Physics 371 Syllabus

Hampton Roads Academy

Instructor: Dr. Robert Williams

Office: Room 21

Contact: 884-9126 (office)

223-7191 (home)

E-mail: RWilli@hra.org

Web: http://www.hra.org/~rwilli

Textbook: Holt Physics, Serway & Faughn (2006).

Course Description:

An introductory course exploring the relationships between matter and energy in nature with applications in daily life. The emphasis is on conceptual physics with mathematics used as a guide to consistent and correct thinking. Topics include: mechanics, gravitation, light, sound, waves, thermodynamics, atomic and nuclear physics. Students will perform experiments and write lab reports interpreting their lab experiences.

Course Objectives:

· To guide students into an exploration of the cause-effect relationships in nature manifest in physical laws

· To encourage students to recognize physics in their daily lives (sports, weather, cell phones, cars, etc.)

· To provide a broad base exposure to modern scientific theories and their technological applications

Methods of Instruction:

· Lectures covering major concepts with simple problem solving examples and strategies.

· Classroom discussions and interactive problem solving activities

· Lunch time help-sessions (available for one-on-one instruction with students in all sections).

· Use of audio-visual equipment (computer screen projector, laserdisc, videos, etc.).

· Use of demonstrations (including virtual demos: internet java physics sites).

· Laboratory experiments to reinforce concepts behind abstract mathematical formalism.

Grading/Student Evaluations:

Students will be evaluated based on their cumulative Lab, Quiz, Test and Exam averages.

The weighting of each course component has been adjusted so that a maximum of 40 points are earned in each grade period (quarter). The mid-term exam is worth 20% of the Semester I grade, and the final exam is worth 20% of the Semester II grade. The final course grade will be determined from the average of the Semester I and Semester II grades. The precise method of determining the grades is summarized below:

Quarter Grade% = ( 0.10*Test% + 0.15*Lab% + 0.15*QuizAve%)/40*100

Semester I

Semester I Grade% = 0.40* (1^st Quarter% + 2^nd Quarter%) + 0.20*MidTermExam%

Semester II

Semester II Grade% = 0.40*(3^rd Quarter% + 4^th Quarter%) + 0.20*FinalExam%

Final Grade% = 0.5*(Semester I Grade% + Semester II Grade%)

++ Lab grades will be determined based on the quality of lab reports in each marking period. Students must follow the “Guidelines for Lab Reports”, which are available online (www.hra.org/~rwilli). Students have the option to submit rough drafts for critical feedback to improve the quality of their final reports. Although lab data is taken in groups and analyzed cooperatively in the computer lab, all students are expected to write individual reports which express their individual observations, understanding of the theory, procedure, results and conclusions. Plagiarism is a student honor code violation, and will not be tolerated. Any evidence of plagiarism will be presented to the student honor council for disciplinary action.

Lab reports are due exactly one week before the last day of each marking period (unless otherwise indicated)

Physics Lab Schedule

Semester I

General PHYSICS 371 Honors PHYSICS 375

1^st Grading Period

Lab 1.1 Motion Motion

Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration

Gravitational Acceleration Gravitational Acceleration

Lab 1.2 Air Resistance Projectile Range

Terminal Velocity Ballistic Pendulum

2^nd Grading Period

Lab 2.1 Simple Harmonic Motion Air Resistance Force Law

Hooke's Law Terminal Velocity

Spring/Pendulum Oscillations Drag Coefficient

Lab 2.2 Centripetal Force or Friction Rocket Lab

Whirly-Gig Field Measurement

Computational Spreadsheet

Physics Lab Schedule

Semester II

General PHYSICS 371 Honors PHYSICS 375

3^rd Grading Period

Lab 3.1 Static Equilibrium Conservation of Energy

Torque Balance Video Analysis

Lab 3.2 Calorimeter Moment of Inertia and Torque

Specific Heat Angular Acceleration

Heat of Fusion

Archimedes’ Principle

Lab 3.3 Ideal Gas Law Simple Harmonic Motion

Virtual Lab Hooke’s Law

Spring/Pendulum Oscillations

4^th Grading Period

Lab 4.1 Waves Waves

Traveling L vs T Traveling/Standing

Lab 4.2 Speed of Sound Speed of Sound

Resonance Tubes Resonance Tubes

Video Measurement Video Measurement

Lab 4.3 Geometric Optics Thin Lenses (Optical Bench)

