01:750:123 (PHY-123) Synopsis

Course Description: Analytical Physics IA is an introductory physics course which explores motion of objects with constant velocity and constant acceleration, special motions including projectile motion and uniform circular motion, Newton's Laws of motion including forces, Conservation of Energy, Conservation of Momentum, and Universal Gravitation.

There is no prerequisite physics coursework required, this is meant to be your first experience with formal physics work; however, you will be required to apply math skills such as proportional reasoning (for example, ratios), and algebra tactics (manipulating symbols, identifying variables, parameters, constants). Furthermore, this is a calculus-based physics course and you are expected to perform a few calculus skills such as power-law derivatives and integrals of simple polynomial functions, such as what you would have in any Calculus 1 course. We recognize that many of your are taking Calculus 1 this semester, and so in any case where we use such calculus skills we will guide you in how to apply them and give you plenty of opportunities to practice.

We will use the free online textbook, University Physics by OpenStax, OpenStax University Physics Volume 1 (Links to an external site.), which is freely available online at the prior link, and you may download a pdf version at that link as well. If you wish to obtain a paper or hard-cover copy of the book, that will cost money (ranging from about $20-50 for used or new, respectively), but you can order one from Amazon if you wish to do so though you are not required to have a physical copy, and my recommendation is to try the free pdf or web-based book first and only order a physical copy if you feel you would learn better with the actual book in hand.

Below you will find the provisional weekly topic schedule, as well as links to the relevant textbook chapter. See Course Calendar page or the Modules page for more details. For a detailed list of the learning goals of this course, please see the PHY-123 Learning Goals document.

Course-level learning goals:

Students will learn to...

(1) describe the meaning of the physical quantities describing motion, including displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

(2) describe the meaning of the physical quantities describing changes in motion such as forces applied over a distance (work done), or forces applied for a time duration (impulse).

(3) describe (mathematically and verbally) the motion of objects moving at constant speed, and objects moving with changing speed, and model those motions mathematically.

(4) describe (mathematically and verbally) the causes of changes in motion of an object by way of the application of force(s), and model those motions mathematically.

(5) construct and apply a variety of physics representations to aid in comprehending and analyzing situations, such as motion diagrams, force diagrams, energy bar charts, and momentum bar charts.

(6) describe (mathematically and verbally) the concept of a vector as a quantity with magnitude and direction, differentiate from scalars (quantities with only magnitudes), and apply vector principles to all relevant physical vector quantities. Add, subtract, and multiply (scalar product and vector product) two or more vector quantities.

Week	Topic	Textbook Chapter
1	Intro/measurements	Ch. 1
2	1D Kinematics - Describing 1D motion	Ch. 3
3	Vectors	Ch. 2
4	2D+3D Kinematics - Describing 2D and 3D motion	Ch. 4
5	Dynamics - Newtons Laws	Ch. 5
6	Applications of Newtons Laws: Friction	Ch. 6.1-6.2
7	Applications of Newtons Laws: Centripetal Force and Circular Motion	Ch. 6.3
8	Kinetic Energy and Work	Ch. 7
9	Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy	Ch. 8
10	Linear Momentum and Impulse	Ch. 9.1-9.2
11	Collisions and Conservation Laws	Ch. 9.3-9.7
12	Gravitation	Ch. 13.1-13.7
13	Review
Exam 1 will be held on Sunday October 16th from 12:00-1:20pm, location(s) to-be-determined, covering Weeks 1-4 Exam 2 will be held on Sunday November 13th from 12:00-1:20pm, location(s) to-be-determined, covering Weeks 5-8. Final Exam (cumulative - all course content) will be held on Wednesday December 21st from 12:00-3:00pm, location(s) to-be-determined.

Course Information Page for Analytical Physics IA (01:750:123) Fall 2022

Instructor: Professor Chaz Ruggieri

Email: chazr AT physics.rutgers.edu

 

Summary: An introductory calculus-based course in physics, aimed at students majoring in engineering or physics. This is the first part of a two semester sequence (with 01:750:124), which serve as a pre-requisite for 01:750:227.

