PHYSICS 101
MAJOR CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS
FALL 2015
PHY 101 qualifies for both the basic and general list requirements in the Natural Sciences and
Mathematics Division in the Liberal Arts Core and meets the requirement as a course with a
laboratory.
Course, Staff & General Information
Lecturer
Prof. Kenneth Foster
215 Physics Building
443-9220
e-mail: kwfoster@syr.edu
PHY101 must be in the subject title!!!
When you have an emergent problem you are welcome to contact me by email. Please do not e-mail me questions that are already answered in this syllabus and
if appropriate ask a teaching assistant first.
Office Hours
By appointment and Monday 4:00 to 5 pm.
Please bring your CLASS NOTES to any office hour discussion.
Lectures
Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:15-3:35 p.m.
Stolkin Auditorium, Physics Building
It is important that you ATTEND and ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in these
lectures. We introduce new ideas, concepts, formalisms, typical
homework/conceptual problems, and demonstrate them by demo experiments.
Workshops
Meet in room 110 in the Physics Building, starting September 14, 2015.
Each of you must be registered for a lab meeting (Workshop) scheduled once
a week. The labs provide experiments that reveal and support an idea or a
principle that has already been or will soon be discussed in the lecture.
Workshops provide an opportunity for improving your understanding about
conceptual physics by reinforcing difficult concepts, engaging in cooperative
learning activities, describing applications, and working through example
problems.
Administrative Questions
For add/drops and ALL administrative issues related to this course.
Ms. P. Whitmore, Course and Undergraduate Secretary
Undergraduate Office, Rm. 111, Physics Bldg. (443-1915)
Textbook
“Physics” by Alan Giambatista, Betty Richardson, and Robert C. Richardson,
Third Edition (2016). This is an outstanding textbook for conceptual physics.
Furthermore, the textbook is designed to aid premeds to take MCATs.
Students must use Connect and its SmartBook to prepare for lectures. The
same text will be used for PHY102 in Spring 2016.
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In the bookstore
3e Connect access card (with ebook): 9781259629525 (required)
3e Student Solutions manual; 9780077340551 (optional)
Also Direct from McGraw-Hill
3e Connect access card (with ebook) through the course URL $45; option to buy 3e Loose Leaf
inside Connect $40, which includes shipping
3e Student Solutions manual through direct to student site (site coming soon) (optional)
Prep for College Physics Aleks access (optional review tutorial on the algebra needed for this
course); $30
Teaching Assistants
Ethan Stanifer,
409 Physics Bldg
Frank Toriello
314 Physics Bldg
Gabriele Rigo,
422 Physics Bldg
Michael Senatore
427 Physics Bldg
COURSE DESCRIPTION PHY 101 Major Concepts in Physics, deals with energy and the
allied ideas of motion, forces, heat, and electricity. We will learn how physicists have successfully
described our world. Our study will help you build your scientific understanding of the world and
develop skills necessary for critical thinking and problem solving. The course surveys introductory
physics and its applications to biology, chemistry, biotechnology, medicine, engineering, nanotechnology,
geography and so on. No prior knowledge of physics is required, but knowledge of elementary algebra is
required.
Many of the chapters will not be covered in their entirety and the course outline will deviate
slightly from that of the textbook. Sometimes only a small fraction of a chapter will be discussed in the
lecture. I will explicitly indicate the textbook fragments most relevant for the PHY 101 exams.
Primary focus will be the following chapters
Chapter 2. 1 D Motion
Chapter 4. Forces and Newton’s Laws
Chapter 6. Conservation of Energy
Chapter 7. Linear Momentum
Chapter 9. Fluids
Chapter 10. Elasticity and Oscillations
Chapter 13. Temperature and the Ideal Gas
Chapter 14. Heat
Chapter 15. Thermodynamics (a bit)
Chapter 16. Electric forces and fields
Chapter 17. Electric potential
Chapter 18. Electric current and circuit
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Lecture Attendance is important, especially because material will be covered in the lecture that is
not available elsewhere. You are responsible for all announcements regarding curriculum,
schedule, etc. made during lecture.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REGISTER FOR CONNECT THROUGH BLACKBOARD!!
How to Register for Connect via Blackboard:
To get started, click the first Connect LearnSmart assignment in your Blackboard course. You'll
be prompted to either login with an existing Connect account username and password, or to
create a new account. Then enter your access code, purchase access online or begin a free trial
period. Once you've completed your selection, you'll arrive at the start of your first Connect
assignment.
