Physics 211
General Physics
Fall 2020
Office Hours:
Monday 4:00-5:00pm by Zoom - Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89628539848?pwd=a1ZtS3RhK1M4Y1N6ZzFoQjZqd3V0UT09
Wednesday 2:30-3:30pm by Zoom - Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89628539848?pwd=a1ZtS3RhK1M4Y1N6ZzFoQjZqd3V0UT09
Additionally, a help "room" will be staffed to answer homework related questions. This will likely be by zoom.
Final Exam Formula sheet (PDF format) [posted]
Links to Web info (to help with your project)
Link to Auroral Forecast at the GI
Videos
of the last week of Zoom classes
This syllabus is located at: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall_2020.html
Course Syllabus
In approaching this (and all) classes, please note the following ancient Chinese proverb:
Teachers
can open the door,
but you must enter by yourself.
Course Content: In the first part of the course you will learn the basic language of physics including measurement and how we discuss and quantify motion. We will then move on to calculating the motion of bodies which will lead us into the wonders of Newton's 3 laws of motion. You will learn to love them (or at least learn them) and their applications to such a wide range of problems such as fair rides, space ships, skidding cars and even hanging signs. Then the course will explore energy and momentum, two of the most important and powerful concepts in the physics of motion. This will be followed by an introduction into Gravitation followed by fluid mechanics. This will then lead into a discussion of waves including sound wave and such cool things as noise canceling headphones. Most importantly, you will learn to impress your friends and relatives with your knowledge of the universe (or bore them to tears), so be prepared for being introduced to "The Power of Physics" (said with reverb!).
Prerequisites: Calculus and high school physics. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus will be used extensively.
Materials Needed:
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Required Text: |
Physics for Sci & Engrg w/Mod Physics 4th Ed.,
Knight |
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Calculators: |
No calculators may be used during exams or quizzes. Otherwise, buy yourself a nice one. A basic, simple scientific calculator with trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions is all that you need. |
Lectures: Important note: The last week of class (after the thanksgiving break) will be online by zoom during the 10:30-11:30 class time. The zoom class will also be recorded and posted. The link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89628539848?pwd=a1ZtS3RhK1M4Y1N6ZzFoQjZqd3V0UT09
(F01 and FH1) 10:30am MWF in 201 Reich or (F02)9:15-10:15 MWF in 201 Reich. You must attend the section you are supposed to attend due to room capacity limits. The lectures supplement but do not substitute for the reading. Lectures will cover the major topics, emphasizing and discussing the important points. They are not sessions to regurgitate material already written in the text. Your personal participation is important, and it is critical that you read the assigned material before lecture. Time permitting, several Friday lectures will cover special topics beyond the scope of the text. These will be announced before hand.
Homework: There will be
approximately one homework assignment per week. The assignment will be
given out online on Wednesdays and will be due in on the following
Friday by 11:40AM (right after class). We will use google classroom
for submitting homework. You are encouraged to work with others on the
homework, but make sure the paper you turn in is not simply copied
from someone else. These assignments help me assess your understanding
of the material, and will count toward your final grade.
Late problem sets will not be accepted in
general.
Only a selection of problems will be graded each week, totaling about
25-30 points each.
Quizzes: 6 - 12 short quizzes will be given in class during the semester. They will be closed book and no calculators allowed (or needed). All difficult formulas needed will be given and the quiz will be similar to some of the recent homework or topics covered in class. The quizzes will be announced in class and on the schedule page at least one week in advance. I am still working out how to give the quizzes in a paperless manner.
Project: There will be a project
due worth a maximum of approximately 10% of the course grade. The
project will be in the form of a web page on a topic in physics that
you find interesting and we agree on together. These topics could
include biographies of important scientists, scientific projects and
scientific ideas. The topic must be agreed to by Oct
1st and must be competed by Nov
18th Nov 23th. They will be graded both for
presentation and content. More details will be discussed in class and
on the web project link above.
Labs: There is a lab associated
with this course. ALL labs and
reports must be completed to get a passing grade for the lab.
A PASSING GRADE IN THE LAB IS NECESSARY TO
PASS THE COURSE.
Labs may only be made up if excused and with permission of the course
instructor. Questions about the lab should be directed to the teaching
assistant in charge of your lab or as a last resort me.
Hour Exams: Exams will be given during the Friday lecture as follows:
Oct. 2, approx. Chapters 1-6 Nov 6??, approx. Chapters 6-12
The exams will be closed-book, but you will be given one side of an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet with most of the needed equations. No calculators are allowed. The exams will be graded and handed back as soon as possible. Solutions will be discussed.
Final Exam: The final exam will be at 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., Fri, Dec. 11. It will cover the entire course (Chapters 1-17), with some emphasis on the more recent material. The final will be closed-book, but you will be given two sides of an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet with most of the needed equations.
Grading: The course grade will
consist of the following components (though I reserve the right to
make grade adjustments based on performance trends):
2 hour exams 30 % Final exam 25 % Homework 10 % Quizzes 10 % Project 10 % Lab 15 %
Note: I reserve the right to make adjustments to the final grade based on trends in your grades over the semester
I grade on a curve however to satisfy university requirements, above
95% will be at least an A, above 85% will be at least a B above 75%
will be at least a C, above 65% will be at least a D (in most cases
the actual curve is significantly lower!).
Contacting Me: I have office hours as listed above. You can drop by at other times if I'm not busy, or make an appointment. I am (almost) never available before class.
Special Needs: The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. We will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.
COVID-19 statement: Students should keep up-to-date on the university’s policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website:Â https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/coronavirus/uaf/uaf-students?authuser=0Â Further, students are expected to adhere to the university’s policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply.
Plagiarism etc: Plagiarism and cheating are matters of serious concern for students and academic institutions. This is true in this class as well. The UAF Honor Code (or Student Code of Conduct) defines academic standards expected at the University of Alaska Fairbanks which will be followed in this class. (Taken from the UAF plagiarism web site, which has many links with good information about this topic)
Complaints and Concerns: You are always welcome to talk to me about anything, however, if you have a non-subject matter question or concern that cannot be resolved by me, contact the department chair, Dr. Truffer, Physics Department Office, room 102 NSCI.
Alternate References: To see the
same topics explained differently, try the following:
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Serway and Jewett. Fundamentals of Physics, 8th edition, Halliday Renick and Walker. The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Richard Feynman ( a great set of books ... rather deep) Here is a good web site on how to study physics which might be of interest and use: How to study physics
General Advice: Physics is not
something you read and memorize, rather it is something you learn how
to do. Try the following study procedure: