Syllabus for Phys 124, “Particles and Waves”
Fall 2013
Instructor: Craig Heinke
Phone: (780) 248-1432
Email: heinke@ualberta.ca
Office: CCIS 2-109
Office hours: M 11-12 am, Th 10:30-11:30 am. I will also be happy to meet you at other
times; email me to arrange an appointment, or talk to me briefly after class. Additional
support exists, see below.
Course room and time: CCIS 1-430, MWF 10:00-10:50 AM.
Course webpage: eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/portal (eClass). Please check the eClass webpage
regularly for important announcements.
Undergraduate lab (UGL) webpage: www.physics.ualberta.ca/en/ugl.aspx .
Course Description: This course is an algebra-based introduction to physics, covering the
motion of matter and of waves. We will study how to mathematically model the universe,
discussing topics like Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, gravity, waves, and a taste of
quantum physics.
Prerequisites: Physics 20 and Pure Mathematics 30 or Mathematics 30-1. Physics 30 is
strongly recommended. Note: Credit may be obtained only for one of PHYS 124, 144, EN
PH 131 or SCI 100. If one wishes to proceed to PHYS 146 after taking PHYS 124, one
should achieve a minimum grade of B- in PHYS 124.
Required Textbooks:
“Physics”, Custom 2nd Edition, by James S. Walker (in bookstore). Either the Custom 2nd
Edition (sold in the bookstore), the (First) Custom Edition, or the Fourth Edition (from
which the Custom Editions are taken) will be fine.
“Mastering Physics”, which is packaged with “Physics” for new textbooks. Students not
wishing to purchase the textbook will need to obtain a stand-alone registration code, available
in the bookstore or online.
An ’iClicker’, available in bookstore.
Lab manual, available for downloading from the UGL website or the class website.
Structure of Course: This is not a straightforward lecture course. Physics involves more
than just memorization, so I will ask you to participate actively in your learning throughout the course. Before each class, I will ask you to read relevant chapters from the text,
and to complete a reading quiz on the material weekly. During class, I will explain (and
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demonstrate) various topics, and will ask you to answer questions using your iClicker, and
to discuss questions with your neighbours. You are responsible for reading the assigned
chapters, which include material that will not be covered in class but may be on exams.
Marking Scheme:
Homework (see schedule at bottom):
7%
Clicker participation:
3%
Final Exam (expected Dec. 11, 9am): 45%
Midterm 1 (on Oct. 7):
15%
Midterm 2 (on Nov. 4):
15%
Labs & tutorials
15%*
Minimum of 50% in lab is required to pass the course. Lab/tutorial material will be
included in written class exams. Final exam schedules are set by the Registrar.
Grades are calculated from the scores of each component, averaged using the weights
specified in this course syllabus. This overall mark is then used to assign course grades.
Grade boundaries will be decided based on a combination of historical student performances and the instructor’s expectations and judgment. Where possible, natural grade
boundaries will be used. The absolute percentage scores to secure a particular grade
will vary from year to year because it is not possible to write exams with consistently
identical difficulty levels. The course average will be 2.62, or B-; this is required by
the department.
Homework will be done through Mastering Physics, at www.masteringphysics.com.
Late homework will not be accepted; the due date is 11:59 pm of the due date indicated
on the schedule. I expect students who add the class during the drop/add period to
have been attending class and doing homework, so joining the class late is not an
excuse for missing homework. The lowest homework grade will be dropped from your
mark. This policy is designed to cover the majority of problems that lead students
to ask for an excusal from a homework assignment. Note that homework will include
reading questions about material not yet covered in class.
On-line homework is a component of this course and is provided by a third-party
company. Please be aware that this company will be storing assessment information
that may be associated with you. If you have any concerns about this, please contact
me.
Clicker Participation counts as part of your grade, and is a key component of your
learning. To register your iClicker, go to iClicker.com, or send me the ID of your
remote and your student ID number and name (this must be done by the last day of
classes to earn credit). Up to six unexcused missed classes will be forgiven.
