PH 101-002 – GENERAL PHYSICS – Fall, 2008
(http://bama.ua.edu/~stjones/ph101.doc</SPAN)
Grad student assistants now have office hours in room 329. The office hours are
listed here.
Review for exam 1 is here.
Review for exam 2 is available. Answers now posted at end of review.
Review for exam 3 now available.
The final review is now here.
The PowerPoints I presented in class are available on the web now:
Temperature and Ideal Gases
Kinetic Theory
Calorimetry
Class and Lab Schedule
MEETINGS: MW 1:00 –2:50 PM , F 1:00-1:50 PM, 203 Gallalee
CREDIT: 4 Hrs
INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Stan Jones
Andy Patterson, GTA
Office: 316 Gallalee
Office: Gallalee
e-mail: stjones@bama.ua.edu
tel: 348-3791
email: patte053@bama.ua.edu
tel:
office hrs: MW 3:00 - 4:00 or
any time my door is open
TEXT: Serway and Faughn, College Physics, Vol. I, 7th Ed.
PREREQUISITES: MATH 113 or MATH 115
GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is an introductory algebra/trig-based course in
classical mechanics, heat and waves for students in science.
COURSE TOPICS: Kinematics in one and two dimensions, Newton's laws of motion, work and
energy, conservation of energy, linear momentum, collisions, rotational motion, oscillations,
gravitation, heat, waves.
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course, you should have a
basic introductory understanding of classical mechanics on both a qualitative and quantitative
level. You should be able to solve basic mechanics problems using algebra and trigonometry.
You should then have the necessary background so that you can take PH102.
Learning outcomes for 100- and 200-level physics courses
1.) Application of basics laws of physics:
Students will be able to apply basic laws of physics to formulate a solution to a problem.
2.) Data and mathematical relationships representation:
Students will be able to represent data and mathematical relationships using tables,
equations, graphs and words.
3.) Draw conclusions from experimental data:
Students will be able to draw valid conclusions from experimental data.
4.) Magnitude estimation and dimensional analysis
Students will be able to estimate the magnitude of the solution to a problem and will be able
to exclude wrong solutions based on such estimates or by use of dimensional analysis.
5.) Effective teamwork:
Students will be able to collaborate and perform effectively in team activities.
6.) Discrimination between reliable and less reliable information:
Students will be able to discriminate between reliable and less reliable information in their
decision-making.
Learning outcomes for PH 101
1.) Knowledge of Newton’s laws of motion:
Students will be able to answer conceptual questions that require knowledge of Newton’s
laws of motion, and use Newton’s laws in the analysis of physical problems.
2.) Understanding of the significance of conservation laws
Students will be able to answer conceptual questions that require knowledge of conservation
laws, and use them in the analysis of physical problems.
COURSE APPROACH: The course will emphasize fundamental concepts and problemsolving techniques in physics using interactive instruction, computer-based techniques, and
cooperative learning. There will be no separate lab and lecture sections. The course will be
team-taught by a faculty member (Jones), a graduate teaching assistant, and an undergraduate
assistant. During classes on Monday and Wednesday (two hours each) there will be a mix of
short lectures and in-class group activities. The group activities will include short lab
experiments using the computer for data acquisition and analysis and other short ‘exercises’.
The exercises will consist of real-world problems and computer simulations. The one-hour
Friday class will be a ‘recitation’ devoted to problem solving.
MATH: It is expected that you know algebra, and some trigonometry. You are urged to consult
a free online service that assesses your readiness mathematically. If you find you are not, this
service can be used (for a fee) as a tutorial to help get you prepared. The service is found at
http://www.aleks.com/, and “math for physics” is located in the Continuing Education/Math
“market”.
PROBLEMS: Problems from the textbook are assigned for each chapter and are normally due
about a week after the chapter is covered in class. The problem solutions must be submitted on
the web using a web-based program, WebAssign. More information about this homework
system will be forthcoming.
