Physics 101. - Physical Science - Force, Matter and Energy

3 credits (3:3:0) - East Stroudsburg University - Course Syllabus – Fall 2006

(Last revised Aug 26, 2006)

Section D001: Lecture MW  4:20-5:35   pm     Room: 117 Gessner

Course Instructor:         Dr. David A. Larrabee

Website for instructor   :  http://www.esu.edu/physics/larrabee/dlarrabee.html

Website for the Course:   http://www.esu.edu/physics/larrabee/courses/p101/phys101.htm

Office Hours:                Posted on Office Door and by the Physics Office and on the web

Location:                      Gessner 203

Telephone:                    ex. 3292  (i.e. (570) 422-3292)

Internet:                        dlarrabee@po-box.esu.edu

Catalog Course Description (pilot Course)

This course examines selected fundamental concepts necessary to the understanding of physical phenomena.  Topics included are motion, atomic structure, waves, heat and thermodynamics, and nuclear science.  Science as a process-its attributes, strengths, and limitations-is also examined.  Demonstrations dealing with physical principles characterize much of the course.

Prerequisite Courses:  Engineering, or Physical Sciences major OR 600 or above Math SAT score                  Prerequisites Class Standing:  None

Course Objectives

This course has seven objectives:

1) To understand what physics studies and how we go about that study.

2) To understand the relevance of physics to the everyday world in which we live.

3) To understand the physical explanation for a number of common phenomena.

4) To learn how to use both mathematics and experiment to understand physical phenomena.

5) To train the student to follow critically the discussion of physics related news in the media

Required Materials

Texts - Lillian C. McDermott, Physics by Inquiry Volume 1 and II,  John Wiley and Sons Ó 1996

Supplies - You have access to the campus computers.  I will assume you know how to use a word processor. 

Required Additional "Readings" – will be passed out in class or put on reserve in the library.

General Information

During class we will examine how the principles covered in the text explain natural phenomena.  Thus the text (which is “dry”) and the lecture should complement each other rather than cover the same material.

Absenteeism - I will not take attendance.  Attendance is not DIRECTLY part of your grade. However we will be doing activities in class that will  be part of your grade.  Depending on the activity you may or may not be able to make up these activities.  Therefore it is STRONGLY recommended that you make every effort to attend every class.

If you are absent, you are still responsible for all the assigned work as well as the material covered in class.  You need to make arrangements to the material covered in in class.  You can get in contact with me by telephone, leave a message on the answering machine, or leave a message at school. My Email address is also given at the top of this syllabus.

Academic Honesty: Cheating on the exams or homework, plagiarism, stealing, lying, computer theft, and all other forms of academic dishonesty are totally unacceptable.  I will take any incident of academic dishonesty very seriously.  Simply put, I expect that when you hand in your own work, not someone else’s work.  You should feel free to discuss the material with anyone, share ideas or ask for help and advice.  But in the end you need to do your own work.

Any time you hand in work that that is not your own you are guilty of plagiarism.  As such it is a major violation of the Student code of Conduct, which could result in expulsion from the University.  It might also mean that I fail you for the assignment and or the course.

Assignments - see Homework

Cell Phones – If you have a cell phone turn it off before you enter class.  If for some reason you must have a cell phone on during class I will ask that you: 1) obtain my prior permission, 2) have it set on vibration mode so it does not disturb class by ringing and 3) go outside the classroom to answer the phone.

If you answer the cell phone during a quiz or test that will end the quiz or test (for you).  If you need to have an exception to this rule you need to obtain my permission before the test or quiz.  NO EXCEPTIONS. (Please not waste class time by asking for permission for this during the start of class!).

Communications – Please not that we have a course web site (see top of the syllabus).  Information about the course will be posted to the website.  If you have questions please email me.  I will maintain a course distribution list of Emails.  When there is relevant information (like grades are posted) I will do a mailing to this distribution list.  If you want to be on the distribution list, email me and ask to be put on the list.  I will then add the Email address from which the Email came. 

Final Exam - The final exam will cover all the material in the course (i.e. a comprehensive exam).  Closed Book, No notes, No 3x5 cards etc.  You may not use or answer a cell phone during the exam.

Grading Requirements:   

The total number of points you get for the course is the sum of all the points earned.  The grade is awarded on the basis of the following schedule

There is however one exception to this computation of the final grade; if you fail the final exam (less than 60%) you will fail the course.

Grievance Procedures: If you have a complaint, suggestion or comment, please contact me.  The Chairperson for the Physics Dept. is Prof. Cohen ext. 3428.

Homework: - The Homework in this class is designed to; improve your reasoning skills, improve your comprehension of the material covered in class and extend the concepts covered in class.  You may find some of this homework “untraditional”.  There will be some “laboratory” type experiments you are to do outside of class.  These assignments are for your benefit and part of the homework.  They are graded.

There will be articles that I expect you to read.  These will be tested by: 1)  having questions about the article on the exams and 2) having you write a summary of the article for homework. 

Lateness – I'll start the class on time.  If you're late you'll miss what was presented and any activities that the class is involved with. Please be punctual, it disturbs the rest of the class if you are routinely late.  Being on time is a courtesy to the rest of your classmates as well as to the professor.  In cases of habitual lateness I reserve the right to lock the room and deny access to students who are late.  Furthermore, if you are late for a quiz, you will NOT be given extra time to make up for your lateness.

Lecture: - During class sections we will; have formal lectures, have student activities, have discussions, have class demonstrations, answer student questions about the readings.  Very little (none?) of the lecture will be taken directly from material that is covered in the text.   The student is responsible for all material discussed in class, as well as the material covered in the text, and handouts.