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Laboratory work, via weekly labs, is required to pass this course. The schedule will
be posted at http://www.physics.ualberta.ca/ugl/Schedules.aspx ; labs start on Monday Sept. 16. Missed labs have to be made up during the term. Under extenuating
circumstances (medical, family crisis, etc.), a student may be offered an excused absence from the labs. A maximum of two excused absences are allowed. The student
must fill out an excused absence form (available in UGL shop room L2-069) and hand
it to the TA. if the form is not filled out promptly (within a week of the missed lab),
a grade of ”0” will be assigned to the missed lab.
Midterms will be held on Oct. 7 and Nov. 4 in class. The Final Exam date and
location is set by the Registrar; I expect it to be on Dec. 11, at 9 am. It is your
responsibility to be at the correct location at the right time for each exam. All exams
cover all preceding material, though the second midterm will focus on material since
the first midterm. (More exam details on pages 3 and 4 below.)
Course Exam Policies
Exams are closed book. Bring an approved calculator (see below), a pencil, a photo ID (e.g.
OneCard), and one formula sheet. A suggested formula sheet will be provided to you one
week before each exam, you may add to it or write your own sheet instead (both sides okay).
Exams are multiple choice; multiple versions of the exam are likely to be circulating. You
must give your name, student ID, and the exam version on your ScanTron to receive credit.
If you must miss a midterm (e.g. due to illness), you may apply for a deferral of the midterm
weight to the final exam, by making a Statutory Declaration (available from the Student
Services office, CCIS). If you must miss the final, apply to your Faculty office within 48 hours
of the missed final with a Statutory Declaration, to request to be allowed to take a deferred
final exam. Deferred final exams will be Sat., Jan. 25, 9am–noon, in CCIS L1-047. Deferral
of exams is a privilege and not a right.
Past exams (without answers) are available at the exam registry.
If you are registered with SSDS, it is your responsibility to provide me with a “Letter of Introduction”, and to comply with SSDS deadlines and regulations, available at
www.ssds.ualberta.ca or the SSDS office.
Academic Integrity:
From the University Calendar: “The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these
standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this
respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the
Code of Student Behavior (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca/) and avoid any behaviour
which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts
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and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result
in suspension or expulsion from the University. All forms of dishonesty are unacceptable
at the University. Cheating, plagiarism and misrepresentation of facts are serious offenses.
Anyone who engages in these practices will receive at minimum a grade of zero for the exam
or paper in question and no opportunity will be given to replace the grade or redistribute
the weights. Any offense will be reported to the Senior Associate Dean of Science who will
determine the disciplinary action to be taken.”
How does academic integrity apply to the different components of this class?
Collaboration on homework and labs can increase learning, so we encourage it. Graded
work, however, should represent your understanding of the material, and should be written
up separately. Details:
Homework: You may work together to complete the homework, but must enter your own
answers into the homework system.
Reading quizzes: These should be done on your own.
Clicker questions: I intend you to collaborate on these questions; discussion of these questions will be a key element of our class experience. To supply answers for credit, you must
be in class with your own clicker. If I or any of my TAs catch someone with multiple clickers,
we may take them all for that class and submit an academic dishonesty report for everyone
involved.
Lab: You will have a lab partner with whom you are expected to collaborate. Your answers
on lab writeups should be your own, not a direct copy of your partner’s.
Midterms & Exams: You must work entirely by yourself with no access to course materials,
besides the formula sheet that you may prepare as you like. You are expected to have photo
ID available on request. A calculator may be used, provided it is not a programmable or
graphing calculator. Bringing an illegal calculator to an exam may be considered an attempt
to cheat. We suggest TI-30X IIS, TI-30X IIB, TI-30XS MultiView, HP 10S, HP 30S, CASIO FX-115MS Plus, CASIO FX-115ES Plus, Sharp EL-520V or EL-520VB as good choices.
Using one of these, or any calculator with a Faculty of Engineering gold calculator sticker
on it, will ensure no problems. Cellphones, iPods, laptops, or any other devices with
remote communication capabilities are not permitted in exams, and their possession will be
considered an attempt to cheat.
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Help: Helpful resources, for
What/Who
Me
Lab TAs
Tutorial Room
Student Success Centre
SSDS
Peer Support Services
Financial Aid Info Centre
this course or life in general.
