Syllabus: Physics 1101W.100 Fall Semester, 2015 Instructor: Professor E. Dan Dahlberg Office: 219 PAN Email: dand@physics.umn.edu or dand@umn.edu (they both go to @physics.umn.edu) (NOTE: As a rule I do not answer physics questions by email. Also email is not recommended as a means to contact me about routine class matters. Please take full advantage of the opportunity to talk to me before or after lectures as well as during my scheduled office hours.) TAs: Tutor room day/time James Delles Thursday 1115-1205 Taher Ghasimakbari Wednesday 1220-1310 Allison Kennedy Monday 1115-1205 and Thursday 1010-1100 Michael Mullen Tuesday 0905-0955 Yuting Wang Thursday 1640-1730 Xuzhe Ying Wednesday 0905-0955 TA Office Hours: Office hours held by the 1101 TAs will be held in Williamson 140. Williamson 140 is the TA office hour room for all Physics TAs, and all TAs in Williamson 140, whether they are assigned to our course or other introductory courses, are available for consultation about all introductory courses. Feel free to consult any physics TA holding office hours in that room. Prereq.: No prior physics course is assumed, but facility in algebra and basic trigonometry is essential. If you feel rusty you should review and practice. Chapter 1 and Appendix A in your textbook provide an overview of the tools you will need. Class hours: 1325-1415 MWF, Willey Hall 125 Office hours: Dahlberg Tuesday 1325-1415 and Thursday 1400-1500 in PAN 210 Starting on 21 Sept. there will be a problem session every week on either Tuesday or Wednesday (PAN 110). The problem session will start at 6:00 on Tuesdays and 5:30 on Wednesdays and last until????. Texts and Tools: Textbook (required): College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Knight, 2nd edition (2014). The bookstore has a special custom 2nd U of M edition (Chapters 1-10):
ISBN-10: 1-269-91836-2, ISBN-13: 978-1-269-91836-7 The regular College Physics text has 30 chapters. Lab Manual (required): College Physics Laboratory: Mechanics (available online as a downloadable pdf file through the course website). Lab Journal (required): Univ. of Minnesota 2077-S Ti-30xa Calculator or other simple scientific calculator. These are the only type of calculator that will be permitted during quizzes and the final exam. NO GRAPHING CALCULATORS ARE PERMITTED. Supplementary (optional) course materials: The Competent Problem Solver for Introductory Physics, by Heller and Heller (available for free online as a downloadable pdf file through the course website). Course web page: http://www.physics.umn.edu/classes/phys/2015/fall/phys%201101w.100/index.html Course announcements and assignments will be posted on this page. Note the links on the right side of the page. You are also responsible for any announcements or assignments made on the web page, in class, or by email. The course email list will be based on the official list generated by the university. Please do not ask us to change to any other email address. Exams: There will be a 50 minute quiz on the following days : Monday Oct. 5- if your last name starts with A-Gr you will take the exam in Blegen 5 and if it starts with Gu-Z it will be in Willey 125; Monday, Oct. 26- if your last name starts with A-Gr you will take the exam in Blegen 5 and if it starts with Gu-Z it will be in Willey 125; Friday Nov. 20- if your last name starts with A-Gr you will take the exam in Blegen 10 and if it starts with Gu-Z it will be in Willey 125; Friday Dec. 11- if your last name starts with A-Gr you will take the exam in Blegen 10 and if it starts with Gu-Z it will be in Willey 125. Of these four quizes, your lowest score will be dropped and the remaining best three will be averaged for use in your final grade determination. Quizzes will be closed-book. NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES WILL BE GIVEN. If you must miss a quiz, it will be the one dropped. Do not miss two. Exceptions to this policy, in accordance with University-wide rules, will be considered only for those cases specified by policy: http://www.policy.umn.edu/policies/education/education/makeupwork.html Note that for the special cases covered by this policy, particularly intercollegiate athletic events and religious observances, you must advise me well in advance (in person and by confirming email) so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Note that illness is generally not a consideration in
