Summer Syllabus
General Physics I Lecture and Lab
I.
II.
III.
.
Times
Lecture/Lab - MTWTH: 1200 – 400 PM
Prerequisite:
High School algebra or MAT011
Instructor:
Kelli C. Spangler, M.S.
Office: temporarily our classroom
Office Hours: Thursday 1200 – 100 PM
Office Phone: also “under construction”
E-mail: kcspangler@gmail.com
kspangler@gmc.edu
Course Materials
Textbook: College Physics Serway and Faughn, 7th edition,
Thomson Publishing
Lab Notebook: PHY121 lab manual
IV.
Course Outcomes and Overview:
This course is a study of basic concepts of physics including kinematics,
dynamics, gravity and circular motion, energy and momentum, rotary motion,
equilibrium, fluids, oscillations, and sound. The mathematics used includes
algebra, trigonometry, and vector analysis. A primary course goal is to build a
functional knowledge that will allow the student to more fully understand the
physical world and to apply that understanding to other areas of the natural and
mathematical sciences. Conceptual, visual, graphical, and mathematical models of
physical phenomena will be stressed. Students will build critical thinking skills by
engaging in individual and group problem solving sessions.
Learning Goals:
Students who complete this course should be able to:
● Recognize basic physical quantities and the units associated with them.
● Describe and use the scientific method as applied to problems in physics.
● Use their understanding of basic physical principles, acquired in the course, to
solve practical problems.
● Solve these physics-related problems in a rigorous and orderly manner.
● Recognize the basic physical principles behind the operation of current
technologies.
● Devise, perform, and analyze properly controlled experiments to test hypotheses.
● Use experimental evidence to form tentative interpretations and conclusions.
Learning Activities:
Lecture, small group discussions, laboratory experiments with written reports,
computer-based laboratory experiments, demonstrations, videos, daily reading
and problem-solving assignments, section examinations, and a comprehensive
final examination.
Sequence of Topics:
1. Describing Motion
- Freely Falling Bodies
- Vectors
2. 2-Dimensional Motion
- Newton's Laws of Motion
- Friction
3. Work and Energy
- Work-Energy Theorem
- Conservation of Energy
4. Linear momentum
- 1-Dim. Collisions
5. Rotational Motion
- Newton’s Law of Gravitation, and Kepler’s Laws
- Circular Motion
- Static Equilibrium
- Rotational Dynamics
6. Mechanical Properties of Solids
- Fluid Mechanics
7. Temperature and Thermal Expansion
- Ideal Gas Law
- Calorimetry
- Heat Engines
Sequence of Experiments:
1. Measurement
2. Acceleration Due to Gravity
3. Vector Addition
4. Projectile Motion
5. Newton's 2nd Law
6. Friction
7. Work-Energy Theorem
8. Conservation of Energy
9. 1-Dimensional Collisions
10. Centripetal Force
11. Rotational Static Equilibrium
12. Thermal Expansion
13. Thermal Equilibrium
V.
Assessment: Your grade will be determined from a combination of test results
including the final exam, short quiz results, in-class activities, and class
participation, and weekly homework assignments.
Tests I, II, and III will be given at the lecture hour on the dates shown in the class
schedule.
Test IV will be the final exam.
Final project presentations: see section VIII
The weight assigned to each element of your grade is:
Tests I, II, III, and IV –60%
Homework – 20%
Final Lab Project Presentations-5%
Lab exercises – 15%
A point to keep in mind is that you are not automatically entitled to a passing grade
merely because you have paid for and attended the course. A grade is earned based on
academic proficiency in the subject matter, it is not purchased.
Final exam note: Under no circumstances will a final exam be returned to you. They are
held in my possession. If you wish to know your grade on the final exam, you will need
to contact me via email after the final exam has been graded.
Grading Scheme:
A: 95-100
A-: 92-94
B+: 89-91
B: 82-88
B-: 79-81
C+: 76-78
C: 69-75
C-: 66-68
D: 55-65
F: 0-54
VI.
Course Policies:
Attendance: at both lecture and recitation are required: If you are absent for more
than three classes you should expect it to affect your grade.
