HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Northwest College
PHYS 1401 – Fall, 2012
Class Number : 29046
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: College Physics I
Course Number: PHYS 1401
Time and Location: Alief Campus
Classes: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Tu, Room D105; Th, Room B125
Start date: 8/27/12. End date: 12/16/12
Instructor: Dr. Yuriy Pinelis
Office Hours: TBA
E-mail: yuriy.pinelis@hccs.edu (‘PHYS1401’ in the subject line.)
Learning Web: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/yuriy.pinelis
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: MATH 1314, 1316; Must also be placed into GUST
0341 (or higher) in reading.
Credit: 4 (3 lecture, 3 lab)
Course Description and Goals: Non-calculus based course for medical related
majors, architecture majors, technology majors, and other non-engineering and nonscience majors. Topics include motion and forces, work and energy, momentum and
collision, and the thermal properties of matter. Laboratory exercises include selected
related experiments on these topics. Core Curriculum Course.
Textbook:
Physics, 4th edition,
by James S. Walker,
Grading
The course grade will be based on the three tests during the semester, lab work,
comprehensive final exam, quizzes, and homework:
Homework:
100 points
Quizzes:
50 points
Tests (3):
450 points (150 points each)
Labs:
150 points
Final Exam:
250 points
___________________________________________________
Total:
1000 points possible + Extra credit points
Homework is normally due on Tuesday, and will be collected in the beginning of the class,
graded, and returned to you. Working on the homework is one of the most important
factors in order for you to get a good grade in this course.
Quizzes will be given in the beginning of most classes on Tuesdays.
Labs will be selected from the following topics: average speed , free fall, constant force,
acceleration cart, acceleration on an inclined plane, kinetic friction, push pull cart,
Atwood machine, impulse, conservation of momentum, work energy, rotational inertia,
conservation of angular momentum, buoyant force, simple harmonic motion, waves on a
string , and Boyle's law.
Extra credit points (2 points each) will be given during the semester for (a) class
participation, (b) additional problems given in the tests and homework, (c) experiments you
devise at home and demonstrate in class (you can discuss your ideas with me prior to the
experiment’s demonstration), (d) essays of your choice (a page or more) describing physics
concepts (again, talk to me before you do it), and (e) computer or graphing implementation
of physics concepts.
Partial credit will be given for all your work including all exams. Therefore, it is a good
idea to try a problem even if you are not 100% sure about it.
The course grade is given according to the scale:
90 -100 %
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 – 69%
Below 60%
A
B
C
D
F
Please remember: I am here to help you to be successful in this class! Ask me
questions, ask for help, tell me what I need to know about your learning and your
situation. I will try to work out some solution!
Course Content / Schedule (Tentative)
Date
Material Covered
28-Aug
Syllabus, Ch. 1 Introduction to physics
30-Aug
4-Sep
Ch.1
Ch. 2 Kinematics in one dimension
6-Sep
Ch. 2
11-Sep
Lab. 1; Ch.3 Vectors in Physics
13-Sep
Ch.3; MONKEY CASE STUDY
18-Sep
Ch. 4, Kinematics in two dimensions; MONKEY CASE STUDY
20-Sep
Ch. 4; Test I Review (Ch. 1-4)
Test I Review
25-Sep
Test. 1
Test. 1
27-Sep
Ch. 5 Newton’s Laws of Motion
2-Oct
4-Oct
Tests
Ch. 5; Lab. 2
Ch. 6 Applications of Newton’s laws
11-Oct
Ch. 7 Work and Kinetic Energy; Lab. 3
Ch. 8 Potential Energy and Energy Conservation
16-Oct
Ch. 9 Linear Momentum and Collisions; Lab.4
18-Oct
Ch. 9; Test II Review (Ch. 5-9)
Test II Review
23-Oct
Test. 2
Test. 2
25-Oct
Ch. 10 Rotational Kinematics and Energy
30-Oct
Ch. 11 Rotational Dynamics and Statics; Lab. 5
1-Nov
Ch. 11; Ch. 12 Gravity
Ch. 13 Oscillations; Lab. 6
Ch. 13
9-Oct
6-Nov
8-Nov
15-Nov
Ch. 14 Waves and Sound; Lab. 7
Ch. 15 Fluids
20-Nov
Ch. 15; Test III Review (Ch. 10-15)
22-Nov
Thanksgiving Holiday
27-Nov
Test. 3
29-Nov
Ch. 16 Temperature and Heat
13-Nov
6-Dec
Ch. 17 Phases and Phase Changes; Lab. 8
Ch. 18 Thermodynamics Laws;
11-Dec
Final Review (Ch. 1-18)
13-Dec
Final Exam (Ch.1-18)
4-Dec
Test III Review
Test. 3
Final Exam
FINAL EXAM: Thursday, Dec 13, 2012, 8 AM – 10:45 AM
Attendance Policy
The HCCS attendance policy is stated in the Schedule of Classes. “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 the instructors. Although it is the
responsibility of the student to drop a course for non-attendance, the instructor has full
authority to drop a student for excessive absences.”
