Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
PHY231
Syllabus, GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
Catalog Description: This is the first of three semesters of the traditional calculus based physics
sequence for scientists and engineers. This course covers motion and Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, rigid-body mechanics, gravitation, simple harmonic motion, and waves. Prerequisite: MAT
145 or permission of the instructor. Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Laboratory fee:
$20. Four units per semester.
Faculty: Dr. Don Petcher, Ph.D., Professor of Physics
Textbooks: Physics, for Scientists and Engineers, by Paul M. Fishbane, Stephen Gasiorowicz and
Stephen T. Thornton, 3rd ed, The Soul of Science, Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton.
I. Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student will be expected to be able to
A. articulate as well as utilize Newtons three laws of motion to solve calculus-based static and
kinematic (including rotational) problems.
B. use the conservation of energy and momentum to solve dynamical problems.
C. understand the relationship between forces, work, and energy.
D. understand the basic properties of oscillatory behavior.
E. have a conceptual understanding of the above physical principles.
F. present laboratory results in a written report commensurate with conventions of the physics
community, including appropriate error analysis.
G. begin to articulate a Christian worldview concerning science.
II. Methods
A. Classroom: The course will be taught using an interactive method, whereby lecture-discussions
and video clips are followed by thought questions and student discussion. Three 50 minute
periods per week.
B. Laboratory: About 10 Laboratory experiments will be performed over the course of the
semester, each in a three hour period, generally with 2 students working together. Laboratory assignments are aimed not simply to verify known results, but rather to teach the
students the complexities of doing laboratory experimentation well, including understanding the limitations of experimentation using a particular set of equipment. To this end, an
understanding of experimental error analysis is emphasized.
C. Homework: Students work independently or in groups through problems assigned on the
subject matter of each chapter.
D. Writing assignment: Lab reports: Students write weekly lab reports, in order to learn
how to present scientific material. This semester focuses on the various elements of writing
reports suitable for reporting scientific findings.
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Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
PHY231
E. Writing assignment: Book Responses: Throughout the semester, students will be required to submit responses to each chapter of the book The Soul of Science.
III. Means of Assessment
A. Class participation and cocnept quizzes (0%). This addresses objectives A-E.
B. Labs (25%). This addresses objectives A-F.
C. Homework (10%). This addresses objective A-F.
D. Tests and Final Exam (60%). This addresses objectives A-E,G.
E. Book Responses (5%). This addresses objective G.
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Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
PHY231
Information and Policy Sheet
GENERAL PHYSICS, PHY231
Location: Mills Hall 310
Time: MWF, 10:00 AM, Lab: Tuesday, 8:00 – 10:50 AM
Class Time: The course will be taught using various class techniques of instruction including
lectures, demonstrations, and video clips, followed by thought questions and student discussion.
Our time in class time will be most fruitful if each student has done the designated reading before
coming to class. The amount of material in the textbook is too great to cover in class in its entirety,
and although students should make an effort to learn as much as possible, the tests will typically
emphasize the subjects covered in class. If you find any material in the textbook that you don’t
understand and would like to discuss in class, please feel free to bring it up.
Readings: The list of readings below are meant as a guide for what will take place in class. You
should attempt to have each section read before coming to class on the date it is listed. Class
discussion will often be more understandable if you have read the material.
Grading: The final grade for the course will be based on tests, labs, a written exercise, and the
final exam. Tests and the final exam will determine 60%, labs will determine 25%, homework
10%, and the written exercise will determine 5% of the grade. Although the required homework is
through Sapling Learning, problems in the textbook may also be a useful resource for learning. An
answer key to all problems in the textbook is in the Physics commons: Mills 360.
Tests: During the semester, four tests will be given, approximately three weeks apart as indicated
on the schedule. In addition a final exam will be given which will serve as an additional test,
which in part will be comprehensive. The lowest grade of the five tests will be dropped, and the
remaining tests will count 60% of the grade. If you miss a test for whatever reason, other than
official school sanctioned absences, that test will be dropped. Tests will typically consist of 20
multiple choice questions along the lines of both conceptual questions and less involved (“level 2”
or below) homework problems.
