Syllabus for Physics 253 Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics
Fall Semester, 2011
Section 2: MWF 9:00 – 9:50, FR 144
TLC: MWF 12:00 – 12:50, DH 116
Instructor: Dr. Suzanne Willis
Office: Faraday Hall 218
815-753-6481
Office Hours: Daily 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, and by appointment
Course Textbook: Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics (4th edition)
Author: Giancoli
You can buy either the two-volume edition (Volume 1 for PHYS 253 and Volume 2 for PHYS 273) – this will cost more in total but the books don’t weigh as much – or the one-volume edition which covers both PHYS 253 and PHYS 273 and is very heavy.
Coverage:
Introduction, Measurement, Estimating: Chapter 1
Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension: Chapter 2
Kinematics in Two or Three Dimensions; Vectors: Chapter 3 (including dot product, Chapter 7.2, and cross product, Chapter 11.2)
Exam 1, Chapters 1-3 (including 7.2 and 11.2): Friday, Sept. 16
Dymanics: Newton’s Laws of Motion: Chapter 4
Using Newton’s Laws: Friction, Circular Motion, Drag Forces: Chapter 5
Gravitation and Newton’s Synthesis: Chapter 6
Exam 2, Chapters 4-6: Wednesday, Oct. 5
Rotational Motion through Moments of Inertia: Chapter 10.1 – 10.7
Work and Energy: Chapter 7
Conservation of Energy: Chapter 8
Exam 3, Chapter 10.1 – 10.7, Chapters 7 and 8: Monday, Oct. 31
Linear Momentum: Chapter 9
Rotational Kinetic Energy and Rolling: Chapter 10.8 – 10.10
Angular Momentum; General Rotation: Chapter 11
Oscillations: Chapter 14
Final Exam, Chapters 9, 10.8 – 10.10, 11, 14 and comprehensive (according to the exam schedule, http://www.reg.niu.edu/regrec/dates/fall/standardexams.shtml; exams take place in the regular classroom):
Section 2: Wed. December 7, 8-9:50 am, FR 144
TLC: Monday, Dec. 5, 12:00 – 1:50 pm, DH 116
Homework assignments and their due dates will be posted on Blackboard. Please note that late homework will not be accepted.
There will be interactive exercises during class, and these will count towards your grade.
You will be encouraged to form small study groups. You may work on your homework with your study group, although you should each submit your own solutions. You may also do the in-class work with your study group, so be sure to sit together.
All exams are closed book, and closed notes. Calculators will be allowed for exams; you should have a scientific calculator that is not a graphing calculator or part of another device such as a smart phone. If you have questions about your calculator please ask the professor.
Grading:
Lecture grade:
Homework 10%
In-class exercises 20%
Exams 1, 2, and 3 15% each
Final exam 25%
Lecture grade will make up 75% of the final grade
Lab will make up 25% of the final grade. YOU MUST PASS THE LAB IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE. Your lab TA will have details about grading the lab portion of the course.
Details about the labs can be found here: http://www.niu.edu/willis/phys_253_labs.shtml
There are Physics Tutors available in Faraday Hall Room 251
Disabilities
If you have specific physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), located on the 4th floor of the University Health Service, 753-1303.
Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct is defined in the Student Code of Conduct as receipt or transmission of unauthorized aid on assignments or examinations, plagiarism, unauthorized use of examination materials, or other forms of dishonesty in academic matters. Sanctions vary; the instructor has the right to impose sanctions up to assigning a grade of F for the course.
Make life easier on all of us – don’t cheat! If you do, I will not overlook it. If you need help with anything, please ask.