Physics 103

Jason M. Kinser
© Draft date Aug 25, 2009

1 Syllabus
    1.1 General Information
        1.1.1 Textbook
    1.2 Instructor
    1.3 Prerequisite
    1.4 Overview
    1.5 Attendance
    1.6 Grading
    1.7 Excuses
    1.8 Class Components
    1.9 Honor Code and Exam Policy
    1.10 General Course Policies
    1.11 Computer Support
    1.12 Blackboard
    1.13 How to Fail
    1.14 Schedule
Index

List of Figures

List of Tables

Physics 103: The Physics of Everyday Phenomena.

Chapter 1
Syllabus

Ask questions. You are in college now and it is different than high school. You are to assume more responsibility in gathering information you will need to pass the exams.

Ask questions! If it doesn't make sense then ask questions. People are afraid to ask questions because they feel that it may make them feel ßtupid." It could be that I didn't explain a topic very well - so ask.

If you want to feel ßtupid", then don't ask questions and then take the exams.

1.1 General Information

1.1.1 Textbook

The physics of everyday phenomena" by W.T. Griffith (5th edition)

In many cases, the lecture will cover material that is not in the textbook.

Exam material may come from the lectures or the assigned reading in the textbook.

1.2 Instructor

Dr. Jason M. Kinser

FFX Office: S&T II, 328A
FFX Office Phone: 3-3675

PW Office: Occoquan Hall, 309
PW Office Phone: 3-3785

CA Office: LBNL
CA Office Phone: 510 486 5695s

Email: jkinser@gmu.edu (or the email on Blackboard)
Office Hours: Tue: 11-12; Thur: 1:30-2:30
Appointments: You can schedule other times but probably they will be in my office on the PW campus.

Course Website: http://binf.gmu.edu/kinser/physics103

Course Meeting: Lecture - Tuesday, Thursday 12:00 noon-1:15 PM
Lab - Wednesday 9:30 AM - 12:20 PM ST1 324
Wednesday 1:30 PM - 4:20 PM ST1 324
Thursday 9:00 AM - 11:50 PM ST1 324
Thursday 1:30 PM - 4:20 PM ST1 324

Note: there is a laboratory component to this class that is required. Please ensure that you are registered for both.

1.3 Prerequisite

Thorough knowledge of high school algebra.

1.4 Overview

This semester the course will be dealing with topics such as mechanics, thermodynamics, simple harmonic motion, resonance, waves. We will use chapters 1-11 of the book as our starting point for these explorations. The class will focus on concepts, and the expression of these concepts in colloquial, mathematical, graphical, and schematic descriptions. You will be asked to show your understanding in all these ways on the exams. By the end of this term, you should have a strong conceptual understanding of the various primary topics, and be able to interpret data to support that understanding.

As the instructor in this course, I am your guide through the territory of physics. I will not be pouring facts into your head. You must do the learning: I can only assist and provide guidance and clarity. You need to read the designated sections of the textbook before coming to class. In class I will not be talking about everything discussed in these sections of the textbook, only about things I consider particularly important or confusing. On the other hand, I will discuss in class a lot of material not covered by the book. Part of your task as a participant in this course is to help me identify the most difficult material, and to help interpret that material for your classmates.

Here are a few suggestions on how to use your textbook most effectively:

Start with the Chapter Overview and Outline. This will highlight the main topics that will be covered.
Read the Chapter Summary at the end of the chapter. This section provides a review of the most important concepts that are covered in the chapter.
Go back to the beginning of the chapter and read through all of the sections.
Try all of the sample exercises in the chapter. Make sure you try them on your own without looking at the answer first.
Test yourself by completing the Questions, Exercises, and Challenge Problem sections at the end of the chapter. The most important way to learn physics is to practice by doing problems.
Write down questions and ask me! There are no dumb questions. Asking questions is vital to learning.

It is your responsibility to check the website regularly for possible changes and important announcements.

1.5 Attendance

Attendance in this class is vital to your success. The class time will be used in a variety of ways: for clarification and expanding upon written material, for answering questions, for group work on various topics, for short demonstrations and experiments, and for other activities as appropriate to the material. There will be quizzes, activities, and assignments given and collected during class, so missing a day's class means not only missing the insights of that day, but also possibly missing a graded assignment. Because attendance in the lecture and lab is important, no make-up work will be given after the fact. If you must miss a class for some scheduled activity (a field trip for another class, a team event in which you are a participant, etc.), see me at least one week in advance to arrange make up activities. Also, be reasonable with this privilege - I reserve the right to deny make-ups if you have already missed more than two classes.

1.6 Grading

Your grade in this class will be based on homework, quizzes and other in-class work and participation (20%), labs (20%), 2 midterms (20% each) and a final (20%).

NOTE: You must pass the lab to pass the course; if you get a failing grade in the lab, you will be given a failing grade in Physics 103.

Final letter grade will be assigned by the instructor at the end of the semester.

I will NOT answer questions about grading at any time in class. If you have a question about your grades, you will need to come to my office hours individually.

About Your Grade in this Class: In this course, you will get exactly the grade you deserve by mathematically weighted average. It is YOUR responsibility, not mine, to make sure you study hard and get the grade you want.

If you have problems come to me EARLY in the semester. I will help you. Join a study group. Get a tutor. Do not wait until the last minute to worry about your grade.

Your final grade in this class will not be changed under any circumstances at any time.

1.7 Excuses

I hear a lot of them.

Usually, grandmothers die a week before finals. Sometimes they die in more than one semester.

My favorite excuses:

Ï drowned the night before."
"The government is watching me."
"There is a black curse on my computer."

I will listen to your excuses and add the good ones to the list. They will not change your grade, though.

If you do have a medical emergency then inform me as soon as possible. If you wait and said, Öh, I had a medical problem two weeks ago," then I will have no sympathies.

1.8 Class Components

There will be many quizzes during the term. These will happen during class or lab sessions, and may be done individually, or in a group, as designated by me at the time of the quiz.

Homework is a way to reinforce the material you have learned, and to apply your new knowledge. Each week there will be problems or questions designated as pivotal to the assigned material. These problems will be due every Tuesday at the beginning of class. Late homework assignments will not be accepted. Solutions for all the assigned problems and questions will be made available on the website. I encourage you to work on your homework and study in groups.

Part of your lab sessions may be used for skills building and problem solving. Your knowledge of the material covered in lab may also be tested during exams.

Exams will include problems, questions, interpretation of data and graphs, and use of diagrams. No exam grade will be dropped from your final score. If you want to make your life easier bring a calculator. It is your responsibility to bring one as I do not carry spares. Sharing of calculators will not be permitted. No cell phones and cell-phone calculators are allowed during exam. You will also be permitted to bring to each exam one 8.5 by 11 inch sheet with whatever information you think will be valuable. If indicated so by the instructor bring in scantron sheets to the exam. Again, that's your responsibility.

Exam Schedule: Test 1: Near the end of September.
Test 2:
Final:

There are no make-up exams. You must be on time. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you may not be allowed to take the exam. Go to the bathroom before the exam, you will not be allowed back in the classroom during the exam once you leave.

Throughout the semester SAVE ALL YOUR GRADED WORK.

1.9 Honor Code and Exam Policy

During all tests and the final exam, you must work alone. If you are caught cheating, you will be brought before the Academic Honor Council which may result in a failing grade in this course, a permanent mark on your transcript, suspension, or expulsion.

Don't test me on this!

1.10 General Course Policies

In order to facilitate the optimum learning environment for your fellow students, the following behavior is expected:

Class will start on time. Come on time, and be prepared to start working. This class requires active participation by you. You are expected to think, and write, and share, and ask questions, and in general be engaged while you are here.
My class policy is: NO LATE COMERS AND NO LEAVING IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS. Entering and leaving in the middle of class is extremely distracting to your fellow students as well as to your instructor.
Be respectful of yourself, and others in the course. Don't talk during class about other things; when working in groups, keep voices to a low level so all can keep working; don't denigrate others' work or ideas. Give everyone in your group a chance to speak and contribute.
You must turn off all cell phones and pagers before you enter class. Anyone whose electronics disturb the class will be penalized 1% of the overall course grade each time it happens.

1.11 Computer Support

You can find help as well as available workstations at the Johnson Center. I can answer some questions outside of the lecture time.

1.12 Blackboard

http://courses.gmu.edu

This is the course web portal. I will post items here. Grades will be posted here. One stop shopping for: assignments, answers, schedule, forum, course email, on-line questions, etc.

1.13 How to Fail

Cheat.
Sit in the back of the room and sleep.
Don't ask questions.
Cram just before the exams.

1.14 Schedule

Table 1.14 shows the tentative schedule for this semester. Every effort will be made to stay on schedule but there is a chance that the schedule will change due to unforeseen events (snow days, etc.).

Date	Topic	Reading
9/1	Course Introduction and Algebra	Appendix A
9/3	Physics in Life and units	Chapt 1 and Appendix B
9/8	Vectors	Appendix C
9/10	Motion	Chapt 2
9/15	Falling objects	Chapt 3
9/17	Falling objects part 2
9/22	Exam
9/24	NO CLASS
9/29	Newton	Chapt 4
10/1	More Newton
10/6	Circular Motion	Chapt 5
10/8	More Circular Motion	Chapt 5
10/13	NO CLASS (Monday classes meet today)
10/15	Energy	Chapt 6
10/20	Energy Conservation
10/22	Momentum	Chapt 7
10/27	EXAM
10/29	Exam Review and Collisions	Chapt 7
11/3	Rotations of Objects	Chapt 8
11/5	More Rotations	Chapt 8
11/10	Fluids	Chapt 9
11/12	More Fluids
11/17	Temperature	Chapt 10
11/19	More Temperature
11/23	Review for Final
11/25	THANKSGIVING
12/1	Heat	Chapt 11
12/3	Heat

Index (showing section)

File translated from T_EX by T_TH, version 3.85.
On 25 Aug 2009, 09:50.