This web syllabus includes more detail than the printed version.
You are taking this class because you want a professional career as an engineer, computer scientist, or in a physical or earth science. I will help you develop the critical-thinking (problem-solving) skills, attitude, and physics knowledge those professions expect you to have when you leave my classroom. (Some of them will expect you to remember parts of it for the rest of your life.) This is a four credit course that meets five hours per week. The main topics covered are classical mechanics, gravity, waves, oscillations, and thermodynamics. We learn something from every chapter in the textbook. |
Course Prerequisites:
You need to know pre-calc and trigonometry at a level that corresponds
roughly to a "B" in those courses, but there will be a 1-day review of
vectors from trig. Other than that, there is little review of basic
material you are expected to know from prior trig or algebra classes.
You must be currently enrolled in MAC2311 (Calculus I) and
PHY2048L (physics lab) or have earned a "C" in those courses.
Satisfactory completion of ENC0020 and REA0002 or the appropriate
placement scores are also prerequisites because problems must be read
and report writing is very important in the lab.
Calculus will be used.
(See separate page for details on the
introduction and use of calculus in this course.)
|
A "C" is not enough?
If you did not get a B or better in Trig and Pre-Calc you should not take Physics I at the same time as Calc I. Students who pass MAC2311 despite a C in pre-calc or trig usually know enough to have a fighting chance to pass physics but may struggle in MAC2312 while taking physics. Look here for some statistics. Look here or here for more detailed advice. I will assume you can apply the core concepts and methods of algebra and trigonometry, as will your calculus instructor. My quick review of topics in mathematics will be limited to geometry and the specific vector notation used in this course. |
Class meeting times:
Ref. no. 75328 --
MTWRF 10:10-11:00 in SMA 140
Final exam:
Ref. no. 75328 --
Thursday, April 29,
from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon in SMA 140.
No exceptions.
No early, late, or makeup final is allowed by college policy.
Plan ahead. This is a cumulative final.
Required Textbook:
Essential University Physics, Volume 1,
first edition, by Richard Wolfson
(Pearson Education/Addison-Wesley, 2007).
Catalog Description:
Prerequisite or corequisite: MAC2311.
Prerequisite:
Satisfactory completion of College Preparatory English (ENC 0020) and
College Preperatory Reading (REA 0002) or appropriate placement score.
Corequisite: PHY 2048L.
Physics with calculus for students who plan to major in a physical science,
engineering, or related fields.
Topics include mechanics, gravitation, fluids, waves, and thermodynamics.
Calculus is used. Lecture: 4 hours. Recitation: 1 hour.
Additional fee.
The course objectives are summarized at the very top of the syllabus. An extremely detailed list of the course learning objectives from the master syllabus for this course is available on the division web site.
Instructor: Dr. James Carr
Office: SM 290
(east wing, convenient to stairs opposite SM 137)
Office phone: 201-8971 (includes voice mail)
(Division office phone is 201-8499)
E-mail:
carrj@tcc.fl.edu (regular)
or
carrj@tccfl (in LON-CAPA)
Office hours:
MWF 11:30-noon, TW 1:30-3:00 pm,
MWR 3:00-4:30pm, (M and W in the Learning Commons),
MW 7:00-8:00pm.
See schedule outside my office
or on the web
for current official office hours.
Changes will be announced in class. Other times by appointment.
I am "around" when not in class, but some days I may need to leave the office
early to set things up for a class or oversee the labs
(check for note on the door saying where I am).
Individual Help:
Office hours are first-come, first-served
for students in both 2048 and 2049.
I monitor the discussion areas in LON-CAPA, and will sometimes comment.
Individual help is available via "COM" e-mail within LON-CAPA,
but not at the last minute.
Use regular TCC e-mail to make appointments or leave messages of a
critical nature, such as emergencies.
Class web site: faculty.tcc.fl.edu/scma/carrj/phy2048.html
The class web site provides a "diary" of what is happening in class
plus links to other resources.
Special Academic Alert for future engineers: |
Important:
Because of the complexity of the material you are learning,
regular attendance and regular preparation are especially
important in this class. Every day matters.
ATTENDANCE:
You are expected to attend all classes.
(See the Tallahassee Community College Catalog for details, including
the few specific cases where an absence is excused and you are
allowed to make up the missed work. I will make some additional
accommodations if we experience a flu epidemic this year.)
Missing class might explain your poor performance, but it is not an excuse
for poor performance. I expect you to behave like the responsible
professionals you plan to become.
I will administratively withdraw any student who is absent for the
first 2 weeks of the semester, as determined by turning in a student
information sheet. I will not drop anyone else because of poor
attendance. If you cannot complete the semester, it is your responsibility
to withdraw from the course by March 26 or risk earning an F.
If you withdraw from this course, I strongly suggest that you
stay in PHY2048L but you need the lab instructor's permission
followed by an override from the Dean of Science and Math to do so.
