Physics 101a: Classical and Modern Physics I
Fall 2009 Syllabus, Information, and Policies
Physics 101 is an introductory course exploring the central ideas
of of classical mechanics and thermodynamics. Applications
will be drawn from many fields, especially the life sciences where possible. Students
intending to major in natural sciences other than physics or astronomy should
find that the two semesters of Physics 101-102 provide a solid foundation in classical
and modern physics. Potential math or chemistry majors should take
either this or the Physics 105-106 sequence, depending on the strength of your
preparation.
Non-science majors also may find this course to be a valuable
part of their liberal arts program. Physics majors should take the
105-106 sequence. If you're thinking of majoring in physics but are
not yet sure, you can try out this course, but you may want to switch to
Physics
Physics, the most fundamental science, is a challenging subject, but is also very satisfying once mastered. A surprising amount of our everyday experience with the physical world can be understood precisely with the use of only a few principles that we will cover in this course. In addition, these principles provide a fundamental understanding of the behavior of the universe in situations far beyond our human experience.
Location and times
Section 1: MWF 11:30 - 12:30 PM Hilles 109.
All students must attend this section. It is essential that you come to all classes to master the concepts and material in this course. All absences, for any reason (including illness, athletic events, etc.) must be discussed in advance with the instructor. Excessive absences can result in a grade of incomplete.
Recitation: W 7:30 - 8:30 PM TBA.
All students must attend this section. The aim of recitation is to go over problems, questions and material not addressed in lecture. We will also use this time to review before exams. Above attendance policy applies.
Section 2: F 7:30 - 8:30 PM KINSC TBA.
There are an additional meeting per week for those enrolled in the Physics 101a02 section. This section is intended for students whose preparation in physics and mathematics is weak and/or who might benefit from extra discussion time.
Laboratory: T or W 1:15 - 4:00 PM Hilles 105.
You will be assigned to the Tues. or Wed. section on the basis of a form to be filled out on the first day of class. The results will be posted on a bulletin board outside H105; check your assignment promptly as the laboratory begins the first week of class. Subsequently, the laboratory meets every other week, except as interrupted by Fall break. The schedule is listed in the laboratory manual and is available online. It is expected that you will attend every lab meeting; any departures from the schedule must be discussed in advance with the instructor. All labs must be completed in order to pass the course. You will only be able to complete the lab in the allotted time if you have read the instructions thoroughly and made a good effort to understand them in advance. Therefore, you are required to come to each lab fully prepared, having read the manual and having answered all pre-lab questions beforehand.
Physics clinic: WTh 7:00 - 9:00 PM Hilles 107 (Physics Lounge).
This resource is staffed by experienced and friendly physics majors to help you with any remaining questions you may have from class or with homework.
Instructors
Jorge Moreno (section 1 and 2)
Room L106 KINSC
(610) 896-4934 (office)
OFFICE HOURS: M 2:00 - 3:00 PM, or by appointment
Scott Shelley (lab)
Room L207 KINSC
(610) 896-1310 (office)
We expect you to read your email and check the blackboard web site regularly as we will make announcements and answer some questions this way. You should feel free to send us email when you have a question or comment. However, if you are having trouble with a homework problem, for instance, it is usually far more efficient if you stop by so that we can work through the problem at a chalkboard rather than through an email exchange.
Please do not hesitate to contact us; no question or topic is too small. If you are having a lot of trouble with the homework, be sure to come to see one of us as soon as possible. A good way to get together is to arrange a mutually agreeable time with us, either by email or in person after class.
Feedback: we will issue course evaluations half-way through the semester. However, if you have concerns about the course or ideas about how to make it better, you should let the us know immediately, either in person or by email. Don't wait!
Textbooks and supplies
• The text is Physics: Calculus by Eugene Hecht, second edition. It is available in the bookstore.
• A calculator will be needed for problem sets and tests and in the laboratory.
• You will also need to purchase a laboratory manual for this course from the bookstore or directly from Scott Shelley. All other supplies needed in the laboratory will be provided.
• A selection of other texts and useful references is on reserve in the science library.
Course announcements
All important announcements will be made in class as well as on the blackboard web site for this course.
Assignments and Tests
Written work will be assigned weekly, and will be due outside my office (L-104) at 5pm on Wednesdays, unless otherwise announced. Staple your assignment if there are multiple pages! Your work must be clear (not just equations all over the place), and well explained. There will also be assigned reading to prepare you for class discussion. All assignments will be posted on the blackboard web site for this course.
There will be two midterm examinations plus a self-scheduled final exam.
Grading
Midterm#1 15% (Oct. 7)
Midterm#2 15% (Nov. 23)
Final 20%
Laboratory 20% ***
Homework 25%
Participation 5%
***ALL labs must be completed to pass the course!
Late policies
Labs must be done on the scheduled date unless cleared in advance by the lab instructors. Individual experiments are not kept set up after the week in which they are used.
The following late penalties will be in effect for homework. Assigments are due exactly at 5pm in my office (L104). Work turned in late will be given 75% credit up to one week late, and 25% credit up to two weeks. No work will be accepted after three weeks. We cannot accept split up assignments.
Exams must be turned in not later than the stated times, except by prior agreement. You may get an extension on an examination or assignment ONLY with a Dean's excuse.
