Fall 2010 Syllabus
SC 109
Applied Physics
3 Credit Hour
Textbook
Technical College Physics 3rd Edition:
Thompson Brooks Cole 2008
Wilson
Division of Science, Business and Nursing
Instructor: Dr. Todd R. Leif
Department Chairman
Applied Physics
Fall 2010 Syllabus
Course Number:
SC 109
Time & Day:
12 -1:30 T-R, (Section 1)
MWF 2-3 (Section 2)
Location:
Room 224 (Section 1)
Room 223 (Section 2)
Instructor:
Dr. Todd R. Leif
Office:
Room 220 B
Phone:
785-243-1435 ext 216 (Office)
785-243-7301 (Home) Before 10 p.m.
Email:
tleif@cloud.edu
Required Materials: Textbook: Technical College Physics 3rd Edition: Thompson Brooks/Cole
Pub.2008 Wilson
Computer storage device: i.e. diskettes, jump drive, etc.
Office:
Please see the schedule posted outside my office.
Note: Responsibilities & Committee assignments may place me in other areas of the
college during office hours
Advisement Center: Tuesday: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Thursday: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The applied physics course is designed to teach the basic concepts of physics,
while applying them to practical situations and situations pertaining to wind energy and wind energy
generation. Students will use a hands-on approach to study the concepts of force, work, rate, resistance and
energy as related to mechanical, fluid, electrical and thermal systems.
PREREQUISITE: Completion of Workplace Math, Intermediate Algebra or higher-level math course with a C
or better.
SEQUENCING: This class is offered in the fall semesters each school year
TEACHING METHODS:
COURSE PROJECTS:
Each weekly module will include project work to be done in conjunction with the assigned classroom work.
These projects will include written exercises and hands-on demonstrations of competency using various
technical equipment.
IN-CLASS USE OF TECHNOLOGY:
Communication devices have become a very important part of our society. Computers, pages, and cell phones
are commonplace and very useful tools. These are, however times and places where the use of these devices is
inappropriate. The policy in this class is as follows
A) Cell phones and pagers are to be turned off during class unless specific arrangements have been made with
your instructor.
B) Laptop computers are to remain off and closed during class unless otherwise instructed.
C) Display of any sexually explicit material is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to; wallpaper,
screensavers, e-mail images and display of inappropriate websites.
D) Instant messaging services and chat rooms are not to be used at any time during class.
ASSIGNMENT POLICY:
Daily assignments will be written using assigned problem sheets and should include a drawing, a list of the
given information, equations used, bar charts, and well as graphical representations, and the algebraic solution
when required. Multiple representations of problems will be examined throughout the course and this format
will be the only way that papers will be accepted.
METHOD OF EVALUATION/GRADING: Since this course is an “Experimental” science course the
instructor reserves the right to adjust the grading scale as the course progresses. However the general structure
for administering final grades will be the following.
10 weekly exams or classroom activities @ 100 points each 1000 points
3 unit exams @ 100 points each 300 points
1 comprehensive final @ 200 points 200 points
TOTAL POINTS FOR COURSE 1500 points
Note: Basically you will be getting the opportunity to earn 100 points each week of the semester. An
assignment received/completed after the due date will not receive full credit. A traditional grading scale of the
following will be used to record the letter grades.
Letter Grade Percentage Score Min. Points (1500)
A 100-90 1350
B 89-80 1200
C 79-70 1050
D 69-60 900
F 59-00
COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is required. Absence from any examination must be approved in
advance by the instructor and is the responsibility of the student. Any student who misses an examination
without prior approval will receive a deduction of ten percent on the exam. Students can opt to make up missed
tests in the LSC but need to be aware that the LCS will not proctor make-up tests after 12:00 noon on the last
day of the semester. Any missed exams need to be made up in a timely manner so other students in the course
can receive current feedback from their examinations.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
It is imperative that each student does his/her own work. The following policy will apply to all students in
class.
Infractions of academic integrity (honesty) shall include:
 Using another student’s work without giving the student credit for the work. In other words, taking
someone else’s file and placing your name on it and claiming it is yours, using another student’s quiz, or
help on a quiz/exam.
