Physics 161, Fall 2023: Elements of Physics
01:750:161
Rutgers University Fall 2023

 

Lectures:  Prof. Gyan Bhanot and Prof. Amitabh Lath
Lecture meetings: Monday/Thursday 12:10-1:30pm, PLH
Recitation-Labs: One 3-hour recitation/lab per week, please refer to your section number to which you registered for your recitation-lab day and time. All recitation-labs will be held in SRN-231  (Enter through Alison Road entrance)
Prof. Bhanot office hours: Mondays 2-3 PM and Tuesdays 4-5 PM, Location:  Serin 272 (Enter through Alison Road entrance)

Section Instructors Office Hours can be found HERE.

Learning management system: Canvas
Communication - Canvas Inbox

Learning Goals

Understand basic principles and physical quantities describing motion, including displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

Understand basic principles of Newtonian Mechanics, including Newton's Laws, momentum, energy, and power. 

Understand basic principles of fluid mechanics, including Bernoulli's Principle and Torricelli's Theorem. 

Understand basic principles of thermodynamics, including temperature and heat. 

Understand basic principles of electricity, including electric charge, field, and current.

Understand basic electric circuits and circuit components like resistors and capacitors. 

Understand basic elements of atomic and nuclear structure and principles behind radioactivity. 

Course overview

This course is a survey of major topics in physics designed mainly for students in Pharmacy.   We will cover motion, fluids, waves, electricity, electrical circuits, radioactivity, relativity, and atomic structure.  The course consists of two lectures a week, and a weekly three-hour recitation-lab session.  There are two midterm exams and a final exam.

The course is structured into Modules.  Each Module has several short videos that explain the basic concepts covered, and links to the homework and lecture slides.

 

Fall 2023 Detailed Schedule
Lecture	Date	Day	Lecture Topics	Reading	Recitation-Lab	Assignments
1	9/7	Th	Introduction	Chapter 1
2	9/11	M	1D-Motion	Chapter 2	1-D Motion P1	HW1 Due Sep 15
3	9/14	Th	Vectors	3.1 - 3.3
4	9/18	M	2-D Motion	3.4 - 3.5	1-D Motion P2	HW2 Due Sep 22
5	9/21	Th	Newton's Laws	4.1 - 4.5
6	9/25	M	Problem solving with Newton's Laws	4.5 - 4.7, 5.1	Newton	HW3 Due Sep 29
7	9/28	Th	Work and energy	7.1 - 7.8
8	10/2	M	Momentum	8.1 to 8.6	Energy/Work	HW5 Due Oct 6
9	10/5	Th	Rotational motion	10.1 - 10.5
10	10/9	M	Gravity	6.5	Momentum
11	10/12	Th	Hydrostatics	11.1 - 11.7
Exam 1 (Lectures 1D Motion - Gravity plus Labs) Sunday 10/15 From 3:00-4:20PM Locations by Last Name
12	10/16	M	Hydrodynamics	12.1 - 12.2	Lab-Rec-06	HW6 Due Oct 17 (1 extra day)
13	10/19	Th	Temperature and heat	13.2 - 13.2, 14.1 - 14.3
14	10/23	M	Ideal gases + Review	13.3 - 13.4	Archimedes	HW7 Due Oct 23
15	10/26	Th	First law of thermodynamics	15.1 - 15.2
16	10/30	M	Second law of thermodynamics	15.3 - 15.4, 15.6	Fluid flow	HW8 Due Oct 30
17	11/2	Th	Simple harmonic motion	16.1 - 16.4
18	11/6	M	Waves and sound	16.9 - 16.11	Ideal gas	HW9 Due Nov 6
19	11/9	Th	Waves and sound	17.1 - 17.3
Exam 2 (Lectures Hydrostatics - Waves and sound plus Labs)  Sunday 11/12 From 3:00-4:20PM Locations by Last Name
20	11/13	M	Doppler effect, interference, standing waves	17.4 - 17.5	Standing sound waves	HW10 Due Nov 14 (1 extra day)
21	11/16	Th	Electric currents and resistance	18.1 - 18.2, 20.1 - 20.4
22	11/20	M	Review		No Recitation/Lab	HW11 Due Nov 20
23	11/22	Tu(Th)*	Electric forces and fields	18.3 - 18.5
Thanksgiving Break!
24	11/27	M	Radioactivity	31.1, 31.3 - 31.5	Electric Resistance
25	11/30	Th	Electric energy and capacitance	19.1 - 19.4, 19.6 - 19.7
26	12/4	M	DC Currents	21.1 - 21.3	Radioactivity
27	12/7	Th	Review Problems
28	12/11	M	Review Problems
Final Exam (Comprehensive, i.e, all lectures/labs)   Thurs. Dec 21 12:00-3:00PM Location is Beck Hall - Auditorium.

