PH 201                                                College Physics I                                           Fall 2009

           

Professor:       Dr. David W. Donovan 

Office:            2513 West Science

Phone:            227-2453

Email:             ddonovan@nmu.edu

WWW:           http://physics.nmu.edu/~ddonovan/

 

Office Hours: M  W  R          10:00 - 11:45 AM

                        F                      10:00 - 10:50 AM

                        M                      4:00  -   5:00 PM

                        Other times by Appointment

 

Textbook:                   Physics by Cutnell & Johnson (8th Edition)

Textbook Website:

 http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=index&bcsId=4768&itemId=0470223553

 

Course Objective:      To introduce students to the fundamental laws of the physical world.  To instruct students on the application of these laws and to develop problem solving techniques in order to understand physical phenomena and to make predictions of future physical events.

 

Grade Breakdown:                                       Quizzes                                               15%

                                                                        Laboratory                                          20%

                                                                        Exams     2 @ 20% each                     40%

Wednesday Dec 9, 2006 (2 - 3:50 PM)         Final Exam (Comprehensive)            25%

 

Note: You must receive a passing grade in each part (Lecture and Lab) separately in order to pass the course as a whole.  If you fail either part, regardless of your grade in the other part you will fail the course!!

 

THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT!!  Doing poorly for a portion of the semester will not be corrected by any extra projects.  Please do not assume you can replace poor work under any circumstances with any “additional assignments”!!

 

                        Electronic versions of this document have working hyperlinks!

 

Below is a tentative course schedule of topics which we shall attempt to cover in this course.  Unless specifically noted below in the outline of topics, all sections of a chapter are expected to be learned.  Ask questions if you feel you need more clarification of a section.  Note that the discussion session will be held on the Friday meetings.  All quizzes and exams will be given on Fridays (with the two exceptions noted below due to the University Conference/Planning day and the variable nature of the Final Exam).  No new lecturing will be done on Fridays.   While questions will be answered at any time, lengthy questions will be answered during these discussion sessions and problems assigned may be covered.  The professor may have students also work on problems either at their seats or at the board.

 

Also contained in the course schedule are the dates of quizzes and exams.  The quiz dates are firm and will occur on the specified days.  Their content will usually be the material covered since the previous quiz.  One quiz will be dropped from your grade.  However there are generally no make‑up quizzes.  Students who have legitimate reasons for missing quizzes must see the professor before the missed quiz to discuss the situation.  For a quiz, one 3 inch by 5 inch index card of notes will be permitted.  For an exam, one standard size (8 and 1/2 inch by 11 inch) sheet of paper of notes will be allowed. For the final, two standard size sheets of paper will be permitted. 

 

Students will need a scientific calculator for this class(not a notebook computer, a graphing calculator is allowed but certainly not required).  Laptop computers and all other electronic devices (other than calculators) such as pagers and cell phones, Ipods, etc are not allowed to be used at all during quizzes and exams!!  Also sharing of calculators between students during exams and quizzes will not usually be allowed.  Bring a working, charged calculator.  All problems which require answers must be have a value not an equation.  Moreover, all numerical answers (unless they are pure numbers), must have an appropriate set of units.  No units when needed will result in No Credit for the problem!!!

 

A knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is assumed for all participants in the course. Additional math techniques will be taught to the students as needed.  Please feel free to ask for additional help if this additional math is causing problems.  This is not a math course.  The aim is to learn about physics, however physics is a mathematical subject.  When having difficulty with material, try to decide if it is the physics or the mathematics that you are having difficulty with.

 

Homework will be assigned for each chapter.  Problem assignments will be emailed by the professor to your NMU Email account.  These assignments will also be available on the professor’s webpage.  The numbers refer to problems at end of chapter not the questions!!   They will not be collected or graded.  However, exam and quiz questions will be similar to these kinds of problems.  Physics cannot be learned by watching.  Without struggling with problems before a quiz or exam, you will probably struggle during the quiz or exam.  Homework, quiz and exam solutions will be posted on my webpage http://physics.nmu.edu/~ddonovan/.  Select the My Courses Option.   If you need assistance in learning how to use the world-wide web, see your professor.  Note: I do not use WebCT!

 

Laboratory work is part of your final grade.  Reminder: You must receive a passing grade in each part (Lecture and Lab) separately in order to pass the course as a whole.  If you fail either part, regardless of your grade in the other part you will fail the course!!  There are five possible laboratory sections; you must be registered and attending one of these sections, unless you have made arrangements with the course professor.  It is quite likely your laboratory instructor will not be the same as your lecture professor.  While the Laboratory grade is a part of your PH 201 Course grade, each Laboratory instructor will have a separate syllabus outline the policies of the Laboratory portion of the course.  Labs begin in the FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES!!! 

