LaGuardia Community College
City University of New York
SCP 231 General Physics I (Sections 165A & 165B)
Academic Term: FALL 2020
Instructor Name: Dr. Vasilios Deligiannakis
Instructor Contact Info:
Email: vdeligiannakis@lagcc.cuny.edu
Class times:
Lecture: Wed & Fri, 9:15-11:30
Lab: Mon, 9:15-11:30
Location: Online, Scheduled via Zoom
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:00-2:00 pm (available on Zoom by appointment with the
email above)
Text: D. Halliday, R. Resnick, and J. Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, 11th edition
(extended), Wiley, ISBN 978-0-470-46908-8. Make sure it has the Wiley Plus Code.
Course Description: This course is the first part of the introductory physics sequence for
scientists and engineers. We explore Newton’s Laws and the theory of classical mechanics
using the language of calculus, this course has a prerequisite/co-requisite of MAT 202. A
list of topics covered in this course includes: Measurement; units; one-dimensional motion;
vector analysis; two- and three-dimensional motion; Newton’s laws of dynamics;
momentum and force; work and energy; conservation of energy; Newton’s law of
gravitation; center of mass; conservation of momentum; collisions; rotational motion;
moment of inertia; oscillatory motion; hydrostatics; fluid flow; heat and temperature; laws
of thermodynamics.
Academic Integrity Policy: Instructors of this course are required to implement the College
Policy regarding cheating on examinations and quizzes. A complete statement of the policy
can be found at: library.laguardia.edu/files/pdf/academicintegritypolicy.pdf
Attendance Policy: Attendance at all class sessions, lecture and laboratory, is essential for
proper understanding and mastery of the course material. Yow are required to attend all classes
and laboratories in their entirety. The general attendance policy of the LaGurdia Community
College will be followed.
If you should be absent for unavoidable reasons, you must check in and inform me prior to the
absence.
Assignments: Students must complete and hand in all reports.
Note: Although laboratory counts only 20% of the grade, a student cannot receive a passing
grade without completing all the requirements.
Calculators: You can use scientific and graphing calculators for solving problems in this
class, this includes during exams. The calculator cannot have an internet connection or
have a purpose other than calculations: TI-89 is O.K. however phones and tablets, smart
watches and any other device with an internet connection are not allowed during exams
and will result in an immediate 0 on the exam.
Learning Objectives:
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
Explain and understand basic physical concepts and principles such as position, velocity,
acceleration, force, Newton’s Laws, and energy conservation.
Use quantitative methods to develop physical models of mechanical systems and solve
problems based on these models using various mathematical techniques.
Obtain and analyze experimental data and learn to appropriately compare experimental
results to theoretical predictions.
Understand the limitations of computerized instrumentation and sensors in data collection.
Communicate experimental results in lab write ups and discuss these results and their
physical implications in a written report.
Grading Breakdown:
Examination 1……………… 20%
Examination 2……………… 20%
Examination 3……………….20%
Laboratory………………….. 20%
Homework…………………..20%
Homework:
We will be using the online homework component of the text (Wiley+) to do
homework in this class. You are required to obtain a registration code and register for
Wiley+.
The homework will consist of solving problems at the end of the chapter in the text. Solving
problems is a large part of learning physics and you will be assigned problems that
challenge you to use many of the mathematics skill and critical thinking skills that you
have developed throughout your education.
1. It is a good idea to do all work on paper as if you were not doing it online and then
simply type in your answer in the prompt. If there is a problem with the program
and you have paperwork I can check, and I can manually accredit points.
2. You will be given 2 attempts to answer the question if after the third attempt your
answer is still incorrect, email me the paperwork for full credit.
Schedule and Exams
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Topic
Measurement and Units
Introduction to One Dimensional Motion
Vectors
Two and Three Dimensional Motion
Force and Motion-I
Exam 1
Force and Motion-II
Circular Motion
Kinetic Energy and Work
Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy
Center of Mass and Linear Momentum
Rotation
Exam 2
Rolling, Torque
Angular Momentum
Equilibrium and Elasticity
Gravitation
Oscillations
Fluids, Heat, Kinetic Theory of Gases …
Exam 3
Readings
Chapter: 1.1 – 1.7
Chapter: 2.1 – 2.10
Chapter: 3.1 – 3.8
Chapter: 4.1 – 4.9
Chapter: 5.1 – 5.9
10/14/2020
Chapter: 6.1 – 6.4
Chapter: 6.5
Chapter: 7.1 – 7.9
Chapter: 8.1 – 8.8
Chapter: 9.1 – 9.7
Chapter: 10.1 – 10.10
11/18/2020
Chapter: 11.1 – 11.6
Chapter: 11.7 – 11.12
Chapter: 12.1 – 12.7
Chapter: 13.1 – 13.9
Chapter: 15.1 – 15.9
FINAL EXAM (Exam 3) will take place during the finals period.
12/16/2020
Distance Labs:
I will discuss on the first day expectations for written reports after that you will shortly
have access to lab assignments and their due dates will be posted in Blackboard and they
will be due regularly throughout the semester.
Screen capture instructions will be provided of Phet simulations which are freely available
at the following web site:
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics [phet.colorado.edu]
The first two labs in SCP 231 will be the exception, data files will be provided for these
two labs and students can analyze data and using the original lab instructions with some
modification.