PH202
Winter 2013
Western Oregon University
Instructor Information
Name: William Schoenfeld
E-mail: schoenfw@mail.wou.edu
Office: Natural Science 209, (503) 838-8165
Lab: Natural Science 217
Office Hours: Mon 11-12 (NS209), Wed 10-11 (NS209), Thurs 9-10 & 3-4 (NS217), Fri 10-11 (NS209),
or by appointment. My schedule is as follows:
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:00 – 9:00
Prep
Prep
9:00 – 10:00
PH202
NS101
PH202
NS101
Office Hour
NS 217
PH202
NS101
10:00 – 11:00
Prep
Office Hour
NS212
PH202 Lab
NS 217
Office Hour
NS212
11:00 – 12:00
Office Hour
NS212
Prep
↓
Prep
12:00 – 1:00
PH 212
NS217
PH 212
NS217
Prep
PH 212
NS217
1:00 – 2:00
↓
↓
PH202 Lab
NS 217
↓
Prep
2:00 – 3:00
↓
3:00 – 4:00
Office Hour
NS 217
4:00 – 5:00
Basic Course Information
Title: General Physics – 4 credit hours
Course Description: This is the first term of a three-term sequence of introductory algebra-based college
physics. The first term focuses on motion and force, and conservation laws. Specific topics include: the
kinematic equations in 1 and 2 dimensions, Newton’s laws, circular and rotational motion, equilibrium,
torque, momentum, work and energy.
Math Prerequisites: MTH111 (College Algebra), and MTH112 (Trigonometry) – preferred
Lecture: MWF 9:00 – 9:50 am in NS 101
Lab & Recitation: Thursday 10 - 12, Thursday 1-3 in NS 217
Website for Class Materials: PDF’s of all course documents can be found at
www.wou.edu/~schoenfw/PH202 Winter 2013
Course Objectives
1. To increase students’ analytic ability, enabling them to use their mathematical skills to tackle with
confidence quantitative problems within their own disciplines.
2. To impart to students in the life sciences and geosciences a basic understanding of the concepts of
classical physics, along with an appreciation of how these universal rules govern the behavior of
biological and geological systems.
Learning Outcomes
General Learning Outcomes:
1. To convert/interchange from/between graphical, pictorial, and algebraic representations of
physical phenomena
2. To apply algebraic mathematics and physical principles to solve problems
3. To use mathematical and physical principles to interpret laboratory data, and to make predictions
Course Materials
Textbook: College Physics, by Hugh D. Young, 9th Edition, Addison Wesley, ISBN # 0-321-73317-7
Online Homework System: Mastering Physics
Calculator: You will need a calculator for lecture, lab and exams. Any scientific calculator with trig, log,
and exponential functions should be adequate; you do not need a graphing calculator.
The class will require the purchase of two things: a textbook (technically this is optional, but highly
recommended), and access to the online homework system called Mastering Physics. The textbook is
available at the bookstore (new versions only) and costs around $240. Since the ninth edition is new, you
will be able to sell your textbook back to the bookstore at the end of the year if you so desire, I’ve been
told for around $120. The same textbook will be used for all three terms of this sequence
(PH201/202/203). You may purchase access to Mastering Physics online at www.masteringphysics.com,
I’ll discuss mastering physics at length later in the syllabus. A host of other options are available for
procuring your materials. The following link http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/CollegePhysics-with-MasteringPhysics/9780321749802.page takes you directly to the publishers website, where
you can purchase the book bundled together with an access code to Mastering Physics; it will save some
money purchasing them together, but I don’t know exactly how long it might take for it to arrive. A third
option is to purchase electronic access to the textbook (eText) together with Mastering Physics. The two
of them combined will cost $110. I’m sure older editions of the text, or international editions that are less
expensive are likely available online as well. Keep in mind that they’ll have very limited resale value
(none at the WOU bookstore) and might take a considerable amount of time to arrive here on campus.
