Sauk Valley Community College
Physics 175 Introduction to Physics
Spring 2012
Instructor: Elisa Gatz
Phone: 622-9344 (evening) or 622-2082 (daytime)
Email: gatze@svcc.edu or egatz@sterlingschools.org
http://www.sterlingschools.org/shs/stf/egatz/
Class Schedule: T 6:00-8:10
Th 6:00-8:20
Prerequisite: Math 080 or Math 106 or two years of high school algebra with grades of “C” or
higher.
Text: Inquiry Into Physics, Vern J. Ostdiek and Donald J. Bord, 6th edition.
Text, scientific calculator, paper and pencil or pen should be brought to each class.
Course Description:
Basic concepts of physics, including units in mechanics, sound, optics, electricity,
magnetism and Bohr theory; to build an organized body of knowledge related to physical
phenomena encountered in the student’s life. Designed to meet the laboratory requirements for
non-science majors and students in elementary education.
Course Objectives:
 Use the Scientific Method to analyze different scenarios.
 Discuss the qualitative and quantitative nature of motion and perform simple calculations
involving displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
 Apply Newton’s three laws of motion and universal gravitation to the solution of
practical problems.
 Examine the nature and importance of the major conservation laws of nature and solve a
variety of problems.
 Perform simple calculations using the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
 Use the laws of thermodynamics to answer questions and solve problems about heat,
temperature, and energy.
 Analyze problems involving the properties of waves.
 Solve problems in electricity, magnetism and electromagnetic phenomena.
 Apply the laws governing the behavior of light to a range of natural phenomena and
optical devices.
 Elucidate the Bohr model of the atom and its application to problems in atomic physics.
 State the experimental evidence for wave-particle duality and the fundamental tenets of
quantum mechanics.
 Demonstrate an understanding of radioactivity and the basic properties of the nucleus.
Assessment statement
Sauk Valley Community College is an institution dedicated to continuous instructional
improvement. As part of our assessment efforts, it is necessary for us to collect and analyze
course-level data. Data drawn from students’ work for the purposes of institutional assessment
will be collected and posted in aggregate, and will not identify individual students. Your
continued support in our on-going effort to provide quality instructional services at SVCC is
appreciated.
Privacy
The College policy on student records complies with the “Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act.” This Act is designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the
rights of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for
correction of incorrect or misleading data through formal and informal hearings. A copy of the
Act or questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to
the Dean of Student Services, Ext. 271.
Disability
If you have a disability or suspect that you have one and want to request a classroom
accommodation, it is your responsibility to inform your instructor. Reasonable accommodations
will be made after verification from the Student Needs Coordinator's Office located in Room
1G24, or by calling extension 246.
Attendance:
Regular attendance is very important. If you know you will be gone for a class, please let
me know by email or phone ahead of time. You may miss 3 class periods without penalty as
long as any required work is made up within one week of the absence. Unless there are special
circumstances, there will be a grade deduction for each absence after the third.
Grading:
Grades will be based on tests, quizzes, homework, and lab reports. There will be 3 unit
tests and a final exam. Homework will not be collected each class, but if you wish to save all
homework assigned and turn it in at the end of the course, it can be counted as a substitute grade
for one test. All tests must be taken before the homework substitute will be accepted. The best
thirteen lab report grades will be counted (out of 16), as well as four quiz grades.
Tests
Final Exam
Lab Reports
Quizzes
Total
300 points
100 points
150 points
100 points
650 points
The grading scale will be 90-100% for an A, 80-89% for a B, 70-79% for a C, and 60-69% for a
D.
Homework:
There will be problems assigned regularly for practice. The answers to the odd problems
are at the back of the book, and I will give you the answers to the even problems that are
assigned. To count for the substitute test grade, all homework problems must be worked out
completely, including units. I will start each class with a time for answering questions you may
have on homework, but you are also encouraged to email, phone, or use the LAC to get help
between class periods.
You are encouraged to work together, but when you prepare an assignment, it should be
your own work. Copying will result in a 0 for each person involved.
Tentative Schedule
Spring 2011
Date
Topic
1/10
1/12
1/17
1/19
1/24
1/26
1/31
Intro, Metrics, Speed
Metric lab
Graphing lab, acceleration
Acceleration, review
Quiz, Newton’s Laws
Newton’s Laws
Newton’s Laws, review
2/2
Circular motion
2/7
2/9
2/14
2/16
2/21
2/23
2/28
3/1
Test 1
Momentum, work
Simple Machines labs
Energy, power
Work, energy, and power lab, review
Quiz, matter
Density lab
Heat, heat lab, review
3/13
3/15
3/20
3/22
3/29
Test 2
Statics, static lab
Current electricity, series lab
Current electricity, parallel lab
Current electricity review
4/3
4/5
4/10
4/12
4/17
4/19
Quiz, magnetism
Magnetism lab, review
Test 3
Waves, reflection, reflection lab
Refraction, refraction lab
Diffraction and interference, polarization
4/24
4/26
5/1
Sound, sound lab
EM spectrum, electromagnetism lab, review
Quiz, atomic, quantum theory lab
5/3
5/8
Nuclear, half-life lab, review
Final
Related Book Problems
p. 42, probs 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14
p. 42, probs 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 28, 29
p. 83-84, probs 4, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15,
17, 22, 25
p. 125, probs 2, 5, 6, 9
p. 125, probs 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19
p. 169, probs 2, 3, 4, 6
p. 214, probs 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14
p. 287, probs 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16
p. 384, questions 12, 15, 21
P. 385, probs 1, 9
p. 331, probs 1, 2, 3, 6