Physics-3 (544-1) Information
Period: A2
Syllabus for PHYSICS-4
Course #544
Academic Year: 2010-2011
Instructor:
Mr. J. Michael Johnson
Voice Mail:
654-2495 (x240)
e-mail: jmjohnso@salesianum.org
I. Course Description
A. Physics is the study of the relationship
between matter and energy.
B. This course is in Newtonian (Classical)
Physics.
C. Major areas of study are particle mechanics,
wave mechanics, and electricity and magnetism.
II.
Course Objectives
A. Students will gain an intuitive understanding
of physical laws.
B. Laboratory work and classroom discussion are the
basis for the development of the major physical concepts that are studied.
C. The student’s ability to use mathematics in
the solution of physical problems is also developed.
III. Classroom procedures
A.
Students are
expected to be in their seat ready to work when the bell rings at the beginning
of class. Since I must take roll each
day, I may not start until a minute or so later. Please do not interpret this delay as an
invitation to walk around. Instead, you
should be preparing yourself for class (e.g. taking out appropriate materials,
verifying homework assignment, etc.).
B.
Bring all
required materials to class with you each day.
C.
If you need
to see me about any particular concern that you may have (e.g. obtaining extra
help, signing a trip form, etc.) please approach me at
a time does not interfere with classroom activities.
IV. Required materials
A.
Textbook: Holt: Physics by R. A. Serway and J. S. Faughn, Holt,
Rinehart and Winston, 2002. ISBN
0-03-056544-8
B.
Writing
Implements (pencil or pen but no red pens for any work that is turned
in)
C.
A copy book
or section of a notebook for taking notes in class and doing homework.
D.
Calculator
E.
You may be
asked to bring other materials to class during the year as they are
needed. These include graph paper,
straightedge (metric scale), and protractor.
V. Sources of Information about this Course
A.
Mr. Johnson’s
Webpage contains teacher contact information and policies.
B.
Moodle contains schedules, due dates, Powerpoint
presentations and class handouts.
C.
Net Classroom
contains grades and comments about student progress as appropriate.
VI. Grading policy
A.
Letter grades
for each quarter will be based on your numerical quarter grade (rounded to the
nearest whole number), according to the scale published in the Student
Handbook. That scale is as follows:
A+ is not
assigned A = 93
– 100
B+ = 89 – 92 B = 85
– 88
C+ = 81 – 84 C = 77
– 80
D+ = 73 – 76 D = 70
– 72
F = 0 – 69
B.
Quarter
grades will be calculated based on grades earned from tests and written
assignments. The test average counts as
65% and the written assignment average counts as 35% of the quarter grade.
1. The test average is the numerical average of the tests
taken during the marking period.
2. The written assignment average is calculated as 100
times the total points earned on written assignments (homework and labs)
divided by the total possible points for written assignments.
C.
The final assessment
consists of a Web Assign assignment and a written exam. The written exam is
given during finals week. If the
arithmetic average of the four quarter grades is 94.5 or greater, the student
is exempt from the final assessment.
D.
Your course
grade is calculated as the arithmetic average of your four numerical quarter
grades and your final assessment grade.
The course letter grade will be assigned according to the grading scale
in part A
above with the following exception. (Exception:
If the arithmetic average of your four numerical quarter grades and
final exam grade is less than 70 but greater than or equal to 65 you will
receive a course grade of 'D' provided you received passing grades for at least
3 of the 4 quarter grades.)
VII. Absence
A.
All assigned
work, must be turned in regardless of whether you are absent on the day that it
is assigned or due. Failure to turn in
an assignment will result in a grade of M
(missing) for that assignment. A grade
of M counts as a zero.
B.
If you are
absent for one day only, you are expected to turn any written (hard copy) assignments
in immediately upon your return and submit Web Assign work by the posted due
date. If you are absent for more than
one day, you may receive an extension.
Any extensions must be requested by you immediately upon your return.
C.
Students are
expected to make a serious effort to keep up with the assigned work whenever
they are absent from class. Schedules
and assignment due dates are posted on Moodle and Web
Assign to aid you in keeping up.
VIII. Tests
A.
Tests will be
given periodically as indicated on the schedule. Usually three tests are given per quarter.
B.
Tests will be
based on the homework and lab assignments made for the material covered since
the previous test. Knowledge of physics,
however, is cumulative so students are expected to remember concepts learned in
previous chapters.
C.
Tests will
consist of general knowledge questions and/or problems, some of which, have multiple parts.
When solving these problems you must show your work as you are being
graded on your methods and accuracy.
Calculators will be permitted.
D.
