DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

& ENGINEERING PHYSICS

General Physics I - Physics 2053 Syllabus
Fall Semester 2014 - University of Tulsa
Lecture Room:
Quiz Section Room:
Instructor name:
Office Location:

KEP U9
MWF
KEP M8
Thur
Eric Centauri
email:
L173 (Lower level in KEP)

1:00 pm - 1:50 pm
8:30 am - 9:20 am
eric-centauri@utulsa.edu

Office Hours
Mon 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tue 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wed 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Thur 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fri
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Semester Schedule

First day of classes: August 25

Labor Day: September 1
Thanksgiving Break: November 24 28
Course Evaluations (AS, BA, ENS & GR): November 15 - December 10
Last day of classes: December 8
Reading Days: December 9, 10
Finals: December 11, 12, 15-18
Commencement: December 20

2014

Monday

Wednesday

Week of August 25
Week of September 1
Week of September 8
Week of September 15
Week of September 22
Week of September 29
Week of October 6
Week of October 13
Week of October 20
Week of October 27
Week of November 3
Week of November 10
Week of November 17
Week of November 24
Week of December 1
Week of December 8

Ch.1 Mathematical Science

Ch.2
Ch.4 Newton's laws
Ch.5
Ch.6
Ch.7
Ch.8
Ch.10 Rotation Dynamics
Ch.11
Ch.13 Gravitation
Ch.14 Periodic motion
Ch.15 Mechanical waves
Ch.16 Sound
Exam 4

Ch.1
Ch.2 Straight motion
Ch.3 2-D and 3-D Motion
Ch.4
Ch.5
Ch.6
Ch.8 P, L, crashes
Ch.9 Rotation
Ch.10
Ch.12 Fluid mechanics
Ch.13
Ch.14
Ch.15
Ch.16

Thursday
Quiz 0
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Exam 1
Quiz 4
Quiz 5
Exam 2
Quiz 6
Quiz 7
Quiz 8
Exam 3
Quiz 9
Quiz 10

Friday
Ch.1
Ch.2
Ch.3
Ch.5 Newton's laws 2
Ch.6 Work and KE
Ch.7 PE and conservation
Ch.8
Ch.9
Ch.11 Equilibrium elasticity
Ch.12
Ch.13
Ch.14
Ch.15
Ch.16

Course Catalog Description

Mechanics, wave motion, and fluids. Primarily for science and engineering students.
Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 2014. Physics majors must take MATH 2014 as corequisite.

Course Materials You Need

Textbook
University Physics (13th edition) by Young/Freedman
Mastering Physics online homework and textbook

ISBN: 9780322189029
ISBN: 0321741250

(optional)
(Required)

Which Edition Should You Buy? Other textbooks will cover similar material, as physics II hasnt changed much
in the last 100 years. Just be aware that while the ideas will be the same, the homework problems in other books
will be different. If you get an older textbook, you will need to get the HW problems from other students.
Scientific Calculator
You may use any calculators you wish to solve the homework problems. During quizzes and exams a calculator
advanced enough to do any of the following cannot be used: the ability to send/receive information, store example
problems, save equations, run programs designed to solve physics problems. Gaining an unfair advantage with an
advanced calculator is cheating and will be met with appropriate action, as defined in the misconduct section below.

Grading
Your success in this course will be graded based on the following weight scale:
Homework average - 20%;
Quiz average - 10%;
Exams (4) - 15% each;
Final exam - 10%
The final course grade will be assigned on the following scale:
90 = % = 100 A (Superior)
80 = % < 90 B (Good)
70 = % < 80 C (Average)
60 = % < 70 D (Poor)
0 = % < 60 F (Failure)
Grades for all assignments will be continually updated on Harvey. Please check that what I have posted online matches
the graded assignments you receive each week. I will correct mistakes in grading or entering points on any previous
exams, quizzes, and homework assignments if brought to my attention before the next exam after they are returned.
If you withdraw from this course prior to the start of the fourth week of the semester, the course will not be shown on
your academic record. If you withdraw from this course after the start of the fourth week and up to and including the
twelfth week of the semester, you will receive a grade of W (withdraw).
If you are doing passing work but are unable to complete your course work due to a legitimate and documented
extenuating circumstance, you may be able to receive a grade of I (incomplete), depending on an exceptionally good
reason. When an incomplete is granted by me, a Record of Incomplete form must be completed and filed in the office of
the dean. This form, which is to be signed by me and student, should specify what must be done to remove the
incomplete and give a deadline for the completion of the unfinished work. If the unfinished work is not completed
before the deadline, your course grade will change from I to a F.