Helps With
Contact
Physics
See top of syllabus
Physics labs
During your lab
Physics homework
CCIS L2-181 (see their posted hours)
Learning, writing, etc. 2-300 SUB, success@ualberta.ca
Help with disabilities 2-800 SUB, ssdsrec@ualberta.ca
Someone to talk to
2-707 SUB, or call 780-492-HELP
Financial help
1-80 SUB, sfaic@su.ualberta.ca
Learning Objectives:
Below is a list of everything I expect you to know how to do by the end of Phys 124; thus,
these are the things I will test you on, perhaps in combination, in qualitative or quantitative
problems.
1) Quantitatively test hypotheses using numerical data.
2) Convert between different units for measuring the same quantity.
3) Perform calculations using the correct number of significant digits from the information
given in a problem.
4) Understand the relationships between position, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.
5) Compute velocity and/or acceleration, using appropriate equations for constant acceleration.
6) Understand and sketch graphs of position, velocity, or acceleration vs. time.
7) Apply the constant-acceleration equations to solve multi-phase problems, where the acceleration changes 1 or 2 times.
8) Add and subtract vectors, and multiply vectors by scalars.
9) Resolve vectors into their components along coordinate axes.
10) Use vector forms of the equations relating position, velocity, and acceleration.
11) Understand the motion of objects in uniform gravity (e.g. to compute the motion of
projectiles).
12) Explain what a force is and how it affects the motion of objects.
13) Explain Newton’s laws of motion.
14) Identify inertial reference frames in which Newton’s laws can be applied.
15) Identify force-pairs and the objects on which they act.
16) Draw and label a diagram of all real, external forces acting on a body in an inertial
reference frame.
17) Figure out the direction and magnitude of the net force on a body experiencing forces
from different directions, and identify equilibrium states.
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18) Solve for the motion of objects under multiple forces.
19) Relate the mass and weight of objects on Earth and elsewhere.
20) Determine normal forces acting on a body from surfaces with which it is in contact.
21) Analyze motion of bodies subject to friction.
22) Analyze systems of objects with linear restoring forces (e.g., springs).
23) Analyze the motion of a body moving in a circular path.
24) Understand work, and determine the work done by a constant force on an object during
its motion.
25) Apply the work-energy theorem to the kinetic energy, and use this to determine changes
in speed, or forces required to change speed in a given distance.
26) Contrast potential and kinetic energy.
27) Explain the meaning of a conservative force, and be able to distinguish conservative from
non-conservative forces.
28) Analyze problems involving path-dependent non-conservative forces, and/or path-independent
conservative forces.
29) Trace changes in energy through different forms under the law of conservation of energy.
30) Calculate work done by a conservative force, using the associated potential energy.
31) Relate impulse, linear momentum, and the average force acting on an object.
32) Use conservation of momentum and energy to calculate how particles behave during
collisions.
33) Contrast elastic, inelastic, completely inelastic, and impossible collisions.
34) Understand the rotational kinematic variables θ, ω, and α and their relations to linear
kinematic variables.
35) Apply equations of rotational kinematics to solve problems involving constant angular
acceleration.
36) Decompose acceleration into tangential and radial/centripetal components.
37) Relate rotational kinetic energy and moment of inertia, and solve problems involving
them.
38) Apply conservation of mechanical energy to solve problems involving bodies that roll
without slipping.
39) Relate torque to the moment of inertia and angular acceleration, and compute problems
relating them.
40) Solve problems in static equilibrium to compute forces, torques, or positions where forces
are applied.
41) Solve problems involving pulleys to determine accelerations, tensions, or other forces.
42) Calculate the angular momentum of a particle with respect to an arbitrary point, or a
rotating rigid body.
43) Understand how to use angular momentum conservation, and apply it to solve problems
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involving multiple bodies.
44) Use Newton’s Law of Gravity to determine the gravitational force (magnitude and direction) on a mass due to other masses.
45) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a system, and use energy conservation to
calculate escape velocities and unknown speeds or positions of objects (e.g. rockets).
46) Relate the position, velocity, and acceleration of an object in simple harmonic motion
(SHM).
47) Sketch a graph of displacement, velocity and/or acceleration of a SHM system, and determine amplitude, period and frequency of motion from the graph.
48) Calculate kinetic and potential energies of an SHM system given a graph of a kinematical
quantity, or derive properties of an SHM system given an energy diagram.
49) Calculate the properties of SHM for a physical system, such as a spring.