Exams: There are four exams, October 5, November 2 and the Final Dec. 17 counted twice. The
dates of Exams #1 and #2 are the first class days in October and November. These exams
cover all material since the previous exam. The final exam covers the whole course with
some special emphasis on the last 5 weeks of classes. The date of the final exam is
Thursday, Dec 17, 2015, in Stolkin Auditorium, 5:15 to 7:15 P.M. Questions come from
lectures, texts, workshops, and homework. Seats will be assigned and posted in the lobby of
Stolkin Auditorium before each exam. I.D.'s MAY BE CHECKED, SO BRING YOUR I.D.
CARD. All questions concerning grading of exams should be referred to your TA. There are
no make-ups!
“My Assignments”
. The completion of pre-reading assessments done on Connect/Smartbook are an
integral part of your grade. LearnSmart assignments will be due by 11:59 pm of the day
before the relevant class as per the schedule. Questions during lecture are welcome.
Assignments will be found on Connect/Assignments and be either pre-reading
(LearnSmart) or homework problems.
Homework: The homework assignments will be once a week online and communicated weekly
either on Mondays or Wednesdays. Homework will be due as indicated in the assignment
(generally the day before one week after assignment). Solutions to the homework
assignments will be posted online and will be discussed during the following workshops.
Consequently, no late homework will be accepted! Homework problems are a very
important part of the course. The only way to obtain a comprehensive understanding of
conceptual physics in a quantitative manner is to practice it as much as possible. Working
problems is the only way to obtain a deep clarification of each topic.
Grading policy: You will be evaluated, based upon your commitment and accomplishments in the
labs, on the assigned homework, and on the exams and prelecture reading. The exams will
count 66%, earned from the best three of four exams the two midterms (22% each), and the
final exam counted twice. In addition the lab grade will count as 15%. The computer graded
homework will count as 10%, and completion of the pre-reading will count as 9%. As you
can see, the labs, homework and pre-reading will make 34% of your grade, highlighting the
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importance of class attendance and your participation in your own learning. The lowest
homework assignment grade will be dropped; the lowest lab grade will be dropped. From the
net numerical grade, a letter grade is derived. After each midterm has been corrected, how
these grades translate into letter grades will be communicated to you. I anticipate that a grade
of >90% will earn at least an A- and that a grade of 60% will constitute a pass.
HELP
Additional help is available if you feel your elementary algebra is too elementary. McGraw Hill
offers an optional web-based tutor (see page xxiv in textbook)
ALEKS’ Math prep for Physics
Targets gaps in student knowledge
Has individual assessment and learning to ensure student mastery
Adaptive, open-response environment avoiding multiple choice questions
You will need to register using your individual Student Access Codes obtained with your textbook access.
To sign up for ALEKS go to http://www.aleks.com
Click on the link marked "SIGN UP NOW" (to the left, under the space for Registered Users) and supply
this student access code and other information, when prompted. And $30.
You will also need the
Class Name
Math Prep for College Physics Fall 2015
and Course Class Code
LKJH3-WUDDU
Physics Clinic: The Physics Clinic will be held in Room 112, Physics Bldg. The Physics Department is
committed to giving you every opportunity to succeed in the course. The Physics clinic is an opportunity
for free tutoring. Physics graduate students including PHY 101 instructors will be available to help with
the material in this course.
Blackboard:
The SU Blackboard web site (http://blackboard.syr.edu) will be used for all class communication. It will
send email to your @syr.edu address, so make sure that you read emails on that account. Lecture notes
will be made available on Blackboard after the class.
Primary goals for this course:
What should you be getting out of your PHY 101 experience? Our primary goals for you are the
following:
A. Understand that the laws of nature are few in number and that a wide variety of phenomena are
explainable by postulating just a few principles.
B. Gain the skills to solve quantitative problems and to be able to predict a variety of physical
phenomena.
C. Acquire many of the skills necessary for critical thinking. This will be accompanied by a deeper
understanding of the spirit of scientific reasoning.
More specific goals are the following:
A. To understand and be able to explain: (i) forces, momentum, and energy; (ii) some special properties
of fluids and solids; (iii) thermal physics; and (iv) electricity.