Homework: Homework is assigned through the Sapling Learning company and must be done
online. Typically a few problems will be assigned for each class period, and they will be due in
about a week, when the window of opportunity closes. The homework will be graded and will count
10% of the grade. Homework should be looked upon as an opportunity to learn. To that end you
are invited to work together or to solicit whatever outside help you need in order to understand
the problems you are to solve. However, you will derive little benefit from simply passively copying
solutions from others, as this will not adequately prepare you for the tests. If you want to work
additional problems, an answer key to the problems in the text will be provided (in the Physics
Commons and on reserve in the Library), so you can check the solutions. In addition, the website
associated with the textbook offers a number of aids including sample problems. You are encouraged
to discuss the problems further with the instructor or tutors whenever you do not understand. Note
that tutors are available Monday through Thursday evening in the physics commons. A schedule
can be found on the website. You can sign up for Sapling Learning through “Assignments” in
Canvas. Note that the instructions are both posted in Canvas under “Files” as well as on our
website.
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Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
PHY231
Labs: Nine laboratory experiments will be performed during the course of the semester. For each
lab, a separate lab report will be required. The reports are designed with two purposes in mind:
first, to learn how to communicate scientific results as is done in the literature, and second, to learn
how to typeset such reports in the mathematical typesetting program called LATEX, a program
widely used by physicists and mathematicians as well as some economists, computer scientists, and
engineers. Thus the reports will begin with a more rudimentary style, along with LATEX exercises,
and gradually over the course of two semesters, the reports will become more like scientific papers,
following an appropriate format for such a presentation. Each lab report should also include a
cover sheet, which will be available through the LATEX lab report format. Note: in writing up your
labs, you may collaborate with your partner (or any other student) on ideas and on such things
as how to make tables, how to do calculations, and on graphs when they are computer generated,
but you must write independent lab reports in your own words. Lab reports will be due on the
next Tuesday classes are held following the day the lab is performed in which we do not have a
test, and should be turned in by 6:00 PM on that day (with two days grace). After the grace
period, points will be deducted, typically 1 point per day late. A perfect score for a lab report is
10 points. If a lab is performed but no report is handed in, 3 points will be awarded. The first
lab will be graded only according to whether the student has done all that was asked. Errors will
be noted but with zero points taken off. Subsequently errors will result in points deducted, but
in some cases no points will be deducted in early labs. Threrefore the student is advised to pay
careful attention to all comments on graded labs. Missed labs may not be made up unless the
instructor has been notified prior to the time the lab to be missed is to occur, except in exceptional
cases such as sudden severe illness, a death in the family, or other reasons the student is prevented
from attended the lab through no desire on the part of the student. Labs count 25% of the grade.
Further information concerning labs can be found in handouts in the first few lab sessions of the
course. These handouts will also be made available on the physics web site. Note that Labs should
be handed in through the Canvas system both as a pdf file and as a LaTeX file. (You need not hand
in other files such as graphs, as they will be included in the pdf file.)
Soul of Science Responses: Students are to respond to the assigned chapter readings of the
book The Soul of Science. The responses are due via email by 8 AM following the date assigned.
Each response should be written and submitted according to the instructions on the website.
Attendence: Although class attendance is not required as a formal part of the grade, experience
shows that there is a very strong correlation between class attendance and grades. Therefore you
would be advised not to miss class unless absolutely necessary.
Office Hours: Generally you are welcome to stop by anytime I am in my office. Designated office
hours will be announced on my office door and on the physics web site. Also by appointment.
Physics Web Site: The physics web site is http://physics.covenant.edu/. The web site no
longer serves as the main course file repository (it has been replaced by Canvas), but it continues to
be the source of the latest LineFit program, MakeTable, and instructions for downloading TEX and
supporting files, as well as other information relevant to our educational task at Covenant College.
