PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS (FALL, 2001)

SUBJECT AREA:                     Physics

COURSE TITLE:                     General Physics I

COURSE NUMBER:                    PS 215

COURSE SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS:     Four

INSTRUCTOR'S NAME:                Mr. Chris Maloney

LECTURE HOURS:                    MT HF: 1:00--1:50 p.m.

LABORATORY HOURS:            W:    1:00--4:00 p.m.

                        TEXT BOOKS:

College Physics. by Raymond A. Serway, Jerry S. Faughn, 5th edition.

College Physics Laboratory Manual. By William Debuvitz.

GOALS OF THE COURSE:Science has deeply permeated our lives. Every person who is living in a culture that is grounded in science and technology should acquire a degree of scientific literacy in order to live a fulfilling life and to be a conscientious member of that culture.

CURRICULUM: PS 215 is a trigonometry-based survey of classical mechanics including Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, momentum, wave mechanics, sound, and classical thermodynamics. 

 METHOD OF PRESENTATION: The material will be covered in the lecture format and in laboratory sessions. Use will also be made of lecture demonstrations and presentations including conventional videotapes and computer audiovisual technology.

METHOD OF EVALUATION: Three 1-hour tests and a comprehensive final exam will be given. You will receive one grade per week (unless it is announced otherwise) either in the form of a quiz or homework assignment. A laboratory report will be required for each lab experiment. In addition, a short research paper or article review will is required. A separate handout will be given detailing expectations for the paper. The grading system will be:

3 - 1 hour exams                  45 %

Research paper/Article Review         5 %

Homework/Quizzes                  10 %

Lab                               25 %

Final exam                        15 %

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A: 93 -- 100

B: 83 -- 92

C: 73 -- 82

D: 63 -- 72

F: 62 and lower

ATTENDANCE:   Attendance is expected. Illness, death in the family or special school activities are the only bases for an excused absence. Although there will be no arbitrary grade reduction for non-attendance, students who miss class will predictably perform poorly on assignments. Make-ups for laboratory experiments and exams are possible only by prior arrangement. You may not make up a minor quiz for any reason.

THINGS A STUDENT NEEDS TO DO TO SUCCEED IN THE COURSE:

1.   Attend class regularly.

2.   Take notes/participate in class discussions & activities.

3.   Follow problem solving techniques as outlined in class

     on homework assignments, quizzes, and exams.

  1. Try to solve homework problems/answer concept questions both

     independently as well as in group-study.

5.   Actively participate in laboratory experiments.

 

 LABORATORY SCHEDULE:  To Be announced

 ASSIGNMENTS: To be announced