Withdrawal Policy
Under Section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code "an institution of higher education may
not permit a student to drop more than six courses, including any course a transfer student
has dropped at another institution of higher education." This statute was enacted by the
State of Texas in the Spring 2007 and applies to students who enroll in a public institution
of higher education as a first - time freshman in fall 2007 or later. Any course that a
student drops is counted toward the six - course limit if "(1) the student was able to drop
the course without receiving a grade or incurring an academic penalty; (2) the student's
transcript indicates or the course in order to withdraw from the institution."
Policies and procedures for implementation of this statute are being developed and will be
published as soon as they are available. HCC students affected by this statute that have
attended or plan to attend another institution of higher education should become familiar
with that institution's policies on dropping courses.
Withdrawal from the course after the official day of record and prior to “W” Day, will result
in a final grade of “W” on your transcript. No credit will be awarded for a course earning a
“W”. If you stop attending class, you must withdraw at the registration office prior to “W”
day. If you stop attending class and do not officially withdraw, you will receive an “F” for
the course.
Disability Support Services (DSS)
HCCS is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act and the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504)
"Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric,
vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must
contact
the
Disability
Services
Office
at
the
respective
college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide
only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office”
If you have any special needs or disabilities which may affect your ability to succeed in
college classes or participate in college programs/activities, please contact the office of
disability support services at the college. Upon consultation and documentation, you will
be provided with reasonable accommodations and/or modifications. Please contact the
DSS office as soon as you begin the term. For questions, see the Schedule of Classes for
DSS phone numbers.
Also visit the ADA web site at:
http://www.hccs.edu/students/disability/index.htm. Faculty Handbook/ Faculty
Orientation is also available at http://www.hccs.edu/students/disability/faculty.htm
HCCS Sexual Harassment Policy
HCC shall provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of sexual
harassment. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is not tolerated at
HCC. Any student who feels that he or she is the victim of sexual harassment has the
right to seek redress of the grievance. HCC provides procedures for reviewing and
resolving such complaints through its Grievance Policy. Substantiated accusations may
result in disciplinary action against the offender, up to and including termination of the
employee or suspension of the student. In addition, complainants who make accusations
of sexual harassment in bad faith may be subject to equivalent disciplinary action
Scholastic Dishonesty
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling
course requirements. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by the college system
against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Penalties can include a grade of "0" or
"F" on the particular assignment, failure in the course, academic probation, or even
dismissal from the college. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on
a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Students Discipline
Any student failing to abide by appropriate standards of conduct during scheduled College
activities may be asked to leave that day’s class or activity by the instructor or another
College official. (The student has the right to return to the next class/activity.)
If a student refuses a request to voluntarily leave the classroom, security may be
summoned to remove the student so that the scheduled activity may resume without
further disruption. In cases of serious problems, the faculty member will document and
report the incident to his/her supervisor. Further disciplinary action may be pursued.
Student Information Sheet
First Name ___________
Last Name__________________________
!!! e-mail address : ______________________________
What was your last Physics Course? ______________________________
When? _____________ Where? ____________________ Grade_______
What was your last Math Course? ______________________________
When? _____________ Where? ____________________ Grade_______
What was your last Writing Course? ____________________________
When? _____________ Where? ____________________ Grade_______
Current Calculator Brand/Model
___________________________________________________
Your Course of Study (Program or Degree)________________
Any additional Information that you want me to know
_____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Contract:
By signing below, I acknowledge that I have received, read and
understood the course syllabus and all policies (attendance, grading,
homework, etc.) AND I have made a time commitment to be successful in
this course.