SYLLABUS PY 131 Conceptual Physics Distance Education Instructor Contact Information Keith Warren NC State University 421 Riddick Hall Raleigh NC 27695 8202 919 513 2708 keith warren ncsu edu Always add PY 131 and your section number to the subject line Office Hours Riddick Hall I am generally in my office and available around 9am each day Please feel free to schedule an appointment or just drop by I will also be available from 2 45 3 15 each Tuesday and Thursday after class Course Description This course covers the fundamentals of physics from a conceptual rather than a mathematical viewpoint Students will learn how physics underlies their everyday experiences Real life applications which every student can relate to are used to explain concepts such as gravity motion sound electricity and magnetism Numerous discussions video demonstrations and discovery based laboratories further enrich the learning experience Course Goals This course is designed to help students enhance the way they see the world by wondering about things they may have once taken for granted begin to think about the physics in everything they see around them and gain a richer understanding of everyday physical phenomena Required Material to purchase for the course 1 Textbook Conceptual Physics Media Update 11th edition by Paul G Hewitt 2009 ISBN 0321568095 You may use an older edition if you can find one The older versions have some different homework and the chapter numbers are moved around some The material however is comparable If you have an older version ensure you are in the correct chapter 2 WebAssign for the class section 601 This will be for homework assignments and your course grades will be stored here Special Technical Requirements Adobe Flash player is needed for the videos Word processing software such as MS Word Open Office or Google Docs Adobe Acrobat Reader MS Excel Course Organization This course contains seven modules Each Module is then made up of specific chapters in the book 1 Linear Motion Kinematics and Newton s Laws 2 Momentum Energy and Rotational Motion 3 Projectile Motion Orbits and Gravity 4 Phase Temperature and Heat 5 Vibrations and Waves 6 Electricity and Magnetism 7 Optics and Relativity Course Schedule This is the schedule followed by the on campus class You should make sure you are keeping pace as you progress through the course I list each test on two days You are to schedule your test for some period during those two days 1 10 1 12 1 17 1 19 1 24 1 26 1 31 2 2 2 3 2 7 2 9 2 14 2 16 2 21 2 23 2 28 3 1 3 2 3 6 3 8 3 13 3 15 3 20 3 22 3 27 3 29 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 10 4 12 4 17 4 19 4 20 4 24 4 26 5 2 5 3 5 4 Course Introduction Newton s 1st Law Linear Motion Newton s 2nd and 3rd Laws Momentum Energy Rotational Motion TEST 1 Thursday or TEST 1 Friday Gravity Projectiles Solids and Liquids Gases Temperature Heat and Expansion Heat Transfer Phase Change TEST 2 Thursday or TEST 2 Friday Spring Break Spring Break Vibrations and Waves Sound Electrostatics Electric Current Magnetism Electric Induction TEST 3 Tuesday or TEST 3 Wednesday Spring Holiday Properties of Light Color Reflection and Refraction TEST 4 Thursday or TEST 4 Friday Special Relativity Course Review FINAL EXAM Wednesday or FINAL EXAM Thursday or FINAL EXAM Friday Course Requirements You are expected to Complete all assignments by the due date Check into the online course at least three days a week to see new announcements check messages and view discussion postings Complete all module tests and the final exam Readings For each module you will be responsible for reading assigned textbook chapters and reviewing other online material or articles that may be provided Homework All lectures have an accompanying homework assignment that will be graded If you do not complete your homework on time you may request one automatic extension per homework assignment during the first three days after the assignment is due Should you use your extension you will automatically lose 50 on any uncompleted questions Discussions Each module has at least one discussion forum You are required to participate in all group discussions The first discussion is an Ice Breaker in which you will participate individually The other discussion forums will be done in groups Within the first week of class you will receive an email from me assigning you to a discussion group Groups will stay together for the rest of the semester Your group will not be able the postings of other groups in the class Each module has a discussion question forum relating to real life phenomena You will be required to work together with your group to formulate an answer based on the physics you have learned this semester When the group has come to a consensus you will each individually submit your personal answer to me The response will be due when the homework for that module is due Your group discussion will be graded as follows Activity Comment more than 3 days before deadline and follow up on other messages First comment to discussion less than 3 days before the deadline Make your first comment less than 24 hours before the assignment is due of grade 100 75 50 After each discussion you will submit your own answer to me through moodle Base your answer on what you learned in your discussion You do not have to agree with the group as this is your answer Do not cut and paste from the discussion board Write your own answer I will give 100 if you give a well thought out answer regardless of whether it is correct or not This exercise is to make you think using the physics you have learned The correct answer will be available after the deadline I encourage you to read the correct answer even if you received 100 for this portion Remember you get the credit for trying You need to make sure you know the correct answer Labs Labs will be completed remotely There will be lab assignments throughout the semester requiring you to build a setup using simple things around your house or using virtual equipment You will take measurements and supply write ups as do students who take lab on campus Because lab is an integral part of the course as a whole if you receive a grade below 50 in lab you will fail the whole course Module Tests There will be four scheduled module tests over the course of the semester Students will be required to obtain a university approved proctor or take the exam at one of the DELTA facilities on campus See below Final Exam The final exam is required for all students and