General Physics
Instructor- Chuck Iverson
- Office Hours: MESA/Learning Center
- Office: 18-106
- Office Phone: (650) 306-3253
- Email: iverson@smccd.edu
- Web Page: http://www.civerson.com
Class Location and Meeting Times
- Building 22, Room 116
- 8:10-9:25 am MW (Lecture)
- 9:45-11:00 MW or 8:10-11:00 F (Lab in 16-106, Dr. Digel)
Prerequisite
- Math 130 (Trigonometry) with a grade of C or better
Materials
- College Physics (1st Edition) by Giordano
- WebAssign: https://www.webassign.net/login.html
Grading
- Homework (20%)
- Exams and Quizzes (50%)
- Labs (20%)
- Final Project (5%)
- Class Participation (5%)
Course Description
Study of mechanics (displacement, velocity, acceleration, forces, torques, momentum, energy), sound and heat.
Sample Student Learning Objectives
- Analyze the motion of a mass which is subject to several different forces.
- Analyze the motion of masses in an elastic collision using the concepts of momentum and energy.
Homework
Reading the textbook and doing the assigned exercises are the most important work students can do between classes to insure understanding of concepts and to develop skill in applying problem solving techniques. Consequently, exercises contribute 20% to the final grade. All homework is done online through WebAssign: https://www.webassign.net/login.html. The class key to enroll in WebAssign is: canadacollege 8491 0028.
Class Notes and Assignments
http://www.civerson.com/P210/
Exams and Quizzes
Three midterm exams will be given during the semester. Each midterm exam will cover three to five chapters. You may have one sheet of notes for each exam. See the tentative schedule below for the dates of the exams. Quizzes may be given during the first 15 minutes of each class, based on the material discussed in the previous class. The average of your top ten quiz scores will count as one exam score. The homework average after the last midterm exam will also count as one exam score (as well as contribute to the homework average).
Make-Up Exams
A make-up exam will be offered to any student who scores less than his or her homework average on a particular exam. Before taking a make-up exam, a student must meet with me to review his or her original exam. A make-up exam score will be limited to a student's current homework average. A make-up exam score will replace an original exam score only if the make-up exam score is higher.
Expectations
I can help you succeed in this class, but I can't succeed for you. In this class you're expected to be responsible for your own academic success.
- That means you are expected to attend class and to arrive on time (2 lates equals 1 absence, more than 4 absences leads to a drop).
- If you're going to miss class, you should notify me ahead of time, either by phone or email.
- You are expected to contribute to class discussions and to ask questions when something is not clear.
- You are expected to do your homework assignments before the class when they are due and to seek help from me or your classmates or a tutor if you are having difficulty completing them.
- You should check the class notes and assignments link (top right of this page) if you miss class. All class assignments, exam solutions, sample code and special notes will be posted at this web site after class.
- You are expected to see me during office hours for additional help or to take make-up exams.
Instructor's Fall 2011 Class Schedule
My class schedule, below, shows when and where I'm on campus. The best way to contact me if I'm not on campus is via email. I check my email several times a day. I have my email automatically sorted by the first 4 characters in the subject field. For this class, the subject line of the email should begin with P210.
Tentative Topic Schedule
| Monday | Wednesday |
|---|---|
| 8/17 - Chapter 1 Introduction |
|
| 8/22 - Chapter 2 Motion, Forces and Newton's Laws |
8/24 - Chapter 2 Motion, Forces and Newton's Laws |
| 8/29 - Chapter 3 Forces and Motion in One Dimension |
8/31 - Chapter 3 Forces and Motion in One Dimension |
| 9/05 - Labor Day Holiday | 9/07 - Chapter 4 Forces and Motion in Two and Three Dimensions |
| 9/12 - Chapter 4 Forces and Motion in Two and Three Dimensions |
9/14 - Chapter 5 Circular Motion and Gravitation |
| 9/19 - Chapter 5 Circular Motion and Gravitation |
9/20 - Exam on Chapters 1-5 |
| 9/26 - Chapter 6 Work and Energy |
9/28 - Chapter 6 Work and Energy |
| 10/03 - Chapter 7 Momentum, Impulse and Collisions |
10/05 - Chapter 7 Momentum, Impulse and Collisions |
| 10/10 - Chapter 8 Rotational Motion |
10/12 - Chapter 8 Rotational Motion |
| 10/17 - Chapter 9 Energy and Momentum of Rotational Motion |
10/19 - Chapter 9 Energy and Momentum of Rotational Motion |
| 10/24 - Exam on Chapters 6-9 | 10/26 - Chapter 11 Harmonic Motion and Elasticity |
| 10/31 - Chapter 11 Harmonic Motion and Elasticity |
11/02 - Chapter 12 Waves |
| 11/07 - Chapter 12 Waves |
11/09 - Chapter 13 Sound |
| 11/14 - Chapter 13 Sound |
11/16 - Exam on Chapters 11-13 |
| 11/21 - Chapter 14 Temperature and Heat |
11/23 - Chapter 14 Temperature and Heat |
| 11/28 - Chapter 15 Gases and Kinetic Theory |
11/30 - Chapter 15 Gases and Kinetic Theory |
| 12/05 - Chapter 16 Thermodynamics |
12/07 - Chapter 16 Thermodynamics |
| 12/09 - Friday Final Project Presentations |
12/16 - Friday Final Project Presentations |