PHYS 135 – HOW THINGS WORK - Spring 2011
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Instructor: Guoliang Yang, Department of Physics
Office:
Disque Hall 926, Phone: (215) 895-6669
Email:
gyang@drexel.edu; gyang@physics.drexel.edu
Office hours: 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Mondays and Wednesdays or by appointment.
Meeting Time and Place:
Lectures
2:00 - 3:50 pm, Monday and Wednesday, Curtis Hall 456.
Required Textbook: How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life, 4th ed. by Louis A.
Bloomfield. The WileyPlus Access Code for the book is needed to
submit your homework and to access the learning resources.
Course Website: http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~gyang/howthingswork.htm
Description of Course: This science elective course provides a practical introduction to the
physics behind everyday phenomena and devices. Physics principles to be spanning
motion, forces, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics. The features of the course
include an emphasis on conceptual understanding the utilization of lecture
demonstrations and video clips, problem-solving with class participation, and in-class
labs.
Goals of the course:
To become aware of physics in everyday life.
To develop and expand physical intuition.
To learn to think logically in order to solve problems.
To learn that science can be interesting and not frightening
To understand that the physical world is predictable rather than magical.
Grading: The final grade for the course will be based on following scheme:
Homework
Midterm exams (2)
Quizzes
Project
Attendance
Final exam
Total Numeric Score:
20%
20%
15%
15%
10%
20%
100%
Homework: Homework will be assigned weekly via the WileyPlus website. You will need the
WileyPlus Access Code to finish and submit the homework. You may discuss approaches with
other students but your final answer must be yours alone. Late problem sets are acceptable for
reduced credit until 4 days after due date.
1 Exams: Two closed-book, in-class midterms will be given during the quarter, and a closed-book
final exam will be given during the finals week. Questions about lecture demonstrations and
videos shown in class will be asked. If you miss an exam and fail to provide valid justifications,
you will get zero for that exam. Complaints regarding grading of exams and homework will be
entertained up to 1 week after they are handed back. No makeup exams will be given. Absences
due to emergency (with proof) will be considered.
Quizzes: Questions will be asked about lectures topics, problems discussed and any pre-assigned
readings, at random times during the lectures. On non-quiz days, attendance may be taken.
Team Project: In week 10, students, in groups of 3, will be required to present a project that
demonstrates their understanding of a particular phenomenon or device of their choosing.
Detailed instructions will be provided by week 8.
Extra Credit: Students can submit up to 2 essays (one in each half of the quarter), explaining
how something works using the physics learned in class. The essays should be 1 to 2 singlespaced pages, with a title and a short summary. (Maximum credit: 5% course grade).
Tentative Course Schedule
The schedule may be changed due to the availability of lecture demonstrations, the interest of the
class and the actual progress of the class.
Week 1: Introduction, skating and falling balls physics, bumper cars, airbags.
Week 2: Carousels and roller coasters, fictitious forces, hurricanes. Rockets, Space travels, GPS.
Week 3: Hot air balloons, helium balloons, submarines, water distribution.
Week 4: Woodstoves, insulation, thermometers, lightbulbs.
1st Midterm
Week 5: Lightning rods, air cleaners and photocopiers.
Week 6: Fridge magnets, Credit Cards, Microphones, Metal Detectors, AC Adaptors
Week 7: Microwave ovens, sunlight, fluorescent light and electromagnetic spectrum
2nd midterm
Week 8: Optical illusions, lasers, LEDs, CDs and DVDs.
Week 9: Nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants
Week 10: Student presentations
Information about WileyPLUS!
WileyPlus URL: http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/class/cls217394/
WileyPLUS is an online teaching and learning solution that will help you reach your full
potential in this course and beyond. You can access…
The complete online textbook!
Extra study aids!
Online homework!
And more…
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