Physics 150, 150A – Physics - Section 1– Spring 2009
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50 in Faraday West 200
Bob Shea Faraday East C223
shea320@sbcglobal.net
Office hours: M,W,F - 12 Noon - 1:50 PM. I will also be around in the AM prior to the 11 AM
class time on M,W,F, but times may vary. Generally, I am not available on T, Th. Best thing is
to e-mail me in advance to make sure about meeting you. I check e-mail frequently
Class home page: check Blackboard
Textbook: Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt, Pearson/Addison Wesley, 10th edition.
Grading: 5 multiple choice format exams, the last one of which will be on the final exam day
(there will not be a midterm exam per se). Each exam will be worth approximately 16% of the
grade (5 x 16 = 80%). Homework from the previous week will be collected 5 times and will be
worth 20%. The first time will be announced; the others will not be announced. To receive full
credit, you must have 4 of the 5 turned in. Other assignments, or in class worksheets, will be
worked into this same 20%.
Test scores and other grades will be posted on Blackboard. Homework assignments will also
be posted.
Homework will generally consist of completing the Review Questions at the end of each
chapter in Hewitt.
If you are taking the lecture part only, this course is 3 semester hours. If you are taking the lab
section, the course is 4 semester hours. If taking the lab section, you meet at a separate time
once a week with a separate instructor for the lab. The grade I receive from lab will count for
25%, and the other percentages above will be reduced accordingly. If you are enrolled for the
lab, you must attend the classes and complete the work in order to receive a passing grade for
the 4 semester hours of Physics 150A
The grading scale will be 85% - A, 75% - B, 60% - C, 50% - D
Tentative exam dates are Fri., Jan. 30th; Wed., Feb. 18th; Fri., Mar. 20th; Wed., Apr. 15th; and
Wed., May 6th (10 AM), which is the final exam date. If there is interest, there will be a review
session before each exam at 12 Noon, on the last class day before the exam.
The last exam (final exam) will nit be comprehensive, but rather will cover the last 1/5 of the
course material (Chapters 28.27. & 33).
Everything is tentative and subject to change. Announcements of any changes will be made in
class and will take precedence over anything posted. Generally, this should not be an issue at
all.
Topics to be covered:
Chapter 3
Chapter 2,4,5
Linear Motion
Newton's 1st, 2nd, 3rd Law of Motion
3 days
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Momentum
Energy
Rotational Motion
2 days
3 days
2 days
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 15
Gravity
Projectile & Satellite Motion
Temperature, Heat, & Expansion
3 days
3 days
Chapter 19
Chapter 20,21
Chapter 23
Vibrations & Waves
Sound, Musical Sounds
Electric Current
Chapter 28
Chapter 27
Chapter 33
Reflection & Refraction
Color
The Atomic Nucleus & Radioactivity
4 days
3 days
2 days
4 days
4 days
3 days
2 days
2 days
40 classes + 5 test days = 45 days
Good luck in Physics 150 / 150 A this semester.
Success in this course will be a combination of:
1) regular class attendance
2) reading and rereading of the chapter material
3) completion of the Review Questions for homework for each chapter
See me about any and all problems, and I will try and help you resolve them.