UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
Department of Physics
Physics 051
Fall 2015
General Information
Instructor: M. Furis, 510 Cook.
Phone: 656-5177 (office), 656-2644 (department).
Email:Madalina.Furis@uvm.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:00am-12:00pm, Thursdays: 1:00-2:00pm or by appointment for
schedule conflicts
Materials:

Textbook: "Smart Physics" (University Physics-calculus based) by
Gladding, Selen and Stelzer, volume 1, Classical Mechanics, with online
access card, ISBN 1429295023. (available at Bookstore or purchase online
directly at www.smartphysics.com or www.flipitphysics.com



Pocket calculator with trigonometric functions, scientific notation and
exponential functions.
“Sapling Learning Online Homework” (one semester access) ISBN: 9780-9833859-5-0. www.sapplinglearning.com
Computer Policy: The use of computers, tablets and phones is prohibited in the
classroom during lecture times with the exception of devices equipped with Wacom
or Active Stylus technology for note taking. If you prefer to use such a device instead
of pen and paper please notify your instructor in an email providing information about
the make and model you will be using. The use of computers, and tablets is strongly
encouraged during the lab times or problem solving sessions. You will also need
access to the internet outside of the classroom or labs in order to view prelectures
and solve homework and checkpoints.
Course format:
Three lectures per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 9:35 am, 122 Hills.
New topics will be presented at this time. Students must complete the pre-lectures and
checkpoint assignments before the start of a new chapter. Laboratory exercises will be
conducted on some Fridays and Mondays from 1:55pm or 4:05pm. See Course Outline and
Laboratory Procedures sections in Blackboard for details. Problem solving help sessions will
be occasionally scheduled during Lab meeting times when there is no lab scheduled. Those
sessions will be announced in advance through blackboard and email.
Online Material:
Pre-lecture materials, checkpoints and homework assignments are completed online. You must
register your code and join the course online to access them. Details on registration procedure
may be found in Blackboard (BB) in the Course Materials section. The course code is
PHYSICS51.
Pre-Lectures:
Students must complete the Pre-Lectures assignments before coming to class. Pre-Lectures
are available online for 7 days before the deadline. Deadlines for completing each specific
prelecture are listed in the SmartPhysics Course calendar.
Checkpoints:
Students must complete the checkpoints quizzes before coming to class. Checkpoints are
available online for 7 days in advance of the deadline. Deadlines for completing each specific
check-point quiz are listed in the SmartPhysics Course calendar.
Homework:
Homework problems serve as illustrations of the lecture material and are essential towards
consolidation of the students' grasp of physical principles. The homework schedule and
assignments are available in the online course calendar 7 days in advance of the deadline.
Homework is delivered, completed, and graded online through the SAPLING website. No
paper-based homework will be accepted. In the case of unforeseen serious events that
overlap with your homework schedule, talk to me in advance for a deadline extension.
Please note that there are very few cases when such extensions are approved and you
need serious proof and documentation for them, e. g. note from a doctor that you were/will
be impaired physically and/or mentally for an extended period of time, the passing of a
close relative (see also “reasons for absence” below.)
Homework due dates are listed in the online calendar!!!
Examinations:
There will be three hourly exams and one final three-hour long examination based on
lecture, homework and textbook material. The final examination will be cumulative. Sample
exams from previous years are available in Blackboard.
Important! This course requires students to become familiar with formal calculations.
Numerical answers are only used in the online work to verify the correctness of your reasoning.
Exams require formal calculations for full credit!
Course Grades:
For each student, a score will be computed based on 100 points to be distributed as
follows:
•
Hourly exams: 3 ×15 = 45 points.
•
Homework: 15 points
•
Laboratory Work: 15 points
•
Final examination: 15 points.
•
Pre-lectures: 5 points
•
Checkpoints: 5 points
Numerical to Letter Grade Conversion:
Final grades will be calculated and rounded up to the nearest one-tenth of a point.
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
A range = 100.0 - 90.0
B range = 89.9 - 80.0
C range = 79.9 - 70.0
D range = 69.9 - 60.0 F = below 60.
Grade Posting:
All grades will be posted on Blackboard to ensure privacy. It is each student's
responsibility to verify the accuracy of the postings regularly. Report any
discrepancies promptly.
