General Physics 1

(PHYS-001, CRN: 52496)

Lectures & recitation: MTWR: 8:30 am-12:30 noon, in TKH#103;

Webpage of the course: http://silvinagatica.com/howard/phys001.html
Instructor: Silvina Gatica sgatica @ howard.edu; Office hours: MTWR, 1:00-2:00 pm, TKH#101, 806-6253
Laboratory work: F: 8:30 am-12:00 noon, in TKH#304.

Textbook (required): J.D. Cutnell & K.W. Johnson (6th ed)

Component

Time

Remark

% of Grade

Homework

See below

Late HW = 0 credit !!!

20%

Weekly Tests (5)

See below

current material

40%

Laboratory work

See below

Late report = 0 credit !!!

20%

Final exam

Thursday August 10^th 10am to 12

comprehensive

20%

This is the first of two parts of a course the aim of which is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the scientific description of Nature. This first part will cover: measurement; kinematics; forces, work and energy; harmonic motion; fluids, temperature and heat; waves and sound. Conceptual understanding rather than technical mastery is emphasized, although problem-solving skills will also developed.

A successful student is expected to demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the fundamental principles of physics, but also to demonstrate and maintain the ability to solve practical problems involving physics phenomena.

Topical schedule:

Measurements, Mathematics and Kinematics: §1-3

Newton's Laws, Forces, Work, Energy and Momentum:§4-7

Rotational and Simple Harmonic Motion:§8-10

Fluids and Heat:§11-13

Ideal Gasses, Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics:§14–15

Waves, Sound and Their Interference:§16–17

Day-to-day schedule: Students are required to read ahead (except for day 1)

July

5 W: Introductory Matters. Introduction and Mathematical Concepts, §1

6 R:          Kinematics in One Dimension, §2
7 F:          Kinematics in Two Dimensions, §3
10 M:       Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion, §4
11 T:        Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion, §5

12 W:      Work and Energy, §6
13 R:        Impulse and Momentum, §7
14 F:        Lab 1

17 M:       Review and Weekly Test #1 (§1-7)
18 T:        Rotational Kinematics, §8
19 W:      Rotational Dynamics, §9
20 R:        Simple Harmonic Motion and Elasticity, §10
21 F:        Lab 2       (LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COURSE)

24 M:       Review and Weekly Test #2 (§8-10)
25 T:        Fluids, §11
26 W:      Temperature and Heat, §12
27 R:        The Transfer of Heat, §13
28 F:        Lab 3

31 M: Review and Weekly Test #3 (§11-13)
August

1 T:          The Ideal Gas Law and Kinetic Theory, §14
2 W:         Thermodynamics, §15
3 R:          Waves and Sounds, §16
4 F:          Lab 4

7 M: Review and Weekly Test #4 (§14-16)

8 T: The Principle of Linear Superposition, and Interference Phenomena, §17
9 W: Final Review

Homework assignments

All homework assignments are due in class, at 8:30 AM on the day after the corresponding chapter has been covered in class. Late homework will not be accepted, except in cases of proven emergency. Show your work/calculation/justification; mere numerical answers will warrant no credit. It is recommended that the students team-up for group-study, ideal for working on the homework problems. In addition, you are strongly recommended to:

1. follow through as many worked examples as you can;

2. attempt to answer as many conceptual questions as you can;

3. work out as many end-of-section problems, additional problems and group problems as you can;

discuss as many as possible of these with your colleagues in class.

Labs

Lab instructor: TBA

A separate lab syllabus will be distributed at the first lab session, on 07/14/06. The lab manuals are available on-line (you will need a PDF file viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Collaboration and resource policy
Collaboration --but not blind copying-- on the homework assignments is strongly encouraged; students should use this to learn from each other. All exams and tests are closed-text and closed-notes multiple-choice tests; no collaboration is allowed on these; by submitting the exams and tests, the student agrees to have abided by this policy. Violation of this policy is covered under the University regulations on academic dishonesty and cheating.

Coursework presentation and organization
While a neat presentation of home,- test,- lab- and exam-work is not required for full credit, it certainly makes it easier to assess the quality of the work and give the proper credit due. In all cases, include a simple sketch if it might help conveying the approach or the calculations. As appropriate, include all units and all symbols such as signs, operation symbols, arrows on a vector, vertical bars for the absolute value of a quantity and the magnitude of a vector, etc.

Homework: Submitted answer sheets should be stapled in the top-left corner. The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page. Solutions should be labeled and ordered consecutively by the chapter/problem numbers. Include all calculation/work and give full reference to any result quoted from any source other than the text, and page/equation number for results quoted from the text. All homework assignments will be graded and returned to the individual students.

Weekly tests: The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page. All tests will be graded and returned to the individual students.

Final exam: All exam questions are given on a question sheet and include the detailed point distribution and the place to write in the Student's full name and ID number. The final exams are stored by the instructor, but are available to the individual student for review and photocopy after the exam; no detailed solutions will be provided.

ADA disclaimer

Howard University is committed to providing an educational environment that is accessible to all students. In accordance with this policy, students in need of accommodations due to a disability should contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Records, Denise L. Spriggs (202) 806-8006), for verification and determination of reasonable accommodations as soon as possible after admission to the Law School, or at the beginning of each semester.