IMPORTANT Course Information - Fresno State email

PHYSICS 2A - GENERAL PHYSICS (CLASS
#42119)
Spring 2008 (MWF 2:00PM -- 2:50Pm,
MCLane161) INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Yongsheng GAO (yogao@csufresno.edu) OFFICE: McLane #12, Tel. 278-4554; Physics Office: 278-2371 OFFICE HOUR: Tu/Th: 4:00pm -- 5:00pm, Wed: 3:00pm - 5:00pm or by
appointment TEXT: Serway/Faughn, College Physics (Seventh Edition) http://www.cp7e.com Web Site: All course information can be found in
http://blackboard.csufresno.edu/ EXAM SCHEDULE: Tentative schedule:
Exam 1 Ch.1 - Ch.3 - Feb. 15, 2008 (Friday)
Exam 2 Ch.4 - Ch.6 - Mar. 12, 2008 (Wednesday)
Exam 3 Ch.7 - Ch.10 - Apr. 23, 2008 (Wednesday)
FINAL EXAM Ch.1 - Ch.13 - Wednesday May 14 (3:30pm --
5:30pm) G.E.: Phys 2A is a G.E. Breadth B1 course. The goal for Area B1: To
understand and
actively explore fundamental principles in the Physical Sciences
and the methods
of developing and testing hypotheses used in the analysis of the
physical universe. GRADING: The course grade will be based on performance of this class-
section. There
will be three 50-minute exams plus a two-hour
comprehensive final exam.
Exams can be made up only for a very good reason (the
instructor
determines what is, what is not excusable). Give a
notice before the
exam and it is your responsibility to see me as soon
as possible.
Seat numbers will be assigned and may be different
for each exam.
You will be provided with a "formula sheet" for each
exam:
No other of your own formula sheets are allowed. You
will need a
Scantron form (882-E or 882-ES), a simple scientific
calculator, and a #2
Pencil for each exam. Request for correction of
grading errors both on
homework and examination must be made within one week
after the work is
returned to you in my office (not during the class
time). CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: University policy maintains that "proven
cheatings/plagiarism can result in severe penalties
and consequences".
Please refer to the Schedule of Courses (Legal Notices
on Cheating and
Plagiarism) or the University Catalog (Policies and
Regulations).
This policy will be strongly enforced by your Physics
instructors
(lecture and lab). ATTENDANCE: If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to
check on any
and all announcements made while you were
away. HOMEWORK (HW) POLICY: Problem solving is of the utmost importance in
Studying Physics and there is no exception for
Phys. 2A. Prepare to
work hard on your homework through the course.
Don't leave the
solution of any HW set for the last minute! LATE HW WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This policy will be strictly enforced. I will
drop the lowest score of
the HW set. I strongly recommend you to do and understand at
least all the
odd-numbered problems at the end of each chapter.
Some of the
course content will be introduced via the
problems and students will be
responsible for this material. The style and
format of the exam questions
will be similar to those problems and the specific
assigned
even-numbered HW problems. HWs are set up on a
daily schedule and
HW for the whole chapter (about 10-15 problems) is
due before
midnight on each due date. Please note that the HW
will come from the
text, but be done online through WebAssign (http://www.WebAssign.net). Think of this
WebAssign as another text
book but a highly interactive one and will enhance
your learning process.
Also, using online homework allows the use of any
recent edition of the
textbook. There is a strong correlation between
those who complete the
HW sets by his/herself with understanding and those
who obtain the high
grades in this class since problem solving requires
skill and practice.
You are encouraged to discuss the problems with
other students, the TAs,
and especially me. However, the final solutions
should be your own effort
and understanding. Only copy someone else work do
not create skill and
absolutely not a good practice. Physics tutors are
available for help.
Please check with the schedule in the Physics
Office McL 173. POSSIBLE POINTS: 25% LAB
25% HW
10% Quizzes (weekly, covering the
previous 3 classes)
20% Mid-term Exams
20% Final Exam
100% TOTAL POINTS The total score required for a given letter grade does not depend on the
performance of the remainder of the class. It depends only on an analysis
of the difficulty of the examination questions and how hard you put an
effort in this course. Approximate grading scale: 86% - 100% A
75% - 85.9% B
60% - 74.9% C
50% - 59.9% D Incomplete Grade: The "I" grade is given only when a student fails to
complete a
portion of the required course work and
when he/she has completed
at least 2/3 of the required work at a
passing level.
When completing an I, the student does
only the unfinished work.
I will strongly enforce this university
policy. LABORATORY POLICY: There is a required laboratory of three hours each week. The main purpose is to give
the students hands-on
experience with physical
measurements and concepts.
Read the laboratory
instruction before attending that
specific lab session. You
should cooperate with your lab
partner for data collection
but the remainder of the
experiment write-up must
represent your own effort.
You must make a brief write-
up (covering data, theory,
example of calculations,
results, %error, conclusions) and
make sure to turn it in to
receive credit. You must
complete all of the lab
experiments listed on the
"LABORATORY SCHEDULE".
Please keep in mind that
an F in the lab
automatically means an F in Phys. 2A.
If you intend to miss a lab,
notify your lab instructor before
or ASAP (in case of
emergency). For further information on
lab policy, please refer to
your lab manual. NOTE ON DISABILITIES: If you have a disability of any kind, please inform
me and
Services for Students with
Disabilities (University Center,
Room 5-Between Renaissance
Room & the Pub; 8-2811 or
TTD 8-3084) so that
accommodations can be made. Physics 2A: General Physics (Topical Outline) By the end of the semester, each student should be familiar with all of the
topics listed below and capable of solving practical problems using these
concepts. The following topical outline should prove very useful for review
purpose. We will cover chapter 1 through 13 in the Serway/Faughn textbook.
MECHANICS Foundations: Review of units, measurement, graphical interpretation,
vectors, and
trigonometry. Supplemented by laboratory experiment
in vector addition of
forces. Introduction to Kinematics: Motion of an object moving in one- and two-
dimensions.
Concepts of velocity and acceleration. Laboratory
experiment in the motion
of an object in free-fall. Introduction of graphical
analysis of data. Dynamics: Forces and acceleration in one-, two-, and three dimensions. Lab
experiment
to verify Newton's second law using Atwood's machine. Work, Energy, and Power: Idea of mechanical work, energy as a property of
motion.
Potential energy and the conservation of mechanical
energy. Friction
as a force affecting motion and as a source of non-
conservation of
mechanical energy. Discussion of energy in the home;
energy source and
related societal issue. Momentum and Impulse: Momentum as a constant of motion. Conservation of
momentum, even in the presence of inelastic forces.
Laboratory e