PHYSICS 7 – SYLLABUS – SPRING 2008

Ticket No. 3356

 

INSTRUCTOR:                Richard Rains

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

                                    Email: rgrains@yahoo.com

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:          “Physics” by Cutnell and Johnson, 7th edition, Vol. 2

                                    “Physics 7 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 electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics.

 

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 electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics

 

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

 

GRADING:                     The final grade will be determined by:

 

                                    Tuesday quizzes                       20% of final grade

 

                                    Thursday mini-quizzes               10%

 

                                    Midterm Exam: Tues. April 8

                                    (Chapters 18-24)                        20%

 

                                    Final Exam: Tues. May 27 

                                    (Chapters 25-31)                       20%

 

                                    Weekly Homework:                   10%

 

                                    Lab Reports:                            10%

 

                                    Lab Exam: Tues. May 20             10%

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

QUIZZES: At the beginning of the lab session, Tuesday 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 Thursday 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 semester, 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 7: Chapter 18, Electrical Forces and Fields (no mini-quiz)

 

Feb 14: Chapter 19, Electrical Potential Energy and Potential

 

Feb. 21: Chapter 20, Electrical Circuits, Part I

 

Feb. 28: Chapter 20, Electrical Circuits, Part II

 

March 6: Chapter 21, Magnetic Forces and Fields

 

March 13: Chapter 22, Electromagnetic Induction

 

March 20: Chapter 23, A-C Current and Circuits

 

March 27: Spring Break

 

April 3: Chapter 24, Electromagnetic Waves

 

April 8 (Tues): Midterm Exam Chapters 18 - 24

 

April 10: Chapter 25, Reflection of Light

 

April 17: Chapter 26, Refraction of Light, Lenses, and Optical Instruments

 

April 24: Chapter 27, Interference and Waves

 

May 1: Chapter 28, Special Relativity

 

May 8: Chapter 29, Particles and Waves

 

May 15: Chapter 30, Atomic Theory

 

May 20: (Tues) Lab Final Exam

 

May 22: Chapter 31, Nuclear Physics

 

May 27: (Tues): Final Exam Chapters 25 - 31

 

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.