Course Syllabus

PHYS 1110 Syllabus

Course Description

Welcome to PHYS 1110 - General Physics 1! This is the first semester of a calculus-based introduction to physics intended for natural science and engineering majors. The physics department offers a separate algebra-based sequence (starting with PHYS 2010) that is intended for life science majors, including premed students. Co-requisite: enrolled in a calculus 1 course, APPM 1350 or equivalent. Pre-requisites: knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. No previous knowledge of physics is assumed. College level logic, enthusiasm, and curiosity will be helpful!

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Analyze physical systems (accelerating cars, satellite orbits, bridges, etc.) using two paradigms: Newton's laws and conservation laws.
2. Explain the effects of forces qualitatively.
3. Perform calculations resulting in predictions for physical systems.

Lecture and Tutorial Information

Each student in PHYS 1110 is enrolled in the same lecture section, PHYS 1110-100. Lectures this term are delivered asynchronously via Canvas. Every Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs, and Fri, there will be a new lecture for you to watch. To receive participation credit, you must watch the lecture video sometime during the 24 hour window ending right before recitation starts, at 11:20 am (Boulder time). Note: If you wish to do so, Dr. B hosts a Zoom meeting for each lecture video, so that you can watch it with your peers and ask Dr. B for help when you have questions. See our Lectures page for more details.

Each student is also enrolled in 1 of the 4 recitation sections, which we call "tutorials". The tutorials are held as live, synchronous Zoom sessions from 11:20 am - 12:30 pm, every Mon, Tue, Wed, and Thurs. Tutorials are facilitated by a graduate student teaching assistant (TA). You must attend the section you are registered for.

Tutorial attendance is very important. If you miss a Tutorial, you are responsible for understanding the material you missed; we encourage you to ask a trustworthy classmate for help.

You are expected to read the textbook sections indicated on the schedule on Canvas before watching the lecture and coming to tutorial. If you complete the reading, you will be able to maximize the effectiveness of attendance.

Required materials

• Essential University Physics, Vol. 1, 4th edition, by Wolfson
• Tutorials in Introductory Physics, Custom CU edition, by McDermott and Shaffer
• Access to the online homework on MasteringPhysics

Note: Access to the online prelecture videos on FlipItPhysics is strongly recommended, but not required.

Note: The bookstore is selling a bundle including the tutorial books and an access code for MasteringPhysics that comes with online access to the textbook. This is the cheapest way to obtain all required materials.

Note: The bookstore is selling physical copies of the Wolfson textbook, if you would prefer to also have one.

Note: As an additional supplement, Prof. Dubson's chapter notes can be found here.

Grading

Note: If your lecture participation average is higher than your regular exam average, then we will replace 2% of your regular exam score with your lecture participation score. If your lecture participation average is lower than your regular exam average, we will ignore your lecture participation score.

Your final letter grade will be assigned according to:

Note: These grade cuts may be lowered (made easier) but they will not be raised (made harder). In the past, the average grade for this course has been C+/B- and it will likely be the same this term, unless there is evidence that this term's students are unusual.

Exams

There will be four regular exams and a comprehensive final exam. The first exam, called Exam 0, will only count toward your grade if your score on it is higher than your other regular exams. In that case, I will replace your low exam with the average of your low exam and Exam 0. If your score on Exam 0 is lower than your other exams, I will ignore your Exam 0 score. Please check the following exam schedule and note that if you have any personal conflicts (such as a family vacation) you will need to take PHYS 1110 another semester. No make-up exams will be given under any circumstance.

If you have an emergency that makes it impossible for you to take an exam during the scheduled exam period, please contact Dr. Bolton as soon as possible. In such rare circumstances, an exam can be excused and replaced with the average of a student's other exams. Note: missing the final, or more than one regular exam, for ANY reason will necessitate retaking PHYS 1110.

For more details on Exams, see our dedicated Exams page.

Tutorials

Every Mon-Thurs you will attend a recitation section called a "Tutorial". You will work in small groups to answer conceptual questions (from the "blue book") about class material. Each section is lead by a teaching assistant (TA, a graduate student).

Tutorials are active learning environments in which the TA and LA act as a guide on the side rather than a sage on a stage. You will not be told how to solve problems, but will rather work with your peers to discover ideas and techniques on your own. We use this curriculum because there is clear data indicating that students learn more in the Tutorials than in more traditional recitations. Because we do not want students to rush through the tutorial, we require that you stay for the entire period. You are not required to finish the "blue book" activity in class, and it will not be graded.

Your TA will measure participation and you are required to attend the Tutorial section you are registered for. You will hand-write solutions to tutorial homework (from the "red book") and your TA will hand-grade this work. Tutorial homework must be turned in by 11:59 pm on the days specified on our Schedule. We will drop your lowest tutorial participation and homework scores.

You are encouraged to work together on homework, but in the end, you are responsible for generating your own solutions and understanding.

MasteringPhysics

MasteringPhysics assignments will be due every Sun, Tue, and Thurs evening at 11:59 pm. Credit is gradually reduced after the deadline and no credit is given after 8:00 am. We will drop your lowest MP score at the end of the semester.

To access MP, simply follow the MyLab and Mastering link on the left side of the Canvas page. The first time you use the link, you will be asked to log in (if you already have a paid account), or to enter the access code that came with the bundle you purchased at the bookstore. For more information, see here.

Lecture Participation

Multiple choice questions will be asked in every lecture video and you will respond for participation credit. Each question will be worth 2 points: 1 point for participation and 1 point for getting the correct answer.

We will drop your lowest three lecture participation scores.

Note: If you wish to do so, Dr. B hosts a Zoom meeting for each lecture video, so that you can watch it with your peers and ask Dr. B for help when you have questions. See our Lectures page for more details. You are highly encouraged to watch the lectures this way, for the sake of both your enjoyment and your understanding!

The remote physics helproom

The TAs and Dr. Bolton will all hold regular office hours in the remote physics helproom. To learn when a particular person will be staffing the helproom, visit this link. Helproom staff will prioritize their own class, but will also help other students if time allows. If you need to see your TA or Prof privately, contact them directly to schedule a meeting.

Keys to success

Reasons for taking this course are wide ranging. Take the time to think through why you are here. If you are an engineering major, the concepts covered in this course will form the foundation for many of the things you will learn in your engineering courses. If you are planning on medical school, this course will sharpen your critical thinking and problem solving skills. We believe that no matter what you plan on doing with your life, this class can help you get there. If you believe that succeeding in this course is worthwhile, it will be much easier to put in the necessary hard work.

The material in this class may be challenging to you, even if you took physics in high school. For most students, attending class and completing the homework will not be enough; you'll also need to spend significant time each week reading and studying the material. Aim for mastery of the concepts - you only understand something fully when you can explain it to someone else. Don't trick yourself into thinking that you understand a problem after simply watching an expert solve it. Physics is not a spectator sport!

Probably the single most important key to success in this course is reading the textbook. Read it early and often. Read it by yourself in an environment free from distraction, with a pen and paper handy to take notes and try out example problems.

Attend every lecture, and treat it as a job. You are not there to just watch a show. Turn off your phone. Your desk should have a pen a paper and nothing else. Confer with your peers if possible via text message, Zoom, etc. Debate about the deep aspects of the questions.

Do NOT start homework before studying the textbook in depth. But, start your homework EARLY. If you wait until the due date and you get stuck, you won't have time to visit the helproom.

Don't get isolated; join a study group and go to the helproom.

Don't fall behind; you'll never catch up. By the way, what is the reading assignment for today again? Go read it right now!

The PHYS 1110 teaching staff is available by email, by appointment, and for drop-in visits in the helproom. We are not too busy to help you. We enjoy helping you. Asking for help is a normal part of learning and everyone does it. Come get help if you want it!

Disclaimer

This syllabus is accurate at the time of writing. Announcements about changes made in class and posted on Canvas take precedence over this syllabus. You are responsible for what is said in class, whether or not you are in attendance.

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