Syllabus

General Physics W/Calc I

PH 105 Section 050

Summer 2015, Lecture

Dr. Patrick Leclair

Office Hours and Contact Information

M-F 12-1 in Gallalee 323, 4-5 in Bevill 2050

Other times by appointment, call/txt/email for appointment (contact information will be provided in class).

Prerequisites

UA Course Catalog Prerequisites

Prerequisite(s): MATH 125 or MATH 145.

Course Description

UA Course Catalog Information

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Core Designations:

Natural Science

How do we describe the motion of objects around us, and the forces that act on them? How do cars stay on those steep turns at Talladega? Why do the planets have the orbits they do? Did you know that a shell casing hits the ground at the same time the bullet does? These sorts of questions and more are the domain of classical mechanics, which describes everything from projectiles to machinery to spacecraft, stars, and planets amazingly well. Classical mechanics also provides a basis for the study of most "modern" subjects in physics, including quantum mechanics, general relativity, astrophysics, and elementary particle physics to name a few.

In PH105, we aim first to provide you with the fundamental physics background to understand the world in motion around you, and then use that background to delve into momentum, energy, oscillations, thermal processes, fluid mechanics, and more. Compared to PH101, the mathematical sophistication will be much greater.

PH 105 is our first calculus-based introduction to physics, and is aimed at students who desire (or require) a detailed working physics background, particularly calculations and problem solving. Laboratory experiments will augment lecture- and discussion-based learning, and introduce students to key experimental techniques and analysis. The course will stress a conceptual and mathematical understanding of everyday phenomena in terms of their basic underlying physical principles. Broadly, the course material can be grouped into the following areas:

Distance, velocity, & acceleration
Newton's laws of motion
Energy
Momentum & collisions

Rotational motion and gravity
Solids and fluids
Thermal physics
Sound and oscillations

Student Learning Outcomes

Course goals and objectives

Upon completion of this course you should have a basic understanding of classical mechanics for both discrete and continuous systems and thermodynamics. A good understanding of this material forms the background necessary for enrollment in PH 106 or PH 126. Expected learning outcomes include but are not limited to the following:

General learning outcomes for 100- and 200-level physics courses:

Scientific method:
Students will understand the scientific method and critically evaluate scientific information.
Effective teamwork:
Students will develop skills in working together in team activities.

Course-specific learning outcomes:

Conceptual understanding of Newton's laws:
Students understand concepts that require knowledge of Newton's laws of motion, and use Newton's laws to formulate a solution to physical problems.
Conceptual understanding of conservation laws:
Students understand concepts that require knowledge of conservation laws, and use them to formulate a solution to physical problems.
Analysis of circular motion and oscillations:
Students will solve problems involving analysis of circular and oscillatory motion of objects.
Knowledge of continuous systems:
Students will understand how to extend physical principles for discrete systems to describe the physical behavior of continuous systems.
Knowledge of thermodynamics:
Students will solve problems which require knowledge of the three laws of thermodynamics.

Required Texts

UA Supply Store Textbook Information

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Other Course Materials

Notes, example homework/exam problems and solutions, etc., may be found here:

http://faculty.mint.ua.edu/~pleclair/ph105/

You may also find my related course material useful:

http://faculty.mint.ua.edu/~pleclair/ph125/

http://faculty.mint.ua.edu/~pleclair/ph101/

There is also a course blog at http://ph105.blogspot.com/ which features atom/rss feeds, and anonymous comments. Online calendar (Google Calendar) also available.

The (free) online Feynman Lectures on Physics are also a great supplemental text.

http://www.feynmanlectures.info

While lacking in example problems, the explanations and reasoning given are masterful. During the first class we will provide a list linking the textbook chapters with those in the Feynman lectures so you will know where to find relevant supplemental reading.

Outline of Topics

Preliminary schedule (subject to change):

May

T26 Intro / 1D motion
W27 1D motion / 2D motion | uncertainty analysis; diagnostic exam
R28 2D motion | 1D motion, free-fall
F29 Motion along arbitrary paths / misc.

June

M 1 Force & motion 1 | 2nd law experiment
T 2 Force & motion 1/2
W 3 Force & motion 2 | friction lab
R 4 KE and work | Exam 1
F 5 KE and work / PE and CoE

M 8 PE and CoE | momentum
T 9 Center of mass & momentum
W10 Rotation / rolling, torque, angular momentum | TBD
R11 Rolling, torque, angular momentum / equilibrium & elasticity | Exam 2
F12 Gravitation

M15 Oscillations | Simple Harmonic Motion
T16 Waves 1
W17 Waves 2 | standing waves
R18 Temperature, heat, first law | Exam 3
F19 Fluids

M22 Kinetic theory | calorimetry
T23 2nd law / END
W24 Final exam / 12-1:45pm

Exams and Assignments

Exams

There will be three “hour” exams, each covering several thematically consistent chapters. These exams will be administered during laboratory periods. There is also a comprehensive final exam, which will take place during the final examination period.

For the hour exams, you are allowed only the following items:

Writing implement(s)
Calculator (no cell phones or PDAs)
One prepared 8.5 x 11 inch formula sheet (front and back sides allowed)

The hour exams may have slightly different formats, but each one is worth an equal amount. The exam dates will be listed on the course calendar during the first week of class.

Homework

Each day, you will be assigned a few (2-5) problems, which will be posted to the course web site. Before the end of the following day's (lecture) class, you will turn in one designated problem for spot-check grading. The problem to be turned in will be randomly selected from those assigned. The graded problem must be turned in as a hard copy in person before the end of the lecture section, and must follow the problem template provided.

You may collaborate on homework, and are encouraged to, but each student must turn in his or her own work.

Quizzes

Fairly frequently, short in-class quizzes will be given. They will focus on the topics covered in the previous lecture, including but not limited to the problems assigned for that lecture. Quizzes will generally occur during the laboratory sessions, but are not limited to them. Do the assigned reading, and you will generally be fine.

Labs

There will be approximately 9 laboratory experiments through the term. Laboratory experiments will be worked in groups of 2-4. You will choose one experiment per week to write a laboratory report on as a group, due the following Monday at the start of the lecture period. Templates for these lab reports and the grading structure will be provided, though for each experiment there will be specific questions to be answered contained in the laboratory procedure document. Example raw data from the experiment(s) you did not choose to include in your report (e.g., printed data plots) should be included as appendicies in your report as evidence that you completed those experiments.

Grading Policy

Each of component of your grade is described above, and their relative weights in determining your overall grade are shown below.

Grading breakdown

Homework 15%

Labs 15%

Quizzes 15%

Hour exams (3) 15% each

Final exam 10%

Grading scale (grade/grade points/minimum %)

A+ 4.33 97.5

A 4.00 92.5

A- 3.67 90

B+ 3.33 87.5

B 3.00 82.5

B- 2.67 80

C+ 2.33 77.5

C 2.00 72.5

C- 1.67 70

D+ 1.33 67.5

D 1.00 62.5

D- 0.67 60

F 0.000 0

Policy on Missed Exams & Coursework

If you have a legitimate reason for missing a homework assignment or quiz, you will be given the option to make up the homework set at a later date, or receive a 'bye' on that particular assignment. The reason must be documented in writing, and whether it is acceptable or not will be judged on a case-by-case basis. If possible, inform the instructor as soon as possible before the assignment is due.

If you have a legitimate reason for missing a major exam, then you must inform the instructor as soon as possible before the exam occurs. If the reason is acceptable, either the exam will be dropped for you, and the final exam will count proportionately more, or you may make up the exam at a slightly earlier or later date. We reserve the right to administer a modified make-up exam slightly differing from the exam the rest of the class has taken. There is no makeup possible for missing the final exam.

Acceptable reasons must be documented, if possible in advance, and may include but are not limited to: prior athletic commitments, medical issues, off-campus academic commitments, prior commitments to on-campus academic events, band travel, standardized testing, graduate school interviews, and certain personal/family issues. Unacceptable reasons are fairly numerous. Among the least likely to be accepted are oversleeping, leaving early for academic breaks, and fan travel to ‘away’ athletic events.

Attendance Policy

While attendance is not strictly required, in-class exercises or quizzes may be given during the lecture period. Attendance is not formally required for laboratory periods either, but it is hard to imagine how you will complete the labs without attending.

It is expected that students will attend class having found some utility in it, rather than out of a sense of coercion or obligation. We will not waste your time while you are there.

Extra Credit Opportunities

Unlikely, but not out of the question.

Severe Weather Guidelines

The guiding principle at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. It is impossible to develop policies which anticipate every weather-related emergency. These guidelines are intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.

The Office of University Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
Weather advisory sent out through UA Alerts to faculty, staff and students
Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA-TV/WUOA-TV, and on the website at http://wvuatv.com/content/weather. WVUA-TV Home Team Weather provides a free service you can subscribe to which allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail or cell phone. Check http://wvuatv.com/content/free-email-weather-alerts for more details and to sign up for weather alerts.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.

If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081 (TTY) or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

Policy on Academic Misconduct

All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.”

See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.

Emergency Contact Information

UA's primary communication tool for sending out information is through its web site at www.ua.edu. In the event of an emergency, students should consult this site for further directions. Additional course information will be posted using Blackboard Learn.

UAct: Ethical Community Statement

The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.