EASTFIELD COLLEGE
3737 Motley Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150
972-860 7140

PHYSICS PROGRAM GENERAL COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE NUMBER:                             PHYS1401

COURSE TITLE:                   Introductory General Physics

CREDIT HRS: 4                                    LECTURE HRS: 3                 LAB HRS: 3

INSTRUCTOR NAME AND OFFICE HOURS: _____________________________________

                e-mail: ____________________________________

CLASS TIMES: ____________________________; LAB __________________________

PREREQUISITE:  Two years of high school algebra, including trigonometry, or equivalent.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is for pre-dental, biology, premedical, pre-pharmacy, and pre-architecture majors and other students who need a two-semester technical course in physics.  Mechanics and heat are studied

TEXTBOOKS:                Physics, fifth edition, Cutnell & Johnson

                                Physics Laboratory Experiments, fifth edition, Wilson

SUPPLIES: scientific calculator, scantron grading forms, metric ruler, protractor, graph paper

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Our first goal is to help students develop a conceptual understanding of physics principles.  Secondly, a strong reasoning ability, combined with a good conceptual understanding, is the legacy that we wish to leave our students.  Finally, we want to show students that physics principles come into play over and over again in their lives.  The SCANS skill building philosophy of establishing a foundation of basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities are addressed.  The mastery of five identified competencies: resource identification, interpersonal skills, information acquisition and use, systems understanding and use, and knowledge of current technology is necessary to complete the course requirements.

METHOD OF EVALUATION (actual weights determined by instructor):

                50-75% Exams

                20-40% Laboratory Work/Reports
                10-20% Homework

                0-10% optional assignments (e.g. term paper, research report, independent studies)

GRADE INTERPRETATION:

A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Average, D = Poor, F = Failing, W = Withdrawn, I = Incomplete

CLASS ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all classes and laboratory meetings and are fully responsible for their attendance.  Students should consult with the instructor when an unavoidable absence due to an emergency or illness occurs.  Note: beepers and cellular phones must be silenced during lecture and laboratory attendance.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: for information regarding services for students with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, or information pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act and Postsecondary Education, call the Disability Services Office at 972-860-8348 (voice or TDD), or email EFCDSO@DCCCD.EDU

WITHDRAWL POLICY: To drop a class with a grade of “W” it is the students responsibility to follow the prescribed procedure as outlined in the college catalog. You must complete a drop/withdrawal request and return it to the Registrar’s Office by the semester deadline. The deadline for receiving a “W” is indicated on the academic calendar and the current class schedule.  If a student stops attending class and does not officially withdraw that student will receive a performance grade based on work completed and missed, usually a grade of “F”.

COURSE CONTENT:

Week 1

                Lecture: Introduction and Mathematical Concepts and Kinematics in One Dimension
                Laboratory:  Introduction to laboratory procedure and mathematics review

Week 2

                Lecture:  Kinematics in One and Two Dimensions
                Laboratory: Experimental Uncertainty (Error) and Data Analysis

Week 3

                Lecture: Kinematics in Two Dimensions and Forces
                Laboratory: Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Week 4

                Lecture: Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion and Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion
                Laboratory: Exam

Week 5

                Lecture: Dynamics and Work and Energy
                Laboratory: The Addition and Resolution of Vectors: The Force Table

Week 6

                Lecture: Work and Energy
                Laboratory: Friction

Week 7

                Lecture: Impulse and Momentum and Rotational Kinematics
                Laboratory: Exam

Week 8

                Lecture: Rotational Kinematics and Dynamics
                Laboratory: Conservation of Linear Momentum

Week 9

                Lecture: Rotational Dynamics and Simple Harmonic Motion
                Laboratory: Centripetal Force

Week 10

                Lecture: Elasticity and Fluids
                Laboratory: Exam

Week 11

                Lecture: Fluids and Temperature
                Laboratory: Archimedes’ Principle: Buoyancy and Density

Week 12

                Lecture: The Transfer of Heat and The Ideal Gas Law
                Laboratory: Specific Heats of Metals

Week 13

                Lecture:  Thermodynamics
                Laboratory: Exam

Week 14

                Lecture: Waves and Sound
                Laboratory: Hooke’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion

Week 15

                Lecture: The Principle of Linear Superposition and Interference Phenomena
                Laboratory: Standing Waves in a String

Week 16

                Final Exam Week