Syllabus - General Physics A
PHY 2048C, 2048 & 2048L FALL 2005
(www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/fall05/phy2048c)
Catalog Description: General Physics A
(5 credit hours). (Co-requisite: MAC 2311, MAC 2312 is also recommended.) An
introduction to mechanics, waves, and thermodynamics for physical science
majors, designed to be taken as a sequence with General Physics B (PHY 2049C)
and Intermediate Modern Physics (PHY 3101). (Completing the latter entitles
you to a Minor in Physics!) Calculus is used. PHY 2048C consists of
lectures, recitations, laboratory and lots of fun! A student who has taken PHY
2053C or an equivalent course may take PHY 2048 rather than 2048C, see details
below.
We will
follow the text: Physics
for Scientists and Engineers: Fifth Edition by
Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca., Freeman Worth
Publishers. [NOTE: In PHY 2048 we will use Volume 1,
Volume 2 is used for
PHY 2049, and you can buy the “clicker” (see below) as a package with the
book.] The Laboratory
assignments are available for downloading from the class web page, see the
course schedule below.
Students
will need to purchase their own Personal Response System
(PRS) transmitter (clicker) and register
it. These should be available at the
university bookstore either separately or bundled with the textbook. If you
already own a PRS transmitter you will still need to register it for this
course.
Professors associated with the course:
|
Room |
Phone |
Office
Hours |
Email
Address |
|
|
Dr.
M. A. Riley |
214
Keen |
644-2066 |
T,Th |
|
|
Dr.
S. Capstick |
207
Keen |
644-1724 |
M,W
|
|
|
Dr. P. A. Rikvold |
310 Keen |
645-6814 |
W= F= |
|
|
Dr.
Y. Gershtein |
507
Keen |
644-3289 |
T,W
|
|
|
Dr.
L. Hirst |
413 Keen |
644-7009 |
Th,F |
|
|
Dr.
M. Pervin |
202
Keen |
644-1257 |
M
= W=2:00-3:00 |
General
Physics includes laboratory!
The laboratory is an integral part of the course. To pass you must pass the
lab. Thus you should sign up for PHY 2048C (five (5) credits) which
includes a Tuesday - Thursday lecture, a Monday - Wednesday tutorial section
and a laboratory.
The 3 credit version of General Physics (PHY 2048) is
offered only for those people who have credit on their transcript
indicating they have passed (C- or better) an introductory lab. Students
enrolling in Physics 2048 must provide a copy of their transcript to Drs. Riley
or Capstick. If you have previously attempted PHY 2048C at FSU and passed
the laboratory part, you may opt not to repeat the lab, but you still need to
sign up for PHY 2048C. Confusing isn't it? Just come and see one of the Profs
and they will try to make it clear.
Tuesday and
Thursday classes meet in
101 Richards (UPL) from (i) 8:00 to 9:15 am, sections 1-4 with Dr.
Riley, or (ii) from
These classes involve
demonstrations, worked examples, and discussion of the major concepts and
techniques used in this course. In addition we will have “Moments of
Opportunity” or MOO’s which are essentially short
“pop quizzes” using the PRS remote or clicker system. Registers of students
attending class will be noted. Remember the performance versus attendance
graph from previous years shown to you the first day of class! Try and read the designated text sections
before class. All exams and PRS tests, except for the final, will be given in
these Tuesday or Thursday classes (see schedule below). Solutions to the exams
(except the final) will be posted on the web. Your individual scores will be
available during the semester via your BLACKBOARD account.
Discuss any problem, which would
cause you to miss an exam, with Dr. Riley (
Monday and
Wednesday tutorial or recitation classes
meet as scheduled below. These classes are where you will hone your problem
solving skills in physics and thus they act as a
excellent preparation for the exams as well as help with the homework
assignments. Homework is completed by inputting answers via the internet using
the Learning Online Network with Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach (LON-CAPA) system. All LON-CAPA homework
is due in by mid-night of the assigned day, the computer deadline system allows
no exceptions! See below for more details about LON-CAPA.
Examinations: During the semester, there will be 6
mini-exams (or “opportunities” as we like to call them), one
mid-term exam, and one final exam. The subject of the exams may be any
previously assigned material. Your best 5 exams will be counted (see below).
These mini-exams account for a large fraction of the final grade and represent
a very significant part of the course. Below are a few rules and answers to
common questions about these.
- 6 mini-exams will be given during the semester.
- All mini-exams will be given at the beginning of the
lecture.
