Great Basin College
PAHRUMP VALLEY CENTER
PHYSICS 100-1007 (91207)
George Sausman, Instructor
Fall 2012
SYLLABUS
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
Catalog Description:
This is a conceptual Physics course. It is for development of a basic knowledge of the classical principles of physics including mechanics, matter, electricity, magnetism, heat, and sound. It will include an introduction to modern physics, with sections on electromagnetic studies of light, heat and microwaves, relativity and nuclear physics. This is a three (3) credit class.
Prerequisites: Completion of Math 96 or a satisfactory score in Accupalcer, ACT, or Sat that would have resulted in placement in Math 120.
Required Materials:
Text: Conceptual Physics, 11th Ed. Hewitt, P.G., Addison Wesley, 2010 (includes workbook)
ISBN 9780321568090 (Older editions including 8th, 9th, or 10th with workbooks may be used.) Scientific Calculator and Lab Notebook
Days, Times and Location of Classes: The class will be conducted on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm, in classroom PVC 121.
Additional instructor information: Office hours: Before class, by appointment only
E-mail and a phone number will be provided at the first class session.
Method of Instruction: The material will be presented in lecture form and with lab demonstrations by the instructor or aides. Questions are encouraged and time will be spent in-class on explanations of questions and answers.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course the student will be able to understand, from a conceptual perspective, a wide range of scientific subjects commonly identified as being within the discipline of physics. The student will also be able to use mathematics to demonstrate physical relationships in nature within these subjects.
These subjects and processes are:
· Scientific measurements and methods;
· A limited history of physics and the role of mathematics in the explanation of physics;
· Newtonian mechanics;
· Atomic nature of matter;
· Atomic structure and quantum description
· Simple thermodynamics, convection, conduction and radiation heat transfer;
· Sound vibration and its similarity and difference to electromagnetic vibration;
· Electrical charge, Ohm’s law and the basics of resistance, voltage, current and circuits;
· Magnetic fields and forces and the relation of electric currents and magnetic fields;
· Electromagnetic waves including light, color, heat, microwave, ultraviolet, radar, X-rays;
· Nuclear fission and fusion, and current studies in subatomic particle developments;
· Special theory of relativity, time dilation and length contraction, mass and energy.
Assessment of learning outcomes:
Assessments will come from the following:
Homework 20%
Tests 40%
Labs 20 %
Term paper 10 %
Final exam 10%
Tests and final exam: Tests will consist of two parts. The first part will be an in-class, closed book test that will take about 30 to 45 minutes. The second part will be a take-home due at the next class session. Make-up tests will be allowed only under special circumstances coordinated by the instructor.
Labs: There will be four (4) in-class labs conducted by the instructor with assistance from outside the class. The lab titles are listed in the schedule on page 4.
Term paper: A term paper is required. It must be written in MLA format for research papers with a citation page. The use of various internet sites must be avoided. Contact with the GBC English Tutor is recommended. The subjects may include people, such as scientists, engineers, inventors or individuals that have influenced the world of science. They may also include subjects such as physics and health, power generation, aviation and the use of science to further the advancement of research and work in the field of climate change. This matter will be discussed in class sessions and the paper is due by the 20th session. Because of the long lead time given, late papers will not be accepted.
Grade assignment: A 90% to 100%
B 80% to 89%
C 70 % to794%
D 60% to 69%
F Less than 60%
Attendance: A sign-in sheet will be available in the classroom and students will be required to sign in at each class session.
Academic Dishonesty: I, personally, will not tolerate cheating. Additionally, the University and Community College System of Nevada expressly forbids all forms of academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to, all forms of cheating, copying, and plagiarism. Students who are discovered cheating will be assigned zero points for the course, and will be brought to the GBC Academic Officers for prosecution. Use of cell phones during class is not allowed and use during testing will be considered cheating. There will be no exceptions.
Tentative Schedule/ Fall 2012
SCHEDULE
Session Chapters(1) Homework Exercises(2) Homework Problems(2)
1 1 and 2 Ch.2: 12, 17, 23, 24, 38 2, 4
2 3 Ch.3: 4, 11, 22, 25, 30, 32 1, 2, 4
3 3
4 4 Ch.4: 4, 7, 14, 28, 30, 44, 53 2, 3, 4, 6
5 4 Lab1, Determination for value of “g”
6 7 Ch.7: 2, 6, 11, 15, 20, 27, 45, 47, 63 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
7 7
8 11, Test 1(3) Ch.11: 14-18, 21, 24, 27, 28, 30
9 11, 32
10 12 Ch.12: 6, 9, 12, 25, 29 1,3,4,6
11 12
12 13 Ch.13: 11, 14, 15, 29,37,56 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
13 13, 14, Lab 2, Density
14 14 Ch. 14: 3, 9, 16, 20, 47, 51 1, 4, 5
15 15, Test 2 Ch. 14: 2, 9, 11, 21, 42, 57 1, 2, 3
16 15
17 19 Ch. 19: 7, 9, 15, 17, 21, 35, 44 2, 3, 4, 6
18 19
19 20 Ch. 20: 6, 7, 8, 20, 36, 43, 48, 49 1, 3, 4, 7
20 20, Lab 3, Speed of Sound
21 22, Ch. 22: 2, 3, 8, 17, 24, 28, 31, 50, 54 1, 6, 7
22 22, Test 3
23 23 Ch. 23: 3, 15, 16, 22, 29, 46, 50, 51 1, 4, 5, 6, 8
24 23, Lab 4 Ohm’s Law
25 24 Ch. 24: 9, 14, 27, 32, 38
26 26, Test 4 Ch. 26: 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 43 5, 7, 8
27, 27 Ch. 27: 1, 4, 12, 17, 18, 26, 29
28 33, 34 Ch.33: 2, 9, 23, 31, 48 1, 3
Ch. 34: 1, 7, 16
Finals Week Final Exam
Special Note: The material in this syllabus borrows heavily from similar materials generated by Dr. J. Mutton and Dr. G. Hanington.
Genera Notes: All of the scheduled homework exercises and problems are subject to change as the class semester evolves. When changes to the homework are made, they will be done in writing, as a modification to the syllabus, by the instructor.
(1): The scheduled chapter will be discussed during the session shown in the above list. Your greatest success will occur when you have read the chapter(s) before the session.
(2): The exercises and problems will be collected for credit each week. No late material will be accepted without a discussion with the instructor for any reason.
(3): The material for each test will only include chapters already given in lecture.
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