 Giving another student your file(s) knowing that he/she intends to turn it in as his/her own creation,
giving another student your quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she does
the work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating:
“Cheating means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.”
1. You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers, or
help during an exam.
2. You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books
to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are
taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
3. You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been
corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available from the Office of
University Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a
book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s and not
your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct quotation and
supply the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording,
appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a
paper as your own that you did not write.
PENALTIES FOR INFRACTIONS:
The instructor reserves the rights to “terminate you from employment” a.k.a. remove you from the class for
unethical practices. Cheating will not be tolerated. The course is an essential element for a student who is
planning on going into the professional workforce. These professional technical jobs require the utmost ethical
standards and this “training” experience needs to be approached as such. Many of you might consider asking me
for a job reference and I cannot give a reference to somebody who lacks ethics or a strong workplace
background. Hence ethics are an essential to this learning experience. If you cheat you will not succeed in this
course.
CONDUCT: I expect you to behave like you are a working professional. Hence your continued employment
will be based upon your ability to meet deadlines, make appointments, and produce a finished product. This
course is supposed to train you for a career in an engineering type field and your conduct should be appropriate.
This philosophy is based upon the following decorum statement.
Decorum – Respect will be given by all involved in the class to all involved in the class. I will respect you as
an autonomous responsible individual. I will expect you to return that respect. Being chronically late, visiting,
jumping in and out of the classroom, sleeping, doing homework is disrespectful. If you do it in this class, you
may be dropped from the course.
EXAMINATION POLICY: Exams will cover material, which has been presented in lecture as well as
originating from assigned reading and problem sets. A formula sheet can be created by the student and will be
allowed for each exam. Exam questions will be multiple choice type, short answer, and problem based type.
Showing required work and multiple representations is generally required on all exams.
INSTRUCTOR ASSISTANCE: I am available in my office at various hours as posted on the door. Please stop
by or email me if you need specific arrangements made to obtain instructor assistance.
TUTOR ASSISTANCE:
Tutors are available in the Learning Skills Center. Contact the Learning Skills Center for more information.
INCOMPLETE POLICY:
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented as described
in the Student Handbook. The incomplete must be made up with the instructor assigning the incomplete and
must be completed the semester immediately following the semester in which the class was taken. Refer to the
Student Handbook for a complete explanation.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS:
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic
complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
Science General Education Goal: Although this course is not a General Education course, the students enrolled
in a Science General Education courses will be expected to demonstrate the ability to apply the scientific
process. The department has determined that students who are successful in this course will also be able to
 Recognize the problem to be solved
 Follow written directions accurately
 Demonstrate use of applicable scientific techniques
 Apply deductive reasoning to develop an approach to the problem
 Follow safety guidelines
 Acquire data
 Display data in a clear and organized format
 Collect observations
 Use observations and/or data to reach a relevant conclusion
 Evaluate the validity of the conclusion
 Express ideas, approaches, data, and conclusions in a well-communicated format
Students will be assigned work demonstrating whether or not they can successfully meet these goals.
DEPARTMENT GOALS:
Physical Science Department Goals: Students who complete a natural science department course at Cloud
County Community College should be able to:
1. Understand the nature of science
2. Become proficient in using science process skills to solve problems and make decisions.
3. Develop skills to manipulate and/or operate science equipment.
4. Develop responsible attitudes toward the environment, science, technology and society.
5. Understand basic scientific concepts and principles.
The department goals are the basis for the total framework of the physical science curriculum and are composed
of (1) the nature of science, (2) process skills, (3) manipulative skills, (4) attitudes toward science, and (5)
concepts.
Levels of Learning
1. The student is able to analyze and evaluate Physical Science program goals (1-5).
2. The student is able to define, interpret and discuss Physical Science program goals (1-5).
3. The student fails to define, interpret and discuss Physical Science program goals (1-5).
Standards: Eighty percent of the students finishing a physical science department course at Cloud county
Community College will be able to define, interpret, and discuss (Level 2)
Evaluation of these goals will be ascertained though a variety of coursework that may include reading, writing,
discussion, and oral report assignments.