Quiz Sessions
Quiz sections will consist of one the following:
1) a) An open discussion of previous material and current homework assignment problems
b) Quiz, based on the current weeks homework
OR
2) Three of the four exams
Quizzes are closed book, closed-notes. No makeup quizzes will be given.

Homework
Weekly homework will be a major part of your grade. Assignments are designed to reinforce concepts taught in class
and to prepare you for upcoming exams. All assignments will be assigned using the online program MasteringPhysics
(http://www.masteringphysics.com/site/login.html). The course ID is
CENTAURI4572
Due dates can be found
on each assignment and in the table below. Homework solutions will be available after the due date.
All homework must be submitted on or before 11:59 p.m. on the day it is due.
Quizzes and Exams will be graded based on their:
1) physical approach;
2) relevant equations used to solve the problem;
3) solution properties - number, vector, units

HW and Quiz Schedule

Week of August 25
Week of September 1
Week of September 8
Week of September 15
Week of September 22
Week of September 29
Week of October 6
Week of October 13
Week of October 20
Week of October 27
Week of November 3
Week of November 10
Week of November 17
Week of November 24
Week of December 1
Week of December 8

HW
HW 1
HW 2
HW 3
HW 4
HW 5
HW 6
HW 7
HW 8
HW 9
HW 10
HW 11
HW 12
HW 13
HW 14
HW 15

Over chapter
Intro,MasteringPhysics
1
2
3, 4
5
6
7
8
9, 10
10, 11
12, 13
13
14
15
16

When due
Friday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Friday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Sunday

Weekly Quiz
Quiz 0
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Exam 1
Quiz 4
Quiz 5
Exam 2
Quiz 6
Quiz 7
Quiz 8
Exam 3
Quiz 9
Quiz 10
Exam 4 (Mon)

Over Chapter
Mathematics
1
2
3, 4
(1 - 4)
5, 6
7
(5 - 8)
9, 10
11
12, 13
(9 - 13)
14, 15
15, 16
(14 - 16)

Regular Exams
There will be four regular exams (each worth 15% of the final grade) held on days noted in the schedule on page 1.
Exams will be similar in format to homework and quiz problems. Exams are closed book, closed-notes. No hats that
cover your eyes may be worn during a quiz or an exam. All non-calculator electronic devices must be turned off and put
away. If you miss a regular exam for any reason other than documented university-related activities or a medical
emergency, your score for the missed exam will be a zero.
Exam topics:
1 Newtons Laws (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)
2 Energy and Rotation (Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8)
3 Fluids, Gravitation (Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
4 Waves and Sound (Chapters 14, 15, 16)

Final Exam
The final exam is scheduled on Dec 16th (Tuesday) from 1:00 p.m. 3:25 p.m.
This exam is comprehensive, covering chapters 1 16
You must take the final exam to pass this course. This exam cannot be rescheduled or made-up.

Quiz and Exam Standards

Materials submitted for grading should adhere to the following standards:
Clean, neat solutions are required. If the grader cant follow your work, you may receive less or no credit,
even if done correctly.
Show all work on Exams and Quizzes to get full credit.
Use of pencil is strongly recommended if you make a lot of mistakes.
Turn in assignments on time. No exceptions unless you have a proven emergency.
Studying together is encouraged; turning in work copied from online or from someone else is cheating.

A failure to follow all of these will result in a reduction of points on assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Academic Misconduct
There is no tolerance for cheating.
Working together on homework is encouraged; turning in work copied from online or someone else is cheating.
During quizzes and exams, gathering information from a source other than your mind is considered cheating. No
cellphones, laptops, netbooks, similar electronic communication devices, or outside notes may be used on the exams.
Using any outside materials different from those handed out during a quiz or exam will be considered an act of cheating.

Plagiarism is considered cheating.

