Physics 1
Course Syllabus
Content: Physics might be described as the “rules” that govern the behavior of objects around you. What we will try
to do this year is describe these behaviors in two ways. The first is qualitatively; that is, in concept. The second is
quantitatively; that is, with measurements and calculations. Much of the year will consist of classical mechanics,
which deals primarily with the motion of objects. These objects could be something as small as a helium nucleus, or
as large as a star. We finish the year with electrostatics and DC circuits.
Text: Giancoli, Douglas C., PHYSICS: Principles with Applications, 5th revised edition, Prentice-Hall, 2002
Calendar: The calendar for this course is found under the efaculty options on the RTMSD website (rtmsd.org).
Click on select a school and Penncrest, then efaculty. Under Ciccarelli and Lombardo there are links to the site.
The calendar contains due dates, exam dates, assignments, handouts, practice exams, and Physics Olympics
information. It is expected that you will consult the calendar on a regular basis; it contains ALL due dates and
classroom activities. Go to the calendar and put it in your favorites folder or your bookmarks. Printed materials will
be required for use in class on a regular basis; failure to do so will have a negative effect on your grade (see below).
See the instructor if you do not have internet access at home.
Calculator: A scientific calculator is REQUIRED for this course. It is necessary to bring the calculator every day. A
scientific calculator has trigonometric functions and scientific notation. Most people use the TI-83+ or TI84 version.
They cost around $90. However, any scientific calculator will do. Some are available for about $10.
Meeting Times: Consult your schedule. Most class periods are 44 minutes. In each 8-day cycle, each class will
meet for an extended period of 90 minutes.
Grading: This course is based on a weighted categories “point” system. Nearly everything we do is “worth
something.” Timed, in-class exams contribute 40%, quizzes contribute 20%, and everything else contributes 40%.
Most assessments will be available on the Penncrest AP Physics 1 calendar; the instructor will inform you as to
when specific materials are required in class.
Exams: Exams come at the end of the unit. Exams are conducted over two days; the first day will
consist of a multiple-choice exam of 25 questions. The second day will consist of 3 free-response
questions. Multiple-choice items will be administered on scan-tron or through WebAssign. Each portion
will constitute half of your exam grade. You WILL NOT get extra time unless you have an official IEP
document stating it is required.
Quizzes: Usually (but not always) occur on every Friday that does not feature an exam. Quizzes are
normally 10 objective, multiple-choice questions completed on a scan-tron answer sheet and a freeresponse question. Objective multiple-choice items may be administered through WebAssign.
Experiments: This course deals with physical principles that we will verify in the laboratory. Experiments
will involve taking data in class, typically with Sparkview HD software. Some experiments are of a
competitive nature, in which some unknown quantity is determined and experimental accuracy is the grade
determination. Expect one or two experiments for each three-week unit.
Preparation: It is assumed that you will come to class, every day, ready to do whatever is required. In
each marking period, an initially blank column labeled “adjustment” will appear. Each student will start
each marking period with 0. Each infraction thereafter will incur a deduction from the adjustment grade.
Infractions include but are not limited to the following: failure to bring notebook, calculator, and/or writing
implement to class; failure to submit assignments on the due date; failure to print class materials from the
physics website when required; use of physics class as a study hall; calculator and iPad games; refusal to
take notes. If you tend to “forget” things, figure out how to remember them, or this will be a problem for you.
If on the other hand you go above and beyond what is simply required, your instructor may be inclined to
add to the adjustment column. Above and beyond might include having someone else turn in your
assignment on a due date when you know you will be absent or helping someone make up a lab after
school.
WebAssign: This is a web-based assignment platform. WebAssign accounts have been created for you.
Assignments are administered roughly on a weekly basis. Weekly assignments will have specific, predetermined due dates, and there are no exceptions, even if you were absent. Typically, weekly
assignments are due on Mondays; the program will shut down at 7:00 AM and you will not be able to
submit answers after that time. YOU are responsible for printing each assignment, and you will use the
printed copy to show work. Credit will NOT be given until answers are submitted electronically and work is
submitted physically. Printed copies with work are due at the beginning of class on the due date.
Classwork/Homework: We spend much class time working on all types of assignments. Whatever is not
completed in class becomes homework. You will not have daily assignments, but you will have time to
work in class. It is expected that class time not spent in lecture or lab will be spent doing physics. Physics
is not a study hall. Should you decide to do work for other classes, it will reduce your adjustment grade.
Without warning.
Absences: We understand that some absences are unavoidable – they are described as “excused” by
administration. However, it is not our job to decide what is excusable. We simply record what people are present,
and what people are not present. We are not interested in the reason for your absence. A college visit is not a
“better” absence than a doctor’s appointment. Unexcused absences are treated as per district policy – a grade of
zero on any assessment. Any missed assessment via unexcused absence may NOT be made up. “Senior Cut
Day” is not recognized as an excused absence. Also, your birthday is not a national, state, or local holiday. When
you miss something, the grade will be recorded as a “Z,” which is interpreted as 0 until the assignment is submitted.
The following policies are in effect:
Exams: Should you miss an exam, an alternate exam will be administered the following Tuesday at 2:30
PM in your instructor’s classroom. The exam MUST be different from the original exam. There are no
exceptions – once the original exam is administered, it will NOT be administered again. It is in your best
interest to be present on exam days. We will NOT administer exams early.
Quizzes: Objective quizzes that are missed are to be completed immediately upon your return to school.
It is your responsibility to mention this to the instructor. In other words, “I didn’t know there was a quiz” is
not a valid excuse.
Experiments: If you miss an experiment, it is YOUR responsibility to schedule a make-up time. You will
also arrange for somebody who has already done the lab to assist you. The make-up time will be cleared
through the instructor. You have two weeks to make up missed experiments.
Other Assignments: If you are absent on the day that an assignment is due, it is YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY to get the assignment to the instructor upon your return. A better idea is to have a
friend or classmate submit your assignment for you, on time. NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS OF ANY
KIND, other than answers in WebAssign. Do not place assignments in our mailboxes. Do not slide
assignments under our classroom doors, or throw assignments onto our desks. If you miss a due date, put
the assignment into your instructor’s hands with an explanation. Late assignments are assessed a penalty
of 20%.
Exam/Quiz Bonus: There is an established process for exams and quizzes. You may complete a bonus
assessment after school. This assessment will allow you to get back up to half of the points you missed on the
original exam. For example, a student scores 32/50 on an exam. This student completes the make-up and gets
72% on it. This student would get back 72% of half of the missed points, or 0.72 x (18/2). The final grade for the
exam would be 32 + 6.48 or 38.48/50.
The course content in physics is difficult for most people; however, the only way to actually fail this course is to not
turn things in. Any missing assignments will be converted to a grade of zero on the date when the graded
assignments are returned to the class. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have everything turned in; the
instructor will not hunt you down.
Sept. 2, 2014