This is the first time we are using this book, so there are no used copies available on campus.
Grading Information
Exam I
Exam II
Final Exam
Online Homework
Lab Score
Total points available
100 points
100 points
200 points
200 points
100 points
700 points
Exams
Exams will consist of material covered in the textbook. The material will be mostly discussed in either
lecture or lab, but given the pace of the course, some material will not get full coverage in either. It is the
students’ responsibility to ensure that they have comprehended all the assigned material. Exams will have
both conceptual and computational components. Exams will be closed book exams, but students will be
allowed to bring one page of notes. Each exam (throughout the academic year) will focus mostly on the
material covered since the last exam, but will be somewhat comprehensive in the fact that material
covered on previous exams will be needed for subsequent chapters.
Computational questions will require multiple steps to be performed for the student to earn both full
credit, and partial credit, in the event of incorrect answers. A complete orderly solution should include:
diagrams & figures, identifying the known’s and the unknowns, stating any assumptions you make,
identifying valid equations and conserved quantities, displaying all significant mathematical steps, and
conclude with an underlined final answer that includes the appropriate units.
Online Homework – Mastering Physics
Weekly homework (or more often) will be assigned on the website www.masteringphysics.com, and will
give you the practice you need to learn physics. If you purchased a bundled package it will come with a
valid student access code to the website. Otherwise you have to purchase an access code directly from the
publisher (www.prenhall.com). Your access will remain valid for at least one year, perhaps two.
Mastering Physics is both homework and grading system, as well as an online interactive tutor. It has the
ability to give hints (when requested) and provide specific wrong answer feedback to help you arrive at
the correct answer. As the instructor, I have the ability to set the number of hints, and the number of
attempts you will be afforded for each problem. The online homework is meant to help you develop
problem-solving skills in physics. The course ID is: MPSCHOENFELD45991, you should enroll in this
online course as soon as possible as there are two tutorial assignments already posted. When registering it
specifically asks you which textbook you are using; even if you have an older edition of the text, use the
current 9th edition of College Physics by Hugh Young.
Lab
Each week we will meet for a 2-hour combined lab & recitation session. Our work will include: physics
review sheets, solving group problems, investigating various physical phenomena by experimentation,
and having interactive demonstrations. Sometimes there will be pre-lab activities due upon arrival;
sometimes there will be post session activities to be turned in the following week. The physics lab is our
opportunity to explore concepts in depth and to develop a sound foundation for physical reasoning. In an
attempt to mix things up, I will routinely break up established partner groups, so that you have the chance
to work with as diverse a group of classmates as possible. Since the lab sections are full, please report
only to the section in which you are registered. During the course of the year we will work with a
multitude of electronic sensors, which will allow us to make measurements and interpret data in a fraction
of the time it might have taken in years past. It is imperative that everyone learns how to use the computer
interface and accompanying software. The end of term lab final will assess whether or not you became
proficient in using this important laboratory tool. Each student is expected to keep a 3 ring binder in
which they will keep all their lab work. Periodically throughout the term, and during the last week of
classes, I will collect the binders to make sure you have completed your work. I won’t have the time to
thoroughly grade every section of every activity, so you should check my solutions.
Lecture Format
Physics education research suggests that the standard mode of professors lecturing and students acting as
scribes recording the information presented is perhaps the least effective way to learn physics. Whether
you’ve studied physics before or not, you enter the classroom with a lifetime’s worth of ideas about the
laws that the universe obeys. Research has shown that most of you come here with long held
misconceptions that need to be changed in order for you to fully succeed in this course. (Don’t feel
embarrassed, Newtonian Mechanics as it is known, is very counter intuitive, it wasn’t understood until
Newton in the 17th Century, and his work was based on the work of Galileo & Descartes.) So, rather than
me telling you the rules, I’ll ask you to predict what will happen if we perform a specific experiment, and
observe the results. After the class has chimed in, we’ll see what nature does, and you’ll construct the
rules for yourself. I’ll be the guide to shepherd along the journey. For this to be both successful, and fun,
I’ll need two things from you. You come to class ready to challenge yourself (and others) by actively
participating, and that you keep up with your reading in the textbook. I’ll make extensive use of the
Starboard system in the lecture hall (NS101). The system allows me to import a prepared Power Point
presentation and annotate directly on top of it, and save the whole session as a PDF file. At the end of the
class I’ll put the PDF file directly in the class folder www.wou.edu/~schoenfw/PH202. You’ll be
able to review or print it at your leisure. My hope is that you’ll spend class time actively engaged in
learning physics, rather than passively copying notes off the board.
