PHYSICS 6 – SYLLABUS – SPRING 2008

Ticket No. 3371

 

INSTRUCTOR:                      Richard Rains

                                                Voice Mail (24 hrs) (818) 364-7702

                                                Email: rgrains@yahoo.com

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:             “Physics” by Cutnell and Johnson, 7th edition, Vol. 1

                                                “Physics 6 Lab Book”

 

OFFICE HOURS:                  Tu - Thu 12:10 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: a survey of basic physics using algebra and trigonometry, with emphasis on mechanics, solids, heat, and waves.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.                      demonstrate understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis

 

2.                     explore nature and natural phenomena in the context of physics, dealing with matter, motion, energy, heat, and waves

 

3.                     acquire, analyze and graph scientific data collected with instruments during laboratory experiences.

 

GRADING:                            The final grade will be determined by:

 

                                                Monday quizzes                                 20% of final grade

 

                                                Wednesday mini-quizzes                  10%

 

                                                Midterm Exam: Mon. April 7

                                                (Chapters 1-6)                                   20%

 

                                                Final Exam: Mon June 2      

                                                (Chapters 7-13 & 16)                       20%

 

                                                Weekly Homework:                          10%

 

                                                Lab Reports:                                      10%

 

                                                Lab Exam: Mon. May 19                  10%

Grades will be posted on the internet at: http://rerains.freeservers.com/

QUIZZES: At the beginning of the lab session, Monday of each week, there will be a one-hour, closed-book quiz. The quiz will be given only at the beginning of the lab session. If a quiz is missed, no make-up quiz will be given, and missed quizzes will be recorded as zero. However, to account for personal emergencies, the two lowest quiz grades will be dropped at the end of the semester

 

MINI-QUIZZES: A study assignment is given each week, with a mini-quiz at the beginning of each Wednesday lecture period (see schedule below). Only students who arrive during the first 15 minutes may take the mini-quiz. If a mini-quiz is missed, no make-up mini-quiz will be given, and missed mini-quizzes will be recorded as zero. However, the two lowest mini-quiz grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

HOMEWORK: Homework is accepted only during the first 15 minutes of the class period on the day it is due. No late homework is accepted under any circumstances. However, the two lowest homework grades will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

LAB: The lab exam is an open-lab-report exam, so good quality and complete reports will greatly aid in taking this exam.

 

No make-up labs will be given, but the one lowest lab report grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

If a student misses a lab activity, he/she is still responsible for questions about that activity on the final examination.

 

At then end of the semeseter, if more than two lab reports have not been submitted, the student will be given an Incomplete in the course.

 

MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS: Exams are closed book. No early or late final exams will be given under any circumstances. Please arrange your life accordingly.

 

Cell Phone Policy: Please turn off or silence cell phones before entering the classroom as a courtesy to other students.

 

Grading scale for quizzes, mini-quizzes, tests and final course grade:

 

 90 – 100 = A,           75 – 89 = B,       65 – 74 = C,           40 – 64 = D

 

Last Day to drop the class without a "W": March 3

 

Last Day to drop the class with a "W":        May 5

 

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to drop the class. After the final census date, the instructor is not responsible to exclude students who have become inactive.

 

 

 

Reading Assignments for mini-quizzes:

 

Feb 6: Chapter 1, Units and Vectors (no mini-quiz)

 

Feb 13: Chapter 2, Kinematics in One Dimension

 

Feb. 20: Chapter 3, Kinematics in Two Dimensions

 

Feb. 27: Chapter 4.1 – 4.6, Forces

 

March 5: Chapter 4.7 – 4.12: Forces

 

March 12: Chapter 5, Circular Motion

 

March 19: Chapter 6, Work and Energy

 

March 26: Spring Break                 

 

April 2: Quiz and midterm review

 

April 7 (Monday) Midterm Exam Ch 1 - 6

 

April 9: Chapter 7, Impulse and Momentum

 

April 16: Chapter 8, Rotational Kinematics

 

April 23: Chapter 9,  Rotational Dynamics

 

April 30: Chapter 10, Harmonic Motion

 

May 7: Chapter 11, Fluids

 

May 14: Chapter 12 and Chapter 13, Temperature and Heat, and Heat Transfer

 

May 21: Chapter 16, Waves and Sound

 

IPOD POLICY: Please remove all ear buds and headphones upon entering the classroom..

ETHICS POLICY: Any student found to be cheating on any quiz or test will receive an immediate zero on that activity. Cheating on the Final Exam will result in a grade of F for the class.

DATES listed on this syllabus may change. Each student is responsible for current class announcements, whether he/she is present in class or not.