COURSE SYLLABUS:
Physics
221 Sections B
“Physics for
Science and Engineering”
(calculus-level physics with
laboratory)
e-mail:
kclay@greenriver.edu
Course webpage: http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/physics/keith/221
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Monday, Tuesday |
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
Nelson SC, Room 114 |
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Hours: |
Wednesday |
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Nelson SC, Room 114 |
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Thursday |
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Nelson SC, Room 114 |
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Section B: |
SC
117 |
MTThF |
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Course
Objectives: Successful students will develop skills in the
following areas.
1. Critical Thinking: Understanding a physical
problem requires construction of a mental model and identification of relevant
and irrelevant details. It is necessary
to consider both what you think you know
and how you think you know it. This is what is meant by critical
thinking. Manipulation of the facts
associated with these details is often relatively easy, but we must also learn…
2. Problem Solving: To pass this course, it is not
sufficient to merely learn about physics. It is also necessary to learn to do physics. This course will require refinement of
problem solving techniques and the development of methods which new ones. Still, each method and technique is simply a
tool to be used by a creative and practiced problem solver.
3. Technical Writing: Technical skill is of little
use if it cannot be communicated. The
clear and accurate written expression of ideas, using the combined languages of
English and mathematics is an essential part of this course. Work will not be given full credit unless all
steps can be understood!
4. Laboratory Investigation: Laboratory work will be a
very large part of this course. Students
will complete several laboratory exercises per week as well as designing and
carrying out their own projects. All
students will be tested on their abilities to design, carry out, and interpret
experiments.
5. Team work: The laboratory work will be
completed by teams working together. It
will be the responsibility of each member of the team to see that all members
work together, to see that all members participate, and to see that all members
of the team understand all phases of the work.
Relationship
to Campus-wide objectives:
1. Critical thinking and problem solving skills: If there were only one objective to this course it
would not be the retention of any fact that is associated with the subject
matter called physics. It would be the
development of skills needed to analyze any problem carefully, logically, analytically
and creatively, with a hopeful eye toward the creation of a viable problem
solving strategy.
Critical thinking and problem solving skills will be assessed using graded homework assignments, essays, quizzes, exams, laboratory exercises, and ungraded assessment tests.
2. Mathematical and quantitative reasoning: Successful completion of this course requires
the mathematical modeling of many complicated situations, often using models
which are not intuitively obvious.
Students often comment that physics courses stretch their ability to
translate from the real world to mathematical abstractions and back again more
than any other.
Mathematical and quantitative reasoning skills will be assessed using graded homework assignments, quizzes, exams, laboratory exercises, and ungraded assessment tests.
3. Clarity of communication and written expression: Verbal exposition is often put to its most stringent
test when technical material must be accurately and yet readably
described. This course requires written
discussion of highly technical subjects and precisely defined concepts, often
blending the English language with the language of mathematics.
Communication and written expression skills will be assessed using graded homework assignments, essays, essay questions on exams, and presentations and written reports on laboratory exercises.
4. Responsibility: All students will be
responsible for doing their own work and
seriously thinking about what they are doing!
Although it is tempting,
especially in laboratory situations, to allow others to do our work for us, the
successful students will be those who actively participate in all
activities. Previous students have found
it very difficult to make up for lost time in this class, so it is important
for all students to work at least at the same pace as the rest of the class.
Students often believe that brain power alone determines performance in physics class. This is not the case! Before an anonymous in-class test, students were asked to estimate the fraction of the work that they had personally completed. Students who completed less than 80% of the course work averaged only 35% on the exam. Those who completed all of the course work averaged 80%..
5. Aesthetic appreciation: The teacher
of this class freely pursued the study of physics when a career in engineering
or any number of other fields would have been much more lucrative and required
less formal education. The reason for
this was simply a deep and abiding love for the astounding beauty of the
subject matter. Your teacher sincerely
hopes that some appreciation of this beauty will rub off on each and all of his
students, although aesthetic appreciation will not be directly assessed.
Aesthetic appreciation of physics will be assessed in part through the work done in preparing and presenting an in-class work of the students choice and design.
Prerequisites:
2.
Physics 221 Interactive Exercises, by Green River Faculty REQUIRED.
Your instructor wrote most of this himself so it must be good.
Supplemental
Students
often request alternative reading material to supplement their general
texts. Additional physics texts can be
found in the Physics Store Room (SC 118) and students are encouraged to use
them if they believe this will help. Several calculus level physics texts are
available for check out. These include textbooks by Serway and Jewett, Halliday
and Resnick, Knight, and Walker.