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Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
Schedule (last updated January 7, 2016)
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
Jan. 12
Jan. 13
Jan. 15
Lab 1: Scientific Method, Intro to Error Analysis and to LATEX
Introduction to the course
Diagnostic Test
Monday
Jan. 18
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
Jan. 19
Jan. 20
Jan. 22
Units, Dimensions, and Vectors
Reading: Chapter 1 Sections 2, 4 and 6
Lab 2: Acceleration down an Incline
More Vectors
Displacement, Speed, and Velocity
Reading: Chapter 2 Sections 1–2
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapters 1-2 due
Monday
Jan. 24
Tuesday
Wednesday
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Friday
Jan. 29
Monday
Feb. 1
Tuesday
Wednesday
Feb. 2
Jan. 3
Friday
Feb. 5
Monday
Feb. 8
Tuesday
Wednesday
Feb. 9
Feb. 10
Friday
Feb. 12
Monday
Feb. 15
Tuesday
Wednesday
Feb. 16
Feb. 17
Acceleration; Constant Acceleration
Reading: Chapter 2 Sections 3–4
Lab 3: Projectile Motion
Freely Falling Objects
Reading: Chapter 2 Sections 5–6
Position, Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration
Reading: Chapter 3 Sections 1–2
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 3 due
Constant Acceleration and Projectile Motion
Reading: Chapter 3 Sections 3–4
Lab 4: Centripetal Force
Uniform Circular Motion; Relative Motion
Reading: Chapter 3 Sections 5–6
Forces and Newton’s Laws 1 and 2
Reading: Chapter 4 Sections 1–2
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 4 due
Newton’s 3rd Law
Reading: Chapter 4 Sections 3–4
DAY OF PRAYER
Using Newton’s Laws
Reading: Chapter 4 Sections 5–6
Types of Forces; Friction
Reading: Chapter 5 Sections 1–2
Drag Forces; Centripetal Force
Reading: Chapter 5 Sections 3–4
Test: Chapters 1–3
Fundamental Forces
Reading: Chapter 5 Section 5
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PHY231
Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
Friday
Feb. 19
Kinetic Energy and Work; Constant Forces
Reading: Chapter 6 Sections 1–2
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 5 due
Monday
Feb. 22
Tuesday
Wednesday
Feb. 23
Feb. 24
Friday
Feb. 26
Forces That Vary with Position; Conservative
and Non-conservative Forces
Reading: Chapter 6 Sections 3–4
Lab 5: Force Table
Power and Relativistic Effects
Reading: Chapter 6 Sections 5–6
Potential Energy, Conservative Forces, and Energy Conservation
Reading: Chapter 7 Sections 1–2
Monday
Feb. 29
Tuesday
Wednesday
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Friday
Mar. 4
Mar. 5–13
More on Energy Conservation
Reading: Chapter 7 Sections 3–4
Test: Chapters 4–6
Momentum Conservation, Collisions, and Impulse
Reading: Chapter 8 Section 1–2
Inelastic and Elastic Collisions
Reading: Chapter 8 Sections 3–4
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 6 due
SPRING BREAK
Monday
Mar. 14
Tuesday
Wednesday
Mar. 15
Mar. 16
Friday
Mar. 18
Monday
Mar. 21
Tuesday
Wednesday
Mar. 22
Mar. 23
Friday
Mar. 25
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Mar. 28
Mar. 29
Mar. 30
Friday
Apr. 1
Multidimensional Elastic Collisions; Center of Mass
Reading: Chapter 8 Sections 5–6
Lab 6: Friction
Rockets; High Energy Momentum Transfer
Reading: Chapter 8 Sections 7–8
Simple Rotations; Rotational Kinetic Energy
Reading: Chapter 9 Sections 1–2
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 7 due
Rotational Inertia and Torque
Reading: Chapter 9 Sections 3–4
Lab 7: Momentum Conservation
Angular Momentum Conservation; Rolling
Reading: Chapter 9 Sections 5–6
GOOD FRIDAY
EASTER BREAK
Lab 8: Torque
Generalizations of Angular Momentum and Torque
Reading: Chapter 10 Sections 1–2
Angular Momentum Conservation, Rotational Work and Energy
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PHY231
Dr. Don Petcher
GENERAL PHYSICS I, Spring, 2016
Reading: Chapter 10 Sections 3–5
Monday
Apr. 4
Parallels to Linear Motion; Quantization; Precession
Reading: Chapter 10 Sections 6–8
Assessment Day (no lab, though last week’s lab report is due)
Statics 1
Reading: Chapter 11 Sections 1–2
Statics 2
Reading: Chapter 11 Sections 3-4
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 8 due
Tuesday
Wednesday
Apr. 5
Apr. 6
Friday
Apr. 8
Monday
Apr. 11
Tuesday
Wednesday
Apr. 12
Apr. 13
Friday
Apr. 15
Monday
Apr. 18
Tuesday
Wednesday
Apr. 19
Apr. 20
Friday
Apr. 22
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Apr. 25
Apr. 26
Apr. 27
Catchup Day
Lab 9: Hooke’s Law
Reading/Snow Day
Monday
May 2
Final Exam: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Planetary Motion and Newton’s Inverse Square Law
Reading: Chapter 12 Sections 1–2
Test: Chapters 7–9
Planets, Satellites, and Gravity on Extended Objects
Reading: Chapter 12 Sections 3–4
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 9 due
More Gravitation; Einstein’s Theory
Reading: Chapter 12 Sections 5–6
Simple Harmonic Motion
Reading: Chapter 13 Sections 1–3
Test: Chapters 10–12
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion and the Pendulum
Reading: Chapter 13 Sections 4–6
Damped and Driven Harmonic Motion
Reading: Chapter 13 Sections 7–8
Book Response: Soul of Science response on Chapter 10 due
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PHY231