An algebra-based course in which students learn to mathematically describe mechanics, waves, and fluids through lectures, laboratory investigations and problem assignments. Topics include motion, forces, energy, momentum, traveling waves, oscillations, sound waves, and fluid mechanics.
Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
This course will be taught as a face to face course. Our classroom has the capability for “radiant technology” which allows me to record the lecture as I present it. In the event that
Contact Information
Upon successful completion of this course…
1. The student will be able to explain vectors, mechanical motion, kinetic and potential energy, momentum
and collisions, rotational motion, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics.
Course Materials (all available through bookstore)
Digital Materials: Physics by JOVE
Edition: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Author: JOVE
Publisher: JOVE
Printed Materials
Name: Physics is Phunomenal! Laboratory Manual
Edition: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Author: Russell Kincaid
Publisher: CoursePacks, Etc.
Name: PH230 - Physics Workbook
Edition: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Author: Russell Kincaid
Publisher: CoursePacks, Etc.
The lecture portion of this course (PHYS 230) serves as an introductory course in college physics. It is the objective of this course to give students a strong enough background in physics that, when they are presented with a problem involving vectors, mechanical motion, kinetic and potential energy, momentum and collisions, rotational motion, fluid mechanics, vibrational motion, sound waves, and simple harmonic motion they are able to establish an appropriate approach to solving that problem. The laboratory portion of this course (PHYS 230L) serves to give students experience in a laboratory environment, develop appropriate methods for keeping laboratory data, and establish appropriate approaches to preparing lab reports to present that data.
Tentative Schedule
Ch. | Title | Lecture | Lab (Mon) | Lab (Wed) | Lab (Thur) |
1 | Introduction | Week 1 | August 24 | August 26 | August 27 |
2 | Motion in One Dimension | Week 2/3 | August 31 | September 2 | September 3 |
3 | Vectors and Two-Dimensional Motion | Week 3/4 | September 14 | September 9 | September 10 |
4 | The Laws of Motion | Week 4/5 | September 21 | September 16 | September 17 |
5 | Energy | Week 6/7 | September 28 | September 23 | September 24 |
6 | Momentum and Collisions | Week 7/8 | October 5, October 12 | September 30, October 7 | October 1, October 8 |
7 | Rotational Motion | Week 9/10 | October 26 | October 21 | October 22 |
8 | Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics | Week 10/11 | November 2 | October 28 | October 29 |
| NO LABS | Instructor travel | November 9 | November 4 | November 5 |
9 | Solids and Fluids | Week 11/12/13 | November 16 | November 11 | November 12 |
13 | Vibration and Waves | Week 13/14 | November 23 | November 18 | November 19 |
14 | Sound | Week 14/15 | November 30 | December 2 | December 3 |
| Make Up Labs |
| December 7 | December 9 |
|
Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
VIDEOS
There will be several videos (3 to 5 minutes) put together by JOVE which will help supplement the materials covered in the lectures. These videos show graphic models of the physics concepts that will be presented in class. Students are expected to watch these videos outside of class and complete the online quiz associated with each set of videos. The quizzes will be scored for completion, not as a quiz grade.
LAB REPORTS
I believe that probably the most important thing that a student can get from a physics class is learned in the labs. This learning includes multiple parts:
- Performance of the lab experiment
- Analyzing the data from the experiment
- Utilizing data analysis tools, such as graphs and tables to organize and present data
- Synthesis of data and experiment into a laboratory report.
The lab manual which I have prepared for the course includes not only the instructions for the labs we will perform in class, but also includes a section that describes what I expect in a lab report. During the course of the semester, we will perform 11 distinct labs. All students are expected to perform all 11 labs. In addition, each individual student will be expected to write lab reports, as outlined in the laboratory manual, for 6 of those labs. The performance of the labs, as well as the reports will account for over 40 % of the course grade.
HOMEWORK
I assign quite a bit of homework and have in class problems to work on as well. It is my strong belief that practice at any particular thing is necessary to improve one’s skills. As a result, many homework problems help you to practice and improve your physics skills. If you make a real effort at the homework, I will give you full credit irrespective of whether your answer is 100% correct. That being said, a “real effort” is not considered to seek a solution online. Attempt the work yourself. Come to me if you have questions. Nor is it considered a “real effort” to do the homework well after it is due. Each homework assignment is a tool to 1) generate in-class questions for the next class period and 2) to give you practice on problems before the next quiz.
HOMEWORK ASSESSMENT
I will expect each of you to keep your homework assignments organized in a notebook. I do not care if it is a simple spiral notebook, a three ring binder, or something else. I will collect this homework notebook to evaluate during quizzes. This way, I will not carry your homework with me, and you will have your work back so that you can work on the next assignment in the same notebook. I will not accept the homework any later than the day I am scheduled to receive it without a doctor’s note. I will expect all work to be shown for each problem.
WORKBOOK ASSESSMENT
I will expect you to bring the workbook to class with you. Once I have presented a topic, I will direct you to a page (or pages) in the workbook to work on during class for that section. I will collect the workbooks and assess them during quizzes along with the homework. I will not accept the workbook any later than the day I am scheduled to receive it without a doctor’s note. I will expect all work to be shown for each problem.
The grading scale will be as follows:
| 11 Quizzes (4% each, drop one) | 40% | A >92.5, 89.5< A- <92.4, 86.5< B+ <89.4 |
| 11 Lab Experiments | 11% | 82.5< B< 86.4, 79.5< B- <82.4, 76.5< C+ <79.4 |
| 6 Laboratory Reports (5% each) | 30% | 72.5< C <76.4, 69.5< C- <72.4, 66.5< D+ <69.4 |
| Homework problems as assigned | 7% | 59.5< D <66.4, F <59.4 |
| Workbook | 6% | |
| Online Quizzes | 6% | |
| Total | 100% |
Instructor Course Policies
More than three unexcused absences will significantly lower your grade. Of course, if you miss many classes, your grade will already be lower naturally. In the case of excused absence, the student is responsible for calling or emailing the professor ahead of the class they expect to miss and is also responsible for obtaining a note from a professional documenting the reason for absence and the dates. See the current Student Handbook for the college Attendance Policy especially as it pertains to excused absences.
On quizzes and exams, students must show their work in order to receive full credit. If calculators are used extensively, then the student should express in words the process that they are performing with their calculators. Any instance of cheating will result in a zero for the assignment, may result in an “F” grade for the course, and could result in referral for judicial review. See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges. Cell Phone use in the classroom, including texting, is prohibited. Each instance of texting detected by the instructor during the course of class time will result in an immediate pop quiz for the entire class over the day’s material. Such quizzes may recur as often as ten times in one class period.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: FA26 Final Exam Schedule
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery Definition of Courses |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. Academic Integrity Policy |
Class Attendance Policy Institutional Class Attendance Policy |