 

Course structure

Lectures will meet in person Monday/Thursday 12:10-1:30pm, PLH. Office hours will be offered in person Mondays 2-3 PM  and Tuesdays 4-5 PM.

Recitation-Labs will meet in person, please refer to your section number to which you registered for your recitation location, day, and time.

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations must follow the procedures outlined at https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/getting-registered. Full disability policies and procedures are at https://ods.rutgers.edu/.

 

Prerequisites

01:640:112 or 115

Course materials

Textbood: OpenStax College Physiccs
A scientific calculator.

Assessment 

We will have weekly assignments. Follow the posted deadlines on Canvas. In working on the problems, you are encouraged to talk with others in the class, but you must work your own solution. No late homeworks will be accepted!  However,  two lowest homework grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Homeworks will be done online on the ExpertTA website.  There is a nominal cost (approx. $32) for the semester.   Here are instructions to sign up for it:  ExpertTA_instructions.pdf 

There will be a weekly recitation.  These will consist of a one hour probem-solving session (self-graded) and a two hour lab/workshop session.    There will be no makeup recitations for absent students!    However the two lowest lab/workshop grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

There will be two mid term exams, and a final exam during the scheduled final exam period. Details about the exams will be provided as the semester progresses. 

Your course score will be calculated as follows:

• 15% Exam 1
• 15% Exam 2
• 30% Final Exam
• 20% Lab/Workshop
• 20% Homework

Course scores will translate to letter grades as follows (subject to change):

        Score          Letter Grade
           ≥90          A
86.00 - 89.99    B+
80.00 - 85.99    B
76.00 - 79.99    C+
70.00 - 75.99    C
60.00 - 69.99    D
          <60           F

Policies

Changes: The course schedule and guidelines are subject to change. We will communicate any changes promptly and clearly. However,  it is your responsibility to make yourself aware of any changes by attending class and maintaining communication with the professors.

Face coverings: Following university policy, face coverings are not required in all indoor teaching spaces, libraries, and clinical settings.

Absences: Students are expected to attend all classes, but if you have been told to quarantine, or are experiencing symptoms of any transmissible disease, please do not attend in-person class meetings. For any excusable absence, contact the Office of The Dean of Students. 

If you miss a lecture for whatever reason:  The PDF file of the lecture will be available on Canvas shortly after the lecture.  You should get notes from fellow students.  We do not take attendance at lecture, there is no need to inform the instructors.

If you miss a recitation for whatever reason:  Get the material from your TA when you return and work it on your own.  You will not get a grade for the lab/workshop, but we will drop the two lowest lab/workshop grades at the end of the term.

If you have a conflict with an exam date:  Please inform the instructors so we can put you on the makeup exam list.  In your message include your course schedule so we can schedule the makeup exam in the least inconvenient timeslot for  everyone.  Note that although we try our best to schedule makeup exams so they do not conflict with your other courses, it is not always possible.  You may have to miss another class to take the makeup exam.

Resources for student success

The faculty and staff at Rutgers are committed to your success. Students who are successful tend to seek out resources that enable them to excel academically, maintain their health and wellness, prepare for future careers, navigate college life and finances, and connect with the RU community. Helpful resources include the Rutgers Learning Centers and school-based advising (for SAS, SOE, SEBS, and RBS). Additional resources that can help you succeed and connect with the Rutgers community can be found at https://success.rutgers.edu .

Please visit the Rutgers Student Tech Guide for resources available to all students. If you do not have the appropriate technology for financial reasons, please email the Dean of Students (deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu ) for assistance. If you are facing other financial hardships please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

 

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 contact me. Also review the Academic Integrity Policy and Academic Integrity Resources for Students.

Use of external website resources (such as Chegg.com or others) to obtain solutions to homework assignments or exams is cheating and a violation of the University Academic Integrity policy. Cheating in the course may result in grade penalties, disciplinary sanctions or educational sanctions. Posting homework assignments or exams to external sites without the instructor's permission may be a violation of copyright and may constitute the facilitation of dishonesty, which may result in the same penalties as cheating.

The Rutgers honor pledge will be included on all major assignments for you to sign: On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on this examination/assignment.

Almost all original work is the intellectual property of its authors. This includes not just books and articles, but the syllabi, lectures, slides, recordings, course materials, presentations, homework problems, exams, and other materials used in this course, in either printed or electronic form. You may not copy this work, post it online, or disseminate it in any way without the explicit permission of the instructor. Respect for an author’s efforts and intellectual property rights is an important value that members of the university community are expected to take seriously.

 

Student Wellness Services

The university provides a number of resources to support your physical and mental well-being. I list several valuable resources here and encourage you to contact me for more guidance about university resources.

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.

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.

Click here to report a bias incident

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, http://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/getting-registered