Any student
absent from school on the day of a test, must take the
test immediately upon his return to class unless special arrangements to make
up the test have already been made. Students
are encouraged to email the teacher in order to make special arrangements if
they desire to do so.
E.
Students who
know that they will be absent for a test prior to the day of the test should
inform the teacher of their expected absence from the test before the test is
given so that arrangements for a make up test can be made.
F.
Any student,
who is in school but not in class on the day of a test and, as a result, misses
the test without the prior approval of the teacher, will be allowed to make up
the test but will receive a two letter grade penalty. Exceptions to this policy are possible but
extremely unlikely.
IX. Labs
A. It is important that you come to class prepared
and ready to work on lab days so that all work can be finished before the end
of the period.
B. You are to work with your assigned lab partner(s) at
your assigned table. Wandering and
socializing are not permitted and could result in expulsion from the lab. (see G below)
C. Spend your time wisely in the lab. When you are finished obtaining data, clean
up and begin working on your lab report.
D. Each student must submit his own lab written
assignments. Discussion sections will be
turned in to turnitin.com. Data, graphs and calculations will be turned
in separately. The grade will reflect
accuracy of calculations and results as well as care taken in presentation
(organization and neatness). Due dates
will be included on schedules which are periodically handed out.
E.
Even though students often work in lab groups in order
to perform experiments and gather data, the written assignments that each
student submits must be uniquely his own work.
While data may be the same, students must perform their own calculations
and formulate their own discussions and conclusions.
F. Students who are absent on the day of a lab are still
responsible for obtaining data and submitting a lab report.
G.
Failure to
conform to lab procedures could result in disciplinary action or expulsion from
the lab.
X. Homework
A. Students are expected to understand how to solve all assigned written homework problems. The tests will contain problems similar to the assigned written homework.
B. Two types of homework assignments will be made. These are Web Assign and Hard Copy.
C. Students must submit Web Assign homework to the Web Assign website on or before the due date. Due dates will be included on schedules which are periodically handed out. No late homework will be accepted in Web Assign unless the student has arranged for an extension and such extension has been granted by the teacher.
D. Students must submit hard copy (written homework) at the beginning of class on the due date. This homework will be graded based on accuracy and presentation of the work so students must show their work carefully and completely. Due dates will be included on schedules which are periodically handed out. No late hard copy will be accepted and will receive a grade of M (missing) unless the student has arranged for an extension and such extension has been granted by the teacher. A grade of M counts as a zero.
XI. Procedure for Turning in Lab Reports
and Homework
A. Written homework (hard copy) and lab reports must
be submitted by the beginning of class on the due date.
B. Labs
that are turned in late (regardless of the reason) must be handed directly to
the teacher. Do not place these
assignments on the front table and never turn your assignments in to any other
teacher (substitutes included).
C.
The following late penalties will be
assessed for written lab assignments unless an extension has been granted:
1 day
late: minus one full letter grade
2 days late: minus two full letter grades
3 days late or
more: maximum grade is 50% of the
possible points
Lab reports that are never turned in will receive a grade of zero.
D. If you are absent on the due date of an assignment, you will not receive a late penalty as long as you turn in the assignment immediately upon your return or receive an extension (granted only for absences of two days or more).
E. If the teacher is absent on the date that an assignment is due, do not turn the assignment in. It will be collected upon the return of the teacher.
F. Days late do not accrue on days that the class does not meet, on days that you are absent, or on days that the teacher is absent. Example, if you are absent on Wednesday, the due date of assignment, then the class does not meet Thursday, the teacher is absent on Friday, and you finally turn the assignment in the following Monday, the assignment is not assessed a late penalty as long as you hand it directly to the teacher.
XII. Some advice
A.
Plan on doing
45 minutes of homework each night.
Repeated practice is the key to mastery.
B.
Do not fall
behind in your work. It will make your
job more difficult.
C.
If you are
having trouble with a particular concept, see me early for extra help so that
we can go over trouble spots before a bigger problem develops.
D.
Keep in mind
that “Academic Integrity is the
expectation of every Salesianum Student.
Any student who jeopardizes this by plagiarism, cheating, or taking
another’s work will receive a zero for the assignment in question...”
(Salesianum Student Handbook, pg. 7-8).
This policy will be enforced for all submitted assignments.
XIII. General Topical
Course Outline
A. Particle
Mechanics
1.
Kinematics in One Dimension
2.
Kinematics in Two Dimensions: Vectors
3.
Forces and Dynamics
4.
Work and Energy
5.
Linear Momentum
6.
Circular Motion and Gravitation
B. Wave Mechanics
1.
Properties
of waves
2.
Sound
3.
Light
C. Electricity
and Magnetism
1.
Electrostatics
2.
Current Electricity
3.
Magnetism