Syllabus for General Physics

Professor: Ken Koehler
Office: Muntz 372
Office Hours: TWH 3:00-3:50, F 2:00-2:50 and by appt.
Telephone: 745-5782
E-mail: koehlekr@ucrwcu.rwc.uc.edu

Course Goals

This is a year-long course in calculus-based physics. Our goals are:

To use graphs and diagrams to analyze physical problems.
To use units to construct consistent equations to solve problems.
To start every problem by identifying the essential physical principles involved, and using them to guide the solution.
To solve problems algebraically before doing any numerical computations.
To think critically about the sign, order of magnitude, direction and units of every answer we write down, to be sure that it makes sense physically.
To analyze problems using conservation principles.
To identify and use symmetries to solve problems.
To understand isometries between physical systems.
To understand how calculus ties the principles of physics together.

The laboratory (described below) is a separate course and grades will be assigned independently of the lecture course.

This course fulfills the General Education Breadth of Knowledge (BoK) area of Natural Science.

Prerequisites

One year of college level algebra and trigonometry.
You must either have completed one year of Calculus and Analytic Geometry or be currently enrolled in that course. Your chances for success in General Physics are far greater if you have completed calculus first.
You must also be enrolled in General Physics Lab.

You must have access to a web browser with Java capability. If the Java applets in the notes do not work on your computer, obtain the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from java.sun.com (page down to the link for "Java SE", click on it, and click on the first download button).

You must also have a browser that can display the Greek letters that we use in physics to denote some variables. If the following letter:

l

looks like the letter "l", you may need to install a newer version of your browser, or use a different browser.

Text

Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Seventh Edition, by R. A. Serway and J. W. Jewett, Jr., Brooks/Cole 2008.

There are also course notes that will be used extensively in lecture.

Electronic Communications Policy

Because of e-mail instabilities, all assignments must be turned in on paper.

Attendance Policy

Failure to attend class will result in the following:

0 to 10% of class meetings missed: no grade reduction
11 to 20% of class meetings missed: final grade is reduced by one letter grade
21 to 30% of class meetings missed: final grade is reduced by two letter grades
more than 30% of class meetings missed: final grade is an F

Attendance will be taken at the start of each class period. If you are not present when it is taken, it counts as a missed class.

Students who miss class are responsible for making up the work missed.

Schedule

Before lecture begins on any chapter, you must:

Read the chapter.
Work out all of the examples in the chapter on paper, reproducing every step in the text.
Answer all of the Quick Quizzes.
Draw a graph or diagram for each of the assigned problems.

The worked-out examples, quizzes and the graphs/diagrams for the problems must be handed in before lecture begins on each chapter.

We will not have time to work out all of the assigned problems in detail during class. You must complete the solutions for all assigned problems not covered in class before each test.

Autumn Quarter

Week	Topic	Problems
1	Chapter 1	8, 12, 24, 26, 32, 38, 54, 56
2	Chapter 2	4, 10, 20, 28, 32, 38, 54, 60
3, 4	Chapters 3, 4	(4) 14, 18, 20, 22, 32, 38, 52, 60
5, 6	Chapters 5, 6	(5) 20, 28, 32, 40, 42, 44, 54, 66; (6) 10, 14, 20, 22, 30, 42, 44, 56
7, 8	Chapters 7, 8	(7) 16, 20, 24, 28, 36, 38, 52, 56; (8) 8, 16, 22, 24, 36, 54, 60, 64
9	Chapter 9	4, 12, 22, 34, 40, 50, 54, 58
10, 11	Chapters 10, 11	(10) 20, 24, 30, 34, 50, 52, 72, 80; (11) 16, 28, 38, 40, 42, 44, 54, 58
Tuesday, 12 / 8, 4:00 - 6:00 PM	FINAL EXAM

Winter Quarter

Week Topic Problems

1, 2 Chapters 23, 25, Sections 13.1, 2, 4, 5 (23) 8, 16, 28, 40, 48, 60, 62; (25) 8, 16, 26, 38, 48, 54, 62; (13) 6, 22, 26

3 Chapter 24 8, 18, 22, 34, 50, 52, 64

4 Chapter 26 6, 14, 22, 32, 42, 58, 62

5 Chapters 27, 28 (27) 2, 20, 26, 34, 42, 44, 46; (28) 8, 14, 22, 32, 36, 50, 52

6 Chapter 29 10, 18, 20, 30, 40, 56, 58

7 Chapter 30 8, 20, 26, 34, 40, 52, 54

8 Chapter 31 8, 16, 24, 34, 36, 46, 60

9, 10 Chapter 32, 15 (32) 6, 20, 24, 30, 42, 48, 56; (15) 4, 12, 20, 28, 46, 50, 68

Tuesday, 3 / 16, 4:00 - 6:00 PM FINAL EXAM

Week	Topic	Problems
1, 2	Chapters 23, 25, Sections 13.1, 2, 4, 5	(23) 8, 16, 28, 40, 48, 60, 62; (25) 8, 16, 26, 38, 48, 54, 62; (13) 6, 22, 26
3	Chapter 24	8, 18, 22, 34, 50, 52, 64
4	Chapter 26	6, 14, 22, 32, 42, 58, 62
5	Chapters 27, 28	(27) 2, 20, 26, 34, 42, 44, 46; (28) 8, 14, 22, 32, 36, 50, 52
6	Chapter 29	10, 18, 20, 30, 40, 56, 58
7	Chapter 30	8, 20, 26, 34, 40, 52, 54
8	Chapter 31	8, 16, 24, 34, 36, 46, 60
9, 10	Chapter 32, 15	(32) 6, 20, 24, 30, 42, 48, 56; (15) 4, 12, 20, 28, 46, 50, 68
Tuesday, 3 / 16, 4:00 - 6:00 PM	FINAL EXAM

