Physics 124          General Physics I                   Fall Semester 2009       Syllabus

Instructor:  Dr. Brian M. Davies
Instructor's office:  Currens 532 (top floor, NW corner)
Phone:  309-298-1307             Office Hours:  MWThF 11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Instructor's e-mail address:  BM-Davies (at) wiu.edu
Instructor’s web page:  http://frontpage.wiu.edu/~bmd111/ 

Required textbook:  "College Physics", Wilson, Buffa, and Lou, 6th edition.  (The CD is not needed, but leave it in the book if you get it.) 

Laboratory manual:  “Physics 124 Lab Manual”, available in the University Union Bookstore 

Wilson/Buffa Companion website:  http://www.aw-bc.com/wilson/ 

Class Schedule:
Lecture:  M W F 10:00 – 10:50 a.m., Room:  Currens 205
Discussion sections:  Tues. 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. or 11:00 – 11:50 a.m., Room:  Currens 336
Laboratory sections:  Wed. 3:00 – 4:50 p.m. or Thurs. 10:00 – 11:50 a.m. or 1:00 – 2:50 p.m. or 3:00 – 4:50 p.m.,
                                    Room:  Currens 302 or 314 (alternates between these two rooms; see schedule below)

Course Objective: To introduce the student to basic concepts in mechanics: motion, equilibrium, work and energy, rotational motion, fluid motion, thermodynamics, vibrations, waves, and sound. Principles and problem solving techniques will be emphasized, and reinforced in the laboratory session.

ADA policy: “In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation.  For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s), you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Support Services and provide it to the instructor.  It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students.  Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency.  Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.”

Point Breakdown:
4 exams 16 % each, for a total of 64%
Homework sets 16 % (with each graded problem equally weighted)
10 Laboratory exercises 2 % each for a total of 20%

Assignment of Grades:
A    100% - 85 + 5%
B    85 + 5% - 75 + 5%
C    75 + 5% - 65 + 5%
D    65 + 5% - 55 + 5%

The exact cutoff for letter grades will be determined so that small differences in points will not change letter grades.  You must pass the lab part of the course to pass the entire course.  The labs are cooperative with your lab partners, but the homework is competitive, and is to be done primarily by you.  Homework is due at the beginning of the discussion section on Tuesday morning.  Homework assignments will be posted at:  http://frontpage.wiu.edu/~bmd111/phys124homework.html.  Late homework will lose 20% of the possible points for each day it is late.  Late homework can only be turned in during class, during lab, or to the folder by my office door, Currens 532.  Please do not give homework sets or late lab reports to the secretary in the Physics office. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities:  Please see this web page:  http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students/

 

Physics 124     General Physics I       Fall Semester 2009                Class Schedule

Lecture               Content

1                       Chapter 1   Measurement and Problem Solving
2, 3, 4               Chapter 2   Kinematics: Description of Motion
5, 6, 7, 8           Chapter 3   Motion in Two Dimensions
9, 10, 11, 12     Chapter 4   Force and Motion

Exam 1         September 23 (Ch. 1-4)

13, 14, 15         Chapter 5   Work and Energy
16, 17, 18         Chapter 6   Linear Momentum and Collisions
19, 20               Chapter 7   Circular Motion and Gravitation
21, 22, 23         Chapter 8   Rotational Motion and Equilibrium

Exam 2         October 21 (Ch. 5-8)

24, 25, 26         Chapter 9   Solids and Fluids
27, 28, 29         Chapter 10  Temperature and Kinetic Theory
30, 31, 32         Chapter 11  Heat

Exam 3         November 13 (Ch. 9-11)

33, 34, 35         Chapter 12  Thermodynamics
36, 37, 38         Chapter 13  Vibrations and Waves
39, 40, 41         Chapter 14  Sound

Final Exam   December 14,  10 a.m.   (Ch. 12-14)

 

Physics 124     General Physics I       Fall Semester 2009                Laboratory Schedule

Date                Lab number    Title of Laboratory Exercise                                                 Room

Aug. 26-27      Lab 1               Introduction to Linear Motion                                                   (314)
Sept. 2-3          Lab 2               Freely Falling Bodies and Graphical Analysis                             (314)
Sept. 9-10        Lab 3               Force Table and the Addition of Vectors                                   (302)
Sept. 16-17      Lab 4               Force Transducer and Newton’s Second Law                          (314)
Sept. 23-24                              No Lab
Sept. 30 Oct. 1 Lab 5              Motion Detector, Force Sensor, Work, and Energy                  (314)
Oct. 7-8           Lab 6               Impulse-Momentum and Conservation of Momentum                (314)
Oct. 14-15       Lab 7               Torque, Equilibrium, and Center of Gravity                                (302)
Oct. 21-22                               No Lab
Oct. 28-29       Lab 8               Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy                                         (302)
Nov. 4-5                                  No Lab
Nov. 11-12      Lab 9               Thermal Coefficient of Linear Expansion                                    (302)
Nov. 18-19                              No Lab
Nov. 25-26                              No Lab (Fall Recess)
Dec. 2-3          Lab 10             Spring Force and Simple Harmonic Motion                               (314)
Dec. 9-10                                Makeup lab (a maximum of one makeup lab is allowed)