Syllabus
Info
| Title | General Physics I |
| Term | Fall 2014 |
| Credits | 4 |
| Time | Monday&Wednesday&Friday 11.30-12.50 |
| Place | Brown Science/Sci 117A |
| Level | Introductory |
| Faculty | Salimbeni |
| Tutor | Gage will be in Sci 217 from 6:30 to 9:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays |
An introductory physics class involving some laboratory work; suitable for students considering a plan in physics, science students, or non-science students who want a physics foundation. Topics include vector algebra, kinematics, dynamics of single and many-particle systems, gravitation, energy, momentum, conservation laws, circular and rigid body motion.
Prerequisite: Mathematical proficiency up through, but not necessarily including, calculus
Textbook
Physics for Scientists and Engineers a Strategic Approach, vol I by Randall D. Knight
Course Policies & Grading
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory and is part of your grade (15% of your final grade). Please, let me know ahead of time if, and why, you will miss a class.
Readings
You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the material and ask questions. Reading the material is critical for having a productive class time, failing to prepare will affect the learning of you and your classmates. To help you with the reading I will assign pre-class questions. The pre-class questions are part of your grade (5% of your final grade).
For each pre -class assignment you will get:
-0 points for missed assignment (no late pre-class assignments admitted)
-1 point if you did the assignment but it is: poorly written or it is evident that you did not spend time thinking and digesting the material before answering.
-2 points if the assignment is well done, it doesn't necessarily need to be correct, but your effort to understand the material should be evident.
Homework
Homework will be assigned weekly (40% of your final grade). Homework is an essential tool to learn and to receive feedback. For this reason it is important that you hand in your assignments on time. Students are encouraged to work together on the homework assignments. However, your final write-up of the assigment must represent your own understanding; copying another person's work is plagiarism and will result in no credit for that assignment.
Take-Home tests and Final
In addition to the weekly assignments, there will be two take-home tests (28% of your grade) and an in class final (12% of your final grade). You are not allowed to collaborate while you are working on the take-home tests or on the final (unless I assign group work).
Late Police for assignments and Mid-term
This is how late work will affect your grades:
days of delay percentage of the actual grade
--------------- -----------------------------------------
1 to 3 90%
3 to 7 80%
8 to 15 60%
15 to 30 40%
over 30 it will not be accepted
Special arrangements for late work can be obtained under very special circumstances. Late work will not be accepted without prior discussion with me.
No late work will be accepted for the Final assignment.
Plagiarism
Academic Honesty is expected of all scientists, and also of all students. Cheating on homework or the final exam will result in no credit.
If you are not sure on how to use a source, please check this
link on the library webpage.
Grading
|
|
| 40% | Weekly homework |
| 15% | Class attendance & participation |
| 5% | Pre-class assignments & reading |
| 28% | Take home tests |
| 12% | In class final exams |
Grade Letters
| Highest | Lowest | Letter |
| 100.00 | 93.00 | A |
| 92.99 | 90.00 | A- |
| 89.99 | 87.00 | B+ |
| 86.99 | 83.00 | B |
| 82.99 | 80.00 | B- |
| 79.99 | 77.00 | C+ |
| 76.99 | 73.00 | C |
| 72.99 | 70.00 | C- |
| 69.99 | 67.00 | D+ |
| 66.99 | 60.00 | D |
| 59.99 | 0.00 | F |
Other Useful Books
Understanding Physics by Karen Cummings, Priscilla W. Laws, Edward F. Redish, Patrick J. Cooney (on the reserve shelf)
Tentative schedule
Month Chapter
-------------- -----------------------------------
Sep 5-8 Concept of Motion (Chap 1)
Sep 9-12-15 Kinematics in One Dimension (Chap 2)
Sep 17-19 Vector and Coordinate Systems (Chap 3)
Sep 22-24-26 Kinematics in Two dimension (Chap 4)
Sep 29 Oct 1 Force and Motion (Chap 5)
Oct 3-6-8 Dynamics I: Motion along the line (Chap 6)
Oct 10-13-15 Newton's Third Law (Chap 7)
Oct 17-22-24 Dynamics II: Motion in a Plane (Chap 8)
Oct 27-29-31 Impulse and Momentum (Chap 9)
Nov 3-5-7 Energy (Chap 10)
Nov 10-12-14 Work (Chap 11)
Nov 17-20-21-24 Rotation of a Rigid Body (Chap 12)
Dec 1-3-5 Newton's Theory of Gravity (Chap 13)
Dec 8-10 Review