 

Co-requisite: Precalc 115 (01:640:115) with ALEKS score of 76-84, or Calculus I (01:640:151). Note: If you are a School of Engineering student who placed into Precalc 115 with an ALEKS score of 75 or below, then the best physics course for you to take is PHY-115 (01:750:115) with Prof. Cochran. This course will primarily use basic arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry. However, we will develop one or two calculus tools as if you have not seen those tools before, so even if you are not placed in calculus, you will still have the resources and guidance to learn the few calculus tools we will employ.

 

Meeting times (Weekly Lecture and Weekly Recitation):

You will have lecture once per week for 80-minutes in one of the slots below depending on your registered course section:

Lecture A: Wednesday Period 2 - 10:20-11:40am Eastern Standard Time in Physics Lecture Hall

Lecture B: Friday Period 4 - 2:00-3:20pm or Friday Period 5 - 3:50-5:10pm Eastern Standard Time in Physics Lecture Hall

In addition lecture, you will have one weekly 80-minute recitation session during which you'll work with peers, an undergraduate Learning Assistant, and a graduate Teaching Assistant on the relevant concepts and skills.

Recitations: One 80-minute recitation per week, please refer to your section number to which you registered for your recitation location, day, and time.

Mask Requirements and COVID-19 protocol (as of August, 2022 - subject to change based on University policy updates): All students are required to wear a mask for any in-person interaction setting in our course. This means every day you attend Lecture and Recitation you must wear a mask.

In order to protect the health and well-being of all members of the University community, masks must be worn by all persons on campus in the presence of others (within six feet) and in buildings in non-private enclosed settings (e.g., common workspaces, workstations, meeting rooms, classrooms, etc.). Masks must be worn during class meetings; any student not wearing a mask will be asked to leave. Students who habitually do not wear masks or don't wear masks in appropriate ways will be reported to Student Conduct which may result in University-level consequences for the student. Masks should conform to CDC guidelines and should completely cover the nose and mouth: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

For more information on Rutgers' Covid-19 protocol, please see this webpage.

Text: University Physics by OpenStax, available for free online at the following links. You may download a pdf version at those links as well, and/or view the textbook in your web browser. 

Volume 1: https://openstax.org/details/books/university-physics-volume-1

Learning Management System (LMS): Canvas

Online Homework System: ExpertTA

• to gain access to ExpertTA, follow the instructions given on the ExpertTA Sign Up Instructions page, or simply click on the first ExpertTA assignment in Module 0 (Introduction to ExpertTA) or the first graded ExpertTA assignment which is Tutorial 1 within Module 1. You will then be directed to the ExpertTA page and you will see options for payment, including a 2-week grace period free-of-charge. Note: you should only access your ExpertTA assignments by clicking on the links in this Canvas page (that is, Tutorial and Homework links in the Modules).

Technology Requirements:

• You are expected to have regular (weekly or daily) access to a computer, tablet, smartphone, or any device that can visit webpages and watch videos. This course will require you to access Canvas regularly, as well as the ExpertTA webpage, to engage in graded asynchronous activities.
• In lecture, to engage fully in the polling questions we will ask during each lecture session, you will be expected to have a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone to respond to polling questions using the course-provided polling software. Such polling questions are not graded, but if you wish to participate by submitting a response you must have one of the above technological devices handy.
• In recitation, you are not required to bring any of your own technology; all activities will solely require a writing utensil and something to write on. Any technology requirements in recitation, such as a computer interface for mini-lab activities, is provided to you in the form of a desktop computer at your lab desk to share with your group members.