making exceptions to the exam policy unless a physician explains in writing that you were physically unable to take the exam. The three hour final exam will be Tuesday, the 22nd of December from 1830-2130. If you somehow already have a conflict with the final exam, I must know by 14 September. In general, no early, late, or make-up finals will be given except for students who meet the University requirements. The quizzes and final exam will consist of a mixture of multiple choice questions and longer worked problems. A sheet of equations and other useful information will be provided. No books or notes will be allowed. Only a TI-30xa or equivalent simple scientific pre-approved calculator will be allowed. No graphing or programmable calculators will be permitted. The use of any communication devices (cell phones, messaging devices, etc.) during examinations is not allowed. To be successful in problem solving you must get the physics right and communicate your understanding clearly and effectively. To receive full credit on any problem, your solution must be complete and understandable to the grader, with clear algebraic formulation of the physics, explicit definitions of all the symbols used, and proper handling of units and significant figures. In general, problems must be solved algebraically before numbers are substituted (one exception is that plugging in zero should be done when appropriate to simplify the algebra). A valid picture ID is required on exam days. Examples of a valid ID are a University ID or Driver s License. Discussion Sessions: In discussion sessions you work with classmates to solve a challenging problem in small groups. Some analysis of the solution will be presented at the end of the session. On quiz week, there will be a group problem in the discussion session, which will count for 25% of the total quiz grade. Your group will solve that problem collaboratively with all group members receiving the same score for that problem. The TA will assign the groups and new groups will be assigned after each quiz. Laboratory: You have the same TA and work in the same group as in your discussion session. Labs are roughly coordinated with lectures, and are designed to give you an opportunity to test, expand and refine your understanding of basic physics concepts. Careful recording of observations in your lab journal and preparation of formal lab reports are important parts of this experience. Lab exercises are carried out in a group and the equipment for each lab is available for only a limited time. Because this course satisfies University requirements as a laboratory science class and as a writing intensive course, you must receive a minimum laboratory grade of 60% to receive a passing grade in the course. The laboratory grade will be based on the demonstration of a well organized and correct written technical communication of the physics concepts of this course in your laboratory journal and laboratory reports, well thought out predictions and answers to the questions in the laboratory manual brought to class, and collaborative skills as evidenced by
effective group work. Failure to participate in the laboratory will result in a laboratory grade of 0 for that topic. There are no make-up laboratories, except in situations officially recognized by the University. In that case, the laboratory work must be made up by arrangement with your instructor before your next scheduled laboratory period. Grades for the laboratory work will be determined in part by laboratory reports (one for each laboratory topic), in part by your work in the laboratory and in part by your work in answering the prediction and other questions turned in before lab. The predictions and questions assigned by your TA must be turned in no later than 24 hours before the laboratory time each week, either by email to your TA or in the TA drop box in Williamson 150. Students with Monday labs must turn them in by 8 am on the day of the lab. The specific part of the laboratory for which you will write a report is assigned to you by your laboratory instructor at the end of each laboratory topic (about every two weeks). Reports should be no longer than 6 nor shorter than 3 typed pages (using a word processor is required and such facilities are supplied by the University) including all necessary predictions, graphs, data tables, and calculations. Reports must be delivered to your laboratory instructor for grading no more than one week after they are assigned, the latest being at the next lab session. Late reports will not be accepted. Graded reports will be returned to you not later than your next laboratory meeting. Your first report (and only the first one) may be revised based on instructor comments to achieve a higher grade. The revised report must be given to your laboratory instructor within two days. Details of the laboratory grading are in your laboratory manual. Remember this is a writing intensive course so your grade will depend on your communication skills. Laboratories and discussion sessions will start in the first week of class. Missing discussion and laboratory sessions with no valid excuse If you miss one discussion session, your score for the group problem for the following quiz is decreased by 50%. If you miss more than one discussion session, your score for the group problem for the following quiz is zero. If you miss one lab session, the score of your next lab report is decreased by 50%. If you miss a lab session for which a lab report is assigned, your score is zero for that lab report. If you miss more than one lab session, the score of your next lab report is zero. You must receive a minimum laboratory grade of 60% to receive a passing grade in the course.
Lab/Lectures schedule Week Chapter Lab 1 1 Introduction 2 2 I, P1 3 2-3 I, P2 and P3 4 3 I, P4 and P5 5 4 II, P1 and P2 6 4-5 II, P3 and P4 7 5 III, P1 and P2 8 6 III, P3 and P4 9 7 IV, P1 and P2 10 8 IV, P3, P4 and P5 11 9 V, P1 and P2 12 9 Thanksgiving (no lab) 13 10 VI, P1 and P2 14 10 VII, P1 and P2 15 Recap semester Conclusions Suggested homework Chapter Conceptual MC Problems 1 2, 4, 9, 10, 16, 18, 21, 27, 5, 10, 15, 24, 27, 35, 62, 64 17 28, 29 2 1-3, 7, 9, 12 16-18, 20, 22, 24, 25 3, 8, 11, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 34, 35, 44, 61, 78-80 3 1, 5, 8, 10, 15 19-20, 22-24 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 25, 27-29, 31, 36, 38, 40, 57, 62-64, 71, 76-82 4 1-3, 5, 6, 10, 15 21-29 3-12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 33, 34, 36, 37, 46-48, 51, 66 5 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, 18-20 22-24, 30-32 2, 4, 5, 11-13, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 33, 46, 48, 50, 51, 55, 57, 63, 67, 72, 75, 79 2, 14, 13, 21, 29, 30, 37, 38, 42, 46, 54, 56, 68, 73, 76-79 6 3, 4, 6, 8, 18, 20 22, 24, 26, 29, 30 7 1-8 17, 18 14, 17-19, 22, 12-14 8 2, 5, 6, 8, 11 17, 19, 23 1, 7, 11, 20, 23, 27, 29, 31, 38 9 1-5, 8 20, 21, 25 3, 9, 12, 14, 18, 21, 25, 31, 45, 55, 61, 71 10 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 17 24, 27, 28 1-4, 9, 13, 17, 20, 24, 28, 38, 38, 41, 42, 50, 59, 61, 66, 69-71
GRADING: The grade for Physics 1101 will be based on your 3 best scores on 4 quizzes, laboratory, and a final examination. Course grade: The course grade will be determined by combining the grades from the various components of the course in the following way. a) The quizzes will count as 40%. b) The final will count as 45% of your final grade. c) The laboratory will count as 15%. All grades will be on a scale of 0-100%. The numerical score will be weighted in accordance with the distribution given above, again on a scale of 0-100. Your final letter grade will be based on the following table: A 100-95 A- 94-90 B+ 89-85 B 84-80 B- 79-75 C+ 74-70 C 69-65 C- 64-60 D+ 59-50 D 49-40 F Less than 40% or Lab grade < 60% HOW DO I LEARN PHYSICS? First, I expect all students to spend a MINIMUM of two hours studying outside class for every hour of lecture and I expect you to have read the chapter before it is discussed in class. I should add that two-hours-outside per in-class-hour does not guarantee you will earn an A grade. You may believe a good student (one that would like to make an A grade) will read the text before attending lecture, attend lecture, and start trying to work the homework. Following this process, students often (always?) find doing the homework difficult. (How many times have I heard "I don't know where to start any of the homework problems!") The above recipe is a good start but it is missing a key ingredient in my view. Let me give you the missing ingredient in the above recipe (the ingredient that worked for me). In the chapters are sample problems. After you have read the chapter and think you understand the material, return to the sample problems in the chapter starting with the first one. Read it, and follow the logic. Look for when the physics was done (often this is very
small but is the critical part of the problem). After you think you understand it, jot the problem down, close the book, and solve the problem without looking at the solution. You will often find that you will not be able to solve it. After some time trying to solve the problem, look at the solution again, find where you missed the logic, close the book and start the problem again- from the beginning. By the time you have finished this process for ALL the sample problems you will find the homework problems less mysterious (at least I did). That doesn't mean they will be easy or that you will be able to solve all of them without some help but it does give you the brain training you need to learn the physics. If you come to an office hour asking for help, I will likely ask you to solve one of the sample problems that is closest to the homework problem. If you cannot do it, I will likely send you away. Classroom etiquette: Cell phones must be turned off. Computers may be used only for notetaking, accessing your textbook, or accessing online course resources as required during the lecture (this will be rare). All other forms of electronic communication and web access are not allowed at any time. Note that the use of any electronic devices, except handheld calculators without wireless capability, is forbidden during exams. Lectures will require active verbal communication (both ways!) between students and the instructor. Anything that impedes this process (from web browsing to reading the newspaper) is rude and disruptive. Reflection Statement: Phys 1101W Physics 1101 is the first semester of a two semesters introduction to physics. The main emphasis will be on the branch of physics known as mechanics. This is the study of motion and the causes of motion through the applications of fundamental principles of physics. We begin with kinematics, the quantitative description of the motion of particles. We then build on kinematics to learn how and why motion occurs, through the application of Newton's laws of dynamics. Many examples will be considered as we explore the properties of specific forces and the details of the motion they bring about. We will extend our understanding of motion to circular motion, orbits, and gravity. We will then briefly discuss torque and statics equilibrium. The next step will be to describe physical processes in terms of energy and momentum, quantities that are always "conserved". Conservation laws allow us to solve problems in mechanics that would be very difficult by other techniques and provide a powerful approach to the analysis of physical systems in general. By the end of this semester, you should have a deeper understanding of the phenomena occurring in your surrounding physical world. You should have a clearer picture of the behavior of the universe on the largest (cosmic) scale, and on the smallest (subnuclear) scale. You should also understand a bit more about the physics of biological systems, including your own body. In addition, you should be more competent at measurement and quantitative reasoning concerning physical processes.
DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES ATHLETES must provide their official University of Minnesota athletic letter containing the approved competition schedule to their instructor and the staff in Williamson Hall 145. Away exams will be arranged with the athletic adviser traveling with the team. Accommodations will be made for official university sports only (i.e. no accommodations will be made for intramurals, club sports, etc.) DISABILITY SERVICES: If you have accommodations for this course, please provide the staff in Williamson Hall 145 with a copy of your accommodation letter for the current semester. Exams will be arranged according to accommodations and sent to the testing center for administration. MANDATORY POLICY INFORMATION Student Conduct Code The University seeks an environment that promotes academic achievement and integrity, that is protective of free inquiry, and that serves the educational mission of the University. Similarly, the University seeks a community that is free from violence, threats, and intimidation; that is respectful of the rights, opportunities, and welfare of students, faculty, staff, and guests of the University; and that does not threaten the physical or mental health or safety of members of the University community. As a student at the University you are expected adhere to Board of Regents Policy: Student Conduct Code. To review the Student Conduct Code, please see: http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/student_conduct_code.html. Note that the conduct code specifically addresses disruptive classroom conduct, which means "engaging in behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach or student learning. The classroom extends to any setting where a student is engaged in work toward academic credit or satisfaction of programbased requirements or related activities." Scholastic Dishonesty You are expected to do your own academic work and cite sources as necessary. Failing to do so is scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering, forging, or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or
falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis. (Student Conduct Code: http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/student_conduct_code.html) If it is determined that a student has cheated, he or she may be given an "F" or an "N" for the course, and may face additional sanctions from the University. For additional information, please see: http://policy.umn.edu/policies/education/education/instructorresp.html. The Office for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity has compiled a useful list of Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to scholastic dishonesty: http://www1.umn.edu/oscai/integrity/student/index.html. If you have additional questions, please clarify with your instructor for the course. Your instructor can respond to your specific questions regarding what would constitute scholastic dishonesty in the context of a particular class-e.g., whether collaboration on assignments is permitted, requirements and methods for citing sources, if electronic aids are permitted or prohibited during an exam. Disability Accommodations The University is committed to providing quality education to all students regardless of ability. Determining appropriate disability accommodations is a collaborative process. You as a student must register with Disability Services and provide documentation of your disability. The course instructor must provide information regarding a course's content, methods, and essential components. The combination of this information will be used by Disability Services to determine appropriate accommodations for a particular student in a particular course. For more information, please reference Disability Services: http://ds.umn.edu/student-services.html. Use of Personal Electronic Devices in the Classroom Using personal electronic devices in the classroom setting can hinder instruction and learning, not only for the student using the device but also for other students in the class. To this end, the University establishes the right of each faculty member to determine if and how personal electronic devices are allowed to be used in the classroom. For complete information, please reference: http://policy.umn.edu/policies/education/education/classroomped.html. Makeup Work for Legitimate Absences Students will not be penalized for absence during the semester due to unavoidable or legitimate circumstances. Such circumstances include verified illness, participation in intercollegiate athletic events, subpoenas, jury duty, military service, bereavement, and religious observances. Such circumstances do not include voting in local, state, or national elections. For complete information, please see: http://policy.umn.edu/policies/education/education/makeupwork.html.
Appropriate Student Use of Class Notes and Course Materials Taking notes is a means of recording information but more importantly of personally absorbing and integrating the educational experience. However, broadly disseminating class notes beyond the classroom community or accepting compensation for taking and distributing classroom notes undermines instructor interests in their intellectual work product while not substantially furthering instructor and student interests in effective learning. Such actions violate shared norms and standards of the academic community. For additional information, please see: http://policy.umn.edu/policies/education/education/classnotesstudents.html. Grading and Transcripts The University utilizes plus and minus grading on a 4.000 cumulative grade point scale in accordance with the following: 4.000 - Represents achievement that is outstanding relative to the level A necessary to meet course requirements A- 3.667 B+ 3.333 3.000 - Represents achievement that is significantly above the level necessary B to meet course requirements B- 2.667 C+ 2.333 2.000 - Represents achievement that meets the course requirements in every C respect C- 1.667 D+ 1.333 1.000 - Represents achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to D meet fully the course requirements Represents achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or S better. For additional information, please refer to: http://policy.umn.edu/policies/education/education/gradingtranscripts.html. Sexual Harassment "Sexual harassment" means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment in any University activity or program. Such behavior is not acceptable in the University setting. For additional information, please consult Board of Regents Policy: http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/humanresources/sexharassment.html
Equity, Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action The University will provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs and facilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. For more information, please consult Board of Regents Policy: http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/administrative/equity_diversity_eo_aa.html. Mental Health and Stress Management As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance and may reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota services are available to assist you. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the Student Mental Health Website: http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu.