Physics 105 Class information
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Instructor: Frederick Bingham, Contact information, Schedule and office hours
Assignments
Required text: Inquiry into Physics, 6th ed., Ostdiek and Bord (Amazon)
Lab Syllabus
Unit Conversion Page
Syllabus Contents
o Exams
o About this Course
o Prerequisites
o Evaluation of your work
o Opinion Piece Assignment
o Attendance Policy
o Class Behavioral Expectations
o Academic Honesty
o Disability Information
Exams
Exam 1
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Thursday January 29
Sample Exam
Exam 2
In-class exams
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Tuesday February 24
Sample Exam
Exam 3
Final exam
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Thursday March 26*
Sample Exam
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Thursday, April 30, 3:00 -6:00 PM
Sample Exam
* Note: Opinion piece assignment (if attempted) also due this day. See below.
Course Description
PHY 105. Introductory Physics (4) Survey of topics in physics for non-science majors
covering the fundamentals of mechanics, heat, light, sound, and electricity and
magnetism, and their application. Three lecture and two laboratory hours each week.
About this Course
Physics is a vast and varied field that defies easy description. Physicists study sub-atomic
particles, galaxies and everything in between. In this course we take the view of studying
"everyday physics". That is, we will use some of the tools that physics gives us to study
and appreciate its role in our daily lives. We will gain knowledge of how common objects
or devices work, ramps, doors, light bulbs, bicycles, radios, musical instruments, cameras
and refrigerators for example. There is interesting and important physics in each of these
common items and many others that we encounter. The goal of the course is to get
students to understand how physics weaves itself into our daily lives. Physics, like any
science, is fundamentally about observation of the world around us. In this course we
take that principle seriously.
We will begin working through the textbook in chapter order. However, at the instructor's
discretion, we may skip certain sections, or stop and spend more time than necessary on
some subjects. We have no set agenda, or body of material that we have to cover before
the semester's end. At the end of the semester we will likely find ourselves near the end
of the textbook, but having skipped over some material along the way.
What this course is not:
- a comprehensive introduction to the subject. A true comprehensive introduction requires
at least two semesters. There are other courses available for that purpose.
- an introduction to the "great ideas" of the subject. We will not be discussing in any
detail subjects like relativity, cosmology, the big bang, wave-particle duality, quantum
mechanics, etc. Again, there are other courses suitable for this.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: These learning objectives satisfy the Common Student
Learning Outcomes of University Studies for Scientific Approaches to the Natural World
as listed below.
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles, theories, and
laws of physics through the description of physical systems and understanding of the
physical environment in terms of the concepts listed in the course content. [SAN 1]
2. Students will demonstrate basic experimental skills by setting up laboratory
equipment safely and efficiently, plan and carry out experimental procedures, and report
verbally and in written language the results of the experiment. [SAN 2]
3. Students will demonstrate basic communication skills by working in groups on
laboratory experiments and the thoughtful discussion and interpretation of their results
and observations. [SAN 3]
University Studies – Scientific Approaches to the Natural World
SAN 1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic scientific principles, theories, and laws as
well as an awareness of the changing nature of science.
SAN 2. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate scientific hypotheses and theories using rigorous
methods (including statistical and mathematical techniques).
SAN 3. Demonstrate the ability to write and speak critically about the essential questions
addressed by the natural sciences, using the conventions and language of one of those
disciplines.
Prerequisites
None. Some of the calculations we will do require basic high school math, mainly
algebra, and competence with a hand-held calculator. Physics is an inherently
quantitative subject. We will try to avoid complicated mathematics in this course, but
some use of simple math is inevitable. You need to have a scientific calculator for your
own use, a Texas Instruments TI-30-family or similar model is best. Graphing calculators
(e.g. TI-83) are not recommended.
Evaluation of your work
Evaluation of your work in this course consists of four components.
1. Three mid-term exams and one comprehensive final. (70%) The exam dates are shown
above* @. The final will be in two parts, one part including material covered between
exam 3 and the end of the semester (exam 4), and another part, which will include
material from the entire semester. You will get separate grades for the different parts of
the final. I will average the best four of your five scores and use this average to determine
your final grade%. Exams will be partially open book. You must bring your textbook,
and a calculator, and you may also bring any handwritten notes that you may have taken
in or out of class. You may not bring any other textbooks, study guides, sample exams,
lab manuals, class handouts, or other material not specifically listed here into the exams.
