Course Syllabus

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Welcome to Physics for Sciences 1! (Course number 01:750:193.) This is the first half of an introductory algebra-based physics course. Topics include mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and gravitation. My name is Mike Gentile (mgentile@physics.rutgers.edu) and I'm the instructor for the course. This course will be offered in-person and attendance is required.

Pre-requisites: Equivalent of 01:640:112 (pre-calc 2). No physics pre-requisites.

Tech requirements: Laptop/tablet-class device for collaborating on Google docs in lab/recitation. If you do not have the appropriate technology for financial reasons, please email the Dean of Students (deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu) for assistance.

Learning goals

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This course meets SAS core curriculum natural science requirements.

  • NS-1: Students will be able to understand and apply basic principles and concepts in the physical sciences.
  • NS-2: Students will be able to explain and be able to assess the relationship among assumptions, method, evidence, arguments, and theory in scientific analysis.
  • Physics & Astronomy Department: Students who complete our introductory sequence of Physics courses demonstrate an understanding of Physics principles at a basic level.
  • Physics 193:
    • Build an understanding of fundamental physics ideas through collaboration.
    • Learn to design experiments to investigate new phenomena, test hypotheses, and solve experimental problems.
    • Learn to reason scientifically.

Topics

Here's a more detailed list of topics along with the approximate number of weeks spent on each:

  1. Kinematics (2)
  2. Newton's laws (2)
  3. Uniform circular motion (1)
  4. Static equilibrium and rotational motion (1)
  5. Momentum and impulse (1)
  6. Energy and work (2)
  7. Thermodynamics and heating (1)
  8. Gases (1)
  9. Fluids (1)
  10. Projectile motion (1)
  11. Gravitation (1)

Course materials

  • Textbook: College Physics: Explore and Apply, 2nd Edition, by Etkina, Planinsic, and Van Heuvelen. ISBN-13: 9780134601823 (Print version, see below for other options)
  • Online homework system: MasteringPhysics.

The simplest way to get everything you need is to go to the publisher's website, then choose "Mastering" on the right. There are two access options. "18-week access" works for a single semester and includes the eText. "24-month access" also includes the eText and will cover both Physics 193 and Physics 194 this coming spring. If you know you'll be taking the second part of the course then this is the best option. There is also a 2-week grace period where you can use MasteringPhysics before purchasing access. To register for the course in MasteringPhysics you'll need this:

Course ID: gentile15606

You'll be able to access the electronic version of the book within MasteringPhysics, and also through Pearson's "Pearson+" app on iOS and Android. A print version of the textbook is also available through the above website if you prefer that, but it doesn't include MasteringPhysics (which you'll need to do the homework).

Grading

Your grade in the course comes from your weighted average on these parts:

  • Lab: 15%
  • Recitation: 10%
  • Lecture classwork: 5%
  • Homework: 10%
  • Project 1 (in lab): 10%
  • Project 2 (in recitation): 10%
  • Exam 1: 10%
  • Exam 2: 15%
  • Exam 3 (not a cumulative final but held during the final exam period): 15%

Letter grades are determined in the usual way (A is 90%+, B+ is 87-89%, B is 80-86%, etc.). You can track your grade as the course progresses here:

Gradebook

Lecture

Lecture meets Mondays and Wednesdays 2:15pm-3:10pm in the Loree Classroom Building room 022 starting on Wednesday Sept. 6th. During each lecture there will be several group tasks that you'll work on. Form a group of approximately 3 people and work together on the task. Each of you needs to write your own answer on a separate sheet of paper and hand it in at the end of lecture. Make sure your name is written clearly on your work. Lecture classwork is graded entirely on effort out of 10 points.

Group work

Labs, recitations, and projects are all worked on in groups using shared Google Docs. This means you must have your laptop/tablet with you in every lab and recitation charged and ready to go. For privacy reasons you'll need to be logging in to Google services using your scarletmail.rutgers.edu email address (not a personal Google account), so make sure you can do that ahead of time.

"The Agreement"

Before getting started with the course you need to enter into an agreement with the members of your lab and recitation groups. The very first thing in each activity you work on with your group needs to be this statement from each group member:

<your full name> promises to contribute equally to all course activities and to treat everyone in the course with respect.

It is your responsibility to hold yourself to this standard, and for it to be clear to your TA and to your group members that you are doing so. I expect you to take this seriously. This is not optional. You will not be able to receive a grade for an activity until you make your own personal statement of this agreement at the top of the activity.

Lab

Labs start on Wednesday Sept. 6th in Heldrich Science Building, second floor, room 207 (HSB 207). Each lab you'll work with your group to design and perform experiments that will let you make discoveries about the world around you. Labs are scored out of 50 points. You'll learn more about how that breaks down during your first lab. You will also have the opportunity to make revisions to each lab once you've gotten feedback about your work. You'll learn how to do this once you receive your first lab grade. Here are the lab sections. If you need to reach your instructor use the Canvas Inbox.