50) Understand the properties of traveling waves, and determine amplitude, wavelength and
frequency from an appropriate graph or wavefunction.
51) Apply relations between wavelength, frequency, and velocity for any wave, and between
speed, tension, and mass density for a traveling mechanical wave.
52) Understand the superposition principle for waves, and determine where interference maxima or minima will occur, or for what frequencies or wavelengths a particular point will feel
constructive or destructive interference.
53) Understand the classification of the electromagnetic waves, and be able to compare properties of these waves in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
54) Apply principles of interference and diffraction to waves through one or two slits to
calculate the angles or positions where the intensity is zero or maximum, or to calculate the
slit geometry or wavelength from a given pattern.
55) Describe and calculate patterns formed from a diffraction grating, and how they differ
from one- or two-slit interference patterns.
56) Relate the various properties (energy, momentum, frequency, wavelength) of photons.
57) Understand the photoelectric effect, including the energetics of ejecting electrons from a
metal (its work function), and the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons.
58) Calculate the change in wavelength of scattered X-rays, or the photon scattering angle,
in Compton scattering given the other.
59) Apply conservation of momentum and/or conservation of energy to a Compton scattering problem to solve for kinematic quantities.
60) Describe the experimental evidence for light being a wave, and for light being a particle.
61) Calculate the de Broglie wavelength, or momentum, of a particle given the other, and
apply this relation to related problems.
62) Calculate the mean and estimate the uncertainty of a measured quantity.
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Class
Date
1
W, Sept. 4
2
F, Sept. 6
3
M, Sept. 9
4
W, Sept. 11
5
F, Sept. 13
6
M, Sept. 16
7
W, Sept. 18
8
F, Sept. 20
9
M, Sept. 23
10
W, Sept. 25
11
F, Sept. 27
12
M, Sept. 30
13
W, Oct. 2
14
F, Oct. 4
15
M, Oct. 7
16
W, Oct. 9
17
F, Oct. 11
18
W, Oct. 16
19
F, Oct. 18
20
M, Oct. 21
21
W, Oct. 23
22
F, Oct. 25
23
M, Oct. 28
24
W, Oct. 30
25
F, Nov. 1
26
M, Nov. 4
27
W, Nov. 6
28
F, Nov. 8
29
W, Nov. 13
30
F, Nov. 15
31
M, Nov. 18
32
W, Nov. 20
33
F, Nov. 22
34
M, Nov. 25
35
W, Nov. 27
36
F, Nov. 29
37
M, Dec. 2
38
W, Dec. 4
Topic
Intro
Velocity, acceleration
Constant acceleration
Vectors
Projectile motion
Projectile motion
Newton’s Laws
Weight, Normal Forces
Applying Newton
Circular Motion
Work
Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy
Potential Energy
Midterm 1
Linear Momentum
Momentum, Impulse
Collisions
Rotational Kinematics
Rotational Kinematics
Rotational Kinematics
Torque
Torque
Angular Momentum
Gravity
Midterm 2
Gravity
Oscillations
Springs
Waves
Sound, EM Wavesa
Interference
Interference
Diffraction
Intro to Quantum
Intro to Quantum
Intro to Quantum
To be determined
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Reading
1.1-1.8
2.1-2.4
2.5-2.7
3.1-3.6
4.1-4.2
4.3-4.4
5.1-5.4
5.6-5.7
6.1-6.4
6.5
7.1
7.2-7.3
8.1-8.2
8.3-8.4
9.1-9.2
9.3-9.4
9.5-9.6
10.1-10.2
10.3-10.4
10.5-10.6
11.1-11.2
11.3,11.5
11.6-11.7
12.1-12.2
12.4-12.5
13.1-13.3
13.4-13.5
14.1-14.2
14.4, 25.3
14.7-14.8
28.1-28.2
28.4,28.6
30.1
30.2-30.3
30.4-30.5
HW
Lab
A
B
C
D
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
E
F
G
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
H
I
J
K
7
7
7
8
8
8
Detailed schedule.
Notes: a Section 25.3 will be available as a handout for those who have the First Custom
Edition.
This schedule may be altered; it will be updated on the eClass site with any changes noted
there and in emails to all registered students.
Any typographical errors on this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced
in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over
the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
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