Details on how to stay in the lab: |
Details on my AW policy:
I strictly enforce the college attendance requirement only during the
first two weeks of the semester. A student who did not fill out an info sheet
on the first day of class will be dropped if s/he misses the first 10 days
of class. If you "attend" but do not respond to my request for you to fill
out an information sheet at the start of class (whether I call your name
at the start of class or not), you will still be considered absent.
Your grade will be determined on a straight scale,
with 65% coming from 5 hour exams, 15% from homework and quizzes,
and 20% from the cumulative final exam. No makeup exams.
* I will replace the lowest exam score (or a missing exam) with
your % score from the final exam.
GRADING SCALE:
90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, below 60 = F.
Note: You must pass the final exam to earn an A in the course.
A side comment: You might be interested in the Official TCC Grading Policy. I will make the observation that the people who require that you pass this class before enrolling in a particular major expect you to be able to satisfy condition number 5 for earning an A (apply subject matter in new situations) because that is how physics is used in engineering and the other sciences.
Exams: Each of the five hour exams counts 13% toward your grade. Bring pencils, an eraser, a straightedge (a spare pencil may do), and a basic scientific calculator to the exams. There is no need to bring your book or notes on exam days. See the schedule on page 4 of the print syllabus and on the course home page. The exams are hard.
CALCULATORS:
Your calculator must be able to evaluate log and trig functions,
but only basic scientific calculators (ones without alphanumeric
storage capabilities) are allowed. Graphing is not necessary,
and you are not allowed to use most graphing calculators
(such as the TI-83, TI-84, TI-85, TI-89, TI-92, or similar calculators).
(See separate page for details.)
The TI-83 can be used in the lab, however.
Three things contribute to your homework grade: (1) Problems assigned and graded using the LON-CAPA system, where you submit your answers over the web. (2) Quizzes, which can be worth 5 to 10 points. (3) Turn-in homework problems, which are worth 4 to 5 points each. See the schedule in the print syllabus, but watch LON-CAPA for updates. Your total (which is usually around 300 points, with most of the points from LON-CAPA problems) will be scaled to a maximum of 100 points after allowing 7% for possible absences.
LON-CAPA (computer assisted homework):
Each problem is worth one point if it is answered correctly before the
strictly enforced deadline. A page in the print syllabus outlines some
key features of the system, but the web resources include
detailed information on using LON-CAPA.
I encourage collaborative study groups for CAPA work. Collaboration
means sharing ideas on the best method for solving the problem, not
just plugging your numbers into a formula copied from someone else.
Quizzes:
There might be some short quizzes or exercises.
Bring your calculator every day.
Turn-in homework:
You get credit for a serious attempt at the problem if you show
adequate work that is neat, clear, and professional.
Late work is penalized 1 or more points per day.
Present the problems in the order of the assignment with
the pages stapled together in the upper left hand corner.
Use only one side of 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
Make graphs on graph paper or by computer.
Box your final answer.
Put your name on the top of page 1 (where I put your grade).
Fold your homework assignment lengthwise with your name on the
outside under the staple.
Points are deducted for sloppy or hard-to-grade work as well as major
errors or omissions or obvious copying.
Most of your homework will be assigned and graded using the LON-CAPA system (Learning Online Network with Computer Assisted Personalized Approach), where you get your assignment from a web page and submit your answers over the web (the CAPA part) and also have access to some additional learning tools (the LON part), which are in addition to the resources and information on my course website. That is why this course is web assisted. This is not a minor detail. If you cannot or do not use it, your course grade will be reduced by about 10% (one full letter grade).
Go to loncapa.tcc.fl.edu or use the "LON-CAPA" button on the course home page. Login information is in the print syllabus, and an example in a pdf document is included on the page linked below.
Click here for notes on using LON-CAPA.
The important thing about LON-CAPA is that each student gets a different version of a problem. (I also get one, which I will use when asked about a problem in class or to give a detailed solution after the problem set is due.) I encourage collaborative study groups for LON-CAPA work. You should discuss concepts and methods for solving problems. The best kind of learning takes place when you teach each other, explaining your attack on a problem. No learning takes place if someone simply tells you what formula to use to calculate the correct answer of if you simply follow an example in the book. You will get one point towards your homework total and lose 10 or 20 points when you can't do it on an exam. Be sure you know how to do each problem, and can do a different version (like one assigned to a friend in class) without looking at your notes.
One reason for the length of this web version of the syllabus is so I can include details and explanations that I give verbally in class, thus documenting what students might not have in their notes.
Homework is due at the beginning of the class period on the date given on the assignment sheet included in the syllabus. The days that homework is due are circled on the class calendar handed out with the print syllabus. These dates are also indicated in the "unit" pages on the web, which will be updated if there are any changes.
You should be doing at least 3-5 problems every day because I assign several problems from each day's reading assignment. It is extremely important that you keep up with the homework, looking at problems as soon as they are assigned (about a week before they are do), and working them as soon as that topic is covered (one to two days before they are due). Pay attention to the schedule and start early so you have time to ask for help if needed and won't have to worry if a computer crashes just before the final LON-CAPA deadline.
