Physics 1110 Syllabus, Sp '04. Prof. Steven Pollock

Learning Goals: Physics 1110, General Physics 1, is the first semester of a three semester introductory calc-based sequence. Our goal is for you to learn to approach, solve, and understand a wide variety of physics problems on both qualitative and quantitative levels, and to relate "classroom physics" to the real world we live in. We will emphasize conceptual understanding along with problem solving skills. We will begin with a study of linear motion and mechanics (forces, masses and acceleration) associated with the world-changing ideas and discoveries of Galileo and Newton. We will learn that conservation laws (e.g. energy and momentum) provide a wonderful and powerful alternative for understanding physics and solving problems. We will continue with applications and extensions of these fundamentals, including e.g. rotational motion, vibrations, and waves.

(Click here for more details on our learning goals)

Corequisites: No explicit physics background is required. We assume decent working knowledge of basic algebra and trig (sin, cos, tan). You should take Calc I (MATH 1300/APPM 1350) in parallel.

The required textbooks
" Fundamentals of Physics (part I/II)", Halliday, Resnick, and Walker. ("HRW", 6th ed). This is the standard college physics text, with lots of verbal explanations and detailed worked out examples.

"Thinkwell Physics I", Steven Pollock. "Mini-lectures" on CD, that parallel the textbook. If you prefer listening to reading, Thinkwell can supplement or even replace some of the HRW book.

"Tutorials in Introductory Physics", McDermott. This 2-volume set is required for use in our recitations. (You must bring the tutorial books every Thursday, you'll be working out of them!)

"Clickers", All students in 1110 need to purchase an H-ITT clicker at the bookstore. These will be used in every lecture, and some clicker responses will count towards your grade.

READ ASSIGNED CHAPTERS BEFORE WE COVER THEM IN CLASS and go to lecture knowing what you understand and don't understand so that you can ask questions while we're still on the topic. The purpose of lecture is to clarify your understanding, to help you make sense of the material. If you don't read in advance, lectures will be much less useful to you. (Imagine going to a class on Shakespeare without doing the readings - the prof is not going to read the plays for you!)

CAPA (an internet based homework system: Computer Assisted Physics Assignments ) You will receive a weekly printed personalized homework assignment. Each student's assignment is slightly different. You log onto CAPA via the web to "hand in" your solutions Work out the answers before you log on. The advantage is that you will have instant feedback on how well you are doing and will have opportunities to change wrong answers without penalty. New homework assignments appear Wed afternoon in the Phys 1110 homework bins in the basement. Homework will usually be due one week later, Wed evenings at 9PM. (Late hw’s will not be accepted by CAPA.) The CAPA system is available at http://www.Colorado.EDU/physics/CAPA/Cindex.html (or from our home pag).

Collaboration: This course encourages collaborative teamwork, a skill that is an essential feature of science, and valued by most employers. Scientists and engineers work in groups as well as alone. Social interactions are critical to their success! Most good ideas grow out of discussions with colleagues. As you study together, help your partners to get over confusions, ask each other questions, and critique your hw and tutorial write-ups. Teach each other. You can learn a great deal by teaching.

While collaboration is the rule in technical work, evaluations of individuals also play an important role in science and engineering. Exams will be done without any help from others. For all assignments, of course, the work you turn in must in the end be your own: in your own words, reflecting your own understanding.

Recitations/tutorials: This is a chance to work in a smaller setting with fellow students and trained teaching/learning assistants. Tutorials are designed to enhance your understanding of key principles dealt with in the class. You will hand in "tutorial homeworks", and work through worksheets in small groups at your own pace. It's more important for you to understand the material than to "cover" all the questions. You must take responsibility for your own learning! If you find yourself ahead of your partners, try to explain some physics to them. (Explainers learn even more than listeners.) Attendance at tutorials is mandatory. Remember to bring your workbook to tutorial every week!

Pretests: There will be a required "pretest" (usually online) every week due before tutorial (generally between Mon and Wed lectures) You get full credit for trying, your answer is not graded.