Withdrawals: Prior to the 4th week of class, students may withdraw from a
course with a grade of “W” by completing a formal withdrawal application.
Failure to attend class is not an official withdrawal and will lead to a grad of F. I
will not sign a withdrawal form after the 4th week of classes.
Tests: If you know that you will not be able to take a test at the scheduled time
for a valid reason see me to arrange a time to take the test before the scheduled
time. If you do not show up for a test and have not contacted me prior to the
exam, you will not be eligible to take a make up exam.
Make up exams will not be the same exam the class takes and they are
usually more difficult than original exam.
Equation card: you will be allowed to make up an equation card for each exam.
Remember to keep all of your equation cards as you are allowed to bring them
collectively to each new exam. A sheet of constants and routine given
information will also be provided at the beginning of the semester. You are not
allowed to write on these sheets and are responsible for keeping them for the
whole semester.
Homework assignments: Homework will be collected and graded WEEKLY.
They are due at the beginning of each week, or one week following the lecture
which covers that chapter.
We will practice how to understand and read each word problem and turn it into a
mathematical problem. From there, we will cover how to determine which
equations are appropriate, how to handle and manipulate equations, how to
determine and analyze answers, and how to write math in an orderly and clear
manner. Please refer to section X for the proper way to represent your homework
problems. Note: not doing the homework assignments will directly result in a
poor grade for the class. You can not pass the exams without having
completed the homework assignments. Always feel free to ask me questions
regarding homework assignments via email or in person.
Cheating: Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstance. This includes
copying another student's homework/laboratory write up to use as your own,
looking at other student's exams/quizzes and plagiarism. Any proof of cheating
will result in a failure for the class.
Labs: you will be divided into lab groups with whom you will work for the entire
semester. Each lab will allow you to have a hands-on experience with the topics
covered each week. Each lab will require a lab report write up that is due no later
than one week from the lab (section VIII). Each lab report will be due one week
from its scheduled date.
Extra credit Papers: For each exam, you will be allowed to turn in a paper for 5
exam extra credit points. These papers are due WITH the exam to which you will
apply the extra credit and topics are limited to the list provided in section IX
below.
Final Lab Project: Each Lab group will determine, design, perform, and present
a final lab project to the class during the final lab meeting. This project is meant
to be a simple, at home physics demonstration of a basic theory. Please refer to
section XI for further instructions.
NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE. THIS INCLUDES LAB
REPORTS, HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS, AND ANY EXTRA CREDIT
ASSIGNMENTS.
THIS IS AN ACCELERATED 6 WEEK COURSE. TOPICS WILL BE
COVERED QUICKLY. DO NOT PUT OFF DOING ASSIGNMENTS
UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
VII. Schedule of classes, labs, tests, etc…..
Week 1: May 15 - 18
15: Chapters 1
16: Chapters 2*
17: Chapter 3
Week 2: May 21 - 25
21: Lab 2 and Exam review
22: Test I
23: Chapter 4*
24: Chapter 5
Week 3: May 28 – June 1
28: Memorial Day OFF
29: Chapter 6
30: Lab 4 and Exam review
31: Test II
Week 4: June 4 – 8
4: Chapter 7
5: Chapter 8*
6: Chapter 9
7: Lab 6 and exam review
Week 5: June 11 -15
11: Test III
12: Chapter 10
13: Chapter 11
14: Lab 7
Week 6: June 18 - 22
18:
19:
20:
21:
Chapter 12
Lab 8 and exam review
Test IV
Chapter 13*
Week 7: June 25 - 29
25: Chapter 14*
26: Chapter 15
27: Lab Project Presentations and Final exam review
28: Final Exam Test V
Test I: Chapters 1-3
Test II: Chapters 4-6
Test III: Chapters 7-9
Test IV: Chapters 10-12
Final Exam Test V: Chapters 13-15
Notes: * : Classes that are lecture and lab mixed. These classes will consist of a possible
lab session as well as lecture. This means that you should always bring your lab
manuals to class on the chance that you will need one of the pre-written lab write ups. If
you forget your lab manual, you are responsible for providing an adequate substitution
for that write up
VIII.
