Physics 105
Physics I - Fundamentals Connected to Common Experience (Mechanics)
Fall Semester 2008
Locations and times:
Textbooks and supplies:
Serway
& Jewett, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 7th Ed. (Thomson)
Interactive WEB
site for the Serway & Jewett text (useful for test preparation)
Andrew Elby, Portable TA Problem Solving Guide, Vol. 1 (Prentice-Hall), on reserve in CNS Room C005
General Physics Fall Laboratory Notes, available via links on the course schedule (below). [Always read before coming to lab!]
A pocket calculator will be useful for problem sets and tests and in the laboratory (it might not hurt in class either).
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Gabe Spalding C006B CNS Office hours: M 11:00 - 11:50 Th 9:00-9:50, 11:00-11:50 F 11:00-11:50, 3:00 - 3:50 gspalding@titan.iwu.edu 556-3004 |
Course
Overview:
Physics 105-106 and Physics 207 together form the introductory sequence designed for all majors in the physical sciences and for all pre-engineering students. The first semester, Phys 105, uncovers the foundation of Newtonian mechanics. Topics include translational, rotational, vibrational, and wave-like motions in simple physical and engineering systems.
A three-semester introductory sequence may, at first, seem quite lengthy -- but there is quite a bit to introduce! It would be impossible for most people, at this stage in their education, to have specific aspirations within science or high technology, simply because these activities are outside of common experience and therefore students lack the necessary exposure to the (very satisfying and rewarding) intellectual opportunities. At this time (while there's still plenty of time) I hope to start a conversation with you that is aimed at exploring possible new interests that you might (at some later time) develop further. -- PLEASE let me know whenever you think that something is neat! Over a few semesters, our conversations can amount to significant, shared exploration.
Given the fast pace of technological change in our society, and the fascinating nature of modern topics, it might seem odd that this first semester begins with a discussion of the ideas of Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, each now dead for hundreds of years. Why on earth would an introduction to science and technology today include consideration of inclined planes and pulleys and the simple pendulum, when we could be discussing the marvels of Einstein's theories of spacetime, the atomic nature of matter and the revelations that come from quantum mechanics; here, at the dawn of the age of nanotechnology and faced with environmental issues on the global scale, shouldn't we be delving into macro-micro connections, and modern approaches to modeling complex physical systems?
In truth, we will integrate some modern topics into our discussion, yet there remains a great advantage in initially focusing the conversation upon the simplest possible, most concrete examples: in order to build a solid foundation for the most fundamental scientific concepts we begin by taking advantage of the lifetime of experience you already have, and the visceral understanding that you already possess regarding human-scale phenomena.
A breakfast-tabletop experiment: Did you ever notice that Cheerios in milk cluster together? Make a hypothesis as to why this might be the case, and then check it out! Play with your food! Do it! Come to class ready to discuss what you observe!
As we build up basic understanding from the simplest examples, those most connected to common experience, we are better positioned to begin providing exposure to abstractions that are essential for the understanding of phenomena that are beyond your personal history.
Through this course, you will develop strong problem solving skills,
necessary to apply common scientific concepts in a wide variety of situations.
You will begin to understand technical 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. You will gain further experience in reasoning deductively and mathematically,
using algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and calculus in order to understand
scientific descriptions of reality.
It is important to note that calculus is a part of this course. Students
contemplating a major in physics should take (the calculus-based) Physics 106 and students
interested in our 3:2
pre-engineering program are required to take calculus-based physics. Those intending to become Chemists are
also advised to take Physics 106, while pre-medical students (even if they are
Chemistry majors) typically take Physics 102.
Course Policies
Attendance:
It is important that you attend all classes and lab
meetings in order to benefit from this course and fulfill your responsibilities
as a participant.
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.
Assignments and Tests:
I will often send you e-mail and announcements. It is your responsibility to read these. It is also your responsibility to maintain your IWU e-mail account so that your mailbox does not exceed its allotted quota.
Written work must be handed in at the start of the class period at which it is due. This
syllabus also contains reading assignments that are necessary to prepare you for class discussion. Please do the
reading before attending the class related to that material.
There will be four sectional exams during the term:
· Monday 9/22 (Ch 1-4)
· Wednesday 10/15 (Ch 5-8)
· Friday 11/7 (Ch 9-11).
· Monday 11/24 (Ch 12, 14-16).
There will be a two-hour final exam at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The first hour of that exam will cover Chapters 15-18; the second hour will review the basics of Mechanics.
You will need two lab notebooks. Each must contain
sewn-in pages, rather than spiral-bound pages. In addition to your lab
notebooks, brief lab reports will be due at the start of the next week’s lab
meeting. The report following your final lab section is due one week after that
meeting, by the time your section would normally meet.
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 sound approach that led to 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 of concepts is key. On
problem-solving questions, partial credit will normally be awarded for sensible efforts even without completely correct answers.
Laboratory: to be discussed separately at first lab
session.
Final course grades will be computed using the
following weighting
· Written exercises = 80 points
· Four sectional exams during the term, each worth 125 points
· Final Exam = 170 points
· Laboratory = 200 points [Note: ALL labs must be completed to pass the course!]
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, with plenty of advance
notice.
Advice
The following suggestions are based on the experience of previous students:
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 pencil in hand to work through your reading. Ask yourself, "What
is the main point of each section?" and answer that question.
When you take notes in class, don't just write
down equations! Qualitative information is
often essential. Be thorough!
Review your
class notes between lectures, and come prepared to ask questions. Annotate your class notes as you read them.
In Physics 105 a subset of the assignments will come from the "General
Problems" section ending each chapter; identifying the sort of approach required is an essential part of
these homework problems. In our view, the exams involve the same sort of
exercises as these homework sets.
Use the posted solutions to problems and exams as a study aid.
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 any students who
have taken either Phys 101 or 105 before.
Don't prejudge your ability to master the
material. Generations of students have done it before you.
There are many resources available to assist and guide you. These include
the office hours of the course instructor and a "Discussion Workroom"
or Physics Help Clinic run by students on Monday through Thursday evenings. In
addition to the posted office hours, you may try dropping in on your instructor
or you can arrange a meeting time at any class or by 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. Even if you are not having difficulty with the homework, it may be
useful to have others monitor your approach and to offer generalized feedback.
Feedback: If you have concerns about
the course or ideas about how to make it better, please let your instructor
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.
Honor code:
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 instructor, or at the Physics Help Clinic
or from your fellow students with the 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
for this class.
Solutions to the written exercises will be placed
in a binder in the Physics Reading Room (C005). If you are doing a late set for
1/3 credit, you may consult the solutions, but you may not copy them.
For exams, 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.
Tentative Schedule
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Problems of the Week |
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HW Set#1 Due W: |
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Lab Study of Measurement and Uncertainty (Statistics) |
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HW Set#3 Due W: |
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The simplest case: A Lab Study of One-Dimensional Motion
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HW Set#6 Due W: |
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HW Set#9 Due W: |
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Force Lab (see handout)
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HW Set#11 Due W: |
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HW Set#14 Due W: |
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Momentum Lab (see handout) AND the Lab Study of Ballistics |
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HW Set#17 Due W: |
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No Lab |
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HW Set#21 Due W: |
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HW Set#24: Due W: |
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Lab Study of Hooke's Law |
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HW Set#26 Due M: |
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HW Set#29 Due W: |
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HW Set#32 Due W: |
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HW Set#35 Due Mon, Dec 1: |
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No Lab |
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Ch 18: |
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FINAL EXAMINATION:
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 3:30 - 5:30. The first hour of that exam will cover Chapters 15 - 18; the second hour will review the basics of Mechanics.