Houston Community College Central
COLLEGE PHYSICS1- 1401
(Lecture/Laboratory)
FALL 2012 Monday, Wednesday: 5:30- 8:30 p.m.
Rooms: 403, 407
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Dr. Serhiy Bobrovnyk
e-mail: serhiy.bobrovnyk@hccs.edu
Department office: 713-718-6050, leave a message
Office hours: I will be on campus for classes and will be available by prior arrangement
either before or immediately after class times.
Course description
Non –calculus based study of fundamental principles of physics including
mechanics and thermodynamics. Topics include motion and forces, work and
energy, momentum, and the thermal properties of matter. Also students will carry
out experiments which allow them to apply, verify and discover concepts and
laws of Physics. You will get practical knowledge and skills for a well–rounded
understanding of physics and the physicist’s way of looking at the Universe.
Goals
To develop a conceptual understanding of physics principles of Mechanics and
thermal properties of matter and experimental method of scientific investigation
and get the experience in the actual handing of laboratory apparatuses.
Student objectives
 Students should be able to apply the principles of Physics in real-world situations.
 Students should be able to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.
 Students should be able to develop experimental skills.
 Students should be able to develop skills to analyze obtained results involving
error analysis.
 Students should be able to develop investigative and observation skills.
 Students will be able to develop an appreciation for logical qualitative and
quantitative reasoning.
 Students should develop an appreciation of Physics Lab as a coherent body of
knowledge as a human accomplishment.
Textbooks


PHYSICS (8th Edition ) John D. Cutnell & Kenneth W. Johnson
ISBN: 0-471-66315-8. John Wiley &Sons, Inc.
CIOFFARRI’S EXPERIMENTS in College Physics by DEAN S. EDMONDS. JR.,
10th Edition
ISBN: 0-669-41830-7. Houghton Mifflin Company
Materials
Students are expected to bring scientific (graphic) calculator
Prerequisite knowledge: Students are expected to have sufficient knowledge of Geometry,
Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus
Testing:
You will be given 2 exams including Mid-term and Final Exam; these scores will be
recorded separately as individual test scores.
Quizzes:
The quizzes will be given every Monday at the beginning of the class.
Homework:
To pass College Physics1, you must do each and every homework assignment. In order
to fully grasp the Physics concepts and laws and build your problem-solving skills it is
crucially important that you practice. All homework assignments have to be submitted
every Monday at the beginning of the class. Late homework can not be accepted.
Free on-line tutor is available on website: http://hccs.askonline.net/
Class participation:
In-class problem solving and discussions are important parts of this course
In –Lab Activities:
In all Lab activities you will be working through a set of experiments, answering
questions on these experiments and then discussing these experiments with the class.
Your answers to the in-lab activities questions will be due the next Lab class.
Lab Homework reports:
You must prepare a Lab Homework report and hand it in at the beginning of the next
class. The report will be graded and returned as soon as possible. The report should
include:
1) A title page (Your name, the date, the name and number of experiment).
2) The instructions sheet (The description of the objectives, the theory, the
apparatus (equipment), and the procedure).
3) All original data and observations (You enter them in the blank data table
provided)
4) All the required calculations
5) Graphs and diagrams.
6) A summary and discussion of the results.
Grading Policy
300 points- Mid-term and Final (150 points each)
200 points- 8 Quizzes (25 points each)
110 points- 11 Homeworks (10 points each)
150 points- 30 class participations (5 points each)
120 points- 8 In-Lab activities (15 points each)
120 points- 8 Lab-reports (15 points each)
Total: 1000 scores
Your grade will be based on the percentage you have earned of the available points as
follows
2
A: 90-100 %
B: 80-89 %
C: 70-79 %
D: 60-69 %
F: less than 60%
Attendance Policy
The HCCS attendance policy is stated in the Student Handbook. “Students are expected to
attend classes regularly. Students are responsible for materials covered during their
absences, and it is the student's responsibility to consult with instructors for make-up
assignments. Class attendance is checked daily by instructors. Although it is the
responsibility of the student to drop a course for nonattendance, the instructor has full
authority to drop a student for excessive absences. A student may be dropped from a course
for excessive absences after the student has accumulated absences in excess of 12.5% of
the hours of instruction (lecture and lab).” Note that 12.5% is 4 classes for a 3 semester hour
course, such as this one, which meets for 1.5 hours two times each week. I understand that
sometimes special circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending the class and if
you are in this situation, please inform me about it. I will try to accommodate you as best as
possible but please be aware of the attendance policy.
Attendance, timeliness, and class participation are the 3 corner stones in the learning
process. Being late to Physics class is disrespectful to your classmates and your instructor.
Last Day for Administrative and Student Withdrawals
For this semester this date is November 2, 2012. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
DROP THIS COURSE IF YOU DECIDE YOU NO LONGER WISH TO TAKE IT. Please do
not rely on me or the college to drop you if you stop coming to class. If your name appears
on the final grade roster at the end of the semester, you will receive a grade.
I urge any student who is contemplating withdrawing from the class to talk to me first, as you
may be doing better than you think. Either way, it is in your best interest to talk with me first.
If you need assistance, I am here to help.
Disability Support Services (DSS)
ADA students in need of accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to report to the
Ability Services Department or call (713) 718-6164 to make necessary arrangements.
Faculty members may only provide accommodations that the Disability Support Services
Office requests.
Ability Services Department
LHSB Room 106
1300B Holman
Phone: 713-718-6164
Video Relay: 866-327-8877
Fax: 713-718-6179
equal.ed@hccs.edu
3
Class Schedule
COLLEGE PHYSICS1- 1401 (Lecture)
5:30-8:30 pm, Room 403 Monday
Date
Title
Chapt
er #
1
August 27
Introduction and mathematical concepts (pp.1-27)
September 10
Kinematics in one dimension (pp.28-58)
2
September 17
Kinematics in two dimensions (pp. 59-86)
3
September 24
Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion (pp.87-134)
4
October 1
Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion (pp.135-159)
5
October 8
Work and Energy (pp. 160-195)
6
October 15
Solving problems – Chapters- 5-6
October 22
Mid-term Exam
October 29
Impulse and Momentum (pp.196-222)
7
November 5
Rotational Kinematics (pp.223-247)
8
November 12
Rotational Dynamics (pp.248-285)
9
November 19
Fluids (pp.321-350)
11
November 26
Temperature and Heat (pp.360)
12
December 3
Review for Final Exam –Problem Solving
1-12
December 10
Final Exam
1-12
1-6
4
Class Schedule
COLLEGE PHYSICS1- 1401 (Laboratory 5:30-8:30 pm, Room 407 Wednesday)
Date
August 29
Title
Measurement of Length, Mass, Volume and Density
Lab #
1
September 5
Solving problems- Chapter 1
September 12
Solving problems- Chapter 2
September 19
Addition of Vectors, Equilibrium of particle
2
September 26
Friction
8
October 3
Solving problems- Dynamics- Chapters 3 and 4
October 10
Simple Machines and Principles of Work
October 17
Review for Mid-Term Exam-Problem Solving –
9
Chapters- 1-6
October 24
Equilibrium of Rigid Body
3
October 31
The Ballistic pendulum
6
November 7
Solving problems- Chapters 7-8
13
November 14
Archimedes Principle
13
November 28
Specific Heat and Calorimetry ( use burner)
19
December 5
Credit for Lab; Review for Final Exam- Ch.1-12
5