Spring Quarter

Week Topic Problems

1 Chapter 16 18, 24, 36, 46, 60, 64

2, 3 Chapters 17, 18, 34 (17) 4, 8, 24, 28, 36, 54; (18) 6, 10, 22, 36, 44, 50; (34) 14, 16, 28, 42, 54, 56

4 Chapters 35, 36 (35) 16, 26, 36, 38, 40, 58; (36) 2, 18, 26, 36, 56

5 Chapters 37, 38 (37) 4, 12, 40, 56, 64; (38) 2, 12, 14, 26, 50

6 Chapters 40, Sections 42-1, 42-2, 42-3 (40) 4, 8, 42, 46, 50, 56; (42) 8, 10, 54, 56, 68

7 Chapter 19 10, 24, 28, 32, 44, 54

8 Chapter 20 16, 28, 36, 38, 64, 66

9 Chapter 21 4, 22, 24, 30, 38, 54

10 Chapter 22 4, 24, 42, 48, 54, 62

Thursday, 6 / 10, 2:15 - 4:15 PM FINAL EXAM

Week	Topic	Problems
1	Chapter 16	18, 24, 36, 46, 60, 64
2, 3	Chapters 17, 18, 34	(17) 4, 8, 24, 28, 36, 54; (18) 6, 10, 22, 36, 44, 50; (34) 14, 16, 28, 42, 54, 56
4	Chapters 35, 36	(35) 16, 26, 36, 38, 40, 58; (36) 2, 18, 26, 36, 56
5	Chapters 37, 38	(37) 4, 12, 40, 56, 64; (38) 2, 12, 14, 26, 50
6	Chapters 40, Sections 42-1, 42-2, 42-3	(40) 4, 8, 42, 46, 50, 56; (42) 8, 10, 54, 56, 68
7	Chapter 19	10, 24, 28, 32, 44, 54
8	Chapter 20	16, 28, 36, 38, 64, 66
9	Chapter 21	4, 22, 24, 30, 38, 54
10	Chapter 22	4, 24, 42, 48, 54, 62
Thursday, 6 / 10, 2:15 - 4:15 PM	FINAL EXAM

The following calender may be useful (Winter and Spring breaks have been omitted, and holidays have been marked with asterisks):

       September            October               November               December       
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                                    1  2  3    1  2  3  4  5  6  7          1  2  3  4  5
                        4  5  6  7  8  9 10    8  9 10 ** 12 13 14    6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                       11 12 13 14 15 16 17   15 16 17 18 19 20 21   
         23 24 25 26   18 19 20 21 22 23 24   22 23 24 25 ** ** 28   
27 28 29 30            25 26 27 28 29 30 31   29 30                  

       January               February                 March        
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                           1  2  3  4  5  6       1  2  3  4  5  6
    4  5  6  7  8  9    7  8  9 10 11 12 13    7  8  9 10 11 12 13
10 11 12 13 14 15 16   14 15 16 17 18 19 20   14 15 16 17 18 19 20
17 ** 19 20 21 22 23   21 22 23 24 25 26 27   
24 25 26 27 28 29 30   28                        29 30 31
31
        April                   May                   June         
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
             1  2  3                      1          1  2  3  4  5
 4  5  6  7  8  9 10    2  3  4  5  6  7  8    6  7  8  9 10 11 12
11 12 13 14 15 16 17    9 10 11 12 13 14 15   
18 19 20 21 22 23 24   16 17 18 19 20 21 22   
25 26 27 28 29 30      23 24 25 26 27 28 29   
                       30 **

Tests and Grades

There will be a 15 minute, one problem test each week, and the final exam will be made up of eight problems. All problems will be similar to those assigned above. Each problem solution will be evaluated against the following scale:

4 - problem has been correctly solved (worth 10 grade points)
3 - setup is complete and correct but numerical result and/or unit is incorrect (worth 8 grade points)
2 - setup is complete but has flaws in the application of algebra, trigonometry or calculus (worth 6 grade points)
1 - setup is partially correct but incomplete (worth 3 grade points)
0 - solution is missing or irrelevant (worth 0 grade points)

Cheat sheets will not be allowed. Also, graphing calculators, or any calculators that allow you to store formulas, must have their memory cleared by the professor before the final exam. All computations must be done on (previously blank) scratch paper, which must be stapled to the test when you turn it in.

Grades will be computed as follows:

chapter examples, quick quizzes and graphs/diagrams = 10 %
weekly tests = 50 %
final exam = 40 %

90 - 100 % = A
80 - 89 % = B
70 - 79 % = C
60 - 69 % = D
0 - 59 % = F

Plus or minus grades will not be given. Grades will not be curved.

Laboratory Course

Each quarter we will do an extended laboratory project. Your grade will be based on your final project report. The online project guides will give you everything you need to complete your report:

The University of Cincinnati has provided Excel courseware which is accessible from any computer in the UC network.

Lab Grades

Each project will have a number of deliverables. These will be graded on the following scale:

3 - deliverable is complete and correct
2 - deliverable is complete but partially incorrect
1 - deliverable is partially correct but incomplete
0 - deliverable is missing or irrelevant

All deliverables for a given project weigh equally, and a final grade will be assigned using the percentage scale described above. Plus or minus grades will not be given.