Physics 101 - General Physics I Fall Semester

Location and times:

MWF 10:00 - 10:50 in C101 CNS

Laboratory : Room WS005 of CNS.

Physics Discussion Room(optional): MTWTh evenings, 7-9 PM, in E105 CNS, staffed by experienced and friendly physics majors

Textbooks and supplies:

• Douglas C. Giancoli, Physics, 5th ed. (Prentice-Hall) --> click on this text to link to the interactive WEB site
• General Physics 101 and 105 Laboratory Manual
• Andrew Elby, Portable TA Problem Solving Guide, Vol. 1 (Prentice-Hall), on reserve in Sheean Library
• A pocket calculator will be useful for problem sets and tests and in the laboratory. (It might not hurt in class either.)

Instructor:

Gabe Spalding C006B CNS

• gspalding@titan.iwu.edu
• 556-3004
• Office Hours:
• Tuesday: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Wednesday: 12:00 - 1:00 pm, and 4:00 - 5:00 pm
• Friday: 3:00 - 4:00 pm

E-mail is always welcome. I will occasionally send you e-mail and announcements.

How this course fits into the broader curriculum:

Physics 101 and 102 together constitute a comprehensive introduction to classical and modern physics. Calculus is NOT a requirement (although calculus-based approaches may sometimes be presented alongside non-calculus methods, only non-calculus problem-solving techniques appear on homework or exams). Pre-medical students typically take Physics 101-102. On the other hand, students contemplating a major in physics should take (the calculus-based) Physics 105-106 (which meets at the same time as this class in C102), and any student interested in our 3:2 pre-engineering program are required (by the American Board of Engineering Training) to take that (calculus-based) physics course.

Any student intending to become a CHEMIST is advised to consider taking Physics 105-106 -- for a number of reasons. First, the synergy between chemistry and physics is so strong that chemistry majors should be aware of the possibilities for a double major, a minor, or involvement in the Physics Department research groups. Second, there are many courses offered by the Physics Department that complement and reinforce the IWU Chemistry major (e.g., Materials Physics, Optical Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Electronics, Statistical Mechnanics and Thermodynamics, upper-level Electricity and Magnetism, Experimental Physics, etc.). Students should note that Physics 207 ("Modern Physics") is required for many of the electives offered by the Physics Department, and so the 105/106/207 sequence is preferred for students interested in combining an extended suite of physics courses with another major.

Whatever your major, you may wish to note that the requirements for a Physics Minor only involve Physics 101-102 (or 105-106) plus three additional one-semester classes: Physics 207 ("Modern Physics", a fun course which surveys relativity & quantum mechanics), Physics 304 ("Math Methods", where we survey the most useful math), and one additional 300-level course (Chemistry majors often choose Quantum Mechanics and/or Materials Physics; biologists might opt for Optical Physics; many choose a basic course in Electronics or Experimental Physics).

Physics 101 Course Overview

The fall semester, 101, covers mechanics extensively and discusses, in less depth, fluid motionm, simple waves, sound, heat, temperature and relativity. Mechanics, the science of motion, is universally important, widely applicable, and steeped in history. We will study the ideas of Galileo, Kepler, Newton and Einstein among others. We will frequently apply physical concepts to other scientific disciplines, especially the life sciences (e.g., relating oscillations to audiological physiology and fluid mechanics to blood flow). The course will only introduce the Theory of Special Relativity, which is critical to understanding high speed motion and the broader nature of time and space (and which is, coincidentally, really cool). Those interested in more than a cursorty introduction to relativity are referred to Phys 207. Similarly, in Phys 102 we offer only a cursory introduction to quantum mechanics; again, those interested in a more thorough introduction should plan on taking Physics 207.

Nowhere is it written that a "100-level" course is less work, or in any way easier, than an upper-level course. In fact, most students consider 200-level physics (e.g., Physics 207) to be easier than 100-level, just as students often find that their first forays into a foreign language are the most challenging. It will take a lot of work just to find your bearings. That said, phsyics is a beautiful subject, right and rewarding.

You will develop strong problem-solving skills, necessary to apply physical concepts in a wide variety of situations (and disciplines). To do this, you will need to learn and think in a variety of ways, some of which may seem new to you. You will learn to reason deductively and mathematically, using algebra, trigonometry, and geometry in order to understand physicists' descriptions of reality. You will begin to understand physical concepts, some intuitive and some counter-intuitive, on a deep level. You will hone all of these skills through homework exercises (primarily), as well as through experiences in the classroom and in the laboratory, where you will gain first-hand experience with some of the physical phenomena underlying natural processes.

There are many resources available to assist and guide you. These include a nightly "clinic" or help session run by upper-level physics students on Monday through Thursday evenings. In addition to posted office hours, you may drop in on your instructor or arrange a meeting time or correspond via e-mail.
Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor and ask for help. No question or topic is too small! If you are having a lot of trouble with the homework, please be sure to meet with your instructor as soon as possible.

Please note that it is especially important to stay up to date on the reading and homework. If you invest the necessary work in the course, you'll find it interesting and highly satisfying.

Feedback: If you have concerns about the course or ideas about how to make it better, please let the us know immediately, either in person or by e-mail. We are very happy to implement suggestions, and we have had great success with student suggestions in the past.

