Syllabus
Principles of Physics
Physics 195
Spring 2015
Welcome to Physics! I’ll be your tour guide as we discover interesting things about the
world in which we live (such as how rockets take off or how anti-lock brakes work).
Don’t be afraid to ask questions as we go, that is how we learn best (just don’t ask
difficult questions until after coffee). Here’s some info about the course:
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Matt Anderson
P140
manderson@mail.sdsu.edu (better to stop by my office)
MWF 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
TAs:
Aaron Doud
P244B
OH: Tuesday 9-11 AM
doud@rohan.sdsu.edu
Dima Soultan
P144A
OH: Thursday 9-11 AM
deemoshka@gmail.com
Class times: MWF 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM, room ENS 280
Textbook:
Physics For Scientists and Engineers, 3rd ed., by Randall D. Knight.
We will cover chapters 1-15. See below for details.
Prerequisites: It would be highly beneficial to have the following prereqs (but not
required this term):
High School Physics or Physics 180A.
Completion of Mathematics 150 (concurrent enrollment allowed).
Homework:
Homework problems will be assigned for each chapter. The lowest
homework score will be dropped.
Assessment Tests:
There will be two assessment tests. These are required.
Midterms:
There will be four midterms. The lowest midterm will be dropped.
There will be no make-up midterms (except for approved university
business such as student athletics).
For every exam, you will be provided with the formulas you may need.
The problems will be multiple-choice. Dates are below.
You will need the following for all exams:
Red Parscore Scantron, thin one 
Pencil
Calculator
Your red-ID
Final exam:
There is one final exam. You may not drop this exam. Date below.
iClicker
We will be using the iClicker tool for in-class participation. Get yours
from the bookstore and register it on Blackboard (click on “tools”).
(University honor code applies: please do not carry in your friend’s
clickers.) In-class participation with your iClicker will count for 5 pts. of
your grade, according to the following participation scale:
90% = 5 pts.
80% = 4 pts.
70% = 3 pts.
60% = 2 pts.
50% = 1 pt.
Learning Glass:
Now for something a little different. Some of you have perhaps
seen my “Learning Glass” approach to online learning. If not, here’s a
link: http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=75004
This term we will be doing a comprehensive study of its effectiveness.
There are two classes being taught. The 8 AM class is the treatment
group (the class will be taught on the Learning Glass). The 9 AM class is
the control group (the class will be taught face to face). The goal of this
study is to compare various learning metrics between the two courses to
see if Learning Glass is a viable alternative to large classrooms. Your
inclusion in the study is completely voluntary, but I sincerely hope that
you agree to participate. There will be an announcement in class
explaining this in more detail.
Grading:
Homework
Assessment tests
Midterms
iClicker
Final exam
Total
18 pts.
2 pts.
3 x 15 pts. = 45 pts.
5 pts.
30 pts.
100 pts.
Course grading scale:
A  85 pts, A-  80 pts, B+  75 pts, B  70 pts, B-  65 pts, C+  60 pts,
C  56 pts, C-  52 pts, D+  48 pts, D  44 pts, D-  40 pts, F  40 pts.
Exam Dates: (All exams in ENS 280, Bring red Parscore!)
Assessment test:
January
Midterm 1: Chapters 1 – 2
February
Midterm 2: Chapters 3 - 5
February
Midterm 3: Chapters 6 - 8
March
Midterm 4: Chapters 9-11
April
Assessment test:
May
Final:
Chapters 1 - 15
May
23rd
2nd
23rd
16th
13th
6th
11th
8- 10 AM
Other dates:
First class: January 21
Last day to add or drop: February 3
Spring Break: March 30 – April 3
Last class: May 6
Blackboard:
Class announcements, syllabus, and calendar all appear on blackboard. Go to
blackboard.sdsu.edu to get started.
Online homework:
We will use Mastering Physics. Homework will be assigned for each chapter.
Due dates and times will vary, but will be announced on the homework. There will be no
make up homework. Follow these steps to get registered:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Go to www.masteringphysics.com
Click on “Students”
Enter your access code (came with your new book) or purchase one.
Follow the next few steps to get registered, then go back to the home page and
sign in.
5) Join your online course with this Course ID:
PHYSICS195SP2015ANDERSON
6) First assignment is called “Ch 01 HW” and is due Jan 27.
7) Good luck.
YouTube:
For additional resources, see my youtube channel: professormattanderson.com
Learning Goals
Course Goals
1.
Be able to draw a model and force diagram to understand the correct approach to
physics problems.
2.
Use algebra and calculus to solve equations.
3.
Appreciate that while physics often gives approximate answers, it is very relevant
to the real world and is a useful tool for solving problems at the global as well as the
personal level.
4.
Develop the inclination and ability to apply problem solving techniques to simplify
"real world" problems in terms of simple physics concepts and to compute or estimate
solutions.
5.
Recognize that scientific conclusions - whether from an outside source or from your
own calculations - may be incorrect, and develop the ability to check these conclusions
with simple calculations, 3rd party information, and/or common sense.
Content
Kinematics, Forces, Newton's laws, Conservation of energy and momentum, Work,
potential energy, gravitation, and fluid motion.