Course Syllabus

Physics 161: Elements of Physics
01:750:161

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Instructor

Prof. Frank Zimmermann (fmz@physics.rutgers.edu)

Course/Workshop Administrator

Prof. Daniel Friedan (friedan@physics.rutgers.edu) 

Office Hours

All students are welcome to attend any of the instructors' office hours. Whatever works for you!

Prof. Zimmermann <fmz@physics.rutgers.edu>: Tuesdays 2:00 - 3:00 PM in Nanophysics Lab 204.

Prof. Friedan <friedan@physics.rutgers.edu)>:  Friday December 12, 2:00PM - ? on Zoom at Zoom_link

Subham Das <sd1247@physics.rutgers.edu>: Tuesdays 6:15-7:15 PM on Zoom at Zoom_link
                                                                               and by appointment (by email) in SRN-208W

Yigit Pektas <yigit.epektas@rutgers.edu> Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 PM on Zoom at Zoom_link.

Zain Kamal <zain.eris.kamal@rutgers.edu>: 
    - Friday, 5-6 PM — in our classroom (SRN-231).
    - Saturday-Tuesday, anytime — on Zoom, just email beforehand to set up a time.

Learning assistants

section 3: Heer Desai <hcd27@scarletmail.rutgers.edu>

section 4: Yueyang Zhong <yz1539@scarletmail.rutgers.edu>

section 6: Abhinav Khanna <ak2745@scarletmail.rutgers.edu>

section 7: Sree Phaneesh Chakilam <sc2436@scarletmail.rutgers.edu>

section 8: Andrew Shih <ats197@scarletmail.rutgers.edu>

Course Description

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

Supplementary materials are accessible through the Modules link.  Each Module has several short videos that explain the basic concepts covered, and links to practice HW-type problems.

Learning Goals

SAS Core Curriculum Learning Goals for the Natural Sciences

  • 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.

Course Specific 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 principles of magnetism and electromagnetic induction. 
  • Understand basic elements of atomic and nuclear structure and principles behind radioactivity. 

Prerequisites

Precalculus (01:640:112 or 115)

Lectures

Tuesday/Friday 12:10-1:30 pm, Physics Lecture Hall

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 Physics & Astronomy Building SRN-231 (Enter through Allison Road Entrance).

Course materials

Textbook: OpenStax College Physics 2e (free).

Student Solution Manual.

A scientific calculator.

A laptop computer.

ExpertTA subscription for homework (join by clicking on HW assignment in Canvas).

iClicker subscription for lecture participation (click to join). Detailed instructions are here.

Supplementary Materials:  Check the Modules page for supplementary problems with solutions, and videos explaining basic concepts.

Grading

  • Workshops: 25%
  • Homework: 20%
  • I-clickers: 10%
  • Midterm Exam: 20%
  • Final Exam: 25%

 Grade Cutoffs (nominal - may be adjusted slightly):

A  85% to 100%
B+  80% to 85%
B  75% to 80%
C+  70% to 75%
C  63% to 70%
D  55% to 63%

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.

Absences: Students are expected to attend all classes, but if you fell sick or are experiencing symptoms of any transmissible disease, please do not attend in-person class meetings. 

If you miss a lecture for whatever reason:  The professor's lecture notes will be available on Canvas (Course Schedule page) shortly after the lecture.  You should get notes from fellow students.  The two lowest iclicker scores will be dropped at the end of the term. This covers excused as well as unexcused absences.

Students who miss a recitation should attend a later recitation the same week, informing both TAs and the 161 Admin.  If this is not possible, 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. This covers excused as well as unexcused absences.

If you miss a homework, there will be no extension of due dates, since the answers will be published.  However, we will drop the two lowest homeworks at the end of the term.

Preparing for lab/recitations:  Every Thursday, the lab manual and worksheet for the next week's lab/recitations will be published on Canvas.  Students are encouraged to prepare for the lab/recitations by studying these in advance.  No copying/pasting is allowed during the lab/recitation.  During the recitations, students should refer only to the online lab manual and their lecture notes.

Academic Integrity

Rutgers University takes academic dishonesty very seriously. By enrolling in this course, you assume responsibility for familiarizing yourself with the Academic Integrity PolicyLinks to an external site. 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
  • Participating in iclicker sessions while not physically present in the lecture hall
  • 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
  • Unauthorized collaboration
  • Sabotaging another student’s work
  • Using AI such as ChatGPT

If in doubt, please contact the Professor. Also review the Academic Integrity PolicyLinks to an external site. and Academic Integrity Resources for StudentsLinks to an external site..

Use of external resources (such as Chegg, CourseHero, or ChatGPT) 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.

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.

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 CentersLinks to an external site. and school-based advising (for SASLinks to an external site., SOELinks to an external site., SEBSLinks to an external site., and RBSLinks to an external site.). Additional resources that can help you succeed and connect with the Rutgers community can be found at https://success.rutgers.edu.Links to an external site....

Please visit the Rutgers Student Tech GuideLinks to an external site.   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 AidLinks to an external site..

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-guidelinesLinks to an external site.. 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.Links to an external site.

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.