 

Teaching Team (will be updated at start of each semester)

TA	Email	Section Number: Period (given as Busch Campus periods)	Office Hours
Prof. Chaz Ruggieri	chazr AT rutgers.edu	Visit this page for lecture slides Lecture is held in-person on Wed. Period 2, Fri. Periods 4 and 5, all in the Physics Lecture Hall	See Office Hours page for details

Who to contact?

• If you have questions about Recitation, such as excused absences or grading questions, contact the TA of your section. If you have questions about Homework, go to any Office Hour session.
• If you have questions about Lecture, contact the lecturer (Prof. Ruggieri, at chazr@physics.rutgers.edu).
• If you have a letter of accommodation or other course-related questions, please contact the lecturer (Prof. Ruggieri, at chazr@physics.rutgers.edu).

Weekly Cycle (Day-by-Day view)

Each Module is a 2-week cycle, as shown below for one module. This means that starting with Module 2, you will be finishing up Module 1 recitations and homework at the same time you start Module 2 pre-lecture videos, video quizzes, and Tutorial. This half-module overlap continues throughout the semester, so please plan your calendar carefully so that you don't miss assignment due dates each week. Please refer to the Calendar of Activities page to see when everything is due each day to help. Additionally, due dates for most activities are written in the Modules as well (except for recitation work, which is due before you leave your recitation classroom).

Weekly Activity Flow (Order of Activities)

The figure below is to give you a sense for how each activity in the module flows into the next activity. We build from low complexity to high complexity as we go along a given module two-week cycle. Please be sure to meaningfully complete all module activities to ensure you get the most out of your time in lecture and recitation, and so that you are prepared to ask and answer questions of your TA and LA during class.

 

Summary of Plans for Instruction (what you should expect)

• Asynchronous Activities in ExpertTA and Canvas, and additional Resources:
  • Introductory videos and video quizzes related to that week’s material will be posted on Canvas to start each week’s activities. The videos are followed by a short quiz, which you must attempt to get credit. These video quizzes are based on effort, not correctness – if you submit an answer, you earn full credit even if the answer is wrong. Your quiz attempts are added up for the semester to determine your score for that grade category.
  • Weekly Tutorials on ExpertTA are graded on correctness and contain approximately 5 questions per week on introductory concepts related to that week’s material, and is to be completed before lecture. Tutorials are meant to be your first attempts at problem-solving for that week’s content, and you are encouraged to use Hints and Feedback features of ExpertTA. There are no penalties for incorrect guesses, but you have a limit of 5 attempts per problem and you must get the correct answer by the 5th attempt to get full credit for that problem. Full solutions to Tutorial work are available within ExpertTA after the due date. Click the assignment of interest and then click, "View Assignment Solutions" to view the full solutions; see the image below for guidance.
  • Lecture slides will be posted in advance of the lecture both in the Files folder and in the Canvas Module for that lecture.
  • Video clips of the weekly lecture demos will be posted in advance of the lecture, and the lecturer will demonstrate and discuss a subset or all of those videos during in-class lecture time.
  • Weekly homeworks on ExpertTA are graded on correctness and have approximately 10-15 questions per week and will will be assigned and submitted via Expert TA. There are no penalties for incorrect guesses, but you have a limit of 5 attempts per problem and you must submit a correct answer by the last attempt to earn full credit for the associated part of a given problem. 
  • Full solutions to ExpertTA Assignments are available within ExpertTA after the due date .Follow these instructions to see solutions: Go to any ExpertTA assignment, then once you're in the ExpertTA page, click on "Class Management" on the upper left side , that will bring you to the list of current and prior course assignments. Click the assignment of interest and then click, "View Assignment Solutions" to view the full solutions; see the images below for guidance.
  • Mini-Tests in Canvas are timed (20-minutes), allow 3 attempts without penalty (each attempt has a new 20-minute timer), and provide written feedback after the first attempt. These mini-tests are graded on correctness and have two multiple choice questions per week. Once you begin the mini-test, you cannot stop the timer, so be sure you can dedicate 20-minutes of time to your efforts. These are meant to be exam-like questions that you might see based on the content in the immediately preceding recitation, lecture, and pre-lecture materials. The intention is to give you practice in an exam-like setting so that when it comes time for the actual exam you are better equipped to succeed under time pressure. Towards that end, you should use your equation sheet, calculator, writing utensil and paper (or tablet) and treat it like an exam setting by isolating yourself (that is, do your best on your own, and only get help if you can't get past your struggles) to get the most out of the experience. If after your first few attempts and processing the written feedback you still have confusions, only at that point should you seek assistance and do your best to identify and learn from your struggles prior to the actual exam.
  • Canvas Discussion Board will be monitored by the course leadership, and you may post any questions about the weekly activities or the course logistics which will be addressed by course leaders and/or other students. Treat the discussion board as a way to connect with your class peers and as another resource to have your questions answered in a timely manner.
  • Additional Module Resources: at the bottom of each Module you'll see additional resources, which include selected extra textbook problems with answers in the back of the book for you to practice, as well as fully done out solutions for you to check your work for select problems, and guided video solutions which explain the "why" behind each problem solving step for select core content problems. Please review those resources for practice or if you have persistent struggles in understanding the concepts or problem solving skills as the semester progresses.
  • Additional Exam Prep Resources: as you begin to study for exams, we will post Exam Prep Modules which compile the Module Resources but also provide additional practice worksheets, and a practice multiple choice exam in Canvas which is not graded but is solely for you to assess your mastery level prior to taking the actual exam. Full solutions are provided for all of the exam prep resources so you can compare your attempts with the intended mastery level. 