Day/time Section Instructor
Wed 3:50pm-6:50pm 20 Mike Gentile
Wed 7:30pm-10:30pm 21 Yoon Kyo Choi
Thu 8:30am-11:30am 22 Steven Zofchak
Thu 12:10pm-3:10pm 23 Rebecca Hooker
Thu 3:50pm-6:50pm 24 Jeff Shang
Thu 7:30pm-10:30pm 28 Avery MacDonell
Fri 8:30am-11:30am 25 John Baker
Fri 12:10pm-3:10pm 26 Alec DiNapoli
Fri 3:50pm-6:50pm 27 Jeff Shang

Recitation

Recitations start on Monday Sept. 11th in Heldrich Science Building, second floor, room 207 (HSB 207). Each recitation you’ll work with your group on a set of activities involving what you just learned about in lecture. Recitation classwork is graded entirely based on effort out of 10 points. Here are the recitation sections. If you need to reach your instructor use the Canvas Inbox.

Day/time Section Instructor Learning Assistant
Mon 3:50pm-5:10pm 01 Mike Gentile Shriya Ahuja
Mon 5:40pm-7:00pm 02 Yoon Kyo Choi Shriya Ahuja
Mon 7:30pm-8:50pm 03 Avery MacDonell Richard Morales
Tue 8:30am-9:50am 04 Rebecca Hooker -
Tue 10:20am-11:40am 05 Steven Zofchak Aman Dhruve
Tue 12:10pm-1:30pm 06 John Baker Aman Dhruve
Tue 2:00pm-3:20pm 07 John Baker Aman Dhruve
Tue 3:50pm-5:10pm 08 Jeff Shang Nandini Athota
Tue 5:40pm-7:00pm 09 Jeff Shang Nandini Athota

Projects

In the two course projects you'll use your scientific reasoning abilities and knowledge of physics to carry out investigations and solve experimental problems in a more independent way. You'll work with your lab group for project 1 and your recitation group for project 2. One of the goals of the course is to train you to design your own experiments and methods to achieve specific scientific goals. The course projects is where you'll do that most. Each project has a unique format and specific details will be provided as the course progresses.

Exams

Three non-cumulative exams will be given to test you on what you have learned during the course. Tentative dates for these exams can be found in the detailed course calendar below. Each exam will consist of 5 free response questions, each worth 10 points for a total of 50 points per exam. Since they are free response questions there will be plenty of opportunity for partial credit. You can bring a calculator (graphing calculators are fine, but no mobile devices/wearables/etc.). You may also bring a single 3"x5" index card to each exam containing whatever useful information you prefer. The exam will include the same sheet of physical constants and data that is included with the practice problems (see below).

Grading Philosophy: Instead of hunting for errors in your work and taking points off, we will give you credit for what you can convince us that you understand. This means that it is possible for you to get full credit even if you make a minor mathematical error somewhere, provided it doesn't lead to an answer that is unreasonable. It also means that even if you arrive at an answer that makes sense you might not get full credit if we can't figure out the reasoning that got you there. It is your responsibility to convince us that you understand what you are doing. Let that guide your work.

Practice problems: Practice problems problems with solutions will be posted approximately one week before each exam. These problems are meant to give you a feel for the style of questions. They are not meant to be a comprehensive reference of the content that is fair game for the exam. Use the sections listed in the detailed course calendar below along with what was emphasized in all parts of the course to prioritize your studying.

Homework

We'll be using MasteringPhysics for our online homework system (see above for the CourseID). Access it here:

MasteringPhysics

An assignment will be posted each week on Thursday and corresponds to what was discussed in lecture that week. It's due the following Wednesday at 11:59pm.

There are two optional assignments. Neither of these are required and they will not affect your grade in any way. Use them in whatever way is helpful to you.

  • Introduction to MasteringPhysics: If this is your first time using MasteringPhysics it would be a good idea to work through this so you know how the system works and how grading works.
  • Physics Primer: This is a review of basic mathematical skills (scientific notation, basic algebra and trigonometry, calculator use, etc.)

Help sessions

Each week the course instructors are available outside of regular class meeting times if you'd like some additional help. Go to the "BigBlueButton" section, find "Help session", and click join. Here's the schedule. Feel free to attend anyone's help session, even if they aren't one of your TAs.

Day/time Instructor
Saturday 3:30pm-4:30pm Mike Gentile
Monday 11:00am-12:00pm Rebecca Hooker
Monday 12:00pm-1:00pm Yoon Kyo Choi
Wednesday 10:20am-11:20am Avery MacDonell
Wednesday 4:00pm-5:00pm John Baker
Thursday 1:00pm-2:00pm Alec DiNapoli
Thursday 8:00pm-900pm Jeff Shang
Friday 4:30pm-5:30pm Steven Zofchak

Detailed course calendar

These are the planned topics and matching textbook sections for each lecture. Exam dates are also listed. I'll update this after each lecture if needed.