Criteria
Daily
Method of Evaluation
Homework, attendance,
participation and cooperation
Percentage
20%
Lab Projects
Demonstrated competency
Written exercises
30%
Major Exams
Exams based on reading
Assignments and class discussions
30%
Final Exam
Final exam will cover all material
Presented in the modules
20%
COURSE GOALS: PURPOSE OF THIS COURSE:
At the completion of this course, the following behaviors by the learner will indicate mastery of the knowledge
and skills specified in the instruction.







To recognize and explain basic concepts of physics, emphasizing especially, static and dynamic
mechanics, work and energy, impulse and momentum, heat and thermodynamics, electricity and
magnetism.
To demonstrate a basic vocabulary of physics..
To interpret, and solve workplace-based physics problems.
To demonstrate a knowledge of basic physical principles and the ability to apply these principles
with confidence and facility.
To indicate the knowledge of how a scientist conducts science.
To indicate the knowledge of how a technologist conducts science in a technical field..
To conduct an experiment, synthesize, analyze, and evaluate the data.
ASSESSMENT OF COURSE GOALS:
Assessment of Student Outcomes from this course will be done by examining results from the following activities.
1. Weekly multiple-choice exams
2. Weekly homework problems
3. Calculator problems, Spreadsheet analysis, Graphing problems
4. Ranking task activities, Active Physics computer activities
5. Written activity reports, Formal presentations
6. Computer interfaced activities
7. Small group activities
8. Discovery, exploration activities
9. Major classroom projects
METHOD OF ASSESMENT:
A student’s performance will be assessed and evaluated using several methods. Failure to complete any portion
of this course will be considered grounds for removal from the course of the assigning of a grade of F or I.
Student performance will be evaluated base on completion of assignments done in and out of class, including
laboratory work, project work, written assignments and exams.
PROGRAM EXIT GOALS: (If applicable) Applied Physics is a required course for a number of technical
professional programs. A specific set of program exit goals currently do not exist to be analyzed at the
community college level.
ASSESSMENT of PROGRAM SUCCESS: (If applicable) Since Applied Physics is a required pre requisite
for a number of technical programs the best assessment of its success is the antidotal evidence that is acquired
from our program participants who attend and obtain degrees from our school. These students report their
success to us often times via email and with requests for letters of recommendation etc. The Wind Energy
Department also gives us feedback on their student success.
ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITY:
If you need academic adjustments for any type of disability, see your instructor during office hours or make an
appointment. Students also may contact the Director of Advisement and counseling, located in the Advisement
Center.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
In case of extremely severe weather, the college may close. The following radio and TV stations will be
notified:
KNCK
1390 AM
Concordia
KCLY
100.9 FM
Clay Center
KREP
92.1 FM
Belleville
KHCD
89.5 FM
Hutchinson
KVSV
1190 AM
Beloit
KSAL
1150 AM
Salina
WIBW (TV) Chan. 13
Topeka
KWCH (TV) Chan. 12
Wichita
KOLN (TV) Chan. 10
Lincoln, NE
Notification will also be placed on the internet at www.cancellations.com. A text message will also be sent out
on the Emergency Text Messaging System for the students who have signed up for it.
Students should call the switchboard at 800-729-5101 or 785-243-1435 if they are unable to attend class due to
hazardous conditions. Night class and off campus class cancellations are left to the discretion of the instructor.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
When alarms are sounded or crisis conditions arise, you will be instructed to move to a designated safe area or
to remain in the classroom until the crisis has passed. If you are informed to leave the room, take as many of
your personal belongings as time permits. Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to be used once
you arrive in the safe area outside the building. Students requiring special assistance will be the responsibility
of the instructor or staff person.
Systems of alert for tornado or bomb threat: PA system, phone, or staff interruption of class. In case of fire, the
alarm will sound.
If directed to leave the building, evacuate to the soccer field unless an alternate safe location has been
designated.