 

Attendance at all labs is mandatory.  Make-ups for quizzes and labs will only be provided for at the discretion of the professor.  This will occur only for reasonable excuses.  Desire to go home for the weekend or to go hunting are not considered reasonable excuses.  Informing the professor BEFORE an absence is more likely to result in a make-up than informing the professor after the absence.  A missed lab is a zero for that experiment and all associated work!!

 

If you must miss a lab and you are trying to arrange an alternative lab section, you are required to notify both your normal lab instructor and the lab instructor of the lab you wish to attend instead.  It is not always possible due to space limitations that you will be allowed to attend a different lab section.  Please be sure BOTH instructors have agreed before you just show up to a lab period.

 

There will be questions that pertain to material only covered in laboratory on most quizzes and exams.  Anything covered in Lab is fair game!!!

 

Physics is a cumulative subject.  Falling behind will cause problems.  If you have any questions or problems talk to the professor.  If you need any special arrangements, they should be arranged prior to the problem, unless this is completely impossible (a rare occurrence!)

 

Food of any kind (including snack food) is not allowed in the lab or classroom.  Please do not bring it in.  Drinks will be permitted as long as care is taken not to have spills occur and the drinks do not result in loud noises.  If excessive spillage or noise occurs, drinks may be restricted as well.  This policy includes all exams and quizzes.

 

The professor will make every effort to respond to all email (ddonovan@nmu.edu ) questions received by 5 PM Monday through Friday, with a response by 10 PM Monday through Friday.  Students are expected to regularly check their NMU issued email accounts for any messages the professor may send out to the class as a whole or to an individual in the class.  Moreover, when students ask the professor a question requiring an answer, it is appropriate for the student to check their email in a timely fashion and to confirm the receipt of the answer, and if necessary provide any answers to questions the professor may have posed about the situation. 

 

Students in this class are expected to conform to a code of academic honesty.  While it is encouraged for students to work together, there are situations where work is expected to be the student’s whose name appears on the work.  Quizzes and exams are obvious examples of where cheating will not be tolerated.  However, using the same code and documentation (even if you change your name and modify some words), same graphs, same spreadsheets, etc is also considered cheating.  Each student is expected to learn how to create their own files, graphs, etc.   In lab work, it will often be the case that both partners will have identical work.  However, both partners are to turn in lab sheets, and both partners are expected to participate equally in completing the lab tasks.  It is not acceptable for one partner to do all the work, while the other merely watches and writes.  Both partners are expected to understand the lab exercises.   If you have questions on what is considered appropriate, ask your professor.

 

Please be sure any cell phones or pagers or other devices do not produce sounds during lectures.

 

Please do not engage in conversations at all during lectures.

 

Computer Usage Policies:

  • UNLESS PERMISSION is GRANTED, All Laptops and other Electronic Communication/Entertainment devices are to be off and remain unused during class times.

If Permission is granted then:

  • Computers (both room based and laptops) are to be utilized for course work and activities related to course work. 
  • Do not use computers for entertainment or communications during class meetings.
  • Do not display material on screen which may be distracting or offensive to other members of the class (including the professor).
  • Keep a backup of all your files.  The university is not liable for any data lost due to equipment failures, damaged disks, or misuse of computer programs.
  • Do not utilize software in violation of licensing agreements.  Do not copy software, information, data or other work in violation of applicable copyrights.  Be aware of current copyright laws regarding software, music, movies, and other digital information.  Copyright information may be accessed through the NMU Library website at: http://www.nmu.edu/olsonlibrary/copyright.htm
  • You may not copy, install or use any service, information, data, image, recording, or other work in violation of applicable copyrights or license agreements.  You may not posses any software or resource whose purpose is to effect one of the afore mentioned violations.
  • You must take full responsibility for what you publish, transmit, or possess.
  • You may not steal, forge, cheat with; snoop on; tamper with; misuse, damage, harass with; hoard or monopolize; interfere with; violate the confidentiality of; or destroy any information, resource, equipment or software.  This includes using your personal computer for these activities against other users or against their information resources

 

PH 201 satisfies part of Division III—Foundations of Natural Sciences-Mathematics Liberal Studies requirement.  Students who complete the science courses should be able to recognize and understand the scientific method; understand and use scientific concepts; understand and discuss general scientific articles; and apply their knowledge of science to everyday experience. Students who complete the mathematics courses should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of mathematical logic; use mathematics to solve scientific or mathematical problems in college classes; express relationships in the symbolic language of mathematics; and appreciate the role of mathematics in analyzing natural phenomena.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES

If you have a need for disability-related accommodations or services, please inform the Coordinator of Disability Services in the Disability Services Office at 2001 C. B. Hedgcock (227-1700).  Reasonable and effective accommodations and services will be provided to students if requests are made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state, and University guidelines. 