Time Commitments
Unlike most other university science classes, this is not a knowledge-based course (although there is some
knowledge to be acquired). You will not have to memorize many facts. (In fact everything you learn in all
three terms can fit on one sheet of paper.) Physics is a skilled-based course. The amazing thing about
physics is that one can reduce most physical phenomena to a relatively small number of fundamental
interactions. Our goal is show how objects that are orders of magnitude different in size, are in fact
governed by the same basic laws. Thus we’ll be looking for similar patterns in how things behave.
Accordingly, we’ll strive to fully understand just a limited number of concepts, but this will require a
good bit of practice on your part. The general rule of thumb for a university science course is to spend 2
to 3 hours of time outside of class for every hour you spend in class. You will need to read the text,
participate in lectures, prepare for lab sessions, do online homework, do practice study sheets, write up
lab activities, and take exams. To do well, you should expect to spend at least 10 to 15 hours per week on
this class. There simply is no shortcut in physics!
Academic Honesty
As your instructor I’ll strive to employ any method that helps increase student learning. In order to be
successful, the student – teacher relationship needs to be one which is based on honesty, fairness, respect,
and trust. For most of you, we’ll be spending an entire academic year together, so you’ll have many
opportunities (especially in the lab) to interact with me, as well as with many of your classmates. As is
always the case with this class, you’ll make new friends as you work towards succeeding in this class. I
hope that everyone succeeds by engaging in hard work.
Much of the work you will do in this course will be done in groups. In fact, students are encouraged to
find partners with whom to collaborate; I’ll actually assist you in finding classmates who are good
matches as “study buddies”. I expect you to work together on worksheets, classroom activities, and online
homework. I’ll require you to work together in laboratory experiments. For most students, working solely
on their own is probably the least efficient way to learn physics; thus my encouragement to collaborate.
However, all partnerships are expected to be two-way, and all group members are expected to participate
and contribute. Identical or extremely similar homework on turned in assignments is unacceptable.
Discussing concepts and problems solving strategies is encouraged, but you may not copy papers
verbatim. Violations of academic honesty will simply not be tolerated. Penalties for violations of
academic honesty include, but are not limited to oral or written warning, a grade of zero if you are caught
cheating on an exam, or a failing grade for the course. Electronic devices with internet access are not
permitted during exams.
Attendance Policy
There is a direct correlation between attendance and student performance. Attendance in lecture is not
required to pass the course, but experience has shown that in most cases it is necessary to do well in the
course. The lecture component is designed to complement both the textbook readings and the lab
activities. Attendance in lab is required in order to pass the course. Absences with written excuses for
medical reasons or university-related functions may be used to arrange make-up the missed work.
Communication and Feedback
I generally check my email a few times per day and will almost always respond by the next day. I strive
to get work graded and returned in a timely fashion. Unless there is an unexpected event, you will always
have work graded and returned within one week of the due date.
Religious Holidays
Western Oregon University strives to respect all religious practices. If you have religious holidays that
are in conflict with any of the requirements of this class, please contact the instructor as early as possible
to make alternative arrangements.
Students with Disabilities
Students who have documented disabilities and would benefit from special accommodations during
examinations should make an appointment with the instructor as early possible.
Syllabus Amendment Policy
This syllabus may be modified by the instructor as needed, to meet the learning objectives of the course.
