Section #: 652526
Class Time: MW 12:00PM -- 1:50PM
Room: 7/277
Instructor: Douglas H. Laurence
Office: 7/135
Office Hours: Here
For this course, you will be required to have the following materials:
- Textbook: University Physics, 14th edition, by Young and Freedman.
- MasteringPhysics: The homework for this class will be assigned through online software known as MasteringPhysics; specifically a new version called Modified MasteringPhysics. You can buy an access code for MasteringPhysics alone or you can buy it as a package with the textbook from the bookstore. Either way, you need a copy of the text and an access code for the homework. Read the "Homework" section below for information on MasteringPhysics.
- Scantrons: You will need 3 Scantron sheets for the three exams.
- Other Materials: A scientific calculator, not a graphing calculator or other type of programmable calculator, which will not be allowed on exams.
There are two more references I would recommend. For math, noting beats Paul's Online Math Notes, which provide an excellent review of all necessary math. For physics with calculus, MIT's Physics lectures from 1999, given by Walter Lewin, are the gold-standard for online lecture videos for physics. YouTube still has the videos uploaded, and a playlist for them can be found here. If you need more reference materials, feel free to ask me and I'll be more than happy to recommend additional sources.
During the semester, we will cover the following topics. Note that these topics are subject to change with notification by the professor.
- Mathematics review
- Motion and Kinematics
- Forces and Newtonian Mechanics
- Energy and Energy Physics
- Momentum and Collisions
- Rotational Mechanics
- Gravity
- Oscillations and Waves
- Thermodynamics
The exams will be multiple choice, containing 15-20 problems each. For each exam, you will need a Scantron sheet to fill in your answers; this means you need a total of 3 Scantron sheets for the class. The material covered on each exam is going to break down (roughly) as follows:
- Exam 1: Chapters 1 - 5
- Exam 2: Chapter 6 - 10
- Exam 3: Chapter 13 - 15, 17 - 20
- There will not be a comprehensive final exam for this course.
Make-up exams will not be offered in this course. Instead, if you have a legitimate emergency and cannot make it to the exam, I will replace your missed exam with the average of your other two exams. If you know ahead of time that you will have to miss an exam, please let me know in advance. Legitimate reasons to miss an exam are outlined in the Student Handbook for Broward College; any other reason is up to the discretion of the professor.
Homework will be assigned through MasteringPhysics, specifically the new version called Modified MasteringPhysics (course code: laurence94877), with roughly one assignment due each week, though it depends on how long a particular topic takes us to cover in class; you will be able to see the homework schedule through the MasteringPhysics website. To access MasteringPhysics, you must go to the following website: http://pearsonmylabandmastering.com. This website, speficically, offers a 2 week free trial for MasteringPhysics in case you need time to purchase your access code. You should watch this video on how to get started with MasteringPhysics.
While each homework assignment will vary in the number of questions asked, each assignment will be worth the same number of points, i.e. each homework assignment will be equally weighted. Some homework assignments which have a lot of subject matter to cover will have extra credit questions assigned. Each homework assignment will also be available for you to turn in late up to one-week after the due date, so even if you're running a bit late, make sure to turn it in! If, for any legitimate reason, you absolutely need an extension for your homework, please let me know before the due date of the homework, and I'll be happy to provide you a reasonable extension.
Tentative Course Schedule:
| WEEK | MONDAY | WEDNESDAY |
|---|---|---|
| August 19 | Introduction / Ch 1: Vectors | Ch 1: Vectors |
| August 26 | Ch 2: 1d Motion | Ch 2: 1d Motion |
| September 2 | Labor Day | Ch 3: 2d Motion |
| September 9 | Ch 3: 2d Motion | Ch 4: Newton's Laws |
| September 16 | Ch 5: Applying Newton's Laws | Ch 5: Applying Newton's Laws |
| September 23 | Exam 1 (Ch 1 - 5) | Ch 6: Work and Energy |
| September 30 | Ch 6: Work and Energy | Ch 7: Energy Conservation |
| October 7 | Ch 7: Energy Conservation | Ch 8: Momentum and Collisions |
| October 14 | Ch 8: Momentum and Collisions | Ch 9: Rotation of Rigid Bodies |
| October 21 | Ch 9: Rotation of Rigid Bodies | Ch 10: Rotational Dynamics |
| October 28 | Ch 10: Rotational Dynamics | Exam 2 (Ch 6 - 10) |
| November 4 | Ch 13: Gravitation | Ch 13: Gravitation |
| November 11 | Veteran's Day | Ch 14: Periodic Motion |
| November 18 | Ch 14: Periodic Motion | Ch 15: Mechanical Waves |
| November 25 | Ch 17 -- 20: Thermodnyamics | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| December 2 | Ch 17 -- 20: Thermodnyamics | Ch 17 -- 20: Thermodnyamics |
| December 9 | Exam 3 (Ch 13 - 15, 17 - 19) 12:30PM -- 2:20PM | End of Class |
*Blue days are days off, red days are exam dates
Grading Scheme:
| Homework | 25 points |
| Lowest-Graded Exam | 15 points |
| Mid-Graded Exam | 25 points |
| Highest-Graded Exam | 35 points |
| Total | 100 points |
|---|
Grading Sale:
| Letter Grade | Points Earned |
|---|---|
| A | 90.0 - 100.0 |
| B | 80.0 - 89.9 |
| C | 70.0 - 79.9 |
| D | 60.0 - 69.9 |
| F | < 60.0 |