General Physics I (PHYS 2114 ) Course Syllabus
Dr. Daniel Bullock
Email: dbullock@atu.edu
Phone: 479.968.0230
WHEN: 9:30AM-10:50AM T-Th
WHERE: McEver 152
COURSE INFORMATION: General course information can be found on the course
website. The website can be found at pls.atu.edu/physic/people/bullock. Follow the link
titled: "Teaching". Finally click on the link for General Physics 1.
COURSE MATERIALS: The textbook we are using is titled, "Fundamentals of
Physics" by Halliday/Resnick/Walker. Additionally, each student will need to purchase
an Interwrite-PRS transmitter from the bookstore.
CLASSROOM RULES: Each student is expected to show mutual respect for one
another. Most food and drinks are allowed however food that has a definite odor is NOT
allowed (e.g. hamburgers, fries, tacos, etc.). Children are not allowed in class. If a
student has any questions they should ask the instructor.
OFFICE HOURS: My office is located in McEver 03. Phone: 479.968.0230 I have an
"open door policy" meaning that anytime I am in my office you can stop by for help. My
designated office hours are Monday through Friday 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM.
CO/PRE-REQUISITES: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2000 is required. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 2924 (Calculus I).
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Fall. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2000 is required.
Pre- or co-requisite: MATH 2924. Introductory mechanics, heat and thermodynamics,
kinetic theory, and sound. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours. $10 laboratory fee.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this introductory physics course are:
 Provide the student with a clear and logical presentation of the basic concepts and
principles of physics.
 Strengthen an understanding of the concepts and principles through a broad range
of the interesting applications to the real world.
This course attempts to motivate students by presenting practical applications that
demonstrates the importance of physics for other disciplines. The course will cover
fifteen chapters from the text. Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the different kinds of units, dimensional
analysis.
 Solve both one and two-dimensional Kinematics problems.
 Understand and apply Newton's three laws of motion.
 Demonstrate knowledge of work, kinetic energy, and potential energy.
 Solve linear momentum and collision problems.
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Demonstrate knowledge of rotational motion.
Understand and apply knowledge of harmonic oscillators.
Solve problems based on fluid dynamics.
GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES: Students who consider this course to
complete one of their science requirements of the General Education courses, will receive
a more detailed coverage of some of the concepts of physics. This course will particularly
help students to "show competence in reasoning and handling of abstract and quantitative
ideas and be able to create mathematical models and use mathematical techniques to
solve the problems which they encounter."
IN-CLASS QUIZZING: In an effort to engage the class during the lecture period, each
student will be expected to participate in class. This will be accomplished both by inclass quizzing and each student being called on to answer questions during the lecture.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: Each student will be expected to solve the assigned
homework problems on his/her own time. Some of the homework problems will be used
as examples in class and regular help sessions will be scheduled during the semester to
accommodate the majority of students. Additionally, students should come by my office
and ask for help if they are having problems with the homework assignments. Generally,
weekly homework assignments will be assigned on Monday and turned in electronically
on Friday at the beginning of class.
EXAMS: There will be four exams during the semester. Each exam will be a closed book
exam. No notes or equation cards/sheets will be allowed. Additionally, programmable
calculators will NOT be allowed, this rule will be strictly enforced. Each student is
responsible for pre-approving his or her calculator with the instructor BEFORE each
exam. Each exam will count toward your overall course grade.
LAB: Each student is required to attend the weekly labs (according to your schedule).
The lab reports and quizzes in the lab will count 25% toward your overall course grade.
GRADING: The grading for the lecture portion of this course is very unique. It is each
student's responsibility to understand the grading scheme. If there are any questions you
should ask the instructor. There are THREE grading schemes for the course:
SCHEME 1: 0-100. In SCHEME 1 0%of the lecture grade will come from the inclass quizzing/participation, and 100% will come from the exams.
SCHEME 2: 50-50: In SCHEME 2 50% of the lecture grade will come from your
in-class quiz questions and 50% will come from your exam average.
SCHEME 3: 70-30. In SCHEME 3 70% of your lecture grade will come from the
in-class quizzing/participation, and 30% will come from the exams.
Your lecture grade will be determined from the HIGHEST of the three schemes.
****NOTE: The lecture grade accounts for only 75% of your overall course grade, the
other 25% comes from your lab grade.
The overall course grade will be as follows:
A : 100-90%
B: 89.999-80%
C: 79.999-70%
D: 69.999-60%
F: 59.999-0%
So how do you calculate your grade? As an example let’s look at Jane Doe. Jane Doe
scored a 89% with SCHEME 1 and a 92% with SCHEME 2. Also, Jane’s lab grade was a
80%. To calculate Jane’s course grade we first choose her highest grade from the two
grading schemes. In this example she would receive a 92% from SCHEME 2. Since the
lecture portion of the grade is worth 75% of her overall course grade we must now
multiply 75% by her lecture grade (0.75 X 92% = 69%). Now we must multiply her lab
grade by 25% (0.25 X 80% = 20%). So Jane’s overall course grade will be the sum of the
two weight grades (weighted lecture grade + weighted lab grade = overall course grade:
69% + 20% = 89%). So our friend Jane has earned a letter grade of B in her class.
Finally, the instructor reserves the right to adjust the grading scale as he sees fit.
POLICY ON ABSENCES AND CHEATING: Any absence will be excused if the
student presents the instructor with a letter from the doctor (NOTE: This letter must
contain the doctor's contact information). If an absence has occurred due to a death in the
family the student must present the instructor with a copy of the obituary. If a student
misses class because he/she is attending a professional school related meeting, the student
must present the instructor with a program from the meeting. Any student caught
cheating will be reported to the appropriate University authorities.
COURSE CONTENT:
Basic units of Mass, Length, and Time
One-Dimensional Kinematics
Vectors
Two-Dimensional Kinematics
TEST #1
Rotational Kinematics and Energy
Rotational Dynamics and Static
Equilibrium
Gravity
Oscillations About Equilibrium
TEST #3
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Applications of Newton’s Laws
Work and Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy and Conservative Forces
Momentum and Collisions
TEST #2
Waves and Sound
Fluids
Temperature and Heat
Phases and Phase Changes
The Laws of Thermodynamics
TEST #4
SUMMARY: This syllabus is meant to be a guideline for the course and the instructor
reserves the right to make modifications as he sees fit.
This course will be a challenge but I guarantee that if you do the work you will learn
some fascinating material. I look forward to having each of you as my student! GOOD
LUCK!