Attendance:
Attendance at lectures will be taken frequently. A student's attendance record provides
additional information for assessing a student's overall attitude in the course. It will be
used for advising, for documentation in a letter of reference, etc. Regular attendance is
not in itself adequate justification for awarding college credit. It is the student's
responsibility to keep up with missed material, announcements, etc.
Reasons for Absence:
Often, circumstances beyond a student's control warrant an absence. Valid reasons for
such absences must supported by written documentation from the academic dean,
the attending physician, the team coach, the officiating clergyman, the presiding judge,
the arresting officer, the FEMA official etc. Merely being seen by a physician is not a
valid reason for absence, neither is a sibling's out-of- town wedding, a planned family
vacation, a rock concert in Albany or a family pet's funeral in Toronto.
Missing Hourly Exams:
Missing an hourly exam will result in a score of zero unless the student has a valid
reason as defined above. A student with a valid reason may be given a make-up exam
at a time that is mutually convenient for the student and the instructor.
Missing the Final:
Missing the final examination will result in a final course grade of F unless the student
has arranged with the instructor through the appropriate academic dean for an
"Incomplete."
Academic Dishonesty Disclosure:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Perceived failures to abide by the
standards of academic integrity will be prosecuted as set forth in the Academic Integrity
Code.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
Department of Physics
Physics 051
Fall 2015
Course Outline
Students must do online pre-lecture tests and read material before coming to
class.
Aug. 31
Introduction
Measurement and System of International (SI) Units
Sep. 2
I.1 One- Dimensional Kinematics
Sep. 4
I.1 One- Dimensional Kinematics
Sep. 7
Labor Day -no classes
Sep. 9
I.2 Two Dimensional Kinematics
Sep. 11
Lab 0 A2 and A3: Introduction to Data Analysis
I.2 Two Dimensional Kinematics
Sep. 14
Lab 0 A1: Introduction to Data Analysis
I.3. Relative and Circular Motion
Sep. 16
I.3. Relative and Circular Motion
Sep. 18
I.4 Newton’s Laws
Lab1 A2 and A3: Linear Kinematics
Sep. 21
I.4 Newton’s Laws
Lab1 A1 Linear Kinematics
Sep. 23
I.5 Forces and Body Diagrams
Sep. 25
I.5 Forces and Body Diagrams
Sep. 28
I.6 Friction
Sep. 30
Oct. 2
Oct. 5
Oct. 7
Oct. 9
Oct. 12
Oct. 14
Oct. 16
Oct. 19
Oct. 21
Oct. 23
Oct. 26
Oct 28
Oct 30
Nov 2
Nov. 4
Exam I Chapters 1-5
II.7 Work and Kinetic Energy
II.8 Conservative Forces and Potential Energy
II.8 Conservative Forces and Potential Energy
II.9 Work and Potential Energy
Lab2 A2 and A3: Newton’s Second Law
II. 9 Work and Potential Energy
Lab2 A1: Newton’s Second Law
II. 10 Center of Mass
III. 11 Conservation of Momentum
III. 12 Elastic Collisions
Exam II Chapters 6-12
Lab3 A2 and A3: Collisions
III. 13 Systems of Particles
Lab3 A1: Collisions
III. 14 Rotational Kinematics
III. 14 Rotational Kinematics
III: 15 Parallel Axis theorem and Torque
III 16 Rotational Dynamics
III 17&18 Rotational Statics
Nov. 6
Nov. 9
Nov. 11
Nov. 13
Nov. 16
Nov. 18
Nov. 20
Nov. 30
Dec 2
Dec. 4
Dec. 7
Dec. 9
Dec. 11
Lab 4 A2 and A3: Rotational Dynamics
III 19&20 Angular Momentum
Lab 4 A1 Rotational Dynamics
IV 21 Harmonic Motion
Exam III Chapters 13-20
IV 22 Pendula
Lab 5 A2 and A3 : Conservation of Energy
IV 23 Harmonic Waves Lab 5 A1: Conservation of Energy
IV 23 Harmonic Waves
IV 24 Waves and Superposition
IV 24 Waves and Superposition
IV 25 Fluid Statics
Lab 6 A2 and A3: Standing Waves IV 25 Fluid Statics
Lab 6 A1: Standing Waves Exam Review
Review - Course Evaluation- Last Day of Classes
Final exam – 1:30pm – 122 Hills