It is important to understand how to work a problem and not just to submit a correct answer.
Students should keep a notebook of how they work each problem. Although students may
collaborate when working problems, each student should keep a record of problem solutions (not
just answers) and should submit their own answers – based on the particular numbers in their
problems.
It is essential that you read the textbook, as the lectures will not cover all the material. As
an incentive for reading the text, you will be required to answer at least one question about the
reading before each class period. These reading questions will also be on WebAssign, and will
be due before the start of each class. On days when there is a lab experiment scheduled, the
questions will be based on that experiment. All problems (reading and homework) online will
count the same.
There is an excellent website associated with the textbook that can be used by students for
assistance with working problems including practice problems and detailed solutions to selected
problems.
GRADING: Problems (homework) will be submitted each week outside of class. In-class
work will be collected at the end of each class period and will count as part of the course grade.
Frequent, short (10 min) quizzes will be given on Friday based on work done during the week
and the most recently submitted problem assignment. These will count as part of your “InClass” work. Thus, class attendance is very important. There will generally be no makeup of
missed class work. The lowest in-class grade will be dropped when computing the final course
grade. There will be three one-hour exams and a comprehensive final exam.
In-Class Exercises/labs*
20%
Problems (WebAssign)
12%
Reading Questions*
3%
Hour Exam I,II,III
15%
each
Final Exam
20%
* The lowest grade will be dropped.
ATTENDANCE AND MAKEUP POLICY: No makeup of in-class work or exams will
generally be given. If you have a legitimate reason for missing a major exam, then you must
inform me as soon as possible. If the reason is acceptable, then the final exam will count
proportionately more. As described above, the lowest grades on labs, in-class exercises, and
recitation work will be dropped. This will allow a limited number of missed classes regardless
of the reason for missing.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT POLICY: All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute
academic misconduct. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the
event of academic misconduct. You are encouraged to work with other students in all aspects of
the course except exams. However, all work submitted is expected to be your own.
DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS: To request disability accommodations, please contact
Disabilities Services (348-4285). After initial arrangements are made with that office, contact
Dr. Jones.
Tentative Schedule
Date
Aug
PH 101
Fall, 2008
Reading
Activity
Date
20
Ch. 1
Dark matter
Oct
25
Ch. 2
Errors
Reading
Activity
15
Ch. 8
Rotational
Dynamics
Experiment
20
Ch. 9
Atomic Spacing
Omit sect.
2,8,9,10
Sep
27
Ch. 2
1-D Motion
Experiment
22
review
3
Ch. 3
Motion graph
24
Exam II
Ch 5-8
Free Fall Lab
8
Ch. 3
Proj. Motion
Problem
27
Ch. 9
Concepts
10
Ch. 4
Free Body
Diagrams
29
Ch. 13
Slinky demos
Archimedes’
Principle Lab
Omit sec. 6,11
2nd Law
Experiment
15
Ch. 4
2nd Law Exercise –
Intro to IP
17
Ch. 4,
review
19
3
Ch. 13
Friction lab
5
Ch. 14
Simple
Harmonic
Motion Lab
Exam I
Ch 1-4
10
Ch. 14
soundws
22
Ch. 5
Work-Energy
Exercise -IP
12
Ch. 14
Standing Waves
Lab
24
Ch. 5
Work-KE Lab
17
Ch. 10
29
Ch. 6
Energy problems
Conservation of
Energy IP
19
Review
Omit sec. 5
Nov
Oct
1
Ch. 6
1D Collision Lab
21
Exam III
Ch 9, 13-14
6
Ch. 7
1D Collisions
Exercise - IP
24
Ch 10
Boyle’s Law
Lab
8
Ch. 7
Rolling objects
1
Ch. 11
Problems
Dec
Omit sect. 5,6
13
Ch. 8
asteroid;
3
Kepler’s Laws
Omit sec. 5
5
Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 8, 11:30 – 2:00.
Ch. 12
Review
Heat Engine