Course Name & Number

General Physics I

PHYS1401

Semester & Year

Fall

2016

Instructor's Name

E-mail Address

Razieh Razavi

rrazavi@nctc.edu

Office Hours

By appointment only

MW 1:00 pm-2:00 pm

Catalog Description

Prerequisites: MATH 1314 College Algebra and Math 1316 Plane Trigonometry, or MATH 2412 Pre-calculus

Fundamental principles of physics, using algebra and trigonometry; the principles and

applications of classical mechanics and thermodynamics, including harmonic motion,

mechanical waves and sound, physical systems, Newton’s Laws of Motion, and gravitation and other fundamental forces; with emphasis on problem solving.

Textbook & Materials Required/ Recommended

Physics: Principles With Applications Plus Mastering Physics with eText—Access Card Package 7th Edition, Douglas C. Giancoli (REQUIRED)

Calculator (such as TI-30XIIS). No cell-phone calculators are allowed.

Learning Outcomes

By taking this course you will learn to successfully answer conceptual questions and solve problems dealing with the following:

1)      Determine the components of linear motion (displacement, velocity, and acceleration), and especially motion under conditions of constant acceleration.

2)      Apply Newton’s laws to physical problems including gravity.

3)      Solve problems using principles of energy.

4)      Use principles of impulse and linear momentum to solve problems.

5)      Solve problems in rotational kinematics and dynamics, including the determination of the location of the center of mass and center of rotation for rigid bodies in motion.

6)      Solve problems involving rotational and linear motion.

7)      Describe the components of a wave and relate those components to mechanical vibrations, sound, and decibel level.

8)      Demonstrate an understanding of equilibrium, including the different types of equilibrium.

9)      Discuss simple harmonic motion and its application to quantitative problems or qualitative questions.

10)  Solve problems using the principles of heat and thermodynamics.

11)  Solve basic fluid mechanics problems.

12)  (Lab component) Demonstrate techniques to set up and perform experiments, collect data from those experiments, and formulate conclusions from an experiment.

13)  (Lab component) Record experimental work completely and accurately in laboratory notebooks, and communicate experimental results clearly in written reports.

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities:  Student Conduct [FLB (LOCAL)]” #20 on page 175.

Attendance Policy

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  Students are responsible for keeping up with what occurs in class when they are absent.  Dropping a course is the student's responsibility, but you MAY be dropped for excessive absence.  See Attendance Regulations in the North Central Texas College Catalog.

Grading Policy & Procedures

• Exams – 40%:  There will be 4 in-class unit exams given during the course; see the attached schedule for dates.  No make-up exams will be given. Details about exam format and grading will be discussed in class.
• Lab Reports – 20%:  Each experiment has two parts.  The first is a Pre-lab assignment to be completed individually before class.  The second is a Lab Report which will include data taken during lab and analysis of that data, to be completed by your lab group and turned in as a group with a representative Pre-lab.  All students in a group will receive the same grade and it is expected that each group member will fully contribute.  Please note that groups may be rearranged at my discretion.  Lab Reports will be due before leaving class unless I say otherwise in class, in which case the lab will be due at the beginning of the next class meeting.  Attendance is required as there will be no make-up labs.
• Homework – 10%:  The homework due is at the beginning of the class period and you should turn in your homework in person. In my experience students who keep up with the homework generally perform better on exams. It is strongly recommended that the students keep all graded assignments through the end of course.
• Final Exam – 30%:  The final exam will be cumulative and will take place on Wednesday, December 7^th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.  Exam format and grading will be discussed in class.

Late work will not be accepted.  Exams and labs will not be rescheduled and may not be made-up.

Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

A: 90-100       B:  80-89      C:  70-79      D:  60-69     F:  0- 59

Other Pertinent Information

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: Conceptual questions and problems will be assigned for each chapter that is covered.  These will be discussed during class sessions.  It is very important that these assignments be completed outside of class.  The questions and problems on the tests will be very similar to those on the assignments.

LABORATORY: The laboratory period may be used for performing experiments, discussing homework assignments or test taking.  Each experiment will involve the setting of apparatus, taking and analyzing data and completing a laboratory report.  The reports will be graded and the average of all reports will constitute your laboratory score, which is worth 20% of your grade. There will be no make up labs for absences; one lab grade will be dropped.

Cell Phones/ Texting: Any student using a cell phone or texting will be asked to leave the classroom.

Disability Services(OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability.  A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.

On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration (100) Building or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

Support Services

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more.  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results and assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.   First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more information.  http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx

EEOC Statement

 North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

 national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the

 provision of services.

Class Policies

•      Disruptive conversations, eating, sleeping and putting your feet on the furniture are not acceptable behavior in the class.

•      Be respectful to the class and your instructor. Extra credit may only be given to the students who are respectful to the class and instructor. The percentage of extra credit is based on your participation in class.  

Example: Two students (X and Y) have received the same percentage for the final grade (69.1%). Student X has participated in lecture discussions and labs, he/she is on time and is respectful to the instructor and other students. Student X may receive extra credit points and pass this class. Student Y is not on time and/or has not attended the lecture discussions and labs, or he/she is disrespectful to the class. This student will not receive any extra credits and will fail this class with 69.1%

•      Students are expected to avoid disturbing the learning environment.

•      Please limit cell phone use to emergencies outside the classroom.

•      Missed quizzes, exams and lab experiments cannot be made up.

•      Students are expected to be prepared for class.

•      In addition to arriving on time, students are expected to stay the whole class period.  Please avoid disrupting instructor and other students by arriving late or leaving early.

•      Arrive on time for exams or risk missing them.  Once a test or exam has begun, students may not leave until the exam is completed and turned in. You won’t be allowed to take an exam if other students have completed it and left the classroom before you arrive. If you arrive after the exam has begun, you may not ask other students for pencils, scantrons or other supplies.

•      Homework is due at the beginning of the class period and you should turn in your homework in person.  In my experience, students who keep up with the homework generally perform better on exams.  It is strongly recommended that the student keep all graded assignments through the end of the course.

•      A scientific calculator must be brought to each lab session.

•      During the lab, groups of 2-4 students can work together in data collection and analysis. Lack of participation and collaboration will affect your grade. 

Week

Date

Topic

Lab

1

8/22

1: Introduction

2: Velocity, acceleration

8/24

2: Motion Equations

Graphing

2

8/29

2: Free Fall

8/31

3: Vectors

Free Fall

3

9/5

Labor day

9/7

3: Projectile Motion

Projectile Motion

4

9/12

4: Newton’s Laws

9/14

5: Circular Motion

Exam I: 1,2,3,4

5

9/19

5: Circular Motion

9/21

6: Work and Energy

Friction; Vectors – Force Table

6

9/26

6: Work and Energy

9/28

7: Momentum and Collisions

Conservation of Energy

7

10/3

7: Momentum and Collisions

10/5

8: Rotational Motion

Torque

8

10/10

Columbus day

10/12

9: Static Equilibrium

Hooke’s Law

9

10/17

Exam II: 5,6,7,8

10/19

9: Static Equilibrium

Density

10

10/24

10: Fluids

10/26

10: Fluids

Archimedes Principle

11

10/31

11: Oscillations and Waves

11/2

11: Oscillations and Waves

Simple Harmonic Motion

12

11/7

Exam III: 9,10,11

11/9

12: Sound

Resonance

13

11/14

13: Temperature; Expansion

11/16

14: Heat

Specific Heat

14

11/21

14: Heat

11/23

15

11/28

Exam IV: 12,13,14

11/30

Review

16

12/5

Review

12/7

Final Exam