However:
students should be aware that there is little evidence that time spent reading another book is going to
substantially increase your understanding or your grades. It is much better to spend extra time doing more physics problems, discussing the things that you find
confusing, and asking yourself the
kind of critical thinking questions modeled in the books my McDermott or
Sokoloff and Thornton!
There
are very few facts that you need to learn
for this class. It simply requires time
and effort to really understand and use the facts that you will learn.
Attendance: Attendance is absolutely required for the laboratory component of this course. Students who miss a single lab may lose 10%
of their lab grade. Students who must
miss more than one lab may have difficulty passing the course!
Meeting times: There will be one laboratory period almost
every week. Lab periods will occupy
almost half of the class periods.
Students in these classes are often confused about which classes are
classes and which are labs. THIS IS A
GOOD THING! You will learn the most by
doing and thinking, not by sitting and taking notes (although you need to do
that, too!)
Grades: Most of the lab grade will come from
successful attendance and participation in lab exercises. Some lab work will be collected and graded,
and there will also be one lab “quiz” in which students will need to demonstrate
that they know how to use the equipment.
(WARINING: If you allow your lab partners to do all of the “hands-on”
work during lab, you will not pass this quiz!)
Homework
(problem sets):
There will be 8 or 9 problem
sets from CLRC assigned throughout the course of the term. There may also be problem sets from other
sources. Some homework assignments will
require the use of a computer either on this campus or at home. You are not required to do the homework
individually! In fact you are encouraged
to work together! Identical
homework will be accepted if each is written in the hand of the author.
Photocopies or computer reproductions will not be accepted. Every attempt will
be made to get the results of the graded homework back to you as quickly as
possible, but there are no guarantees.
To facilitate rapid return of the homework the instructor may select
only a fraction of the assigned problems to grade or a student grader may be
used, or quizzes over assigned homework may be used. The instructor will review
and keep responsibility for the grades assigned.
There will be 8 or 9 quizzes given throughout the
term. Each classroom quiz will contain
one long or several short questions, intended to be easily finished in 30
minutes, however take-home quizzes may also be given and these will in general
be longer and more involved.
Since it is the purpose of quizzes to assess what individuals have learned,
each student must do his or her own work. Copying or cheating on classroom
quizzes will result in failed grades and submission to the campus cheating
policy.
Exams:
Exams
may not be taken late. If you have a problem with the timing of a scheduled
exam, contact your instructor in advance. There will be one
midterm exam roughly five weeks into the quarter (the exact date will be
announced well in advance). It will be
90 minutes long. Students are required
to do their own work on exams. Failure to do so will result in failed
grades and discipline under the policy on cheating. The final exam for will be held at the
times printed in the quarterly course schedule:
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Section B |
Wednesday,
December 9th |
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Class Participation:
There is overwhelming evidence that physics
students (strong ones and weak ones) learn more when they teach themselves and
teach each other. You are expected to
answer questions in class, speak to each other during class discussion times,
and work together cooperatively during lab times. THE LANGUAGE OF PARTICIPATION
IN THIS CLASS IS ENGLISH! Students
should expect to lose some or all of their participation points if they insist
on speaking other languages (sorry, but that’s a college policy). Feel free to ask for help with English or to
use dictionaries and translators during
class time. As with collaboration, you may not use dictionaries and
translators during quizzes or exams.
Attendance and
tardiness:
This class will not be graded on attendance, but
students should be aware that due to the “hands-on” nature of what is done
during class, it is very difficult to pass the class if attendance is lacking. Even
students who do not believe they need to attend usually miss out on learning
when they miss class.
If you must arrive late to class, come in quietly,
sit down, and shut up! Do not start conversations. Do not ask the people around
you what is going on. This is very disturbing to those who are trying to learn.
Extra Credit
Projects:
There will be NO
EXTRA CREDIT PROJECTS THIS TERM!!!
None will be accepted. Don’t
ask. Students who have extra time that
could be devoted to an extra credit project should devote that time to learning
the material in the course. With all of
the books and teaching materials available, there should be a mode of learning
that suits every student. Take advantage
of it and concentrate on learning the basics rather than spending time on
additional subjects
Grades
for this class will be computed numerically based on the fraction of a total of
100 possible points. Grades will be
awarded for the following six components, with the indicated points for each:
|
Note that these point totals are subject to change if the instructor
believes it would be to the benefit of the class (and the grades of the
class) as a whole. |
So how many
points do I need to get an A? To pass?
Numerical
grades will be computed based on the following mathematical formula:
Take your total number of
points. Subtract 56 points (ouch!). Divide by ten.