Late penalties for turn-in homework vary. If the problem is worked in class, any paper turned in after I have done the problem will lose 2 points. These problems are now the smallest part of your homework grade, but they are your best tool to see if your careful solution is what I expect so you can practice what you will need to do on exams.
The LON-CAPA problems are considered due at the start of class, but the actual closing time for the assignment is late at night (usually around midnight). What this means is that a system or network failure that occurs during the day or in the early evening on campus will result in an extension of the due date, but you are responsible if some other network or phone line goes down or if the system crashes within an hour of the due date. I will need to know about any problem (via e-mail to my TCC e-mail account) ASAP because I will only shift the due-date if it can be done before the "answer" time for the assignment, which is normally about 10 AM the next day.
The "recitation" component of the course is not associated with a separate small class session. Instead, I use the days that homework is due as the time for discussion of any problems you might have with the assignment. Since you won't know if you have any questions if you have not tried them, my expectation is that you will have tried all of the problems before you come to class on the day they are due. I will not work all of the problems, but I will answer questions about them, including ones that might have come up in the "discussion" area. (Since I can see what problems are giving students trouble, I might take it up a day or more before it is due.) I will not answer the same question twice; you are expected to be in class every day.
The other "recitation" component is the use of a quiz or in-class active exercise or worksheet. Some might be at the start of class, to check on your reading or as a way to jump-start a discussion. Others will be at the end of class, as a way to check if you have grasped key problems from the homework that are like those on an exam.
The problems I ask you to turn in on paper are generally from the textbook, but they could include the setup of a CAPA problem. These problems are graded to be sure your solution methods are consistent with what I will require on quiz and exam problems. For these I will give credit for a serious attempt at the problem if you show adequate work that is neat, clear, and professional, I allow late HW because my reason for grading the homework is to spot potential difficulties before they cost you many points on an exam, so I want you to turn it in even if you turn it in a day late. I take off points for unprofessional work because I want to encourage you to present your work in a way that prepares you to achieve your career goals.
Please note that I expect your final answer to be accurate to three or four significant figures, whereas LON-CAPA will often tolerate answers that are slightly off in the 3rd sig fig. I will mark off for inaccurate answers on exams.
Copying is a waste of both my time and yours, since you cannot benefit from my comments if it is someone else's solution. It is also a violation of the TCC Honor Code.
I strongly suggest that you do more problems than just those assigned for credit, although you should limit yourself to ones that are similar to the ones assigned in class. I will sometimes make suggestions. The odd numbered ones have answers in the back of the book, and some (marked SSM in the text) have a solution in the student solutions manual, a copy of which is in the physics study room within the Math Lab (DH 225). The conceptual questions at the start of each problem set are particularly good to review your understanding of the topic.
Course Overview:
The way in which you should organize your knowledge of physics
is a bit different from the way we must present the material.
Key ideas like conservation of energy cannot be introduced
until we have the tools needed to define a quantity like work
and derive the work-energy theorem, but energy and its conservation
is one of the central organizing principles of physics - which is
why it leads my list below. If you pay attention to
items 1 and 6 of my study suggestions,
you will have one page of equation notes for each exam and refine
them into something like this structure for the final exam and
future reference.
I used to include two pages of the key equations in the syllabus, but I seldom saw it used. I now make those pages available as a pdf file here on the web, for those who might use it as a guide to organizing their working knowledge of physics.
Units and Measurement - Chapter 1, plus every other chapter in the book.
Vectors - Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12
Conservation of Energy – Chapters 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18.
Work, Potential Energy, and Power - Chapters 6, 7, also 8-4.
Conservation of Momentum – Chapters 9, 15.
Torque and Moment of Inertia - Chapters 10, 11.
Conservation of Angular Momentum – Chapter 11.
Uniform Linear Motion – Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5.
Uniform Circular Motion – Chapters 3, 5, 10, 11.
Statics – Chapters 4, 5, 10, 12.
Oscillations and waves – Chapters 13, 14.
Gravity – Chapters 8, 4, 6.
Fluid Mechanics – Chapter 15.
Thermodynamics – Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19.
Exam Schedule and Coverage:
Subject to change. Changes will be announced in class and on the web.
You may not use notes, a cell phone, or PDA, only a basic scientific calculator.
Exams are 50 minutes, but you can start 10-15 minutes
early if you need extra time.
The exact exam dates for your section are in your print syllabus, but you should also confirm them in class.
Exam 1: January 26 (Tuesday) – Sections 1.1 through 3.6
Exam 2: February 16 (Tuesday) – Sections 4.1 through 7.3
Midterm: March 4 (Thursday) – Sections 1.1 through 9.6
Exam 3: March 30 (Tuesday) – Sections 8.1 through 12.3
Exam 4: April 15 (Thursday) – Sections 13.1 through 17.3?
Final Exam: April 29 (Thursday at 10 AM) – Everything
The print syllabus contains a course calendar and a list of the (tentative) homework assignments for the semester. I do not give those here because they are already available dynamically in LON-CAPA. The LON-CAPA assignments are what they are, and other changes will be announced in a message posted on your LON-CAPA page and in class.
Contact me
if you have any questions.