SYLLABUS—PHY 200—Online
Instructor:
Dr. Ethan Deneault
Professor of Physics
University of Tampa
Oÿce: GHS 639
Zoom Link:https://utampa.zoom.us/my/smeevenco
e-mail: edeneault@ut.edu
Communication Plan / Oÿce Hours
Students can contact me via email at edeneault@ut.edu, or through the Q&A discussion board. Please keep
in mind that I may take up to 48 hours to reply to email!
I will be available via Zoom oÿce hours weekly on Wednesdays from 12-2 PM EST and by appointment.
For graded work, it may take up to 72 hours from the due date for feedback to be given or grades to be
updated in the gradebook.
Textbooks and other Required Texts
Textbook
Physics—Modified Mastering with eText by Walker
ISBN: 9781792453960
5th Edition
Mastering Course Code: deneault67835
Lab Manual
General Physics I Lab Manual with iOLab by Deneault
ISBN: 9798765722787
1st Edition
You can find the these course materials through the University of Tampa Bookstore website:
Find Course Materials | University of Tampa Oÿcial Bookstore (bncollege.com)
Mathematical Tools
Other than your brain, you need only a standard scientific calculator for class. Do not be fooled by snazzy
salespeople at Best Buy who try and push the USB 3.0-compatible wonder machine with built in equation
solver, 3D graphics, MP3 player, Twitter feed, washer, dryer and kitchen sink. Chances are that in your
entire college career you will use less than 1/50th of the total possible functions of that device and you’ll
have wasted your money. I use a TI-30X—$24.00 at Wal-Mart—and it has everything that you will ever
possibly need for this class.
This is a math-intensive course. You should have a working knowledge of Algebra, Geometry and
Trigonometry at the college level. I am sympathetic to those who make “dumb mistakes” on tests, but
I am much less sympathetic if you don’t actually know what a fraction is.
Why Are We Here?
A wise person once said “The extremum of biology is chemistry. The extremum of chemistry is physics,
and the extremum of physics is pure mathematics.” Physics encompasses all other natural sciences; it is the
study of the foundations of humanity’s understanding of the universe, rather than the walls or the ceilings.
Physics is at once a natural philosophy and a predictive science; it is predicated on the idea that the
universe works in understandable and reproducible ways. It is the job of the physicist to explain how the
universe works the way that it does.
The primary objective of General Physics I is to provide an introduction to classical Newtonian mechanics:
translational motion, rotational motion, work and energy, collisions, vibrations and fluids. However, this
course is focused on problem solving, not memorization. Through the lens of Newton’s mechanics, we focus
on thinking and reasoning skills, not merely solving math problems. By the end of this course, you will have
practiced both qualitative and quantitative problem solving, and hopefully learned a fair bit about how the
world works.
Course Objectives
CO1: Analyze the motion of particles in one- and two-dimensions using vectors
CO2: Describe the e˙ect of forces acting on particles and how forces a˙ect motion
CO3: Explain the motion of particles using conservation laws (energy, momentum)
CO4: Describe the relationship between work, potential energy and kinetic energy
CO5: Explain the role of forces in the rotation of extended objects and angular momentum
CO6: Analyze the oscillatory motion of springs and pendulums and their relationship to sound and vibrations
CO7: Describe the relationships between pressure, force and energy in the context of fluids, both liquid and gas
CO8: Communicate the solutions to physical systems in a concise, understandable form
Course Schedule
This is a six-week course. Each week is broken up into two modules according to the following schedule.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
Modules
1 and 2
3 and 4
5 and 6
7 and 8
9 and 10
11 and 12
HW
HW
HW
HW
HW
HW
1
3
5
7
9
11
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
1
2
4
6
8
10
Assignments Due
DBQ 1
HW 2
Exam 1 HW 4
Exam 2 HW 6
Exam 3 HW 8
DBQ 7
HW 10
DBQ 8
HW 12
For Week
Vector Project
Lab 3
Lab 5
Lab 7
Lab 9
Lab 11
DBQ 2
DBQ 3
DBQ 4
DBQ 5 & 6
Exam 4
Exam 5
Table 1: Schedule for PHY 200. HW stands for Homework Assignment and DBQ stands for Discussion
Board Question.
General Due Date Policy
Labs/Projects, Homework and Exams are all due by the end of day (11:59:59 PM EST) on Saturday in the
week in which their module is assigned. For example, all work from Modules 3 and 4 are due by the end of
day Saturday in the second week of the course.
Adaptive follow-up homework is due by the Monday of the following week. It is to your benefit to do
this extra assignment as practice for the exam, so do not wait to complete it. Homework assignments due
in the last week of class do not have adapative follow-up assignments.
What About Grades?
Your letter grade in the course is determined by:
Score
92-100
88-91.9
82-87.9
78-81.9
70-78.9
65-69.9
Less than 65
Letter Grade
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F
Table 2: This table describes the score cuto˙ (in percent) required to earn the letter grades marked. Grades
are rounded to the first decimal place, so a 91.92 is an AB, but a 91.95 is considered an A.
Each assignment in the course is weighted according to the following table:
Grading Categories
Homework
Discussion Questions
Exams
Labs/Projects
Grading Points
600 points
160 points
500 points
600 points
Total points 1860
Grading Percent
10%
15%
55%
20%
Total Percent 100%
Number of Assessments
12 (50 points each)
8 (20 points each)
4 (100 points each)
12 (50 points each)
Table 3: Grade weights for PHY 200. To determine the total contribution from your earned points to the
final grade, multiply the two middle columns together.
Late Policy
In general, late work will not be accepted. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis based on the UT
policy for excused absences in the UT General Attendance Policy.
Homework? (600 Points Total, 10% Weight toward final grade)
There will be homework assignments set per Module. All homework will be completed through Mastering
Physics.
Discussion Questions (160 Points Total, 15% Weight toward final grade)
In each module, except for modules with an exam, there will be a discussion board question. In order to get
full marks for this question, you must create a new thread with your answer, and reply to at least two other
students’ threads.
Exams? (500 Points Total, 55% Weight toward final grade)
There are five exams at the end of Modules 3, 5, 7, 10, and 12. These exams are based on the content
shown in the below grid. Keep in mind, however, that Physics is a cumulative subject and understanding of
previous material is important to yor success.
Exam
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4
Exam 5
Modules
1, 2, 3
4, 5
6, 7
8, 9, 10
11, 12
Table 4: This table shows the specific modules focused on in each exam. Understanding previous techniques
and material is important to success on exams, even if the module is not the primary focus of the exam.
Labs/Projects (600 Points Total, 20% Weight toward final grade)
Every Module there is one lab assignment or project. Please watch the video and complete the lab assignment
from the lab manual or from the section on Blackboard.
University Policies
The required UT Syllabus Disclosures including information about Title IX, Academic Honesty, and the
Americans with Disabilities Act can be found at the following link: UT’s Required Syllabus Disclosures.
To learn more about students’ expectations and student conduct follow the Oÿce of Student Conduct.
Please review the Student Code of Conduct and Student Conduct Procedures to learn more about policies
and procedures that are relevant to you.
The Oÿce of Student Conduct upholds University policies and seeks to hold involved students accountable
for their actions through an educational process.