Students will be notified of any changes, and the reasons for the changes in a timely manner. Additional
assessment activities may be added if the instructor deems it necessary in order to increase student
learning.
“Dead” Week & Finals Weeks
The 10th week of the term is regarded as a normal week of class. Expect to cover new material in lecture,
and to have a normal lab session. I have built in two days in the schedule without a specific agenda; more
often than not I find that I’ll need an extra day or two somewhere during the term so those days during
dead week will be normal lecture days. This term our final exam is scheduled for the last day of finals
week; expect to take that exam during its scheduled time. Do not make travel plans and expect to take
the exam early. During finals week I will schedule multiple opportunities for students to take a short “lab
final”. The class is not over until after the final exam!
Missed Work
Under NO circumstances will make-up exams be administered without prior arrangement (at least three
days) and good reason, with a signed administrative or medical excuse. Lab exercises and demonstrations
are set up on a weekly basis. Please show up during your assigned lab period. Switching weekly lab
periods must be approved by the instructor, prior to attending lab.
Incompletes
A grade of incomplete (I) may be negotiated when a student with passing work needs additional time to
complete the course. An incomplete will not be granted as a substitute for a failing grade (F), nor will a
grade of "incomplete" be issued in the last week of class. If you find yourself in a situation where you
can't complete the required course work, please make arrangements with the instructor prior to the last
week of class.
Tentative PH 202 Lecture Schedule – subject to change
Date
Lecture Material
Mon Jan 7
Introduction, PH201 Review
Wed Jan 9
Center of Mass
Fri Jan 11
Equations of rotational motion, Moment of Inertia
Mon Jan 14
Rolling Motion, Torque & Angular Acceleration
Wed Jan 16
Angular Momentum, Rotational Equilibrium
Fri Jan 18
Stress, Strain & Deformation
Wed Jan 23
Harmonic Motion
Fri Jan 25
Pendulums, Forced & Damped Oscillations
Mon Jan 28
Mechanical Waves
Wed Jan 30
Superposition & Standing Waves,
Fri Feb 1
Exam I – Chapters 8 - 11
Mon Feb 4
Sound, Doppler Effect
Wed Feb 6
Fluids & Pressure, Pascal’s Law, Measuring Pressure
Fri Feb 8
Buoyancy, Continuity Equation
Mon Feb 11
Bernoulli’s Equation & Fluid Flow
Wed Feb 13
Temperature Scales & Thermal expansion
Fri Feb 15
Specific Heat, Phase Changes, Calorimetry
Mon Feb 18
Heat Transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation
Wed Feb 20
Ideal Gas Equation, Kinetic Theory
Fri Feb 22
1st Law of Thermodynamics
Mon Feb 25
Thermodynamic Processes
Wed Feb 27
2nd Law of Thermodynamics I
Fri Mar 1
2nd Law of Thermodynamics II
Mon Mar 4
Exam II – Chapters 12 – 15 + Hobson
Wed Mar 6
Electric Charge, Conductors & Insulators
Fri Mar 8
Electric Forces & Fields
Mon Mar 11 Field Lines & Gauss’s Law
Wed Mar 13 To Be Determined
Fri Mar 15 To Be Determined
Final Exam: Monday March 18th, 7:45 AM – 10 AM
Sections in Text
Chap 1 - 8
8.6 & 8.7
9.1 – 9.4
9.5, 10.1-10.3
10.4 – 10.6
11.1
11.2 – 11.4
11.5 – 11.6
12.1 – 12.4
12.5 – 12.7
12.8 – 12.14
13.1 – 13.2
13.3 – 13.5
13.6 – 13.8
14.1 – 14.3
14.4 – 14.6
14.7 – 14.8
15.1 – 15.3
15.4 – 15.5
15.6 -15.7
Hobson Chap 7
Hobson Chap 7
17.1 – 17.3
17.4 – 17.6
17.7 - 17.9