 

• Synchronous Activities
  • Weekly Lectures (in-person): The lectures will be held in-person, and detailed slides will be available in the Lecture Slides and Videos page. There will be polling questions through the lecture to aid in your engagement and learning, as well as discussions with your peers; please participate to the best of your ability. There are no graded activities in lecture; all activities are solely to help guide your learning of physics.
  • Weekly Recitations (in-person): The recitations will be held in-person at the room, day, and time of the section to which you registered. Please refer to your course registration to see the information associated with your recitation section. Recitations are a mandatory part of the course, and you will work in groups of 2-3 students for a group grade (worth 10% of your course grade). During recitation the graduate Teaching Assistant and the undergraduate Learning Assistant will roam around the groups to guide your efforts as well as answer questions.
  • Weekly Office Hours (in-person and/or Canvas Conferences and/or Zoom): Every TA and the Lecturer will hold 1-hour office hour sessions weekly starting the second week of classes. This office hour list including instructor name, time, and location will be posted to Canvas in the Office Hours Times and Information page. You may attend any office hour, you do not need to attend your TA’s office hour. You are strongly encouraged to attend office hours for questions on the homework. The mode with which the office hour is held (virtual or in-person) as well as the time and locations will all be listed in the Office Hours page.
    
    
• Exams
  • Each exam will be held in-person at various locations around campus depending on your last name.
  • Exams are closed-notes, closed-book, but you will be provided with an equation sheet that you may use, and you may also use a calculator.
  • Exams will be multiple choice, and you will have approximately 5-6 minutes per question for timing (about 15 questions for an 80 minute exam).
  • There will be 2 midterms and 1 final exam (cumulative)
  • Academic integrity (see below) must always be followed! You may NOT contact anyone or receive/give any assistance via any means or use other resources during the exam. The exam answers must be entirely your own.
  • Details about exam procedures will be announced approximately two weeks ahead of each exam date.