Participation: From time to time we will announce short "online participation questions", which count towards your grade. However, full credit is given merely for honest participation - we won't grade your answer, so you can be honest with us! (Occasionally in lectures, your work may also count directly towards your grade. In most of these cases, participation is still all that counts.)

The help room: You can meet TA staff in Duane G2B87 (enter through G2B90). We will try to keep it staffed 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. This is a great place to meet with other 1110 students to work together on homework and studying, and get some personalized assistance.

Grading and exams: Your course grade is determined by a combination of your performance on exams, CAPA and tutorial homework, in-class and online participation. (See here for more details.)

Exam 1: 7:30PM, Tues. Feb 10, in Chem 140, 142 and Math 100 (to be assigned later), 15%

Exam 2: 7:30PM, Tues. Mar 9 , 15%

Exam 3: 7:30PM, Tues. Apr 13 15%

Final Exam: 4:30-7 PM, Wed. May 5, (more details soon), 15%

Homework (CAPA + long answer writeups [to be explained in class], combined) , 15%

Tutorials: Participation is 7% (coming from pretests and attendance) Tutorial hw is 15%: combined total is 22%

Participation: Announced in class (sometimes in lecture, sometimes online) combined total, 3%

Clickers: Most clicker questions (except when used as participation, see the line above) are extra credit: they REDUCE total exam weight by up to a max of 6%. See grade info page for details!

Exams: There are no makeups. You may not miss any exam except for reasons beyond your control, approved by Prof. Pollock, which usually means a confirmed medical problem. (Not knowing which room your exam is in is not beyond your control) In the (unusual) case of an (at most, single) excused absence, your other exams will be used to compute an exam average. To pass 1110, you must get a passing score on at least 2 of the 4 exams irrespective of your other scores in the class.

You may bring a single sheet of 8.5 in. x 11 in. paper to exams, with your own handwritten notes. Calculators with scientific notation are allowed and usually needed.

Disabilities: Please see Prof. Pollock in the first 2 weeks of class, if you have any special needs!

Honor Code: I trust every individual in this class to understand and follow the CU honor code . Please respect that trust! It's a large class, and I realize there may be some temptations - I'll do my best to make the class valuable and worthy of your honorable behaviour!

How to succeed in this course:

The course topics that we will cover in Physics 1110 are among the greatest intellectual achievements of humans. Don't be surprised if you have to think hard and work hard to master the material. You can perform very well in this class if you follow this time-tested system:

Read the chapter material before lecture and recitation. If you read it first, it'll sink in faster during lecture. We won't repeat what's in the book - especially definitions. Lecture is for making sense of what's in the text!
Take notes on your reading and try to write down questions you may have. If you ask those questions in class, we'll will try to answer them.
Come to class. Stay involved in class and tutorials. Come to office hours at the Physics Help Room.
Start the homeworks early. Give yourself the time to work and understand. Remember that it's possible to have a perfect homework score by putting in the time and effort.
But first: Do the reading. Don't try the homework until you finish the reading.
Work together. Physicists often work in groups. You need to do your own thinking, but talking to others is a great way to sort out your thoughts.
Don't get behind. It's very hard to catch up.
Please, get help early if you feel you are struggling with any aspect of the course (from your TA/LA/Prof. Pollock/help room/study group/tutor...) We're here to help!
Don't give up!

Being "good" at physics problem solving comes from practice. CAPA problems usually involve two steps: a decision about which principles and concepts of physics apply, and then a determination of the answer (which usually involves a calculation.) Tutorial homework concentrate even more on the principles and concepts, and your ability to explain what you are doing. We encourage you to talk about physics with your friends. The thing to talk about is not which number to put where (the calculation is the easy part), but the reasoning that helps you decide what to do with the numbers.

Any information in this syllabus is as accurate as is possible at the time of writing. Future announcements about changes of any kind will be made in class, and (usually) posted on the web, and will take precedence over the original syllabus. You are responsible for what is said in class, whether or not you are in attendance.

Contents:

How to succeed in this course: