COLLEGE PHYSICS I - PH 201-4A and recitation PH201R-H5 (Spring 2007)

Class information is available at Mirov’s web site http://heisenberg.phy.uab.edu/~mirov/SMirov_Teaching_Page22.htm

 

Lecture PH201-4A: Tuesday, Thursday 3:30-4:45 pm, Campbell Hall (CH) Room 301

Recitation PH201R-H5: Tuesday 2:00-3:00pm, Campbell Hall (CH) Room 301. Students are required to register and attend the recitation. This requirement will be enforced by credit bearing events during recitation.

 

Instructor: Prof. Sergey B. Mirov 934-8088 (CH 421B), E-mail: mirov@uab.edu

 

Office Hours: Tuesday, 10:00am-12:00 n in CH 421B and by appointment.

 

Course Description: This first term of non-calculus-based Physics will cover linear and planar motion, Newton’s Laws, work and energy, gravitation, momentum, rigid body motion, and statics, oscillations and waves, sound, interference phenomena.

 

Course Prerequisite: Physics PH 100 or successful completion of Physics Placement Test. Call 934-3704 for an appointment if you have not yet fulfilled the prerequisite.

 

Course Text: Cutnell & Johnson, PHYSICS, 7th Edition (2006, Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 047010483X)

 

Lab. Text: Lab handouts will be provided.

 

Lab: Taking lab as co-requisite (same term) is a requirement. Lab begins the week of Jan.8. Assignments, protocol, due dates, and grading of labs will be discussed in the first lab meeting.

 

Tests and Exams: Four in-class tests and one comprehensive final exam (2.5 hours) will be given. Textbook and notebooks are not allowed in the exams. One letter-size formula information sheet is allowed. A calculator may be used. The tests & exams will be based on problems related to (but often with important differences) homework problems and problems discussed in class.  The intent of the test & exam problems will be to test your understanding of physics principles and to test your ability to apply these principles to practice.  To do well on the tests & exams, you should do the reading assignments before class, pay attention to lectures, and personally work all of the homework problems when they are assigned.  The tests & exams will be graded on a step-by-step basis, with partial credit awarded for correct steps and techniques even if the answer is wrong.  Full credit will be awarded only if the right answer is obtained for the right reason.

 

Homework:

Homework is electronically processed via an internet website:

http://www.webassign.net/uab/login.html

 

It is important to enter this web page ASAP, successfully authenticate using your BlazerID, and after that you will be automatically added to your roster.  You are strongly advised to start homework as soon as a problem set is given. It is absolutely critical to work these problems yourselves when they are assigned, since this will help to lock in understanding of the physical principles learned from class and the textbook and develop problem-solving skills, which will be necessary for any type of success on the exams.  Do not fall into the trap of just reading over or memorizing homework solutions, this will generally be of little or no use for solving the exam problems.  Developing the necessary problem solving skills will only come from personally going through the struggle of working homework problems yourself.  In order to solve homework problems, you need internet access and a web browser. Students who do not have internet access can use computers in Stern Library and Physics Labs (Campbell Hall 4th floor). Day schedule when 4th floor labs are open for use by students enrolled in PH201 will be set up by Dr. Todd Devore (CH468A, phone 934-4295, E-mail: devore@uab.edu ).

 

Related UAB core learning outcomes: Students successfully completing this course will demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts in mechanics and the ability to apply this knowledge and mathematical skills in algebra, trigonometry and vectors for quantitative reasoning and problem solving.

 

Course learning objectives: 

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of linear and rotational kinematics and dynamics, statics, work and energy, impulse and momentum, oscillation, waves and interference phenomena.
  • Demonstrate ability to interpret data and apply the knowledge of the fundamental mechanics concepts as well as quantitative reasoning and mathematical analysis skills to effectively solve problems. You should be able to: 1) read a description of the problem and translate nonscientific prose into the language of physics, identifying key physical variables that point to a solution; 2) set up a figure or diagram to assist in analyzing the problem: 3) determine a relationship between the given physical quantities and the ones to be found; 4) carry out mathematical operations to arrive to a solution.
  • Demonstrate (in the associated laboratory) the ability to collect, evaluate and communicate scientific information

 

Measurement of learning objectives: Homework problem sets and exams will be used regularly to measure understanding of the fundamental concepts presented as well as students’ abilities to apply this understanding to problems in mechanics. Both, problem sets and exams also provide an opportunity to evaluate the progression of students’ understanding of physical concepts and problem solving skills.

 

Grading:              Homework:                                                     15%                                   (150 pts)

                             Lab                                                                  15%                                   (150 pts)

                 4 Interim Tests                                               10+10+10+10=40%              (100+100+100+100=400 pts)

                 Final Exam (2.5 hr)                                        30%                                   (300 pts)

                 TOTAL:                                                          100%                                 (1000 pts)

 

A: 90% or above

B: 80%-89.9%

C: 70%-79.9%

D: 60%-69.9%

F: 59.9% and below

 

Other course policies: To do well on the tests & exams, you should attend and stay focused at the lectures, do the reading assignments of notes and textbook before class, and personally work all of the homework problems when they are assigned.  Homework due is strictly enforced by a computer. No late homework will be accepted. There will be no make-up tests & exams except for the most extraordinary circumstances (documented illness, etc.).

 

 

Last day to withdraw from course with a “W” is March 7, 2006

Tentative Schedule:

#

Date

Text

Topics

1

Jan. 4 (Thu)

CH 1, Append. A&B

Introduction and Mathematical Concepts – Lecture Notes

2

Jan. 9 (Tues)

CH 1

Introduction and Mathematical Concepts – Lecture Notes

3

Jan. 11 (Thu)

CH 2

Kinematics in One Dimension – Lecture Notes

4

Jan. 16 (Tues)

CH 2

Kinematics in One Dimension – Lecture Notes

5

Jan. 18 (Thu)

CH 3

Kinematics in Two Dimensions – Lecture Notes

6

Jan. 23 (Tues)

CH 3

Kinematics in Two Dimensions, CH1-3 Review – Lecture Notes

7

Jan. 25 (Thu)

TEST 1 GRADES

Grade Distribution

TEST 1 over chapters 1-3 CORRECT SOLUTION

8

Jan.30 (Tues)

CH 4

Forces and Newton's Laws – Lecture Notes

9

Feb. 1 (Thu)

CH 4

Forces and Newton's Laws – Lecture Notes

10

Feb. 6 (Tues)

CH 4

Forces and Newton's Laws – Lecture Notes

11

Feb. 8 (Thu)

CH 5

Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion – Lecture Notes

12

Feb. 13 (Tues)

CH 5

Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion – Lecture Notes

13

Feb. 15 (Thu)

CH 5

Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion – Lecture Notes

14

Feb. 20 (Tues)

CH 5

CH4-5 Review Sample Test 2

15

Feb. 22 (Thu)

TEST 2 GRADES

Grade Distribution

TEST 2 over chapters 4-5 CORRECT SOLUTION

16

Feb. 27 (Tues)

CH 6

Work and Energy – Lecture Notes

17

March 1 (Thu)

CH 6

Work and Energy – Lecture Notes

18

March 6 (Tues)

CH 7

Impulse and Momentum – Lecture Notes

19

March 8 (Thu)

CH 7,8

Impulse and Momentum – Lecture Notes; Rotational Kinematics – Lecture Notes

 

March 13 (Tues)

Spring break

No Classes

 

March 15 (Thu)

Spring break

No Classes

20

March 20 (Tues)

CH 8

Rotational Kinematics – Lecture Notes

21

March 22 (Thu)

CH 8

Rotational Dynamics – Lecture Notes

22

March 27 (Tues)

CH 9

Rotational Dynamics – Lecture Notes

23

March 29 (Thu)

TEST 3 Grades

TEST 3 over chapters 6,7,8,9 CORRECT SOLUTION

24

April 3 (Tues)

CH 10

Simple Harmonic Motion – Lecture Notes

25

April 5 (Thu)

CH 10

Simple Harmonic Motion – Lecture Notes

26

April 10 (Tues)

CH 16

Waves and Sound – Lecture Notes

27

April 12 (Thu)

CH 16

Waves and Sound – Lecture Notes

28

April 17 (Tues)

CH 17

Interference Phenomena – Lecture Notes

29

April 19 (Thu)

TEST 4 Grades

TEST 4 over chapters 10,16,17 Sample test

Test 4 correct solutions

30

April 24 (Tue)

 

Review for Final

31

May 3 (Thu)

FINAL GRADES

Sample FINAL EXAM Over Chapters 1-10, 16,17 (4:15 am-6:45 pm)