INSTRUCTOR: |
Dr. Arlette Baljon, Office: P134, email: abaljon(at)mail.sdsu.edu |
TA: |
TA for class will be announced first day of class. Please make use of TA to get some great one-to-one instruction. |
WEBSITE: |
Blackboard will be used to post all information. Students are encouraged to use its discussion board to communicate with each other. |
TEXT: |
"Physics, for Scientists and Engineers" 6th edition, Serway and Jewett (Volume 1). We will cover Chapters 1-11, 13, and 15 (see exceptions below). Student solutions manual is recommended. It is also available on reserve in the library. |
PREREQUISITES: |
Math 150 and High School Physics (or Physics 107 or Physics 180a). These prerequisites will be enforced! Students without prerequisites will be dropped from the class roster by the instructor. If you believe that you are dropped by error please contact me ASAP. |
CONTENT: |
Newton’s equations of motion in one and two dimensions. Kinetic and potential energy. Energy conservation laws. Gravitation. Linear and angular momentum. Rotational motion and torque. Circular and oscillatory motion. (see exam schedule for details on material covered) |
LECTURES: |
In lectures I will clarify the book, present demonstrations, and show examples of how the theory is applied in physics and related fields. We will also solve several short problems. Lectures are not intended to introduce the material, nor will they cover all that you need to know. |
RECITAL SESSIONS: |
Recital (help) sessions are offered by the department for one additional unit of credit (P149). Please check with the department office on times and to sign up. |
LAB (195L): |
Physics is an experimental science. Many students benefit from a hands-on-approach. Besides large lecture classes the physics department offers small lab sessions that go hand-in-hand with the class. Students are urged to enroll in 195L concurrently. |
OFFICE HOURS: |
Dr. Baljon: Monday & Wednesday 2-3 pm, P134. |
HOMEWORK: |
Problem solving takes practice. Assigned homework is all problems in the student solution manual (squares around problem numbers). A detailed list will be posted on blackboard. Homework will not be graded. However midterm problems will be similar to assigned homework problems. You are encouraged to buy the student solutions manual. It contains an excellent discussion on problem solving and step-by-step solutions. You can also borrow it for a couple of hours from the library (reserve). Please make sure you do the homework problems as soon as we finish a chapter in class (as opposed to the night before the midterm). |
EXAMS: |
4 midterms and a final (see below). NO MAKE-UP EXAMS! All problems are multiple-choice. However you need to show your work so that I can see how you got to the answer. You need to bring a scantron, pencil, your red ID (to be placed on your desk), and a simple (non-programmable) calculator. ALL CELL PHONES HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF AND STORED AWAY. |
CLICKERS: |
We will use clicker technology to make lectures livelier. Clickers are small handheld devices used to foster interaction, active learning, and quick feedback for faculty and students. You are required to obtain a clicker as a learning resource (just like a required text). Use of your clicker is part of the course participation requirement. Most of you can reuse your clicker from previous courses. Else you must purchase one. You need to register your clicker via Blackboard prior to the Sept 10 class meeting, and bring your clicker to class on that day prepared to participate. More information on the registration process for your clicker can be found by going to http://clicker.sdsu.edu/student_start.html Students may not use other students' clickers; doing so is a violation of academic integrity. |
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: |
The goal of this course is to make you familiar, at the conceptual and basic problem-solving level, with the physics of macroscopic objects at rest, in motion. |
GRADES: |
You can earn 250 points total. The lowest of the four midterm scores will be dropped. The three others will be counted maximal 50 points each. The final exam will be 75 points max. Another 25 points can be earned for attendance and participation. You will earn these 25 points when you participate in at least 80% of the clicker questions (independent of the correctness of your answer). A lower level of participation will result in a lower participation score (prorated). Grades are related to the number of points earned as follows: A >90%, A- >85%, B+ >80%, B >75%, B- >70%, C+ >65%, C >60%, C- >55%, D+ >50%, D >45%, D- >40%, F below 40%. |
TIME SPENT: |
Plan to spend at least 9 hours/week on this 3-unit course (university policy). Moreover students with a weak background (weak high school physics course or low grade (D) in math 150) need to plan for 12-15 hours/week in order to succeed. Please plan accordingly. Most students that fail don’t spend enough time studying. Recital and lab courses are available to help you. These have small sections. |
ADD CODES: |
You need an add code to register after the semester starts. They can be obtained by emailing the instructor or during office hours (assuming seats are available). Please include your red ID number in the email. Also indicate where and when you passed the prerequisites (Math 150 and high school physics or equivalent). |