FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Natural Sciences 

SYLLABUS

I.            LOCATOR INFORMATION: 

Semester: Summer I   Year: 2002

Instructor: Dr. G. S. Rahi

 Office Location: Room LS 209

Office Telephone: 672-1653               E-mail: grahi@uncfsu.edu

Office Hours: TRF 10:00 A.M. – 01:00 P.M.; MW  3:00  – 5:00 P.M. _________________________________________________________________

                                                                Available at other times by appointment

 Departmental Office Location: LS 130 

 Departmental Office Telephone: 672-1691 

II.            COURSE DESCRIPTION:         

          An algebra-based introductory study of Newtonian mechanics, wave motion, thermodynamics, and related concepts, with special emphasis on problem-solving and with laboratory emphasis providing practical knowledge in handling laboratory apparatus, data collection, and data interpretation related to topics  discussed in the lectures. The objective behind studying these principles is to cultivate an interest in the student to understand the natural laws and to develop analytical skills for the student to be able to tackle some of the fundamental problems in nature. 

III. TEXTBOOK: 

Physics (5th Edition, JW, Wiley) by John D. Cutnell and Kenneth W. Johnson            

IV.            SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCIES: 

In view of the scope and sequence of this course, the following objectives have been identified. (Numbers in parentheses identify competencies established by the State Department of Public Instruction for Middle Grades Education majors. Numbers in square brackets identify competencies established by the State Department of Public Instruction for High School Education majors).

Students shall: 

A.            Understand the relationships between matter, energy, and motion.

1.   List the International System units of measure for length, mass, volume, time, and force; and apply the basic metric system prefixes to these measurements.

2.    Define mechanics, vector and scalar quantities, speed, velocity, acceleration, work, potential energy, kinetic energy, power, and momentum; and calculate any of these when given sufficient data. (physics 30) [physics 1.3] [physics 1.4]

3.    State Newton's three laws of motion and use each to analyze the implications for objects at rest or in motion. (Physics 31) [physics 1.2]

4.   List and describe the properties of waves and waveforms and compare and contrast electromagnetic radiation with mechanica waves. (Physics 29) [physics 1.1]

5.   Explain and interpret heat, temperature, specific heat, heat capacity, entropy, plasma, latent heat of fusion, latent heat of vaporization, and the laws of thermodynamics. (Physics 29) [physics 1.1]

V.            EVALUATION CRITERIA: 

The progress of each student will be evaluated by means of FOUR exams to be given during the semester, reports related to the laboratory exercises to be performed, and a comprehensive final examination. An optional (fifth) exam may be given and the lowest exam  may be dropped at the discretion of the instructor. 

A.  Grade Distribution:

      Final grades will be determined by weighting the averages and scores from the above-mentioned evaluative activities.

      Four Exams                         40%

      Quizzes                               15%                

      Laboratory Exercises            25%

      Final Examination                  20%

 B.   Grading Scale:

The final letter grade assigned to the student will be based upon the following numerical equivalencies as stated in the University Catalog.

      A =            93            -            100

      B =            83            -            92

      C =            73            -            82

      D =            64            -            72

      F =                   Below            64 

VI.  COURSE OUTLINE WITH ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE: 

Lectures and laboratory exercises will be undertaken in accordance with the following assignment schedule. It is also assumed that in addition to the topics listed below, the student is assigned both the textual material as well as the exercise problems at the end of the chapters. Any item listed below may be arbitrarily changed by the instructor for his/her convenience, or as the constraints imposed by equipment and space limitations may compel. 

Topic Outline: This course will cover Chapters 1-15 (from the text). The syllabus of the course is: 

VII.            COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 

Students are required to: 

1.   Attend all lecture and laboratory sessions, except in cases of illness and other unforeseen emergencies. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor about the steps that must be taken for making up any and all missed work. It is recommended that contact with the instructor take place within twenty-four (24) hours of having missed class. The University policy concerning absences from class will be strictly enforced. The instructor will request administrative withdrawal for students who either incur TWO CONSECUTIVE ABSENCES, or whose absences exceed 10% of the total contact hours the course meets during the semester. For this course, that would amount to approximately seven (7) total hours of unexcused absences after which the instructor will also submit an administrative withdrawal for the student. See the university catalog for the details.

2.   Be punctual. Attendance will be taken promptly at the beginning of each session. Any student coming in after the roll has been called will have been marked absent. It is the student's responsibility to see that all tardies have been duly noted. Students will also be charged with a tardy for departure from the class before the specified end of class. The accumulation of three (3) tardies will result in the student being charged with one (1) absence.

3. Participate actively in classroom discussions and activities. Two key ingredients of every student's learning are sharing opinions and experiences with others, and interacting with others in the teaching-learning situation.

4.   Read over and take notes on the indicated chapters BEFORE they are presented in class. This activity mentally prepares one for the learning experience. It also is important because it raises questions that one needs to have answered in order to fully understand concepts presented.

5.   Take notes in class. Recopy these notes at the first opportunity after class and certainly the same day as the class in which the notes were taken. Reconcile any discrepancies in the notes taken in class as well as with notes taken in initial reading. Add explanations or drawings or other examples for clarity.

6.   Study about two hours for each hour of lecture. This is an absolute minimum for maximum success in a class.

7.   Avail themselves of all pertinent audiovisual and computer-assisted instructional materials.

8.   Take examinations ON THE SCHEDULED DATES. No make-up examinations will undertake. An automatic grade of ZERO is recorded for any exam missed for any reason.

9.   Be in compliance with the university policy on drugs which prohibits the possession or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on any part of the campus. 

10.  SEE THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY WHEN SPECIFIC DIFFICULTIES ARE ENCOUNTERED. 

IX.            TEACHING STRATEGIES: 

The primary teaching strategy for this course will take the form of lectures and demonstrations of the specific processes and effects related to the topics of interest. Particular sections of the course will be taught in accordance to the instructional styles of the individual faculty member. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

The textbook will be considered the primary resource in this class. However, textbooks often do not contain enough information or information in the manner that will be most advantageous for student learning. In light of these shortcomings, it is recommended that each student perform additional reading on each topic covered in class. This may be accomplished by seeking other physical science texts in the library or the instructor's office. It is recommended that the student read the following books:

1.       University Physics by Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freeman (Tenth edition 2000)

2.       Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Raymond A. Serway (Third Edition 1992)

3.       College Physics by Franklin Miller (Fourth edition).

4.      The Feyman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feyman, Robert Leighton, and Matthew Sands

5.       Teaching Children about Physical Science by Elaine Levenson, NY Tab Books, c1994

 During the time frame in which this course is taught, far more exciting discoveries and interpretations will undoubtedly occur which will not be in texts. It is therefore recommended that the student routinely examine periodical literature such as: Science News, Science, Scientific America, American Journal of Physics, Physics Today, Physical Review, Physical Review Letters. and many others.