Honor code matters
We value Haverford's honor code for the integrity it fosters and the pedagogical flexibility it affords. The important guiding principle of academic honesty is that you must never represent the work of others as your own. The following guidelines should govern your behavior in the course; please request clarification if you find yourself in any doubtful situations.
You may seek assistance from the instructors, at the Physics clinic, or from your fellow students in doing the weekly assigned exercises and preparing for class discussions. You may also work together with other members of the class on these assignments and this is often quite beneficial. For your own good, avoid situations in which you are either contributing either too much or too little to such collaborations. Just copying someone else's work is clearly a representation of another student's work as your own and is a violation of the Code. This applies to copying down results worked out on a blackboard by other students as well as solutions written down on paper.
Your textbook gives the answers for most of the odd-numbered exercises. These are given so that you will know if you have done a problem correctly. It is not sound learning procedure to try to work backwards from given answers, but doing so is not a violation of the honor code.
Solutions to the written exercises will be made available on the due date. If you are doing a late set, after one week you may consult the solutions, but you may not copy them. However, we encourage you strongly to give the problems an honest effort on your own first, so as to learn from them most effectively. Copying a solutions set slavishly IS a violation of the Honor Code.
Take-home exams must be entirely your own work. Detailed instructions will be given on the exams themselves and discussed in advance. You must use only those materials allowed in the instructions given on the exam. No collaboration of any sort is allowed once you start an exam. The allowed time (a single contiguous block) must be strictly observed.
Honor code guidelines for the lab are contained in the lab manual.
Accommodations for disability
Students who think they may need accommodations in this course because of the impact of a disability are encouraged to meet with me privately early in the semester. Students should also contact Rick Webb, Coordinator, Office of Disabilities Services (rwebb@haverford.edu, 610-896-1290) to verify their eligibility for reasonable accommodations as soon as possible. Early contact will help to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and delays.
Advice
You may need to improve your study habits in order to do well in this course. The following suggestions are based on the experience of previous students.
• Review your class notes between lectures, and come prepared to ask questions. Annotate your class notes as you read them. When you take notes in class, don't just write down equations! Qualitative information is often essential!
• Stay up to date on the reading; preferably read the assigned material twice; for example, once before the relevant lecture, and once after.
• Read with pen in hand to work out things described only briefly in the text or lecture. Ask yourself "what is the main point of each section", and answer the question. Highlighting the text as you read is no substitute for this exercise in thinking and reinterpreting what you have read!
• Make drawings of the physical situations we discuss in class or the ones you encounter in problem sets (and real life!) This helps you understand just what is going on much more than merely thinking about it.
• Don't spend more than 1 hour on a single homework problem. Show clearly where you're stumped and just move on. Don't feel badly if this happens occasionally, or worry about the effect on your grade. Consistency in doing the homework is more important.
• Try the homework problems first yourself, but do get help in clinic or during office hours if you need it. That's why these resources are provided. We expect you will make use of them as one more learning tool.
• You need to allocate about 7 hours for study and homework per week (plus class time and lab responsibilities). This isn't merely a time budget. It's also how much time you need to allow the ideas and methodology to really sink in so that you have truly mastered the subjects.
• Do stop in to see one of us if you have questions or suggestions.
• When you're studying for an exam, first perform new problems and redo as many old problems as you have time for. Only after you have done so is it a good idea to then review the solutions to problems and previous exams. You always learn more from engaging in problem-solving than reviewing how someone else (even yourself in a previous week!) solved a problem.
• Study for the exams in advance. Your brain tackles problems differently if you have given it time to mull over new material and new approaches to problem-solving. You really think differently (and better) once you have literally slept on new ideas.
• Remember that if the material is new or unfamiliar for you, learning will take time, just as learning a new language takes time. Try not to become discouraged if the going is rough at times, and don't prejudge your ability to master the material. Generations of students have done it before you. There is no magic method of presenting the material that we can use to make it easy.
Tentative Schedule of
Subjects, Labs,
|
Week |
Subject |
Chapter |
Labs/Exams |
|
Sept. 4 |
Introduction to Physics |
1 |
Lab: position, velocity, acceleration
|
|
Sept. 11 |
Kinematics: speed and velocity |
2 |
|
|
Sept. 18 |
Kinematics: acceleration |
3 |
Lab: pendulum |
|
Sept. 25 |
|
4 |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
Centripetal force and gravity |
5 |
Lab: inertial mass
Midterm#1 Wed. 10/7 chapters 1-4 |
|
Oct. 9 |
Energy |
6 |
|
|
Oct. 16 |
FALL BREAK |
|
|
|
Oct. 23 |
Momentum and collisions |
7 |
Lab: energy conservation |
|
Oct. 30 |
Rotational motion |
8 |
|
|
Nov. 6 |
Solids, liquids, gases |
9 |
Lab: rotational motion |
|
Nov. 13 |
Thermal properties of matter |
12 |
Midterm#2 Mon. 11/23 chapters 5-9 |
|
Nov. 20 |
Heat and thermal energy
THANKSGIVING BREAK |
13 |
Lab: thermal properties of matter |
|
Nov. 27 |
Heat and thermal energy |
13/14 |
|
|
Dec. 4 |
Thermodynamics |
14 |
Lab: speed of light |
|
Dec. 11 |
Thermodynamics Last day Fri. 12/15 all homework, lab reports due |
26 |
|
|
Dec. 18 |
FINALS |
|
self-scheduled final |