If you have a cell phone turn it off before you enter class.  (see section on cell phones)

Makeup Final Exam:  If you can not make the final exam you will need to notify me BEFORE the event.  You will need to obtain my approval and make prior arrangements for any make up final exam.  If you are sick or otherwise detained from the final you need to contact me as soon as the emergency is over (don’t delay or I may not approve a makeup exam).

Mathematics:  Physics is a quantitative science.  To be a member in this class you have either done well on the MATH SAT or you have a major in the physical sciences (or both~).  You will be using math routinely. 

Notebooks: You are required to keep a notebook of your observations.  This notebook is going to be graded, so please follow the directions on the notebook handout.  This notebook will also be invaluable in your reviewing your work and you will be allowed to utilize this notebook during the mid term and final exams.  In fact you will be required to hand in the notebook after each section of the course.  Therefore I STRONGLY suggest that you keep one notebook for each section of the course. 

Plagiarism: - (see academic honesty above)

Project:  There will be a class project on Society and Energy.  There will be an additional handout that will discuss the particulars.  Part of your grade will depend on your classmates assessment of your participation in the project and the impact that you had on the outcome of that project.   You will be working in teams.  Each team will have the ability to "fire" a non-participating member of the team.  If that happens to you will either have to convince the other members of a team to hire you back, or you will have to complete all the work that a team does by yourself.  SO treat your team mates with respect and kindness.

Quick Assignments: - Occasionally in class we will have a "quick assignment".  These are questions/problems that involve concepts (and perhaps a little mathematics).  You will be expected to do them quickly (1 or 2 minutes MAX).  They will be directly related to what we are doing.  They become part of your class work grade. These will be introduced into the classroom on an "as needed" basis.

Quizzes: - I reserve the write to use quizzes if I feel that some students are coming to class with inadequate preparation.  In that case the quizzes will be part of the class work grade.

The use of cell phone is prohibited during quizzes (see section on cell phones)

Readings: There will be assigned readings that are about some area of Physics that you are studying in this course.  Finally you may be expected to write a brief summary of the article on the exam or as part of the homework.  Please note that it is your job to convince me that you have read and understood the article (not just the beginning and the summary of the article).  If multiple people hand in the identical summary I will mark them all wrong and possibly treat this as academic dishonesty (or plagiarism see above).

Retention of Student Material.  Student exams and homework assignments and other course materials will be kept for 1 term after the term that the student takes this course.  Thus all homework, exams, finals, etc. may be destroyed any time after finals week in the Spring of 2007.

Review Sessions.   Review sessions for the tests can be scheduled in the evenings if requested by at least 5 students.  Otherwise please see me during office hours or schedule an appointment.

Special Needs Students: If you have some special need, or if there is something I could do that would help you be more successful in this class I would appreciate your coming to talk to me.  It is my desire that you all do well.  I am dedicated to helping you where I can.  So do not be nervous about asking if we can accommodate you in some way.  I promise you that I will listen and where appropriate make what accommodations seem reasonable.

Tests – See final exam, quizzes and grading requirements.

Text and Assigned Readings: I expect you to read the relevant chapters in the book before the lecture so you are ready to ask me questions about things you didn't understand.  You are responsible for all the material covered in the assigned readings even when it isn't "covered" in lecture.  Students that have questions about the readings are encouraged to ask questions in class, so that everyone can benefit from your questions.  Quizzes may contain questions about the assigned reading for the week (if any)

 Responsibilities

We are all coming to this course with some purpose and some expectations.  If we work together we can achieve those aims.  This requires that both professor and student “take on” certain responsibilities.  It is probably futile to attempt to list every task and responsibility (and not necessary). 

The first and most important responsibility of every member of this class (including the professor) is to be polite, courteous, and respectful of all  other class members, any guests in the room (students, professors, administrative personnel, etc.), and the professor.  There will be no discussion on this matter.  I reserve to the right to drop any student who is disrespectful, rude or inconsiderate of any class member, guest, or of the professor.  This is as applicable on the first day in class as it is during the final exam!

Here is a list of some common sense responsibilities.  If you have any additional needs or suggestions, please feel free to communicate them to me.  At the very least we will be able to talk about them.

Responsibilities of the Professor

1)   To treat class members fairly, humanly, and honestly.  To treat you as capable adults.

2)   Answer all questions to the best of my ability when asked, or if I do not know the answer, to get an answer before the next class period.

3)   To cover the syllabus as outlined, or to inform the class ahead of time of any deviations.

4)   To return any collected material (other than tests and quizzes) within one week of receiving them.

5)   To provide help for any student who is having problems and requests my assistance, either during office hours or during a previously scheduled meeting.

6)   To act professionally (on time, prepared, act in a courteous and friendly manner, etc.)

7)   To maintain order and civility in the classroom.

8)   To answer any question about a students performance and grades directly and in private.

Responsibilities of the Student

1)   To act civil to your fellow students and professors.  Hostility, acts of humiliation or intimidation of others will not be tolerated.  This will be grounds for the professor dropping the student from the course.

2)   To come to the class prepared.  This includes reading the assigned material and being prepared to raise questions about the material that you do not understand.

3)   To participate in the class.  Both by being alert, and by sharing your insights and questions with the rest of us.

4)   To turn in quizzes, tests, and any other assignments on time.

5)  To communicate to the professor when you need help.

Preliminary Class Outline

(1)   There is no Monday class this week (labor day)

(2)   I will probably be attending a conference from Sept 27 through Oct 3rd.  Arrangements for a possible substitute will be announced when available.

(3)   There is no class on Monday.  Tuesday is a switch day with a Monday schedule.