 

Northern Michigan University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, familial status, handicap/disability, sexual orientation or veteran status in employment or the provision of services, and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities. Persons having civil rights inquiries may contact the Affirmative Action Office at 204 Cohodas (227-2420).

           

                                                Tentative Course Schedule

 

Aug  8             Ernest Orlando Lawrence (1901)

Aug 12                        Erwin Schrodinger (1887)

Aug 15                        Prince Louis‑Victor de Broglie (1892)

 

Aug 24  - 28                Introduction, Basic Math (Ch 1), Kinematics in 1 dimension (Ch 2)

                                    Lab#1:             Graphing

 

            Aug 28            Quiz #1          

 

Aug 31 – Sep 4           Kinematics in 1 dimension (Ch 2), Kinematics in 2 dimensions (Ch 3)

                                    Section not covered: 3.4 – Relative Velocity

                                    Lab#2:             Vectors

 

            Sep  4              Quiz #2

 

            Sep  5              John Dalton (1766)

 

Sep 7 ‑ 11                    Kinematics in 2 dimensions (Ch 3)

                                    Lab#3:             Constant Acceleration

 

            Sep  7              Labor Day ‑ No Classes!

 

            Sep  11            Quiz #3

 

Sep 14 ‑ 18                  Kinematics in 2 dimensions (Ch 3), Forces (Ch 4)

                                    Lab#4:             Projectile Motion

 

            Sep 18             Quiz #4

 

Sep 21 – 25                 Forces (Ch 4)

                                    Lab#5:             Force and Acceleration

 

            Sep 25             Exam #1 (Chapters 1 ‑ 3)

 

Sep 28 – Oct 2            Uniform Circular Motion (Ch 5)                                

                                    Lab#6:             Friction

 

            Sep 29             Enrico Fermi (1901)

 

            Oct 2               Quiz #5

 

Oct 5 ‑ 9                      Work ‑ Energy (Ch 6)

                                    Section not covered: 6.9 – Work Done by a Variable Force

                                    Lab#7:             Uniform Circular Motion

 

            Oct 5               Robert Goddard (1882)

 

            Oct 8               Quiz #6

 

            Oct 9               Reading Conference ‑ No Classes!

 

Oct 12 ‑ 16                  Work ‑ Energy (Ch 6), Impulse & Momentum (Ch 7)

                                    Lab#8:             Conservation of Energy

 

            Oct 16             Quiz #7

 

Oct 19 ‑ 23                  Impulse & Momentum (Ch 7)

                                    Lab#9:             Conservation of Momentum

 

            Oct 20             James Chadwick (1891)

 

            Oct 23             Exam #2 (Chapters 4 ‑ 6)

 

Oct 26  - 30                 Rotational Kinematics (Ch 8)

                                   

                                    Lab#10:           Rotational Equilibrium

 

            Oct 30             Quiz #8

 

            Oct 30             Last Day to withdraw from Semester Classes with a W - See your

                                    Instructors!!

 

Nov 2 ‑ 6                     Rotational Kinematics (Ch 8), Rotational Dynamics (Ch 9)

                                    Lab#11:           Moment of Inertia

 

            Nov 6              Quiz #9

 

            Nov 7              Marie Curie (1867)

            Nov  7             Sir Chandrasekhra Venkata Raman (1888)

 

 

Nov 9 ‑ 13                   Rotational Dynamics (Ch 9)

                                    Lab#12:           Simple Harmonic Motion

 

            Nov 12            Lord Rayleigh (John William Strutt) (1842)

 

            Nov 13            Quiz #10        

 

Nov 16 ‑ 20                 Fluids (Ch 11)

                                    Section not covered: 11.11 – Viscous Flow

                                    Lab#13:           Archimedes’ Principle

 

            Nov 19            Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett (1897)

 

            Nov 20            Quiz #11

 

 

Nov 23 ‑ 27                 Fluids (Ch 11)

                                    NO LAB THANKSGIVING WEEK!! (Except Monday Sections)

 

            Nov 25 ‑ 29     Thanksgiving Holiday ‑ No Classes

 

Nov 30 – Dec 4           Fluids (Ch 11)

                                    Lab#14:           Heat and Calorimetry

 

            Nov 30            Nils Gustaf Dalen (1869)

 

            Dec 4               Quiz #12

 

Wednesday Dec 9, 2009    2:00 ‑ 3:50 PM  Final Exam  Chapters 1-9, and 11

 

Dec 15             A.H. Becquerel (1852)

Dec 27             Johannes Kepler (1571)

 

 

Back To Dave's Courses Page

 

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Please send any comments or questions about this page to ddonovan@nmu.edu

This page last updated on August 23, 2009