For
quick reference, you may also look up grades in the following table:
|
Percent of |
Numerical |
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Percent of |
Numerical |
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Percent of |
Numerical |
|
Total Points |
Grade |
|
Total Points |
Grade |
|
Total Points |
Grade |
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97-100 |
4.0 |
|
86 |
3.0 |
|
75 |
1.9 |
|
96 |
4.0 |
|
85 |
2.9 |
|
74 |
1.8 |
|
95 |
3.9 |
|
84 |
2.8 |
|
73 |
1.7 |
|
94 |
3.8 |
|
83 |
2.7 |
|
72 |
1.6 |
|
93 |
3.7 |
|
82 |
2.6 |
|
71 |
1.5 |
|
92 |
3.6 |
|
81 |
2.5 |
|
70 |
1.4 |
|
91 |
3.5 |
|
80 |
2.4 |
|
69 |
1.3 |
|
90 |
3.4 |
|
79 |
2.3 |
|
68 |
1.2 |
|
89 |
3.3 |
|
78 |
2.2 |
|
67 |
1.1 |
|
88 |
3.2 |
|
77 |
2.1 |
|
67 |
1.1 |
|
87 |
3.1 |
|
76 |
2.0 |
|
66 |
1.0 |
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0 - 65 |
Z |
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Students
are strongly encouraged to keep track of their own progress in this class. At any point in the course, students may
compute their average percentage on
completed material and use this table to estimate a grade. Students should note, however, that it is
ultimately your instructor who makes the decision as to how many points each
students actually has! Grading is a
subjective exercise and the grade you receive may not be exactly the one that you calculate for your self.
Every
attempt will be made to let you know what was and was not an acceptable score
on the material that is handed back to you.
Students should be forewarned that grades below 50% are not uncommon on
individual quizzes and taken by themselves are not disastrous (providing there
are other grades to lift the overall average).
An estimate of your current
grade will be distributed after the midterm is returned. Please remember that this is only an estimate.
A grade
of “I” will only be given in emergency
situations and only if at least 75% of the work is completed
satisfactorily. Note that a grade of “I” cannot be given simply to save a grade point
average! There must be a REASON for
requesting an incomplete.
A
grade of “P” or “NC” can only be given if requested in writing at the
registrar’s office before the deadline printed in the quarterly schedule.
Students should know that completion of a course with a grade of “P” is usually
not considered completion of a prerequisite
for another class.
Students are NOT obligated to tell their
instructors when a course is being taken for a P or NC grade!
Late homework,
exams, etc.:
Exams
and quizzes cannot be made up except in extraordinary circumstances. If a student knows that a forthcoming exam
will compete with an urgent scheduling conflict, the student must notify the
instructor in advance! In some cases it will be possible to make
special arrangements for that student.
Homework
will be accepted on the day after it is due, but full credit will not be
given. Roughly 20% of the possible
points will be deducted from homework turned in on the class day after it is
due IF THE SOLUTIONS HAVE NOT YET BEEN DISTRIBUTED!
Due
to the nature of laboratory work, it will often be impossible to make up a late
laboratory. Again, students who know of
their inability to attend a specific lab should tell the instructor in
advance. No late work will be accepted during (or after) the last two weeks of
the school term.
Material Covered:
The
schedule for material covered in this course will be roughly the following:
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Time (approx.): |
Subject: |
CLRC Chapters |
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WEEK
1: |
Science,
Measurement, and Units |
1 |
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WEEK
2: |
Coordinates,
Position, and Motion |
2
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WEEK
3: |
Velocity
and Change in Velocity |
2
& first part of 7 |
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WEEK
4: |
Forces
and Many-body interactions |
3
& first part of 8 |
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WEEK
5: |
Motion
in 2 or 3 dimensions |
4
& first part of 5 |
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WEEK
6: |
Forces
in many dimensions |
5 |
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WEEK
7: |
Applying
|
6 |
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WEEK
8: |
Conservation
laws |
7,
parts of 9 & 10 |
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WEEK
9: |
Work
and Kinetic Energy |
9
|
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WEEK
10: |
Potential
Energy |
10 |
Material may be added or removed from the schedule
as time and interest allow.
Due to Green River policy, no one who is not either
registered for the class or an employee of Green River will be allowed in the
classroom during lecture or laboratory periods.
This includes children, friends, visiting students, and prospective
students. The only exceptions that will
be made will be in the cases of students who require the assistance of others
for the completion of essential classroom tasks or for students who are
registered for another section of Physics 221 but have made arrangements with
their teachers to attend at a special time.
