Physics 200
Gustavus Adolphus College -- Fall 2004
Instructor: Dr. Charles F. Niederriter Office: Olin 211 933-7315
| Textbooks | Course Policy and Evaluation |
| Course Schedule | Links to Other Sites |
| Homework | Evaluation |
| Pictures from the Rocket Lab |
Textbooks: Physics For Scientists and Engineers, Serway and Jewett, Sixth Edition, (Saunders)
Recommended: Quick Calculus, by Kleppner and Ramsey (Wiley 1985). Strongly recommended for students who have not previously completed a college-level course sequence in differential and integral calculus with a grade of B- or better.
Study Guide for Physics for Scientists and Engineers, by Raymond A. Serway.
(This contains additional examples and problems)
1. Objectives: As the first class in the sequence for science and engineering students at Gustavus, this course shares several objectives with the rest of the physics program. It is hoped that when students have completed Classical Physics I they will have learned some basic problem solving skills, some computer and calculation skills, some quantitative and empirical reasoning skills, and, of course, some physics, specifically mechanics.
2. Expectations: : Students in Classical Physics I are expected to have a solid background in trigonometry (or pre-calculus) and algebra. They are also expected to be concurrently enrolled in Calculus I if they have not already successfully completed a college level course in it. The instructor will discuss the calculus involved in this course as necessary, but it is important that the students also see it in another course setting. In addition, all students are required to be concurrently enrolled in PHY201, Classical Physics I Laboratory.
3. Academic Honesty: The instructor is bound to abide by the College’s Honesty Policy and therefore must report all incidents of academic dishonesty (cheating, copying, etc.) to the Dean’s Office. In the spring of 2003, the College adopted an academic honesty policy and honor code system, which is printed in the Academic Bulletin and in the Gustavus Guide. All students will be required to abide by the policy and write the following honor code on every examination and graded ssignment:
"On my honor, I pledge that I have not given, received, nor tolerated others' use of unauthorized aid in completing this work."
Not all components of this course are subject to the Honor Code. The instructor will clearly identify to which items the Code applies. But the student is responsible for requesting clarification if necessary.
4. Learning Styles: Recognizing that students learn science in a variety of ways, the instructor will take advantage of many different techniques, including collaborative learning, to maximize the overall effectiveness of this course. Although collaborative efforts will be encouraged for solving in-class problems, assigned homework, labs, and some quizzes, they are not allowed for most quizzes and all exams. The instructor will make it clear which quizzes are to be group efforts and which are not to be.
5. Class Meetings and Reading Assignments: The class will meet five days a week (M-F) for lecture, discussion, homework review, quizzes, and exams. Quizzes and exams are indicated on the following schedule. The student will be responsible for reading the text before coming to class and completing the multiple choice questions.
6. Homework: Problems will be assigned on a weekly basis. Problems will be graded and returned to the student. Homework should be neat and orderly. Late homework will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor with some loss of points. In addition, there will be a brief writing assignment each week which will be turned in electronically.
7. Group Activities: A number of group activities, including problem solving and simulations, will be done throughout the semester. These activities will not be scheduled and may be used to test students' knowledge of old material or to introduce new material.
8. Attendance: Regular attendance at all lectures is expected and excessive absenteeism will result in some reduction of final grade.
9. Quizzes: There will be ten to fifteen minute quiz almost every week that there is no exam, as scheduled below.
10. Exams: There will be four one-hour exams and a two-hour final exam as scheduled below.
11. Missed Exams: Students are expected to arrange in advance to take an exam at other than the announced time. Permission to make up a missed exam after the fact will be at the discretion of the instructor
12. Incompletes: A grade of incomplete will be given only for work not completed due to circumstances beyond the control of the student.
13. Physics Tutors: Limited tutoring for this course will be available at times announced in the departmental tutoring schedule.
14. Office Hours, etc.: My scheduled office hours are 2nd hour every day. I will make every effort to be available during these times for individual assistance and advising. I will also be available at other times by appointment. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
15. Email: You may contact me by electronic mail; chuck@gac.edu. I will respond as soon as I can to any questions that you might have.
16. Evaluation:
| Quizzes 15% | Homework 20% |
| Group Problems & Participation 10% | Hour Exams 40% |
| Final Exam 15% |
| A 94 - 100 | A- 90 - 94 | B+ 86 - 90 | B 82 - 86 | B- 78 - 82 |
| C+ 74 - 78 | C 70 - 74 | C- 66 - 70 | D+ 62 - 66 | D 58 - 62 |
| F < 58 |
Assignment of final letter grades will also take into account the instructor's subjective evaluation of the student's attendance, initiative, class participation, preparation (particularly quantity and quality of homework), and evidence of improvement.
| Week Beginning | Chapter | Title | Reading Assignment |
| September 1 | Chapters 1 & 2 | Introduction & Motion in 1 D | Chapters 1 & 2 |
| September 8 | Chapters 2 & 3 | Vectors | Chapter 3 & 4 |
| September 10 | **** Quiz 1 on Chapters 1 & 2 *** | ||
| September 15 | Chapter 4 | Motion in Two Dimensions | Chapter 5 |
| September 19 | *** Exam 1 on Chapters 1 - 3 *** | ||
| September 22 | Chapter 5 | The Laws of Motion | Chapter 6 |
| September 24 | **** Quiz 2 on Chapter 4 *** | ||
| September 29 | Chapter 5 & 6 | Circular Motion etc. | Chapter 6 |
| October 6 | Chapters 6 | Circular Motion etc. . | Chapter 7 |
| October 7 & 8 | ** Nobel Conference - No Class ** | ||
| October 10 | **** Quiz 3 on Chapter 5 *** | ||
| October 13 | Chapter 7 | Work and Energy | Chapter 8 |
| October 16 | *** Exam 2 on Chapters 4 - 6 *** | ||
| October 17 - 20 | ***** Fall Break ****** | ||
| October 20 | Chapter 8 | Potential Energy etc. | Chapter 9 |
| October 24 | **** Quiz 4 on Chapter 7 *** | ||
| October 27 | Chapter 9 | Linear Momentum and Collisions | Chapter 10 |
| October 28 | **** Quiz 5 on Chapter 8 *** | ||
| November 3 | Chapter 10 | Rotation of a Rigid Body | Chapter 11 |
| November 6 | *** Exam 3 on Chapters 7 - 9 *** | ||
| November 10 | Chapter 11 | Rolling Motion, etc. | Chapter 12 |
| November 14 | **** Quiz 6 on Chapter 10 *** | ||
| November 17 | Chapter 12 | Static Equilibrium | Chapter 14 |
| November 21 | *** Quiz 7 on Chapter 11 *** | ||
| November 24 | Chapter 12 & 14 | Static Equilibrium & Gravity | Chapter 14 |
| Nov. 25 - 28 | ***** Thanksgiving Break ****** | ||
| December 1 | Chapter 14 | The Law of Universal Gravitation | Chapter 14 |
| December 3 | *** Exam 4 on Chapters 10 - 12 *** | ||
| December 8 | Chapter 14 | The Law of Universal Gravitation & Review | Review |
| December 11 | *** Quiz 8 on Chapter 14 *** | ||
| December 18 1:00 PM | *** Final Exam - Comprehensive *** |
