Introductory Physics I
Instructor: Lili Cui
PHYS 121
4 CREDITS
2015
Fall
SYLLABUS
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
Introductory Physics I - PHYS121 is the first semester of calculus-based introductory
physics course. The focus is on mechanics. By the end of this course, you will
 have acquired an overview of the general principles of physics and how they apply
to mechanics and physical interactions, and
 be able to solve elementary physics problems systematically, logically, and
quantitatively through the use of techniques based on algebra, trigonometry,
calculus, and graphical methods.
PREREQUISITE
You must have passed MATH 151 or at least be enrolled in it this semester.
Basic college algebra is used extensively in this course, and the use of calculus will be
phased into the course on pace with the MATH151 class.
CLASS
MEETING
Lecture:
Discussion:
INSTRUCTOR
& TA
Instructor: Dr. Lili Cui
lili@umbc.edu
 Office hour: MonWed 10-11, Tue 11-12, Thu 2-3, Physics Building room 321
 Visiting my office hour is the best way of contact. The time is set aside for you and
you will get individual attention. I’d love to use the time to know you in person.
 Physics related questions should be posted on the Blackboard Discussion Board
instead of personal email so everyone in class can benefit from the discussion.
 Email is a great method for non-physics questions. Please include your full name,
course number, and use your UMBC email address to ensure prompt response.
REQUIRED
TEXTBOOK &
OTHER
MATERIAL
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SUCCESS
STRATEGY
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MWF 9:00-9:50 AM, Meyerhoff Chemistry 030
at the section time for which you are registered
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, by Tipler and Mosca, 6th ed., Volume 1
SmartPhysics (electronic pre-lecture and homework assignments)
Clicker (Turning Technologies RFC-03, can be purchased from UMBC bookstore)
Calculator
A clear and focused mind, good attitude…
Be sure you have the time required for the course. You are expected to attend all
classes – lectures and discussions. In addition, experience shows that success
requires at least 8 hours of intensive effort outside of class each week. If you
typically spend much less than 8 hours of outside study, you are unlikely to be able
to learn the material. If you typically spend much more than 12 hours of outside
study, you should consult with the instructor about ways to study more efficiently.
 Physics is about understanding, not memorization. Instead of only paying attention
to results, it is more important to understand how you get results.
 You have many resources including the textbook, study group, your friends,
Teaching Assistants, me, YouTube and more. Use them wisely.
 It is essential to develop an ability to think and learn for yourself. You must be
actively engaged to learn the material, you cannot passively watch me or your
classmates and expect to understand the concepts and develop problem solving
skills. Cognitive science has proven that the mind must interact to learn.
Success in the course is not “a piece of cake”, but can be achieved with effort and the
right study strategies.
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GRADING
POLICY
Type of Assignment
Prelecture and checkpoint
Lecture participation
Homework
Discussion
Exam (3 @ 15% each)
Final Exam
Total
Percentage
5.0%
5.0%
10%
10%
45%
25%
100%
I do not grade on a curve. Why should I assume that x% of you will be failing this
course? If you all do an excellent job, you all deserve an A. How well your neighbor is
doing should not affect your grade. Help each other and learn from each other.
90.0% or Above
80.0% - 89.9%
70.0% - 79.9%
60.0% - 69.9%
59.9% or Below
A
B
C
D
F
There is NO extra credit at the end of the term. It is far easier to fix problems early in
the semester than after the tests have been taken.
Check your grades on Blackboard routinely. Please contact me or your TA for any
grading questions within TWO day after grade is available.
PRE-LECTURE
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LECTURE
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DISCUSSION
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You are required to read the related textbook sections and complete pre-lecture
assignments via smartPhysics prior to every lecture; it makes for much more
efficient learning. The class time will be spent on clarifying and applying the
material.
As a general rule, smartPhysics Prelectures and Checkpoints will be due on
Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00 AM, though the due dates may be adjusted on
occasions.
Clickers will be used to track attendance and promote active learning by providing
instant feedbacks for both the instructor and students. You need to bring your clicker
(with good battery) to every class. If your clicker does not work or if you forget your
clicker, you will not receive attendance credit.
The lecture PowerPoint slides will be posted on Blackboard the night before every
lecture. You are expected to print them out to take lecture notes on; it gives you the
structure of every lecture and facilitates the note-taking process. But remember
these slides are not the complete content of the class but only an outline, studying
them out is not a substitute for attending lectures.
If you miss one lecture, you are responsible for making up the material.
The discussion classes are a required part of the course, and you must attend the
discussion class in which you are registered.
Each discussion grade will be divided equally between your attendance and
submitted work.