B. To be able to solve a variety of physics problems, such as the ones that we assign in the course. In
addition, to be able to answer a variety of conceptual questions, such as those assigned (see Homework
assignments).
C. Develop your understanding of physics to such an extent that, after studying a chapter of “Physics,”
you will be able to answer the conceptual questions and solve quantitative problems given at the end of
the chapter.
A note to premeds
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We think that there is no better way to invest in MCAT preparation other than using a textbook
with built in feedback for your learning. Essentially, every topic covered in PHY 101 is covered on the
MCAT exam. The converse, however, is not true. There are a number of topics covered on the MCAT
exam that are not covered in either PHY 101 or PHY 102. It is simply not possible to discuss all of the
material that may appear on the MCAT exam in a one-year course. However, every time you study
physics and grapple with conceptual questions, you are studying for the MCAT. Therefore, it is worth
investing in PHY 101. The MCAT exam also includes some traditional problems. But, even then, it wants
algebraic expressions. It rarely wants exact numbers. Always solve a problem algebraically first. Then, at
the very end, if requested, put in the numbers. So, a thorough understanding of the basics is what will help
you the most. As a result, all of the time that you spend in the lectures, labs, homework, and clinic will
count. Furthermore, talking to your student peers will help you do well on the MCAT exam. Finally you
should realize that our goal is to prepare you sufficiently that you can learn remaining topics with the
basis we give you.
General tips for making PHY 101 a success
Most lectures will build on previous material. For this reason, it is important not to fall behind.
Here is a recipe for making PHY 101 a success:
Set aside time to study. Student surveys state that the average student spends six hours per week
working on this course, outside of class. For PHY 101, this number should be higher. You should
schedule at least 8 hours per week outside of class time and stick to that schedule. Read and complete the
study assignments and study the lectures that are posted on the course web site.
Attend the lectures. The purpose of the lectures is to introduce new concepts and to relate them to more
familiar ones. These connections are important. You need to identify these connections, and use them
when necessary. If you simply memorize techniques to solve problems, then you will find physics to be
an enormous and disconnected subject. On the other hand, if you learn to think of physics as governed by
just a few rules (e.g., the conservation of energy), then you will find physics to be not only manageable,
but also enjoyable.
Do the homework. Lectures and study assignments set the stage. But only by answering questions and
effectively doing the problems does deep understanding arrive. Get help early and often. Falling behind
will only make your everyday life with PHY 101 harder.
Participate actively in the labs. Test out your skills in a situation in which you can get feedback!
Use the Physics Clinic and my office hours. Personal help is always good.
If there is a problem: First, talk to your Teaching Assistant. Then, if necessary, consult with me. I am
available in Room 225, Physics Bldg, by phone at 443-9220 and by e-mail at kwfoster@syr.edu with
PHY101 included in the subject title!
Course Fee. To support the laboratory and related lecture demonstrations in the co-requisite
course, PHY 101, you have been charged a course fee of $30. This fee helps pay for (i) laboratory
manuals and other handouts, (ii) supplies, small pieces of apparatus, and maintenance for laboratory of
apparatus for lecture demonstrations, and (iii) undergraduate students working in the student and
demonstration laboratories.
At the end of each week’s workshop, you will hand in answers to a few questions based on the lab
activity of that week’s meeting. This will be graded and will form the basis of your lab grade.
ANYONE MISSING MORE THAN TWO (2) workshops WILL RECEIVE A
GRADE OF ZERO (0) FOR THE LAB PORTION OF THE COURSE!