Physics students are encouraged to make use of
tutoring services should they find the need for outside help. As of this writing, Green River has not chosen an
official physics tutor but there are many talented students available. Physics help may be found in the tutoring
center on the second floor of the Holman Library. Students who have trouble with the
mathematics associated with their physics work may find additional help in the
Again, you are strongly encouraged to use your
classmates as sources of outside help. There is ample evidence that talking to your
classmates is the best source of clarification and understanding because it
will force YOU to think through your own difficulties, often removing confusion
and solving problems at the same time!
When all else fails, remain calm, sit back, and THINK!
Official
class breaks are required for all class periods of length two hours or
longer. Since our class meetings are
between one and two hours long, class breaks are optional, and official class breaks will usually not be scheduled!
However,
if you need to leave the classroom, stretch, take a break, please do so. This is much better than falling asleep
during class and disturbing your neighbors with an annoying “thud” when your head
hits the table. Try to take your breaks
in a manner that disturbs your colleagues as little as possible.
Discipline:
If
anything happens in class that you feel might require disciplinary action, please talk about it! Talk to each other. Talk to your teacher. We
will all be better off if we can settle differences without official
disciplinary procedures. This section of the syllabus is about what happens if
that fails.
Standard Procedure: You should be aware that
the standard course of discipline at Green River begins with a student’s expulsion
from the classroom for three class
periods. If those class periods
include exams, quizzes, or other assignments then the student will receive a score of zero on those
assignments.
The law: You should also know that due to changes in the law, students may be legally liable in a court of law for words or actions that might create an atmosphere viewed as hostile by other students.
Disruptions: In accordance with Green River
policy, students who disrupt the academic atmosphere of the class will be asked
to leave and will be referred to an academic dean for further action. Disruptions of academic atmosphere include
any behavior that interferes with the ability of faculty or other students to
perform the work necessary for this class.
Inappropriate
discussion: Discussions in the classroom
should concern matters relevant to the class or topics of general interest that
are not demeaning or insulting. Courts
have ruled that explicitly sexual discussions lead to an academically hostile
atmosphere (see paragraph beginning with “The law”, above). Comments, discussions, or actions of a
racist, sexist, or otherwise degrading nature will absolutely not be tolerated.
Be careful about your use of words such as gay, black, white, etc. Again,
if you feel there are inappropriate discussions in our out of class, please talk to each other.
Cell phones, pagers, etc: Green River policy is that all cell phones and pagers
must be turned off during class. Your teacher recognizes that emergencies do
happen. If you feel you need to answer your cell phone during class, please
leave the room quietly and take the call outside. You do not need to ask
permission, just try not to disturb your fellow students. Exception: During an exam or quiz you will
FAIL if the instructor sees your cell phone.
Computers: The computers in the
classroom are to be used only for academic purposes. Students may use them to
check schedules or register for classes only
during class breaks. While class is
in session they should be used only for physics (absolutely no games!).
Violation of this policy will result in expulsion from the class for three
days.
Cheating: Cheating (such as
collaborating on quizzes or exams) can cause a wide range of disciplinary
actions. If you are caught cheating on
any quiz or exam, you should expect to fail the course! Further discipline can range from academic probation
or expulsion from Green River. Many of students
cheat and most of them do not get caught.
However, those that do are in universal agreement: cheating is not worth
the risk.
Please
keep in mind that you are in college to learn, and if you are cheating you
ultimately only cheat yourself out of learning and skills that you would
otherwise get from this class. You don’t
need to cheat to pass the class. Don’t
do it.
SYLLABUS
NAME:
____________________ (please print)
PHYSICS
221 Section: ________________________
Instructions: Read the syllabus, answer the questions below, and
sign the form at the bottom indicating that you have read the syllabus. Return this to the teacher on Thursday.
When
are Keith’s office hours? Where is his
office? On his office door is a cover of
“the Physics Teacher” with a picture of what ordinary household item?
What
is the minimum that will happen to students caught collaborating on a quiz?
What
will happen to students who are caught collaborating on homework?
Of
the graded assignments of Physics 221 (other than quizzes and exams), for which
assignment(s) are you…
required to work together?
allowed (but not required) to work together with identical assignments accepted?
allowed only to plan and consult
together with no identical assignments accepted?
What
is the name and room number of the room in the SC building where additional physics
textbooks can be found and used by the students?
When
is the deadline for applying for a Pass/Fail grade? (Check the quarterly schedule.)
Would
a grade of “Pass” help you toward your career goals? (Okay, you don’t need to
answer this here, but you should know the answer for puposes of your own
educational planning. A grade of “Pass” will not allow you to advance to the
next physics class, nor will it be accepted by many schools of science or
engineering.)
I
have read the syllabus for Physics 221.
Signed,
_____________________________
__________________________
(Signature
of student) (Date)