Houston Community College Central
COLLEGE PHYSICS1- 1401
(Lecture/Laboratory)
Summer 2011 Monday-Thursday: 8:00- 12:45;
Rooms: 406, 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
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 lesson 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)
150 points- 5 Quizzes (30 points each)
150 points- 5 Homeworks (30 points each)
100 points- 20 class participations (5 points each)
150 points- 6 In-Lab activities (25 points each)
150 points- 6 Lab-reports (25 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 June 25th, 2011. 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
Class Schedule
COLLEGE PHYSICS1- 1401 (Lecture)
3
8:00-12:45 pm, Room 406
Monday, Wednesday
Date
June 4th
Title
Chapter #
Introduction to the course and mathematical concepts
1
June 6th
Kinematics in two dimensions (Quiz # 2- Ch.2)
3
June 11 th Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion (Quiz # 3- Ch.3)
4
June 13th
Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion. (Quiz # 4- Ch.4)
5
June 18th
Review for Mid-term Exam (Ch.1-5)
June 20th Mid-term Exam
1-5
1-5
June 25th
Work and Energy
6
June 27th
Impulse and Momentum (Quiz # 5- Ch.5-6)
7
July 2nd
Final Exam
1-7
Class Schedule
COLLEGE PHYSICS1- 1401 (Laboratory)
8:00-12:45 pm, Room 407
Tuesday, Thursday
Date
June 5th
Title
Kinematics in one dimension (Quiz # 1- Ch.1)
June 7th
Measurement of Length, Mass, Volume and Density
1
June 12th
Addition of Vectors, Equilibrium of a Particle
2
June 14th
Friction
8
June 19th
Simple Machines and Principles of work
9
June 21st
Ballistic Pendulum
6
June 26th Archimedes’ principle
June 28th
Review for Final Exam
Lab #
Ch.2
13
Ch. (1-7)
4