Reflection/Refraction Index of Refraction, Focal Length

Snell's Law Apparent Depth

Physics Lab/Quiz/Test/Exam Schedule

Semester I

Grade Period 1 Lab (15 pts) Quiz (15 pts) Test (10 pts)

#1.1 Aug. 26 #1.1 Sep. 12 #1 Oct. 17

#1.2 Sep. 17 #1.2 Oct. 1

#1.3 Oct. 14

***** Lab Reports Due: Friday, Oct. 10 *****

_____________________________________________________________________________

Grade Period 2 Lab (15 pts) Quiz (15 pts) Test (10 pts)

#2.1 Oct. 23 #2.1 Fri. 31 #2 Dec. 8

#2.2 Nov. 5 #2.2 Nov. 21

#2.3 Dec. 5

***** Lab Reports Due: Wednesday, Dec. 3 *****

Mid-Term Exam (20 pts): Wednesday, Dec. 17^th

Physics Lab/Quiz/Test/Exam Schedule

Semester II

Grade Period 3 Lab (15 pts) Quiz (15 pts) Test (10 pts)

#3.1 Jan. 6 #3.1 Jan. 23 #3 Feb. 27

#3.2 Jan. 28 #3.2 Feb. 11

#3.3 Feb. 24

***** Lab Reports Due: Friday, Feb. 20 *****

_________________________________________________________________________

Grade Period 4 Lab (15 pts) Quiz (15 pts) Test (10 pts)

#4.1 Mar. 5 #4.1 Apr. 3 #4 May 22

#4.2 Mar. 26 #4.2 Apr. 30

#4.3 May. 18

***** Lab Reports Due: Tuesday, May 19 *****

***** Senior Lab Reports Due: Wednesday, April 29 *****

Final Exam (20 pts): Monday, June 1

Physics 371 Course Outline :

I. Newtonian Mechanics

A. Kinematics (including vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity, acceleration)

1. Motion in 1-Dimension (graphical representations; slope/area connections)

2. Motion in 2-Dimensions (projectile motion, uniform circular motion)

B. Newton’s Laws of Motion

1. Static Equilibrium.

2. One body systems (applications of 2nd law)

3. Two body systems (applications of 3rd law)

C. Work, Energy, Power

1. Work-Energy theorem

2. Conservative forces and potential energy

3. Conservation of energy

4. Power

D. Systems of Particles/Linear Momentum

1. Impulse and momentum

2. Conservation of linear momentum (collisions)

E. Rotation/Angular Momentum

1. Torque (rotational acceleration and equilibrium)

2. Moment of inertia

3. Angular momentum (conservation of angular momentum)

F. Oscillations (Periodic Systems)/Newton’s Law of Gravitation

1. Simple harmonic motion

2. Mass on a spring

3. Pendulum

4. Universal Law of Gravitation (orbits, Kepler’s Laws)

II. Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics

A. Temperature and Heat

1. Specific and latent heat (calorimetry).

2. Heat transfer (Newton’s law of cooling).

3. Thermal expansion

B. Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics

1. Ideal gases

2. Laws of thermodynamics (Carnot cycle, heat engines, entropy)

III. Waves and Optics

A. Wave motion

1. Traveling and standing waves

2. Doppler effect

3. Superposition (resonance)

B. Physical Optics

1. Geometric Optics (reflection/refraction with mirrors and lenses)

2. Interference and diffraction

3. Dispersion of light and electromagnetic spectrum

(Part II):

IV. Electricity and Magnetism

A. Electrostatics

1. Charge, field, potential

2. Coulomb’s law

B. Conductors, Capacitors and Dielectrics

C. Electric Circuits (equivalent resistance, capacitance, steady state power)

D. Magnetostatics

1. Forces on moving charges in magnetic fields