Lecture Topics Textbook sections
1 - Wednesday 9/6 Recording (Password: 5cCjmuX2) Slides Scientific reasoning 1.1-6 (Chapter 1, sections 1-6)
2 - Monday 9/11 Recording (Password: CnpcJmu3) Slides Representations, motion diagrams 2.1-2
3 - Wednesday 9/13 Recording (Password: SuiAtye8) Slides

Force diagrams, the connection between forces and motion, position vs. time graphs, velocity vs. time graphs, constant velocity motion

 2.3-6, 3.1-3
4 - Monday 9/18 Recording (Password: NvQMnGD7) Slides

Constant acceleration motion, kinematics equations

 2.7-9
5 - Wednesday 9/20 Recording (Password: SqPpbi3r) Slides Kinematics equations part 2, Newton's 2nd law 3.5
6 - Monday 9/25 Recording (Password: MdC2dwJh) Slides

The gravitational force, the normal force, vectors, Newton's 2nd law in component form

 3.6-9, 4.1-2,4
7 - Wednesday 9/27 Recording (Password: sAzkxb3k) Slides Friction 4.3
8 - Monday 10/2 Recording (Password: eRZp2aRH) Slides Uniform circular motion 5.1-4
9 - Wednesday 10/4 Recording (Password: Xb3DvMFS) Extras (Password: Hh7dnwPD) Slides

Banked curves

Exam 1 content ends here

4.6

Exam 1 content ends here
Monday 10/9

Exam 1 (2:00pm-3:20pm)
10 - Wednesday 10/11 Recording (Password: Nyf2kFPi) Slides Limitations of Newton's 2nd law, static equilibrium, torque 3.4, 8.1-6
11 - Monday 10/16 Recording (Password: 7rA3JxC3) Extras (Password: HtFMgjb8) Slides Complex equilibrium situations No new sections
12 - Wednesday 10/18 Recording (Password: tNpZBpv5) Slides

Newton's 2nd law for rotational motion, rotational kinematics

 9.1-3
13 - Monday 10/23 Recording (Password: eTnpKuB4) Slides

Conserved quantities, momentum and impulse, collisions

 6.1-7
14 - Wednesday 10/25 Recording (Password: bVex3dpM) Slides Energy 7.1-3
15 - Monday 10/30 Recording (Password: BkgpGc38) Slides Work, system & environment 7.5-6
16 - Wednesday 11/1 Recording (Password: 5zM3KUJ6) Slides

Elastic potential energy, collisions, power

Exam 2 content ends here

7.4,7-8

Exam 2 content ends here
Monday 11/6

Exam 2 (2:00pm-3:20pm)
17 - Wednesday 11/8 Recording (Password: BiDcims4) Slides Heating, temperature changes, phase changes 15.2,5-6
18 - Monday 11/13 Recording (Password: TeeCD7rG) Slides Effects of assumptions, pressure Class notes, 12.1-2
19 - Wednesday 11/15 Recording (Password: wBUZUJg3) Slides Ideal gas law, microscopic model of a gas 12.3,5,7
20 - Monday 11/20 Recording (Password: Quincpe2) Slides

Temperature, gas processes

 12.4,6,8
21 - Monday 11/27 Recording (Password: Yv3pfxJ2) Slides

Static fluids, pressure & depth, buoyant force

 13.1-3,5
22 - Wednesday 11/29 Recording (Password: 9ZmQr34D) Slides Pascal's principle, Torricelli's experiment 13.4,6-7
23 - Monday 12/4 Recording (Password: Kmen2mC6) Slides

Fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's equation

 14.1-5,7
24 - Wednesday 12/6 Recording (Password: pXU4dMR7) Slides Projectile motion 4.5
25 - Monday 12/11 Recording (Password: qPQcV2aQ) Slides

Kepler's laws, law of universal gravitation

 5.5, lecture notes
26 - Wednesday 12/13 Recording (Password: zMpNQP6m) Slides

Gravitational potential energy, escape speed, black holes

Exam 3 content ends here

7.9, lecture notes

Exam 3 content ends here
Wednesday 12/20

Exam 3 (12:00pm-1:30pm) in Hickman Hall room 138.

 

Policies

Changes: The course schedule and guidelines are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated promptly and clearly.

Absences: Students are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss one or two classes, please use the University absence reporting website to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to your instructors.

If you have been told to quarantine, or are experiencing symptoms of any transmissible disease, please do not attend in-person class meetings. Contact the Professor to make arrangements for handling such absences.

Fostering an equitable and inclusive classroom:  All instructors, students, and staff associated with the Physics and Astronomy Department are expected to follow the Department’s Policy against Discrimination and Harassment. As stated in this policy, “The Rutgers Department of Physics & Astronomy strives to foster an academic, work, and living environment that is respectful and free from discrimination and harassment. The Department recognizes the human dignity of each member of the community and believes that each member has a responsibility to promote respect and dignity for others so that all community members are free to pursue their educational and work goals in an open environment, to participate in the free exchange of ideas, and to share equally in opportunities.”

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.

Disability Accommodations: 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

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 the Professor. 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. Several valuable resources and listed here and you are encouraged to contact the Professor for more guidance about university resources.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due