- The material covered will be related to recent or
previous LON-CAPA assignment topics. (Do not expect to see exact copies of
LON-CAPA questions though.)
- No make-ups will be given.
- The mini-exam will last 25 minutes and must be handed in
by the required deadline.
- Students arriving late will be required to submit their
mini-exam by the same deadline as the rest of the class.
- Your grade will be based on your best five mini-exam
scores.
- Each student is responsible for bringing a working
calculator. You are not allowed to utilize equations or physics text programmed
into your calculator.
- Don't try to cheat. The first cheat on an exam results in
a grade of 0 for that test, the second results in a
"F" for the course. Remember the FSU Honor Code and just think
what your mom and dad would say!
- Any grading questions you have must be resolved with the
Professor who set the mini-exam within 2 weeks of the exam.
In addition, throughout the semester, the
PRS system will be used to ask “pop” questions during the lectures.
- A special “Rabbit” trophy will be presented to the
student with the highest overall score in the mini-exams, mid-term exam,
and PRS questions.
Laboratory
classes: The purpose of the laboratory sessions is
to gain hands-on experience with laboratory apparatus, to develop skills in
performing experiments, and to learn methods for analyzing scientific data.
Each student must complete a lab report following the format prescribed by the
lab instructor, before leaving the lab session. Attendance at each lab session
is a requirement of the course. Each laboratory which is not attended will
result in a subtraction of 5 points from your overall course total. If you miss
more than two labs you will automatically receive a grade “F” for the course.
In addition, if you do not complete a missed lab, you do not get credit for
that lab in your laboratory score (see below). Please make sure you do all the
labs!
Tutorial Sections (Monday
and Wednesday)
|
Section |
Time |
Instructor |
Room |
|
1 |
|
Dr. Gershtein |
107
UPL |
|
2 |
|
Dr. Gershstein |
107
UPL |
|
3 |
|
Dr.
Hirst |
107 UPL |
|
4 |
|
Dr.
Hirst |
107 UPL |
|
5 |
|
Dr.
Rikvold |
112 UPL |
|
6 |
|
Dr.
Rikvold |
112 UPL |
|
7 |
|
Dr.
Rikvold |
112 UPL |
|
8 |
|
Dr.
Pervin |
112 UPL |
|
9 |
|
Dr.
Pervin |
109
UPL |
|
Section |
Day |
Time
(all pm) |
Room |
|
1 |
Monday |
|
107
UPL |
|
2 |
Monday |
|
109
UPL |
|
3 |
Monday |
|
107
UPL |
|
4 |
Monday |
|
109
UPL |
|
5 |
Monday |
|
107
UPL |
|
6 |
Wednesday |
|
107
UPL |
|
7 |
Wednesday |
|
109
UPL |
|
8 |
Wednesday |
|
107
UPL |
|
9 |
Wednesday |
|
109
UPL |
|
10 |
Wednesday |
|
107
UPL |
|
11 |
Thursday |
|
105
UPL |
|
12 |
Thursday |
|
114
UPL |
|
13 |
Friday |
|
107
UPL |
|
14 |
Thursday |
|
105
UPL |
Completion of Course and
Grading:
The course grade will be
calculated using the grades from the LON-CAPA problem sets, the weekly
mini-exams and PRS MOO quizzes, the mid-term exam, the laboratory reports, and the
final examination. These components will be weighted in the following way. Your final grade will be based on your total
score in all these areas. The total course score will be converted into a
letter grade. We will use the table shown below as our guide for determining
grades:
|
|
25
% |
Grade |
Score |
Grade |
Score |
|
PRS answers |
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
Mid Term Exam |
10
% |
A |
100
– 90 |
C+ |
74.9
– 71 |
|
Final Examination |
20
% |
A- |
89.9
– 87 |
C |
69.9
– 67 |
|
Laboratory |
20
% |
B+ |
86.9
– 83 |
C- |
66.9
– 62 |
|
CAPA homework Recit. participation |
12
% 3
% |
B |
82.9
- 79 |
D |
61.9
- 55 |
|
Total |
100
% |
B- |
78.9
– 75 |
F |
54.9
- 0 |
Students who do not attempt the final
exam will automatically be given a grade of “F” for the course. In addition to
not receiving credit for missed labs, 5 percentage points will be deducted from
your total for each lab not completed up to a maximum of two. If you miss more
than two labs you will automatically receive a grade “F” for the course. You
should keep a record of your point totals on LON-CAPA, laboratories and exams.
