Physics 210

General Physics I

Instructor

Chuck Iverson (http://www.civerson.com, iverson@smccd.edu)

Class Location and Meeting Times

Building 17, Room 209 (Lecture), 8:10-9:25 am MW

Building 16, Room 106 (Lab), 8:10-9:25 am TTh (Section AA) or 8:10-11:00 am F (Section AC)

Prerequisites

Math 120 with a grade of C or better.

Materials

  • Physics: Principles with Applications with MasteringPhysics™, 6/E, Giancoli, ISBN-10: 0321569830

Grading

Your grade will be based on:

  • Exams and Quizzes (50%)
  • Homework and Exercises (30%)
  • Labs (10%)
  • Final Project (10%)

Course Description

Study of mechanics (displacement, velocity, acceleration, forces, torques, momentum, energy), sound and heat.

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 and labs are collected and contribute 30% to the final grade. All homework will be done on the Web through the Mastering Physics (http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct) adaptive-learning online tutorial system. This will be explained in class.

Exams

Three midterm exams and a final project assignment will be given during the semester. Each midterm exam will cover four chapters. You may have one sheet of notes for each chapter covered. See the tentative schedule below for the dates of the exams.

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 take responsibility for your own academic success.

  • That means you are expected to attend class and to arrive on time (2 lates equals 1 absence, 7 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 WebAccess (http://smccd.mrooms.net/) for assignments and class notes if you miss class.
  • You are expected to see me during office hours for additional help or to take make-up exams.
WebAccess

All class assignments, exam solutions and special notes will be posted on the web after class (with links on WebAccess). You are invited to share questions, answers, ideas, opinions, and suggestions by posting them on WebAccess (http://session.masteringphysics.com/myct).

Instructor's Fall 2008 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.

F08Schedule

Tentative Topic Schedule

MondayWednesday
8/18 - Chapter 1 - Introduction, Measurement, Estimating
8/20 - Chapter 1 - Introduction, Measurement, Estimating
8/25 - Chapter 2 - Describing Motion:  Kinematics in One Dimension 8/27 - Chapter 2 - Describing Motion:  Kinematics in One Dimension
9/1 - Labor Day Holiday 9/3 - Chapter 3 - Kinematics in Two Dimensions - Vectors
9/8 - Chapter 3 - Kinematics in Two Dimensions - Vectors 9/10 - Chapter 4 - Dynamics:  Newton's Laws of Motion
9/15 - Chapter 4 - Dynamics:  Newton's Laws of Motion 9/17 - Chapter 1-4 Exam
9/22 - Chapter 5 - Circular Motion and Gravitation 9/24 - Chapter 5 - Circular Motion and Gravitation
9/29 - Chapter 6 - Work and Energy 10/1 - Chapter 6 - Work and Energy
10/6 - Chapter 7 - Linear Momentum 10/8 - Chapter 7 - Linear Momentum
10/13 - Chapter 8 - Rotational Motion 10/15 - Chapter 8 - Rotational Motion
10/20 - Chapter 5-8 Exam 10/22 - Chapter 9 - Static Equilibrium
10/27 - Chapter 9 - Static Equilibrium
10/29 - Chapter 10 - Fluids
11/3 - Chapter 11 - Vibrations and Waves 11/5 - Chapter 11 - Vibrations and Waves
11/10 - Veteran's Day Holiday 11/12 - Chapter 12 - Sound
11/17 - Chapter 12 - Sound 11/19 - Chapter 9-12 Exam
11/24 - Chapter 13 - Temperature and Kinetic Theory 11/26 - Chapter 13 - Temperature and Kinetic Theory
12/1 - Chapter 14 - Heat
12/3 - Chapter 14 - Heat
12/8 - Chapter 15 - The Laws of Thermodynamics 12/10 - Chapter 15 - The Laws of Thermodynamics
12/15 - 8:10-10:40 Project Presentations