Full attendance is required for every discussion. Discussion is based on group work,
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
HOMEWORK
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EXAM
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FINAL EXAM
MAKE UP
POLICY
it's designed to provide you with a collaborative learning environment so you can
help and learn from each other. To ensure the integrity of group work and the
fairness to each group member, full attendance is mandatory and there will be a
penalty for arriving late or leaving early. 20% will be removed from the discussion
score for every five minutes that a student is tardy in coming to the discussion. In
addition, those arriving late to class will not be allowed to benefit from the work of
students who arrive on time. If you are ten minutes late, you will be automatically
removed from your original group. You might need to work on your own or join
another group.
Your discussion instructor will give specific guidelines.
A major part of what I expect you to learn in this class will come as a result of doing
homework. You need to fully understand how to solve the assigned homework
problems to do well on the exams and to succeed in this course.
Individual homework will be submitted via the smartPhysics online system. As a
general rule, assignments will be due on Thursdays at midnight 11:59 pm, though
the due dates may be adjusted on occasions. You are normally allowed six
submissions per question part.
Homework questions are not easy and you will find yourself spend a lot of time on
them. This is expected. Don't put off assignments until the night before they are due.
Instead start your homework early enough so you have time to get help.
You are encouraged to work together, however, you must fully understand how to
solve problems on your own.
Since the main purpose of homework is to prepare you for the exams, keep a careful
written record of your work for future studying. Written homework might be
collected and graded.
There are websites where you can view (or perhaps purchase) solutions to
homework problems. I cannot stop you from cheating, but I strongly recommend
you don't. Consider your goals...are you trying to just get the homework done or do
you actually want to learn something? I guarantee that the more you use solutions
written by someone else, the less likely you will be able to produce your own
solutions on quizzes and exams.
You have to do well on all exams to be able to get a good grade for the course. The
prelecture, lecture, discussion activities, and homework will help you acquire the
understanding and problem solving skills you’ll need.
Three 90 minute exams will be given on Friday morning 8:00-9:30 AM. See the
schedule for the exact dates.
Each exam will consist of a mix of multiple-choice questions and show-your-work
problems.
You are allowed to bring a 3 inch *5 inch index card and use a calculator during
exams. No cell phones or other communication devices.
The final exam will be comprehensive. There is no make-up exam for the final and no
one will be allowed to take the final at a different time.
Life is full with surprises so it’s understandable that you might miss a class or two. The
course policy has been set up to accommodate a few unexpected situations.
 Lecture: You will be given three “free” days for not clicking in lecture. These count
towards ALL absences and clicker malfunctions.
Page 3 of 6
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Discussion: There is no make-up discussion. If you must miss a discussion due to
officially-sanctioned UMBC activities, illness, family emergency, detention by
authorities, or another insurmountable difficulty, contact your TA as soon as
possible to make alternative arrangement.
Online smartPhysics prelecture, checkpoints and homework: You can request an
automatic extension any time up to 3 days after the assignment is due with a 50%
penalty of all unearned points.
Exam: If you must miss an exam due to officially-sanctioned UMBC activities,
illness, family emergency, detention by authorities, or another insurmountable
difficulty, contact me as soon as possible. At my discretion, I’ll request written
verification of the cause of your absence.
TUTORIAL
CENTER
 The Physics Tutorial Center is on a walk-in basis and provides one-to-one help. See
my Blackboard announcement for updated schedule.
 The Learning Resource Center supplies free tutors for this and many other 100- and
200-level
courses.
Please
contact
at
(410)
455-2444
or
visit
http://www.umbc.edu/lrc/ for more information.
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY
"By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active
participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic work and
behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism,
and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they
are wrong. Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include,
but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.” To read the full Student Academic
Conduct Policy, consult the UMBC Student Handbook.
DISABILITIES


COURSE
WEBSITE
If you have any condition such as a physical learning disability, which will make it
difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined it or which will require
academic accommodations, please notify me in the first two weeks of the course.
If you are taking the exam with the Student Support Services, inform me by email
with the detailed information at least 48 hours before every exam.
I will put most of my teaching materials in our course site through Blackboard. After log in
myUMBC, click on the “Blackboard” tab and then click on “PHYS121-FA15-CUI” in the
“My Courses” area. You are responsible for all content delivered via Blackboard. You are
required to logon to the course website at least once between lectures.
You will use the website for:
 Checking the Announcements.
 Accessing Course Documents: syllabus, lectures notes, sample tests, and etc.
 Checking the Grades that you have earned.
 Interacting with the instructor and others online using Discussion Board.