Students are expected to uphold
the Academic Honor Code published in The Florida State University Bulletin
and the Student Handbook. The first paragraph is:
The Academic Honor System of
Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility
(1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own
work, (2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the
University community, and (3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social
responsibility on the part of the University community.
We want
you all to do well in this course. There are resources available to help you
towards this goal. Please take advantage of them.
- Classes. Attend lectures and recitations. You may not
realize it at the time but what you learn and retain from these classes
may surprise and serve you well during examinations.
- Professor's office hours. Each of the faculty members
instructing this course have scheduled office hours to help students with
homework problems and other matters that arise during the course. These
times are given at the beginning of this document. Other times may be
arranged. Please don't hesitate to call or email us.
- Solution Manuals in Dirac Library. We have put on reserve
in the Dirac Science Library detailed solution manuals (both Student and
Instructor volumes)
for the textbook end of chapter questions. Just ask at the
desk to loan them out.
- Physics Department consultation sessions. After the first
week a graduate student is available to assist you in your LON-Capa homework and keeping up that average score of
20/20 in the mini-exams! These times are given below.
|
Consultant |
Day |
Time |
Room |
|
|
Monday |
|
105 UPL |
|
|
Wednesday |
|
105 UPL |
If you would like to hire a tutor,
check with Ms.
Students with disabilities needing
academic accommodations should: a) register with and provide documentation to
the Student Disability Resource Center SDRC; b) bring a letter to the
instructor from SDRC indicating you need academic accommodations. Please do this
in the first week of class.
Course and LON-CAPA Information on the WWW
This syllabus, the laboratory
assignments and other information (exam solutions, etc) related to this course
can be found on the WWW via the Physics Department's webpage at http://www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/fall05/phy2048c/
. It is a good idea to "bookmark" the latter address for future
access.
In order to attempt the
Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach or CAPA assignments you must have
access to the internet. There are numerous computer labs on campus and in
the libraries. The Physics Department also has a number of computers that
may be used for LONCAPA, both in your recitation classroom and in the
Undergraduate Study Room in 701 Keen. If you have any difficulties
locating a computer please contact your recitation instructor. The LONCAPA web
page is at http://loncapa.fsu.edu/ and
instructions are available here.
Alternate LONCAPA sites are available at http://loncapa1.fsu.edu,
http://loncapa2.fsu.edu/, and http://loncapa3.fsu.edu/. You can also use http://k12.fsu.edu, http://s3.lite.msu.edu, or http://s4.lite.msu.edu but you must change
the domain field on the login page to “fsu”.
|
1.
Start
your favorite Web Browser. 2. At the URL,
type http://loncapa.fsu.edu. (Some browsers have location or address instead
of URL.) 3. Enter your
username and password. (Your username and password are the same as your
garnet account – the account you use to register for your courses. ) 4. Click on the
Log In button. (See Figure 1.) 5. Once you have successfully
logged in, a separate window, the “Remote Control'' (Figure 2) will open up.
The Remote Control is used to control access to various functions of LON-CAPA.
6. Very
important. Some computers have filters that prevent the pop-up windows (the
Remote Control) from opening up. If you do not get the Remote Control, go
back to the login page and click on the Accessibility Options. Then login as
described on step 3. 7. Next click on “Select''
button on the row that shows you as a student in the PHY2048C course. 8. From there you will see links to the various
assignments and other information. (Once you are in the course, click on
“LON-CAPA Primer” to get more details on using LON-CAPA. Note: If you have problems logging in to loncapa,
check that your garnet username/password is valid by logging in to another
system that uses your garnet account, such as your garnet e-mail. If you can
log in to the other system, but cannot log in to loncapa,
please read http://loncapa.fsu.edu/adm/loginproblems.html
webpage. |
Figure 1 |
Some Sensible Advice
We want everyone to pass this
course. Unfortunately many people find doing physics rather difficult. Below are
a few tips to help make your adventures in physics fun.
- This course is no pushover,
physics is based on understanding not remembering. We will do all
we can to help you, but only you know whether you really understand
something or not! Test yourself on additional problems. If, after reading
additional problems, you have no idea how to solve them, then you have not
understood the concepts. Do not just regurgitate the answers.
- To gain confidence on physics concepts, practice on level
one problems first.
- Physics and math are intimately related. Refresh and apply your math skills to
solve the problems.
- In order to prepare for the exams make sure you
understand and can do all the homework problems. You are strongly
encouraged to do extra problems. Do not just memorize the solutions.
