University Physics I
(PHYS-281)
Spring Semester, 2008

Course Web Resources (lots of resources)
Dr. Scott's University Physics Home Page:  
http://physics.uwstout.edu/geo/uniphys/
http://physics.uwstout.edu/deptpages/links.htm

D2L (Learn@UW-Stout)

Description

Welcome to physics! This is the first course in a two-semester sequence in introductory, calculus-level physics. Physics is concerned with the description of how nature behaves. This behavior is described mathematically and verified by experimental measurements. In this course, you will learn to apply fundamental concepts that are important in describing the physical world. This will be done in a way that increases your level of expertise to critically evaluate and solve problems.

To begin, the course will look at scalar and vector measurements along with their proper dimensions and mathematical analysis. A study in kinematics will follow. Kinematics examines how objects move in one, two, and three-dimensions. One of the most important concepts in nature is that of forces and how these are used to characterize the interaction between two objects. Force vectors will be developed in conjunction with Newton's Laws of motion. There exists only four ways in which objects in our Universe can interact. One of these four ways is through the force due to gravity. Newton’s Universal Gravitational Law will be examined.

Two very important laws of nature that this course will examine include the conservation of energy and the conservation of momentum. These concepts can be applied to rectilinear (motion in a straight line), rotational, and oscillatory (or wave) motion. Just before rotational motion is discussed, we will delve into the concept of torque and equilibrium. Towards the end of the semester, we will examine fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is the study of how heat energy gets transferred and absorbed.

The entire course is simply a study of the inter-relationship between the fundamental quantities of length, mass, and time (charge will be introduced in the second semester). The SI (metric) system of measurements will be used predominantly.

"Besides learning to see, there is another art to be learned - not to see what is not."
                                                                                            Maria Mitchell

Goals of the Course

Applying formulas to a problem to get the correct answer should not be viewed as the primary goal of this course! The primary goal of this course is to understand the limitations of the formulas and how they relate to fundamental principles and concepts.

Your course grade will be weighted according to the following percentages:

10% Homework Completion
14% Homework Quiz
13% Discussion Worksheet/Group Task
14% Laboratory
16% Exam 1 (February 25)
16% Exam 2 (April 7)
17% Final Exam (May 9, 8-9:50am, room 210 AA)

In an effort to encourage group work and cooperation, the course letter grade will be based upon an absolute grading scale of the final course percent score.

Corresponding Final Course Letter Grades and Percent Scores

Therefore, if you receive a score of 87% on all your assignments, your final course letter grade will be an 'A-'.

Homework

The homework will consist of assigned problems at the end of the chapters in the text.  Some homeworks will have more problems than others. Each problem set is to be handed in at the beginning of class on Fridays.  These will be graded for sufficient completion.  Ten points for neatly and completely showing work on all problems assigned.  Less than 10 points will be given for work that is not complete or is messy.  Solutions to homework problems will be posted onto the web in a password protected file.  The password will be announced in class.  At the beginning of each discussion period a 15-minute homework quiz will be given to assess your learning the homework.  They will consist of one question that is identical or very similar to a previous homework question.  These will be handed in and graded on a 10 point scale.  All ten points will be given for correct answers and correct problem solving technique.  (Points can be deducted for poor or unclear problem solving technique.)  You will lose points for incorrect or missing units in final answers.  

An example of good problem solving technique is shown on the last page of the syllabus. 

Class Participation

On occasion, there will be a concept quiz presented in lecture.  These quizzes won't be submitted for points but they will serve as feedback to you and the instructor.  They represent an analysis of a particular physics concept.

Link to Dr. Scott's policy on electronic devices in the class (please read).

Discussion Worksheets / Group Tasks

Homework problems that have been graded will be passed back in lecture. Occasionally, I will spend some time during lecture going over some homework problems. During the discussion session, you will be working in team problem solving groups.  Each person in the group will take notes, perform calculations, and possibly do a spreadsheet analysis.  The group will hand in one solution to the discussion problems with the following information at the top:

Names of Students in Group
Title of Worksheet
Date

Solution

Each group's score will be evaluated on a 10 point scale with 10 being the best score.  The evaluation will be based on  (1) the correctness of the solutions, and (2) group involvement.  The group involvement score will be subjective.  I will be observing each group's ability to keep its members on task and contributing to the discussion and work.  Different groups will be assigned each week.  The discussion worksheet is not purely a group score.  If I observe an individual not contributing to a group, that individual's score may be lowered while keeping the rest of the group's score the same.

I will provide assistance to the groups when needed.  These worksheets will be designed to reinforce various concepts discussed in lecture.

There will be no late (or makeup) homework, quizzes, or worksheets accepted for grading. I reserve the right to evaluate any extenuating circumstances (documentation required) to consider exceptions to this rule.

Exams

The first and second exams will be 60% multiple choice (10 questions) and 40% problems (3 problems).  The final exam will be 15 multiple choice and 4 problems to solve.  If an exam is unavoidably missed (with a legitimate excuse - documentation required), then a makeup exam will be given that is 50% essay and 50% problems.  The topics to be covered on the exams will be announced in class prior to the exam.

Laboratory

You will have a laboratory activity once per week.  This will help reinforce the concepts discussed in lecture.  Knowing how the concepts in the book are observed and measured in nature is vital.  Laboratory evaluation and reports will be discussed in laboratory and on the laboratory syllabus.  If you are not in my discussion and laboratory section, a percent score for homework quizzes, discussion worksheets, and laboratory scores will be passed along to me at the end of the semester.  I will decide how these scores get incorporated into the final course grade.

Recommendations

This course does have a web site at D2L (Learn@UW-Stout).  You can also enter into a chat room at this site which is available to students enrolled in this course.

Keep up with your reading and assignments. If you are having difficulty with a particular concept or problem, please come and see me. I will be glad to help out!  If you have a special circumstance such as a visual or hearing impairment, please stop into my office and we'll discuss ways in which your learning environment can be optimized.

Each week there will be at least one and probably several problems worked out neatly on the board during lecture.  These problems, along with the assigned homework, will reflect particular problem-solving skills in which you will be expected to use on the exams. 

I encourage you to work together on assignments other than the exams. However, do not copy verbatim (or mostly verbatim in my judgment) another person's work.  Academic dishonesty will be dealt with harshly.  [UW-System Academic Student Code]