problem set evaluation
option.
Cell phones, classroom: Please show proper etiquette by turning cell phones to silent mode
and keeping conversation to a minimum during lecture. Please remain in the classroom
unless an emergency arises, since foot traffic in the class can be disruptive to other
students.
R. Gist
1
1/19/2009
PES 100 – Physics in Everyday Life - Spring 2009
MW 10:50-12:05 COB #128
Schedule (subject to change)
Date
21-Jan
26-Jan
28-Jan
2-Feb
4-Feb
9-Feb
11-Feb
16-Feb
18-Feb
23-Feb
25-Feb
2-Mar
4-Mar
9-Mar
11-Mar
16-Mar
18-Mar
23-Mar
25-Mar
30-Mar
1-Apr
6-Apr
8-Apr
13-Apr
15-Apr
20-Apr
22-Apr
27-Apr
29-Apr
4-May
6-May
18-May
R. Gist
Topic
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Wed
Mon
Ch 2: Describing Motion
Ch 3: Falling Objects and Proj. Motion
Ch 4: Newton's Laws: Explaining Motion
Ch 4: Newton's Laws: Explaining Motion
Ch 5: Circ. Motion, the Planets, and Gravity
Ch 6: Energy and Oscillations
Review
Evaluation #1
Ch 7: Momentum and Impulse
Ch 7: Momentum and Impulse
Ch 8: Rotational Motion of Solid Objects
Ch 8: Rotational Motion of Solid Objects
Ch 9: The Behavior of Fluids
Ch 10: Temperature and Heat
Review
Evaluation #2
Ch 12: Electostatic Phenomena
Spring Break
Spring Break
Ch 12: Electostatic Phenomena
Ch 13: Electric Circuits
Ch 14: Magnets and Electromagnetism
Ch 14: Magnets and Electromagnetism
Review
Evaluation #3
Ch 15: Making Waves
Ch 16: Light Waves and Color
Ch 16: Light Waves and Color
Ch 17: Light and Image Formation
Ch 20: Relativity
Review
Evaluation #4
2
1/19/2009