Physics PHYS 151
General Physics I
Instructor:
Office Hours:
Class Schedule:
Text :
Brandon Hoffman
MWF
TR
WF
Rm. P107
10:00 – 11:00 AM
2:00 – 3:00 PM
1:30 – 4:20 PM
Fall Semester 2014
Ext. 2350
Rm. P107
Rm. P107
Rm. P118
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics (8 th
ed.) by
Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewett, Jr., Brooks/Cole-Thomson
Learning.
ISBN-10: 0495827819
ISBN-13: 9780495827818
Description: An introduction to the study of physics focusing on central concepts and problem solving. Topics include mechanics, energy, momentum, oscillations, and waves. Six combined lecture/laboratory hours each week.
Prerequisite: MATH 181 or permission from the instructor.
Fulfills an IS Liberal Arts Exploration requirement for Natural Science and
Mathematics.
Objectives: I have several objectives for this class:
1.
I would like for you to display a mastery of the course content at an appropriate level for an introductory physics course. By this I mean you will have a ready command of the ideas and information covered in class.
2.
I would like to see you develop the ability to apply abstract ideas to concrete problems. This will require you to develop your skills of thinking precisely, logically and clearly. It will also require you to perhaps develop a greater degree of mathematical sophistication in your approach to problems.
3.
It is my hope that you will develop the ability to think scientifically, that is, that you will develop the habit of mind to always ask yourself
“how do I know this is true?” with experiment being the final arbiter in questions of a scientific nature.
4.
I would like you to become aware of God’s glory as it is revealed through His creation.
Learning
Outcomes:
The objectives listed above will hopefully be evidenced by the following outcomes:
1.
The ability to solve a wide variety of elementary physics problems by applying the abstract concepts developed in class to specific problems of a practical nature.
2.
The ability to make physical predictions based on a conceptual understanding of a physical situation.

Attendance:
Laptops:
Homework
Reading:
Exams:
:
Excessive absence from class will have a detrimental effect on assigned grades. Labs can be made up within one week for partial credit. The instructor will decide on a case-by-case basis whether tests can be made up.
Laptops are vital to in-class activities, but are often a distraction to learning.
Therefore, the instructor may reduce lab grades for any of the following:
1.
Student does not bring a working laptop to class.
2.
Laptop/technology is open when not needed for required activities.
3.
Laptop/technology is used for any purpose other than required activities.
Problem sets are to be turned in before each lecture period.
Late homework will not be accepted .
I will be very particular about the format of the homework. Sloppy or disorganized work will not be accepted. I will expect the rules shown below to be followed, as described in the handout:
1. Use only one side of your paper.
2. Begin each problem with a pictorial description.
3. Always include diagrams when applicable.
4. Begin every major step in the solution with a description of that step.
5. Include units for every number written.
6. Leave space - do not crowd your work into a tiny area on the page.
7. Box your final answer.
Note: You are welcome to ask classmates, TA’s, or the professor for help on your homework. However, online help will be considered cheating .
Homework will typically be returned within about 2 work days. You are expected to review all corrections carefully and promptly.
You will be expected to keep up with the assigned textbook reading from the course syllabus.
There will be seven 25-minute quizzes on approximately the dates given below. There will also be a final, comprehensive examination. Make-up examinations will be given only in very unusual circumstances.
Test
Motion
Date
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Chapters Covered*
1 – 4
Newton’s Laws
Energy
Momentum
Wednesday, Oct. 8 5 – 6
Wednesday, Oct. 22 7 – 8
Friday, Oct. 31 9
Rotation Wednesday, Nov. 12 10
Angular Momentum & Statics Friday, Nov. 21 11 – 12
Fluids
Final
Friday, Dec. 5
Friday, Dec. 19
14
Comprehensive
*Note: only the sections indicated in the syllabus will be tested.
2

Final Exam: The final examination will be comprehensive. No deviations from the college stated time for the final examination will be allowed, except for dire emergencies. Travel arrangements and weddings do not qualify as dire emergencies.
Formal Lab
Reports:
Each student will write two formal reports (to be written individually ). This will be discussed in detail during class.
Formal Lab
Presentation:
Students will be assigned a lab for which they will give a presentation. This will be discussed in detail during class. group PowerPoint
Grades: A grading rubric for activities in this course can be found on the following website: http://www.houghton.edu/physics/physics-grading-rubric/
The final grade will represent a weighted average of the scores as shown below.
Assignment Percent of Grade
Homework
Laboratory
Formal Papers (4% each)
Formal Presentation
Seven Unit Quizzes (4% each)
Final Examination
TOTAL
25%
25%
8%
4%
28%
10%
100%
Typical minimum time expected for various activities in this course:
Learning activity
Lecture/lab class time
Assigned reading
Researched paper: writing/editing component
Additional comments Typical minimum time on task
160 minutes per class Includes lab activities and written work
Textbook reading without quizzes
5 minutes per page
1.5 hours per finished page
Homework For major courses
Study for in-class exams
10 hours per problem set
5 hours per exam
Presentations
Total Time
Prepare PowerPoint slides and practice for
15 minute talk
4 hours
1.
Each semiweekly set is considered to be one half of a standard physics problem set.
2.
Each unit quiz is considered to be one half of a typical physics exam.
Typical minimum time for the course
4320 minutes
285 minutes
720 minutes
7800 minutes 1
1140 minutes 2
240 minutes
242 hours
3