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TA and LA
CONTACT
INFO
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TA Fernando Calderon fercal1@umbc.edu
TA Ian Nodurft nodurft1@umbc.edu
TA Jacob Romanski jromans1@umbc.edu
Jennifer Hewitt jhewitt1@umbc.edu
Alexander Jalota ajalota1@umbc.edu
Benjamin Price bprice1@umbc.edu
Ressa Reneth Sarreal saressa1@umbc.edu
Kevin Whitley yp12458@umbc.edu
Rachel Woo rwoo1@umbc.edu
TA/LA Teaching Schedule for Discussions
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
8:00
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
1:00
1:30
2:00
2:30
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00
6:30
7:00
7:30
8:00
1:00-2:50
Section 07 (1064)
Ian Nodurft (TA)
Kevin Whitley
Thursday
8:00-9:50
Section 03 (1060)
Fernando Calderon (TA)
Kevin Whitley
Section 08 (7395)
Jacob Romanski (TA)
Benjamin Price
Friday
11:30-1:20
Section 04 (1061)
Fernando Calderon (TA)
Ressa Reneth Sarreal
2:30-4:20
Section 05 (1062)
Ian Nodurft (TA)
Alexander Jalota
4:30-6:20
Section 02 (1059)
Ian Nodurft (TA)
Rachel Woo
6:30-8:20
Section 06 (1063)
Jacob Romanski (TA)
Jennifer Hewitt
Page 5 of 6
PHYS 121 – Fall 2015 Schedule
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Final
Date
Aug 26 (W)
Aug 28 (F)
Aug 31 (M)
Sep 02 (W)
Sep 04 (F)
Sep 07 (M)
Sep 09 (W)
Sep 11 (F)
Sep 14 (M)
Sep 16 (W)
Sep 18 (F)
Sep 21 (M)
Sep 23 (W)
Sep 25 (F)
Sep 28 (M)
Sep 30 (W)
Oct 02 (F)
Oct 05 (M)
Oct 07 (W)
Oct 09 (F)
Oct 12 (M)
Oct 14 (W)
Oct 16 (F)
Oct 19 (M)
Oct 21 (W)
Oct 23 (F)
Oct 26 (M)
Oct 28 (W)
Oct 30 (F)
Nov 02 (M)
Nov 04 (W)
Nov 06 (F)
Nov 09 (M)
Nov 11 (W)
Nov 13 (F)
Nov 16 (M)
Nov 18 (W)
Nov 20 (F)
Nov 23 (M)
Nov 25 (W)
Nov 27 (F)
Nov 30 (M)
Dec 02 (W)
Dec 04 (F)
Dec 07 (M)
Dec 11 (F)
Lecture Topic
Measurement, Vector, Displacement
Velocity, Acceleration
1-D Kinematics
Free Fall
Projectile Motion
Holiday - Labor Day
Relative Motion, Circular Motion
Force, Newton's 1st and 2nd Laws
Newton's 3rd Law
Friction
Newton’s Laws Problem Solving
Motion along a Curved Path
Applications
Exam 1 (Chapters 1-5, 8:00 - 9:30 AM)
Work
Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
Potential Energy
Conservation of Energy
Newton’s Law of Gravity
Gravitational Potential Energy
Center of Mass
Momentum and Impulse
Conservation of Momentum
Collisions
Applications
Exam 2 (Chapters 6-8 & 11, 8:00 - 9:30 AM)
Rotational Kinematics
Rotational Kinetic Energy, Moment of Inertia
Torque
Rotational Dynamics
Rotational Dynamics Problem Solving
Static Equilibrium
Static Equilibrium Problem Solving
Angular Momentum
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Angular Momentum Problem Solving
Applications
Exam 3 (Chapters 9-10 & 12, 8:00 - 9:30 AM)
Simple Harmonic Motion
Pendulum
Holiday - Thanksgiving
Density and Pressure
Buoyance
Fluid in Motion
Semester Summary
Final Exam (Chapters 1-14, 8:00 – 10:00 AM)
Textbook
Ch1: 1-7
Ch2: 1-2
Ch2: 3
Ch2: 3
Ch3: 1-2
Ch3: 3
Ch4: 1-5
Ch4: 6-8
Ch5: 1
Ch5: 3
Ch6: 1-3
Ch6: 4
Ch7: 1-2
Ch7: 3
Ch11: 1-2
Ch11: 3
Ch5: 5
Ch8: 1
Ch8: 2
Ch8: 3
Ch9: 1
Ch9: 2-3
Ch9: 4
Ch9: 5-6
Ch12: 1-3
Ch10: 1-2
Ch10: 3
Ch10: 3
Ch14: 1-2
Ch14: 3
Ch13: 1-2
Ch13: 3
Ch13: 4
Discussion
Discussion 1
Vector
Discussion 2
1-D Kinematics
Discussion 3
2-D Kinematics
Discussion 4
Newton’s Laws
Discussion 5
Newton’s Laws
Discussion 6
Work-KE Theorem
Discussion 7
Conservation of Energy
Discussion 8
Momentum and Impulse
Discussion 9
Collisions
Discussion 10
Rotation
Discussion 11
Rotational Dynamics
Discussion 12
Static Equilibrium
Discussion 13
Angular Momentum
No discussion
Discussion 14
SHM & Fluid
No discussion
Page 6 of 6