 

Provisional Grading Plans (subject to edits or adjustments up until the start of the semester):

• 5% Video Quizzes (on Canvas - participation credit)
• 5% Pre-lecture Tutorials (on ExpertTA, based on correctness)
• 10% Recitation Group Work (in-class during recitation)
• 5% Mini-Tests (on Canvas, based on correctness)
• 15% Homework (on ExpertTA, based on correctness)
• 15% First Midterm (in-person, multiple choice questions)
• 15% Second Midterm (in-person, multiple choice questions)
• 30% Final Exam (in-person, cumulative, multiple choice questions)

What we drop before calculating your grade:

• 2 lowest Recitation Work submissions
• 2 lowest Homeworks

Provisional Grade Cutoffs (these cutoffs may change in students' favor depending on overall class performance):

A            ≥89.5%

B+          89.4 to 84.5%

B            84.4 to 74.5%

C+          74.4 to 69.5%

C            69.4 to 59.5%

D            59.4 to 49.5%

F            <49.5%

For all absence and lateness policies, see our Absence and Lateness Policy page found here, copied below for your convenience:

Lateness Policy for Tutorials and Homeworks:

(1) Tutorials and Homeworks both have the following lateness penalty: 10% deduction for every hour late beyond the 11:59pm due time. This means if you submit between 12am and 12:59am, the most you can earn is 90%, and so on, until all points are deducted approximately 10 hours after the original due time. Beyond that point, no credit may be earned, and we cannot grant extensions after the assignment has expired, since the answers are now accessible to students. 

(2) Tutorials are available for about 5 full days, and Homeworks are available for about 14 full days; you are strongly encouraged to engage in good planning practices by completing the Tutorial and Homework over the duration of those days and to not wait until the last day to do the work. Education research findings from many fields (including physics) suggest that students who distribute their homework efforts over the entirety of the open time recall the relevant information more quickly and ultimately do better overall in the course than those who wait until the last day to do the work.

(3) We will not drop any of the Tutorial scores; they are sufficiently introductory that all students who engage meaningfully should expect to do quite well each week in that assignment. We do drop the two lowest homework scores to account for life's happenings that might disrupt your school plans.

(4) Other than the two homework extensions advertised in the Calendar of Activities page around our two midterm exams, there will not be any other homework assignment extensions. As with the recitation work, if you have a long-term mental or physical health concern, please contact the Dean of Students to verify your claim, after which we can consider other pathways including possibly excusing the work. You may contact the Dean of Students by visiting this webpage, which at the time of this writing instructs you to email their office at deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu as the best mode of contact.

Lateness Policy for Video Quizzes and Mini-Tests:

(1) All graded Canvas activities including Video Quizzes and Mini-Tests are due strictly by the assigned dates and times; no extensions will be considered.

(2) We will not drop any lowest scores from the Mini-Tests or the Video Quizzes. The Mini-Tests are graded on correctness but they allow 3 attempts with feedback for a five-choice multiple-choice question, therefore you have many chances for success. The Video Quizzes are graded on participation so you obtain full credit regardless of correctness.

Absence Policy for Recitations:

If you missed a recitation for any reasons, including religious, illness, other unavoidable issues:

(1) You cannot make up the work for credit if you miss recitation, and the score in your Grades page will appear as a "0"; however, we drop the two lowest recitation group work grades so up to and including two absences will not harm your grade. The reasons why we do not allow make-up by attending another session is because it is not fair to students who have recitations later in the week who do not have that same opportunity, in addition to the logistics of coordinating a make-up session are considerably difficult.

(2) Contact your TA as soon as possible by email to request a blank copy of the materials for your reference if you wish to work on the materials outside of class, or you can wait until the next recitation to obtain a paper copy from the recitation classroom. (see the Home page table, or the Office Hours page for your TA's contact information)

(3) Arrange with your TA to attend office hours and discuss the recitation work so you have an opportunity to obtain feedback on your methods and mastery. The most helpful part of the recitation is the feedback and discussion you get from your peers, from the LA, and from the TA, and there is no substitute for that feedback, so it's best to meet with your TA to discuss.

(4) If you have a long-term mental or physical health issue resulting in more than 2 absences, you must first verify your long term health issue with the Dean of Students by contacting them at this webpage, which at the time of this writing instructs you to email their office at deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu as the best mode of contact. If the Dean of Students is able to verify your health claim, they will email me (Prof. Ruggieri), at which point we may be able to excuse the absence(s) which will not count in any way towards your final grade.