1.
Wednesday, Sept. 3 Topic: Introduction and Vectors
Vectors 2.
Friday, Sept. 5 Topic:
3.
Wednesday, Sept. 10 Topic:
Sections:
4.
Friday, Sept. 12 Topic:
Sections:
5.
Wednesday, Sept. 17 Topic:
6.
Friday, Sept. 19
Sections:
Topic:
Sections:
7.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 Topic:
Sections:
8.
Friday, Sept. 26
Quiz #1:
Topic:
9.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Sections:
Topic:
10.
Friday, Oct. 3
Sections:
Topic:
Sections:
11.
Wednesday, Oct. 8 Topic:
Sections:
12.
Friday, Oct. 10
Quiz #2:
Topic:
Sections:
13.
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Topic:
Sections:
Motion in One Dimension
Chapter 2, Sections 1-4,6-8
Freefall Motion
Chapter 2, Sections 6-7; Chapter 4, Sections 1-3
Motion in Two Dimensions: Projectiles
Chapter 4, Sections 1-3
Newton’s Laws
Chapter 5, Sections 1-7
Newton’s Laws: Friction
Chapter 5, Section 8
Motion: Chapters 1-4
Newton’s Laws: Pulleys
Chapter 5, Section 7
Circular Motion and Newton’s Laws
Chapter 4, Sections 4-5; Chapter 6, Sections 1-2
Work
Chapter 7, Sections 1-4
Work and Energy
Chapter 7, Section 5-6
Newton’s Laws: Chapters 5-6
Conservation of Energy
Chapter 8, Sections 1-2,5
Momentum: Impulse and Conservation
Chapter 9, Sections 1-3
14.
Friday, Oct. 17
Wednesday, Oct. 22
No Class: October Break
Topic:
Sections:
Collisions in One Dimension
Chapter 9, Section 4
15.
Friday, Oct. 24
Quiz #3:
Topic:
Energy: Chapters 7-8
Collisions in Two Dimensions; Center of Mass
Sections:
16.
Wednesday, Oct. 29 Topic:
17.
Friday, Oct. 31
Sections:
Topic:
Sections:
19.
Friday, Nov. 7
Quiz #4:
18.
Wednesday, Nov. 5 Topic:
Sections:
Topic:
Sections:
20.
21.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Friday, Nov. 14
Topic:
Sections:
Quiz#5:
Topic:
Sections:
Chapter 9, Section 5-6
Rotation: Coordinates, Kinematics, and Energy
Chapter 10, Sections 1-5
Rotation: Rolling Bodies; Torque
Chapter 10, Sections 6-9
Momentum: Chapter 9
Rotation: Torque (cont.)
Chapter 10, Sections 6-8
Angular Momentum and Torque
Chapter 11, Sections 1-3
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Chapter 11, Sections 4-5
Rotation: Chapter 10
Static Equilibrium
Chapter 12, Sections 1-3
4

22.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 Topic:
Sections:
23.
Friday, Nov. 21 Topic:
Sections:
Quiz #6:
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Friday, Nov. 28
24.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
No Class: Thanksgiving Break
Topic:
Sections:
Pressure, Depth, and Archimedes’s Principle
Chapter 14, Sections 1-4
Fluid Dynamics
Chapter 14, Sections 5-6
Angular Momentum and Statics: Chapters: 11-12
Harmonic Motion and Waves on a String
Chapters 15-16
25.
Friday, Dec. 5 Topic:
Sections:
Quiz #7:
26.
Wednesday, Dec. 10 Topic:
Sections:
27.
Friday, Dec. 12 Topic:
Sections:
28.
Friday, Dec. 19 Final:
Time:
Sound Waves and Superposition
Chapter 17, Sections 1-4 and Chapter 18, Sections 1-5
Fluids: Chapter 14
Standing Waves
Chapter 18, Sections 1-5
Beats
Chapters 18, Section 7
Comprehensive
8:00 – 10:00 AM
5