No laptop computers, cell phones, PDA's or other networked electronic devices are
permitted in any exam.
2. Quizzes and homework(15%). You will be given periodic in-class closed-book
quizzes.# The purpose of these is to make sure you are doing the reading and following
along with the course material. Most quizzes will be given during lab periods. You will
be informed ahead of time what material you need to know for an upcoming quiz. There
will be ungraded homework assigned along with each chapter of reading in the textbook.
There may also be graded homework assignments given out in class. Homework will be
graded in a manner similar to quizzes.
3. Lab performance (15%). Satisfactory lab performance is an important part of this
course. At the end of the semester there will be a separate tally of your performance in
lab which will be factored into your final grade. Lab grades will not be considered for
students who would otherwise make an F in the course.
4. Attendance (extra credit). Because I believe that attending class is an important part of
learning a difficult subject like physics, I will take attendance and give extra credit to
those students that attend class on a regular basis. In order to avoid the tedium of taking
attendance at every class, I will take attendance at 10 classes selected at random
throughout the semester. Those students that have zero or one absence will have their
grade raised by one third of a grade level (e.g. from a B- to a B). This is extra credit. You
will be counted as absent even if you have a good reason for not attending. This extra
credit will not apply to students who would otherwise make an F in the course.
*A note on make-up exams: You are expected to take exams at the scheduled times.
Exceptions to this will only be considered if there is a university-sponsored event which
you are required to attend. In order to be considered for this kind of exception, I will need
a written note from the professor or other person in charge at least one week before the
scheduled exam. Medical or other emergency excuses must be accompanied by some
form of documentation, like a note from a doctor.
@UNCW's final examination policy is published in the current undergraduate catalog. I
will be adhering strictly to this policy with regards to students with three or more exams
scheduled on the same day.
#Policy on missed quizzes and homework: Quizzes are given and collected in class or
lab. Homework is collected in class on the due date. You may not make up a quiz or
homework assignment. If you are not present to take a particular quiz or do not hand in a
homework you will be given a zero grade for it. I will automatically excuse one untaken
quiz or homework assignment. If for some reason you miss more than that, you will need
to provide me with a written explanation for every missed quiz or homework. Excusing
you from any assignment or quiz is at the instructor's discretion.
Optional Opinion Piece Assignment
This assignment is optional.
Write a 2-3 page (500-800 word) opinion piece on some important issue of the day. The
issue must be something where physics or the physical understanding is an important part
of the debate. Issues include, but are not limited to: nuclear proliferation, auto safety,
nuclear waste disposal, strategic defense, global warming, hurricane preparedness, the
teaching of evolution, light and/or noise pollution, energy efficiency, etc.
The piece should be suitable for publication in the op-ed section of a newspaper such as
the Wilmington Star-News, or New York Times. It should express a clear opinion about
some issue, incorporating physics into the reasoning. You may express any opinion you
like, as long as it is grounded in physics or the physical understanding of nature and
cogently discussed. As such a piece, it does not need to have references or footnotes.
However, the science in the piece should be correct. Also, you need to give the piece a
title that summarizes your opinion succinctly and an opening paragraph that clearly
outlines the issue and your opinion about it.
We will schedule a time during the semester to discuss this assignment in more detail.
You can get some tips on writing op-eds here, or here.
Your opinion piece, if you wish to hand one in, is due in class on the same day as the
third in-class exam.
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is encouraged but not required (see item 4 above). Note, there is a
different attendance policy for labs. See lab syllabus for details.
Academic Honesty
All work in this course must be done in compliance with the UNCW academic honor
code, which is published in section V of the UNCW Code of Student Life. See the
Learning Community common syllabus for details.
Class Behavioral Expectations
The following simple rules constitute a minimum of expected behavior in class and
*will* be enforced. Violation may result in your being asked to leave the class for the
day, and given an absence. Note: there are some more detailed behavioral expectations
with regards to labs. See the lab syllabus for more information.
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No cell phones, laptops, or other networked electronic devices in class without the
permission of the instructor.
No side conversations unrelated to the class as these are annoying and disruptive.
Questions related to the class material are welcome at any time. Questions
intended to distract, annoy or sidetrack are not.
No food in the classroom. Drinks are OK if consumed unobtrusively.