Absence Policy for Lecture:

(1) You do not need to inform any instructor that you have missed or will miss lecture. There are no graded activities in lecture, you may attend as you wish or miss lecture without any grade penalty. However, I strongly encourage you to attend every lecture, as there are many activities and insights that are critical to your learning of physics in this class.

(2) If you must miss lecture, I post the detailed lecture slides in the Lecture Slides and Videos page and in the Modules page. You can go through the material at your leisure. Both the Mini-Tests and Video Quizzes are brief assessment activities, and you have sufficient time to succeed in both tasks each week as long as you plan accordingly.

 

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain the highest level of academic integrity. You should be familiar with the university policy on academic integrity: http://nbacademicintegrity.rutgers.edu/. Violations will be reported and enforced according to this policy.

Use of external sources to obtain solutions to homework assignments or exams is cheating and is a violation of the University Academic Integrity policy. Cheating in the course may result in penalties ranging from a zero on an assignment to an F for the course to expulsion from the University. Posting of homework assignments, exams, recorded lectures, or other lecture materials to external sites without the permission of the instructor is a violation of copyright and constitutes a facilitation of dishonesty, which may result in the same penalties as explicit cheating.

Not only does the use of such sites violate the University’s policy on Academic Integrity, using such sites interferes with your achievement of the learning you are paying tuition for. Assignments, quizzes, and exams are given not simply to assign grades, but to promote the active learning that occurs through completing assignments on your own or by discussion with peers and instructors. Getting the right answer is much less important than learning how to get the right answer and the process by which you arrive at the answer. This learning is critical to your success in subsequent courses and your careers.

Recommended by the Office of Student Conduct to promote a culture of academic integrity: Rutgers University takes academic dishonesty very seriously. By enrolling in this course, you assume responsibility for familiarizing yourself with the Academic Integrity Policy and the possible penalties (including suspension and expulsion) for violating the policy. As per the policy, all suspected violations will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to): 

• Cheating
• Plagiarism
• Aiding others in committing a violation or allowing others to use your work
• Failure to cite sources correctly
• Fabrication
• Using another person’s ideas or words without attribution–re-using a previous assignment
• Unauthorized collaboration
• Sabotaging another student’s work

If in doubt, please consult the instructor. Please review the Academic Integrity Policy. 

 

Student Wellness Services

Report a Bias Incident If you experience or witness an act of bias or hate, report it to someone in authority. You may file a report online and you will be contacted within 24 hours.   The bias reporting page is here.

Click here to report a bias incident

Bias is defined by the University as an act, verbal, written, physical, psychological, that threatens, or harms a person or group on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity or cellular blood trait, military service or veteran status.

 

Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)

(848) 932-7884 / 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901/ http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/

CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professionals within Rutgers Health services to support students’ efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community, and consultation and collaboration with campus partners.

 

Crisis Intervention : http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/crisis-intervention/

 

Report a Concern:  http://health.rutgers.edu/do-something-to-help/

 

Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA)

(848) 932-1181 / 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 / www.vpva.rutgers.edu/

The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff and faculty.  To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.

 

Disability Services

 (848) 445-6800 / Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854 /  https://ods.rutgers.edu/

Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/registration-form.

Peer Educators for discussions with Rutgers peers on health and wellness, (848) 932-1965,

http://health.rutgers.edu/education/hope/peer-educators/

 

For additional assistance in your learning experiences at Rutgers, please use the following resources:

Learning Centers: https://rlc.rutgers.edu/

The Learning Centers have free services such as Academic Coaching, where you are paired with a peer advisor who can help you identify barriers to your learning experiences and suggest improvements, as well as Peer Tutoring which is available for many introductory courses.

Academic Advising for SAS students: https://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/advising/advising

Student Success resources: https://success.rutgers.edu/