Course Policies

Attendance

It is important that you attend all classes in order to benefit from this course and fulfill your responsibilities as a participant.

You will be assigned to one laboratory section on the basis of a form to be distributed. The laboratory will not meet every week (see the attached schedule). There will be a 20% penalty for any unexcused absence from the regularly scheduled laboratory period.

We will give exams during the Tuesday/Thursday sessions six times during the semester (see below). Of the remaining seven Tuesday/Thursday sessions, you must attend four .

Assignments and Tests:

Written work will be assigned weekly, on Monday. It will be due at the start of class on the following Wednesday (nine days later). There will also be assigned reading to prepare you for class discussion.

There will be six examinations during the T-Th discussion periods, in the following weeks: 9/6-9/10, 9/20-9/24, 10/4-10/7, 10/25-10/29, 11/8-11/12, 11/29-12/3 . These exams will consist of multiple-choice questions and a few short-answer questions.

There will be one examination during the lecture period on 10/13/99 and a final exam at 8:00 AM on 12/15/99 (Wednesday). These exams will emphasize problem solving and short-answer questions.

Lab reports will be due one week after your lab section, as described in the lab manual.

Grading procedures:

Written exercises: the following simple scheme emphasizing understanding over details will be applied to each problem or substantial part thereof: 4 points will be awarded for a correct numerical answer, 3 points for correct application of concepts, 2 points for a significant attempt with conceptual errors, and 1 point for any attempt.

Exams: understanding concepts is key. On the problem-solving exams, partial credit will be awarded for sensible efforts even without completely correct answers. No partial credit will be given for the multiple-choice questions.

Laboratory: to discussed separately at first lab session.

Final course grades will be computed using the following weighting:

• Midterms 48%
• T-Th Quizes: 6 quizes, totaling 39%
  In-Lecture Exam: 9%
• Final Exam: 18%
• Laboratory 20% [Note: ALL labs must be complete to pass the course!]
• Written exercises 14%
  

Lateness policies:

Labs must be completed and turned in on the due dates unless cleared in advance by the lab instructor.

Homework: You are permitted a single one week extension without any penalty during the semester when you are stressed out with work; however, in order to receive the extension you must, at the time the homework is due, turn in a dated sheet of paper indicating that you are giving yourself a "free extension." Save it for when you really need it.

Otherwise, work turned in by the start of class following the due date will be assessed a modest 15% penalty. Work handed in anytime after that, but before the end of the semester deadline, will not be graded but will be given about 1/3 credit for a reasonable effort. Please do not split up the assignments.

Exams must be taken at the stated times, except by prior agreement.

Honor code matters:

We value Illinois Wesleyan's honor code for the integrity it fosters and the pedagogical flexibility it affords. The important guiding principle of academic honesty is that you must never represent the work of others as your own. The following guidelines should govern your behavior in the course; please request clarification if you find yourself in any doubtful situations.

You may seek assistance from the instructors, at the Physics clinic or from your fellow students with the weekly assigned exercises and with preparing for class discussions. You may also work together with other members of the class on these assignments, and this is often quite beneficial. However, for your own good, avoid situations in which you contribute either too much or too little to such collaborations. Just copying someone else's work is clearly a representation of another's work as your own and is a violation of the community. [This includes copying the homework solutions when preparing your extension homework.] Your textbook gives the answers for most of the odd-numbered exercises. These are given so that you will know if you have solved problems correctly. It is not sound learning procedure to try to work backwards from given answers, but doing so is not a violation of the honor code.

Solutions to the written exercises will be placed on reserve in the Laboratory . (If you are doing a late set for 1/3 credit, you may consult the solutions, but you may not copy them.)

Exams must be entirely your own work. Detailed instructions will be given on the exams themselves and discussed in advance. You will be allowed to use a page of notes prepared in advance and a calculator, but no other materials will be permitted. No collaboration of any sort is allowed once an exam begins.

Advice

You may need to improve your study habits in order to succeed in this course. The following suggestions are based on the experience of previous students:

Review your class notes between lectures, and come prepared to ask questions. Annotate your class notes as you read them.

Stay up to date on the reading; preferably read the assigned material twice ; for example, once before the relevant lecture, and once after.

Read with pen in hand to work out things described only briefly in the text or lecture. Ask yourself "what is the main point of each section", and answer the question.

When you take notes in class, don't just write down equations ! Qualitative information is often essential.

Don't spend more than one hour on a single homework problem. Show clearly where you're stumped and just move on. Don't feel badly if this happens occasionally, and don't worry about the effect on your grade. Consistency in attempting the homework is most important.

You need to allocate about five hours for study and homework per week (plus class time and lab responsibilities).

Do stop in to see your instructor if you have questions or suggestions.

Use the posted solutions (in the Laboratory) to problems and exams.

Remember that if physics is a new or unfamiliar subject for you, learning will take time, just as learning a new language takes time. Try not to become discouraged if the going is rough at times, and don't prejudge your ability to master the material. Generations of students have done it before you. There is no magic method of presenting the material that we can use to make it easy.

If you are interested in more resources, look at the materials on reserve for the course in the library.

Feel free to ask for advice from physics majors or from any students who have taken 101 before.

Tentative Schedule

*  A Q preceding a number in an assignment indicates a question rather than a problem.

Tentative Lab Schedule