- In answering a question, always ask yourself ``Is this answer sensible?" Always check through
your solution and don't forget to put the units in!
- Attend all lecture and tutorial classes.
- Use the textbook, you paid good
money for it! Try to find time to look over a chapter before and after it
is covered in class.
- Use the Professor's office hours.
- Find a study partner. We strongly encourage students
to study and learn
together.
- Finally, don't give up or sit for hours trying to do the
homework. Come and discuss your solution with us. Often you will be much
closer than you think to being able to solve a
problem.
- If you are seriously thinking of dropping the course at
any point please come and talk to Drs. Riley or Capstick, or one of the
other Profs first.
Good luck and we hope you enjoy
the course!
Daily
schedule for the course
|
Date |
Schedule
and Assignments |
Laboratory |
|
M 29 Aug T 30 Aug W 31 Aug Th 1 Sep |
Welcome to the course! Syllabus
handed out Course intro & Ch. 2, 1D
motion, Capa Set #1 av Discuss
CAPA problem set#1 Discuss Ch. 2, 1D motion Problem
set #2 av |
No laboratory classes this
week. |
|
M 5 Sep T 6 Sep W 7 Sep Th 8 Sep |
No
Classes. Labor Day.
Problem set #1 DUE Discuss Problem set #2 DUE Discuss Ch 3, 3D Motion, Set #4
av. |
No laboratory classes this week. |
|
M 12 Sep T 13 Sep W 14 Sep Th 15 Sep |
Problem set #3 DUE Discuss Problem set #4 DUE |
|
|
M 19 Sep T 20 Sep W 21 Sep Th 22 Sep |
Problem set #5 DUE Discuss Ch.5,N's
Laws,Set #7 av. Problem set #6 DUE Discuss |
Determination of
Density INTRO TO EXCEL (read App
I, |
|
M 26 Sep T 27 Sep W 28 Sep Th 29 Sep |
Problem set #7 DUE Discuss Problem set #8 DUE |
Acceleration due to
gravity (take data) |
|
M 3 Oct T 4 Oct W 5 Oct Th 6 Oct |
Problem set #9 DUE Discuss Problem set #10 DUE Discuss |
Acceleration due to
gravity (analyze data) also read App
III Least Squares Adjustment |
|
M 10 Oct T 11 Oct W 12 Oct Th 13 Oct |
Problem set #11 DUE Discuss Problem set #12 DUE |
Collisions and
momentum |
|
M 17 Oct T 18 Oct W 19 Oct Th 20 Oct |
Problem set #13 DUE Discuss Problem set #14 DUE Discuss |
|
|
M 24 Oct T 25 Oct W 26 Oct Th 27 Oct |
Problem set #15 DUE Discuss Ch. 11, Gravity, Set #16
available Mid-term review Mid Term Exam Chs. 1-10
Kinematics |
Static Equilibrium and Torques Torques |
|
M 31 Oct T 1 Nov W 2 Nov Th 3 Nov |
Go over Mid-term Discuss Problem set #16 DUE |
Simple Harmonic Motion
and Hooke's Law |
|
M 7
Nov T 8
Nov W 9
Nov Th 10 Nov |
Problem set #17 DUE Discuss Ch.14, Oscillations, Set
#19av. Problem set #18 DUE Discuss Ch. 15 Waves, Set #20
available |
No Labs this week:
Veterans Day: Friday |
|
M
14 Nov T
15 Nov W
16 Nov Th 17 Nov |
Problem set #19 DUE Discuss Problem set #20 DUE |
|
|
M
21 Nov T
22 Nov W
23 Nov Th 24 Nov |
Problem set #21 DUE Discuss Problem set #22 DUE No
Classes. Thanksgiving. Set
#24 av. |
No Labs: Thanksgiving Week |
|
M 28
Nov T
29 Nov W
30 Nov Th 1 Dec |
Problem set #23 DUE Discuss Ch. 20, Thermal prop's. Set #25 av. Problem set #24 DUE |
Specific Heat and Calorimetry, |
|
M 5 Dec T 6 Dec W 7 Dec Th 8 Dec |
Problem set #25 DUE Discuss Ch. 19, 2'nd law of
thermo, entropy Review for final exam Review and Something fun |
No Labs this week |
|
FINAL EXAM: Monday 12 Dec : Fisher Lecture Hall 255 (sections 1-4), 275 (sections 5-9) GOOD LUCK! |