Course Professor:
Prof. John Yelton
yelton @ phys.ufl.edu
2201D New Physics Building
392-8475
| Course Teaching Assistant:
Ashley August
asaugust1 at ufl.edu
B166 New Physics Building
Office Hours, Thursday 1-3 p.m. |
We want you to be able to get whatever help you need. You are free to e-mail the
instructor and/or TA to book a time for face-to-face office hours or through the
chat-room. You are encouraged to use the on-line forums (discussions) to pose questions
which will then be answered in a timely manner.
Text:
Douglas Giancoli, "The Ideas of Physics", 3rd edition, published by Brooks/Cole.
The textbook is advised, but not obligatory. Note that this is an old book. There are many
copies available second hand in auction sites and online booksellers. We have deliberately
chosen a book that should not cost you a lot of money - $20 should buy a decent copy.
Preparation:
High school math (basic algebra, geometry and trignometry) is expected.
Outline:
The course is divided into topics thus:
Introduction to Physics
Math Review
Description of Motion and Falling Bodies
Newton's Laws
Circular Motion and Newtonian Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum
Rotational Motion and Equilibrium
Structure of Matter
Fluids and Archimedes Principle
Temperature and Heat
Waves and Sound
Electrostatics
Electric Current
Magnets and Magnetism
Light Rays
Grading policy.
Maximum total possible 100 points
The 100% consists of 4 components:
Multiple-choice, online, quizzes after each section: 10 points
Test 1: 30 points
Test 2: 30 points
Test 3(final): 30 points
Tests:
The tests are generally "fill-in-the-blank" rather than multiple choice. They are closed book and
closed note, but essential formulae are given. Answers are considered
"right" or "wrong".
Important note. The course was originally designed for students to take exams in person, on-campus. However,
this section has the exams in a slightly different, distance-learning, format. Some of the practice questions, etc. you see on the
web will be in the previous format. The content is basically the same.
Examples.
In class exam style. How many radians are there in a complete circle? You write in the answer box, 6.28, or 2*pi. or 2π,
or anything else that can be interpreted by a human as the correct answer.
Distance-learning style. You have to answer numerically, but there will be a reasonable tolerance on the
answer (any number from 6.2 to 6.3 would be accepted). However, there is no human interpretation.
In class exam style. A mass is acceralated by 1 m/s2 by a force of 1 N. What is the mass? You answer in the answer box "1 kg", but "1000 g" is
also correct.
Distance-learning style. A mass is acceralated by 1 m/s2 by a force of 1 N. What is the mass in kilograms? You answer in the answer box "1" (or
1.0 or 1.00, and usually some tolerance is allowed though in this case it is not necessary).
The following is the guaranteed grading scale.
80% A
75% A-
70% B+
65% B
60% B-
55% C+
50% C
45% C-
40% D+
35% D
Philosophy of the course:
This course is designed for people who do not necessarily have a background in physics.
It should be taken by people who want a one semester overview of physics. It counts
as a Physical Science for "P" credits. It may be useful for students, especially those
who have not taken a physics course in high school, as extra preparation for Physics I
courses such as PHY 2053 and PHY 2048.
There is no obligatory homework.
Students are expected to listen to and watch the online lectures (which are interspersed
with demonstrations), and work through the problems themselves before looking at the video
solutions. Sample tests are available for a last stage of preparation.
"Real" office hours, forums for questions, and online chat are
available.
Online quizzes are given at the end of every section to help students stay on-track.
ALL WEB-BASED MATERIAL IS TO BE FOUND ON E-LEARNING
Calender of Events
Note that quizzes are due on specific days, but they are open for submissions weeks in advance. You are
encouraged to NOT wait till the last day!
Aug 21st - First day of "class"
September 2nd Quizzes due on "Introduction to PHY2020", "Math Review"
September 9th Quiz due on "Description of Motion and Falling Bodies"
September 16th Quiz due on "Newton's Laws"
September 23rd Quiz due on "Circular Motion and Gravity"
September 30th Quiz due on "Work and Energy"
October 2nd Test#1 all sections up to the end of "Work and Energy" 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
October 7th Quiz due on "Momentum"
October 14th Quiz due on "Rotational Motion and Equilibrium"
October 21st Quiz due on "Structure of Matter"
October 28th Quiz due on Fluids
October 30th Test#2 sections from "Momentum" through "Fluids" 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
November 4th Quiz due on "Temperature and Heat"
November 11th Quiz due on "Waves and Sounds"
November 18th Quiz due on "Electrostatics"
November 25th Quiz due on "Electric Current"
December 2nd Quizzes due on "Magnets and Magnetism" and "Light Rays"
Dec 7th Final Exam - emphasis on "Temperature and Heat" through "Light Rays", 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Hints on how to do well:
Listen to every lecture. The course is based on the lectures
(which are not full 50 minutes, but rather snippets of a 5-10 minutes at a time).
Remember, the syllabus is defined
by what is covered in lectures. You will not be tested on material not
presented on the web, whereas the book also covers other material which
you are NOT expected to know.
The course lectures are available through e-learning by Sakai(click
here, select 2020 and then
"PHY2020 Web Course" on the left menu.)
Click here for a sample lecture.
It is important that you have an internet connection good enough to watch and listen
to this lecture comfortably, or you will find this course frustrating! If you are having problems
getting the link to work (especially those with a mac), there are suggestions on e-learning or
you can e-mail the teaching assistant.
.
Do not leave it too late:. The material is quite concentrated. If you leave it all
to the last minute you will probably not understand it well and will not have a chance
to get it clarified.
Please make sure from the beginning that you are available for the exams. Make-ups
will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the instructor.
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of
Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student
who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accomodation.
Information on current UF grading policies for assigning grade points can be
found in the undergraduate catalog
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx