PHYSICS 105 - GENERAL PHYSICS

PHYSICS 110 - INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS

Fall 2009

 

“There are many windows through which we may look out into the world, searching for meaning. Most of us peer through but one of these windows. And even that one is often misted over by the breath of our finite humanity.”        -Jane Goodall

 

 Class Schedule   105 Grades   110 Grades    Clicker Website  Trig Review 

 Connect Website   Formula   Lecture Slides    2nd edition homework problems     Practice Problems 3


Instructor: Jodi Simpson

Email: simpson@sbcc.edu
Phone/Voice Mail: 965-0581 ext. 2505

Office: PS115
Office Hours: MW 2-3pm or by appointment

 

Class Homepage: http://www.cs.sbcc.edu/~simpson/syllabus105.htm

 

Required Textbooks and Materials

·        College Physics – 3rd Edition or College Physics Vol. I – 3rd Edition  by Giambattista, Richardson, Richardson

     Printed or e-Book versions are each acceptable.  Students who will not be taking Physics 106 or Physics 111 may purchase Vol. I only.

·        Connect software by McGraw-Hill

     This is included with the textbooks sold through SBCC Campus Bookstore.

·        Physics 105/110 Laboratory Manual, published by SBCC

·        CPS response system (“clicker”) available in the SBCC Campus Bookstore.  Clicker Registration Link

·        Scientific calculator  (no specific model)

 

Prerequisites
The math prerequisites are Intermediate Algebra (Math 107) for the Physics 105/106 sequence and Calculus (Math 130) for the Physics 110/111 sequence. A previous class in trigonometry is also advised (Math 120, or high school trigonometry).

Course Information
The course sequences of Physics 105/106 or Physics 110/111 both meet the UCSB Physics 6ABC requirement for Biological Science majors. In addition Physics 110/111 satisfies the Physics 6ABC requirement at UCLA, and the Physics 8AB requirement at UC Berkeley. Both satisfy the SBCC General Education Natural Sciences requirement, and the UC/CSU IGETC Physical Science requirement.  It is important to meet with a counselor or academic advisor to discuss the transfer requirements for your major.

Physics 105/110 Course Grading

Your grade is based on your performance on 3 exams, daily exam questions, homework, class work, and the laboratories. There will be additional homework assignments for Physics 110 students only. The weight for each category is:

Category

Minimum - Maximum

Laboratory

15% fixed

Homework

0% - 10%

Class Work

0% - 10%

Daily Exam Questions

0% - 25%

Three Exams

40% - 85%

 

How to Calculate the Overall Class Percentage

Sum each of the following:

Lab Average x 1.5

Homework Average

Class Work Average

Daily Exam Question Average x 2.5

Exam Average x 0.85

 

Grades will be based on your overall class percentage as follows:

90-100% - A; 80-89% - B; 60-79% - C; 50-59% - D; Below 50% - F

 

What We Do

Each class proceeds something like this:

·        Approximately 5 homework questions will be due (online) by 11 am prior to the start of each class.  At the start of each class, you will have 5-10 minutes to work together and ask questions about the assignment.  Following this, you will have an exam question based on the previous assignment.  There is a time limit for these daily exam questions, and you must work individually.

·        After the daily exam question, new material is introduced and you will have the opportunity to work together to submit in-class assignments.

·        Homework assignments for the next class will be introduced.

 

Why We Do It

·        As a teacher, I want to see as many successful grades as possible without sacrificing quality. Building into the course opportunities to learn from each other is an efficient way to do this.

·        Physics is an acquired skill, not the memorization of information. Therefore, the emphasis in this class is not just on watching someone “do” physics, but rather on practicing the skill. The sooner you approach this class more as you would in learning a sport or a musical instrument, the more successful you will be.  Think of “playing” physics…

·        Doing no running until the day before a marathon makes no sense. Neither does not doing your own physics problems until the day before an exam. For this reason, you are given the opportunity to perform physics each class day and have it built into your grade.  The grading structure does however, still allow for the traditional approach (i.e. procrastination), if that is what you prefer.

·        There is no correlation between your performance in other classes (even math or chemistry) and the ease with which you learn to solve physics problems. Everyone will have something to contribute and something to learn.

 

Policies

·        Bring your CPS clicker to class each day. You must have your own clicker to receive credit for daily exam questions and class work. Clickers may be kept with me, if this is more convenient for you.

 

·        Homework is submitted online via “Connect”.  To register for this website, follow the instructions included with your textbook, or use the link: Connect Registration and click the “register now” button.  If you have trouble with registration, please contact customer support at http://mpss.mhhe.com/.