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Physics 101, Major Concepts in Physics
Tentative Course Calendar, Fall 2015
All readings in
”Physics”
Date
Topic
Assignments/Lab for Week
Monday
Aug. 31
Wednesday
Sept. 2
Introduction; Motion
Reading Chapter 1.1-1.9
No WORKSHOP
Reading Chapter 2.1-2.4
Monday
Sept 7
Wednesday
Sept. 9
HOLIDAY
Monday,
Sept. 14
Wednesday
Sept.16
Newton’s Laws F = ma
More F = ma
Reading Ch. 4.1-4.5
WORKSHOP-1 Motion: Position, Velocity
Reading Chapter 4.6-4.8
Monday,
Sept. 21
Wednesday
Sept. 23
Weight, air resistance,
Radial acceleration
Momentum
Reading Ch. 4.10-4.11; 5.1-5.2
WORKSHOP-2 Acceleration, Newton’s Laws
Reading Ch.7.1-7.5
Monday
Sept. 28
Wednesday
Sept. 30
Conservation of Energy
Reading Ch. 6.1-6.4,
WORKSHOP-3 Forces, friction, tension
Reading Ch. 6.4, 6.6-6.8, 6.5MCAT only
Monday,
Oct 5
Wednesday
Oct. 7
EXAM I
Monday,
Oct.12
States of matter, pressure
Wednesday
Oct. 14
Flow
Monday,
Oct. 19
Viscosity, surface
Hooke’s law
Motion in 1-D, Acceleration
Solving problems, Free fall,
vectors
Work, power
No WORKSHOP
Reading Ch. 2.5-2.6; 3.1, 3.3-3.4
3.2 MCAT only
WORKSHOP-4 Work and Energy
Center of mass, 1D collisions, Reading Ch. 7.6-7.7; 8.1-8.2
torque
Reading Ch. 8.3; 8.4-8.6MCAT only;
9.1-9.5
WORKSHOP-5 Exponential, pressure
Reading Ch. 9.6-9.8
tension, Reading Ch. 9.9-9.11; 10.1-10.3
WORKSHOP-6 Fluids
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Wednesday
Oct. 21
Simple harmonic motion
Reading Ch. 10.4-10.7
Monday,
Oct. 26
Wednesday
Oct. 28
Pendulum, waves,
temperature
Ideal gas
Reading Ch. 10.8-10.9;11.1-11.2;13.1-13.3
WORKSHOP-7 Springs and pendulum
Reading Ch. 13.4-13.6
Monday,
Nov 2
Wednesday
Nov 4
EXAM II
Diffusion, Heat
WORKSHOP-8 Behavior of gases
Reading 13.7MCAT only; 13.8; 14.1-14.4
Monday,
Nov. 9
Wednesday
Nov. 11
Conduction, convection,
radiation
First and Second laws
Reading Ch. 14.5-14.8
WORKSHOP-9 Sterling engine
Reading Ch. 14.8; 15.1-15.4
Monday,
Nov. 16
Wednesday
Nov. 18
Engines, Electric current
Resistors, Electric circuits
Week of
Nov. 23
HOLIDAY
Monday
Charge, Electric forces
Wednesday
Dec 2
Electric fields
Monday
Dec 7
Wednesday
Dec 9
Electrical Potential
Thursday
Dec 17
Reading Ch. 16.1-16.4
WORKSHOP-11 Charge, dipole electric
field
Reading Ch. 16.4-16.5, 16.7MCAT only
Capacitors, energy storage
FINAL 5:15-7:15 pm
Reading
Ch.
15.5,15.8;18.1-18.3
WORKSHOP- 10 DC circuits
Reading Ch. 18.4,18.6,18.8-18.10
Reading Ch. 17.1-17.3
WORKSHOP-12 Battery, capacitor
Reading 17.5-17.7
In Stolkin Auditorium
** “MCAT only” means that this section may be included on MCATs, but because of time
limitations will not be covered here. Our purpose is to raise your level of understanding such that
you can learn remaining topics on your own or with some tutorial help.
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Academic Integrity:
We encourage you to find other classmates with whom to study. Working with friends can be
very helpful in learning a difficult subject like physics. However, the final work you turn in must
be your own. There is a distinction between discussing the work, and merely copying someone else's
work. The idea here is that you should communicate and help each other to understand the problems
and the concepts involved; you will learn more, if you work on the assignments in groups and
explain the methods and various approaches to each other. You must engage in your own effort on
solving the problems.
The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the
integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it
is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard
to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work
submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets
and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from
academic dishonesty of any sort. Students found to cheat will receive an F for that assignment.
Students have a right to appeal. For more information and the complete policy, see
http://academicintegrity.syr.edu
Disability-Related Accommodations:
Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with
the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 304 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498. Students
with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodation
Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the
instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore,
planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS
website, Office of Disability Services http://disabilityservices.syr.edu/
SU’s religious observances policy recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus
community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holy days according
to their tradition. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination,
study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their
instructors before the end of the second week of classes. For fall and spring semesters, an online
notification process is available through MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances
from the first day of class until the end of the second week of class. For more information on SU’s
religious observance policy, see http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm.
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