Lab report outline
Most of the information can be taken from the written lab worksheet provided
with the experiment. However, there are times we deviate from the written worksheet to
accommodate different or lack of certain materials and YOUR lab report should describe
what you did. So don’t blindly copy what’s handed to you, edit it accordingly when you
write your report.
Introduction
- State the purpose or hypothesis of your experiment
- State any background information that supports or clarifies your purpose
Materials
- A bullet point list is best of all materials you used.
- Doesn’t need to be full sentences
Procedure
- A numbered listing of the steps you performed.
- As concise and direct a description is best.
Data
-
This is the section where you include any data tables of information you
recorded or plots that you made
This can also be the section where you describe your observations if the lab
happens to be more observational than quantitative.
Analysis
- This is the place where you show your mathematical work including
necessary equations to calculate theoretical values.
- This can also be a place where you explain how you calculate the
experimental values in your data table
- Show your errors in terms of percentage difference with the theoretical values.
Conclusion
-
This is where you blend together your purpose/hypothesis, data, analysis and
decide whether your experiment supported or denied your purpose.
You can also answer any supplemental questions that accompany the lab
Also address sources of your errors both human and technical
IX. Extra Credit Papers:
Length: 2-3 pages, double spaced, diagrams/pictures not included
Due date: Final draft due with each exam such that one paper is handed in
approximately every three weeks, no late papers accepted
Optional: rough draft can be handed in prior to each exam
Sources: 2-3 sources, one of which should be your textbook
They should be cited appropriately and be included in a bibliography
Worth: 10 points toward exam grades
Limit:
One per exam, maximum number equals total number of exams
Instructions:
You should choose topics that are of interest to you and relevant to current covered
material. I’ll include a list of possible topics per semester for your convenience. You are
not limited to these topics. Remember this is a physics paper. If you use
biological/medical/chemical phrases, please be sure to explain their relevance and
meaning with respect to the physics topic at hand. Use math and diagrams where
necessary to support the theory you are trying to convey.
Feel free to discuss possible paper topics with me prior to rough or final draft of any
paper.
Spring semester:
Basic linear motion:
The international space station: why doesn’t it fall? Conditions out in space.
The goods and bads of friction.
What is whiplash and how can we combat it?
Basic rotational motion:
Conservation of angular momentum and how it affects daily life
Leverage and the muscles and skeletal structure of the body.
Circulatory system:
Blood pressure
Circulatory basics and problems with solutions
How does conservation of energy affect blood flow?
Lungs:
How do they work and associated problems
Scuba diving and necessary adaptations.
Respirators: how they work and why we use them
Atmospheric pressure: what about the body does it affect?
Sound:
Ultrasonic radar: how dolphins navigate
The Ear: how it works and problems it may have
Heat:
Fevers: how do we get them, what do they indicate, why are they so dangerous
Phase change: the inner workings of a refrigerator
X. How to present a homework problem:
1. Givens with conversion of units and proper notation
2. Draw a picture if necessary
a. Label all the parts of the diagram
b. Draw any forces/fields etc to determine directions
3. Calculate magnitudes of forces/fields where applicable
4. Original equation w/o substitution of given information
5. Substitution of given information w/o manipulation of equation
6. Manipulation of equation to solve for desired variable
7. Answer with proper units in a box
All work should go DOWN the page and be beneath prior work and given
information/diagrams
All numbers should be in scientific notation with no more than 2 decimal points
XI.
At home physics
Final Project Presentation and accompanying lab write up
Length: Standard lab report length
Due date: Final Lab meeting
Write up: Standard lab report format and any accompanying materials
Instructions:
The experiment should be something that can be done at home with simple
equipment: cotton, balloons, coins, styrofoam etc. The experiment should be decided
upon, tested out of class, written up, and then presented by your group to the class during
the project presentation lab meeting. It will count as 10% of your final grade.
Topics:
The topic chosen should relate to the material covered in the semester. Use the
textbook as a guide to what topic you choose and discuss this with me to ensure it is
acceptable. Once your topic has been approved, you may do it at home at your
convenience and replicate the experiment for the class while explaining the physics
concepts behind it.