 

·        Please adhere to the following expectations when attending lecture in order to minimize distractions for others:

          1.      No late arrivals or early departures.

          2.      No talking during lecture period other than specified class discussions or group work.

          3.      Turn cell phones off.

          4.      Here is a link (from a different department) regarding Classroom Expectations

 

·        Exams may be taken only during the scheduled day and time – there will be no make-up for exams.  Your grade is based on the best performance on three out of four scheduled exams (including the final). If you need to miss an exam for any reason, that exam will be dropped as your lowest score. You may take all four exams and drop the lowest score.

 

·        Laboratory make-up assignments:  One missed lab may be replaced by attending a lecture from the UCSB Arts and Lectures Series, the SBCC Adult Education Mind/Supermind Series, or other events as they are announced. A one-page summary/reaction, along with the ticket stub from the event must be submitted.  The last scheduled lab of the semester may also be used as a make-up lab.

 

·        Notes for exams: one 3” x 5” index card and a calculator only (no cell phones or net books!) will be allowed for all exams.

 

·        You are responsible for all assignments and due dates listed in the Class Schedule.  The schedule may need to be adjusted throughout the semester, therefore it is important to pay attention to updates given in class or posted online.

 

·        Cheating policy.  Daily exam questions, class work and all midterm exams will be taken with the CPS “clicker”.  Any sharing of information during exams or daily exam questions, or use of a clicker other than your own will result in immediate expulsion and an F in the course. 

 

·        Students with disabilities. SBCC students with disabilities who are requesting accommodations for classes, college activities or tests should use the following SBCC procedure.  (NOTE:  This also includes students who are requesting to bring service animals into classes. This procedure also includes requests to bring into classes personal service attendants who are not SBCC employees.)

[1] Contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS).
[2] Submit documentation of your disability to the DSPS office.
[3] Communicate with a DSPS counselor regarding options for services and accommodations.
[4] Reach written accommodation agreement with the DSPS counselor and your instructor.

SBCC requests you complete this process at least ten working days before your accommodation is needed, in order to allow DSPS staff time to provide your accommodation.

Contact:  DSPS office (805) 965-0581 x 2364, SS Building, room 160, dspshelp@sbcc.edu

 

Additional Support for all SBCC Students

Use the link: Seek Help

 

“What Will I Learn in this Class?”

Upon completion of Physics 105, given a physical description of the problem and using algebra and trigonometry, a student with a grade of C or above will be able to:

 

1.  Apply Newton’s three laws of motion to solve problems in translational and rotational kinematics, statics, and dynamics.

 

2.  Apply conservation of energy and momentum principles to solve problems in translational and rotational kinematics, statics, and dynamics.

 

3.  Apply principles of fluid mechanics to solve problems in fluid behavior.

 

4.  Apply principles of wave mechanics to solve problems in simple harmonic motion and wave behavior.

 

5.  Apply principles of thermal physics to solve problems in heat, thermal expansion, and the behavior of ideal gases.

 

Upon completion of Physics 110, given a physical description of the problem and using algebra, trigonometry, and calculus, a student with a grade of C or above will be able to demonstrate the same five skills.

 

“How Will I Be Graded?”

When grading any problem, the following checklist will be used to verify that you can correctly:

 

q       Explain the problem and your approach to solving it.

q       Specify the information to be determined.

q       Identify the equation(s) that will allow you to solve the problem.

q       Substitute the given information and solve the problem.

 

And if there is time left over J…….some “good reads”

The Human Touch by Michael Frayn (c.2007); A philosophical look at the roots of physics.

Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene (c.2004); A follow-up to The Elegant Universe.

The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene (c.1999); The newest physics classic for the masses – attempts to make string theory comprehensible.

The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra (2000 Anniversary Edition); A classic book which popularized a re-thinking of science.

The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukov (c.1979,2001); Along the same lines as Capra, but a bit more technical.

Quantum Philosophy by Roland Omnes (c.1999); A difficult book to read, but well worth it if you are interested in thoroughly examining our assumptions about the workings of the world.

A Hole in the Universe by K.C. Cole (c.2001); An easy, entertaining, and accurate summary of modern physics.

Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman (c.1963,1989,1997): An Overview of the Essentials of Physics, emphasizing atoms and quantum mechanics.

Energy, Second Edition, Gordon J. Aubrecht, (c.1995); A good overview of energy production and use of energy in our lives.

Art and Physics by Leonard Shlain (c.1991)

The Invisible Century by Richard Panek (c.2004); A look at how Einstein and Freud each made their incredible contributions by looking “within”. An excellent treatment of general relativity.


Selected Websites

Algebra refresher

Physics Tutorials  Links provided by Dolores Gende.

The Mechanical Universe  Original series from Public Broadcasting.

The Elegant Universe NOVA series as aired on PBS. Describes string theory via QuickTime video clips.

Interactive Periodic Table of the Elements