|
APPLIED PHYSICS 1 - Spring 2014
SYLLABUS
Lectures:
MWF Period 6 (12:50 - 1:40 pm) in 1001 NPB
Textbook:
Technical Physics by F. Bueche and D. Wallach (4th ed., John Wiley
& Sons, 1994)
Reference Books:
Applied Physics by A. Beiser (Schaum's Outline Series) (optional)
College Physics by F. Bueche (Schaum's Outline Series)
Aim: This course will be a survey of basic physics
and
some of its practical applications to the world around us. Topics in
mechanics, properties of materials, heat and vibratory motion will be
covered. The principal goal will be to show how physical principles and
scientific ways of thinking can be turned to many real-life situations.
The problem-solving skills you pick up in this course will prove very
useful in your own
field of specialization.
Your job: You should attend all lectures to learn
about the basic concepts and how to apply them in solving problems, and
also to hear any special announcements. Since a large amount of
material is covered, it is essential
that you read the textbook concurrently with the lectures to strengthen
your understanding of physical principles. Finally, you should work
diligently at the homework assignments, which--although they are not
collected or graded--form a key part of the course.
SOLUTIONS MANUAL: A solutions guide to selected
homework problems and to old exam problems will be put together by the
Society of Physics Students (NPB 2229) and will be available for
purchase at Target Copy. SPS uses the proceeds to fund its activities.
This guide is highly recommended, though it should be consulted only
after considerable time has been spent attempting to do the homework
problems. Old exams that you can download are posted on the course WEB
PAGE. Students usually find these helpful in studying for the current
exams.
Problem-solving: This provides a good measure of
your understanding of basic principles by testing your ability to
combine different physical concepts as they apply to unfamiliar
situations--something which is crucial if you are ever to apply Physics
in ypur careers. Problem-solving is a skill that has to be
developed, and everyone benefits from practice. Your grade in this
course will based solely on your success at solving problems in the
mid-term and final exams, so there will be a direct payoff for your
effort. You should be capable of earning an average grade on the course
if you have successfully worked through all the assigned homework
problems (see schedule). If you are aiming for a B or better, you
should
expect to do additional problems.
Try each problem on your own first. Consult your notes or the textbook
for statements of basic principle or fundamental equations, which you
aren't expected to memorize, even for the exams. If you get stuck, talk
the problem over with a friend, come to see me during office hours,
or--in case of an assigned homework problem--look up the solution in
the course handout. Whenever you need help to complete a problem it is
essential, though, that you consolidate your new understanding by
successfully doing another problem of the same type by yourself.
Exams: There will be three mid-term exams, and a
comprehensive final, each in multiple choice format. You must bring
photo ID (which will be checked) and No. 2 pencils (bring more than 1)
to each exam. You may also bring a formula sheet, a calculator, and
blank scratch paper, but no other materials.
SCHEDULE FOR MIDTERM EXAMS (subject to change):
An exam consisting of up to10 questions will be given in class.
Exam 1: (Tentative) Wednesday, February 19.
Exam 2: (Tentative) Friday, March 19.
Exam 3: (Tentative) Friday, April 18
Final Exam: FINAL Exam, May 1, 12:50–11:40 pm,
NPB 1001
The exams will emphasize physical reasoning rather than memorization of
facts. This reasoning will be developed by steady work over the entire
semester, not by last-minute cramming. During the later stages of your
prepation for each exam, you may want to work through the corresponding
sample exams which are posted at the course web site. You will find
that a significant number of the questions are closely based on the
examples worked out in class. However, the exam questions are not
grouped chapter-by-chapter, so you may need practice in identifying
which principles are being tested, and which equations should be used,
in each problem.
Memorization of the way to solve a given problem is not the way to go.
Rather, think about the equations that are needed to solve the problem,
why those equations are needed, and how they are related to each other.
In this connection, you should find it useful to divide all of the
physical quantities that appear in a problem into those whose values
are known and those unknown. You have to find a number of independent
equations equal to the number of unknowns, and which, of course,
contain all of the unknowns of the problem but no others. Then you can
solve for the unknowns. It turns out that a certain type of
memorization, namely, of all the important equations, is in fact useful
here. Then you can quickly jot down equations until you find the right
ones for a problem.
HONOR CODE:
Students are neither to give or receive any unauthorized aid on any of
the examinations (though they may work together on the homework
problems).
We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold
ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and
integrity.
Grades: There will be FOUR exams; three mid-term
exams and one final exam. The final exam will be comprehensive and
include all material covered in the course and is required. The
best two scores
of
the three mid-term exams will count equally for the final
grade.
In addition to the scores associated with the scheduled exams (the sum
of which has a maximum of 100), you will be able to obtain up to 4
extra points, based on your performance involving the Student Response
System that the Department has adopted.
Letter grades will be assigned by slightly curving the overall
scores. The
grade
ranges vary slightly from semester to semester, but the following is
typical:
≥92
|
A |
|
B- |
≥38
|
D+ |
≥83 |
A- |
≥52 |
C+ |
≥35 |
D |
≥72
|
B+ |
≥45
|
C |
≥32
|
D- |
≥64
|
B |
≥42
|
C- |
<32
|
E |
You are required to purchase a
responder that is used to record your answers to designated questions
(quizzes) posed in class. (The responder can later be re-sold.) During
lecture,
questions will be posed and you will be given typically 1-3 minutes to
choose the correct answer from the displayed multiple-choice list. The
question may involve any relevant topic, such as material covered the
previous lecture, material you should have read in advance, a
demonstration performed in class, etc. You will receive a cumulative
average Response System score of 0-4 points, based on performance,
which will be added to your total exam score at the end of the
semester. For each quiz itself, 2 points will be given for a correct
answer, 1 point for an incorrect answer, and 0 points for no response
at all.
Make-ups: Unless
superseded by a valid excuse a missed exam will result in a zero. Valid
excuses are officially sanctioned UF events, medical excuses or family
emergencies. Acceptable excuses will require a coach's, doctor's or
instructor sanctioned note with a verifiable contact phone number. The
documentation must be provided to your instructor within 2 weeks of the
missed exam or a rational reason that it will be delayed must be
e-mailed along with the projected receipt date of the documentation
within those 2 weeks. A valid excuse will allow you to take the
cumulative make-up exam to replace the zero on the missed exam. There
will be one cumulative make-up exam (covering material from all three
exams) given on Monday, April 19 at a mutually agreeable time.
HELP SERVICES:
If you are encountering difficulties with the course, please come see
me. If necessary, please contact me for an appointment at a convenient
time, or just try to catch me in my office. Also, the help services
listed below will be available.
The Student Teaching Center in Broward Hall (Tel. 392-2010) offers a
range of services, including individual tutoring in physics.
Course Outline: The day-by-day schedule
is provided for
guidance only. Changes may be announced in class.
|
|