Plagiarism is presenting the work of someone else as ones own efforts without proper acknowledgment of that
source. Paraphrasing where the basic sentence structure, phraseology and unique language remain the same as
someone elses is also plagiarism. This includes copying information directly from the textbook or a website.
For further information and assistance please check out the website: http://plagiarism.org/

The minimum penalty for cheating is a zero grade on the assignment/exam. In all cases of academic dishonesty I will
follow the procedures contained in the document titled College of Engineering & Natural Sciences Academic Misconduct
Policy.pdf which can be found on Harvey as well as on the University website.
http://www.utulsa.edu/academics/colleges/collins-college-of-business/Advising/Academic-Policies/AcademicMisconduct.aspx

Why do I have to take Physics?

Many students taking Physics question why such difficult courses not offered by their department are required.
There are a few big reasons for teaching the introductory year of Physics:

Physics is the study of nature and the universe around us through the application of mathematic and scientific principles.
Physics goes about solving questions by emphasizing how to look at a problem and figure out which information is
useful, along with understanding what ideas might get you to the answer you are looking for. Being exposed to this type
of approach will help you solve problems that you encounter in any field you study and also in your daily life.

Many of the most powerful ideas we have learned about the world and the universe around us come from ideas taught in
Physics and other science courses that use physical concepts. To understand the meaning and the implications of these
ideas requires an understanding that comes from studying physics. Some of these powerful ideas include:

The universe is regular and predictable.

The laws of nature are the same in all frames of reference.
Material properties are determined by the identity & arrangement of atoms.
The nucleus is made of particles, these particles are made of quarks.
Life is based on chemistry, and the behavior of molecules depends on their shape.
All living things share the same genetic code, DNA.
The Earth follows natural cycles.
Stars live and die like everything else.
The energy of a closed system is conserved.
Heat will not flow spontaneously from a cold body to a hot body.
The universe began in a spontaneous Big Bang expansion.

The ideas covered in physics are applicable to practically every field, such as engineering, biology, chemistry,
astronomy, and geology, often with questions that dont appear to be physics problems at first glance. Consider these:
1) Which laser type and frequency is best used for MRI scans to look for epilepsy in frontal lobes of the brain?
2) What offset should the guitar amps be set to for the band Muse when playing in the BOK center?
3) How much should the clocks on satellites in orbit be adjusted to account for relativistic time dilation?
4) What circuit resistances should be used in order to reproduce the full range of sound on an iPad?
5) Could a different molecular configuration give our composite material a better strength to weight ratio?
6) You might one day work with devices that directly depend on physical concepts such as circuits, cooling
towers, engines, sound equipment, MRI devices, bridges, touch screens, or drilling devices.
7) Learning how to work physics problems hones reasoning and logic skills, which will prove invaluable in your
daily lives.

In this course we will study ideas, concepts, and equations that will enable you to answer and master each of these.

How to Improve Your Grade

Skim the related sections of the textbook before coming to class.
Write down questions you have during lecture and while doing homework problems. Ask these questions during Quiz
sections or in office hours.
Attend office hours.
I hold these multiple times every week to help you in a one-on-one setting. Use these for questions about lecture or
book material, trouble with homework problems, reviewing material for upcoming exams, or any other questions youd
like answered. No appointments are necessary to attend my office hours.
Save all of your notes in one notebook. Try to keep it organized.
Keep scratch work from your homework assignments. Refer to it when preparing for exams.
Instead of memorizing solutions to specific problems, try to focus instead on the reason certain equations are used.
Equations are like tools (wrench, screwdriver, tape, ruler) think about what types of situations need these objects.
As the course goes on try to look at physics problems much the same way. Train yourself to ask, Here is what I have
been given, what equation is appropriate for this situation?
Read the related sections of the textbook before starting the homework and before taking exams.
Start early on your assignments so that you can come to office hours if you need help. Dont get into the habit of
staying up late the night before assignments are due. Get some sleep!
Do all the problems in each homework. The homework grade has more weight than an exam.
Working extra problems outside of the HW will improve your test taking ability. Do as many of the posted practice
problems before exams as you can without looking at the solutions. Then go through the solutions a second time.
Many additional resources are available for free on the internet:
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02-electricity-and-magnetism-spring-2002/video-lectures/
https://www.khanacademy.org/
The Center for Student Academic Support on campus has many free resources such as math and physics tutoring.
http://www.utulsa.edu/student-life/Center-for-Student-Academic-Support/About-the-Center.aspx

The Amber Spyglass