University Physics I (PHYS 2325)
Required Texts/Resources

University Physics with Modern Physics (13th ed.)
by Freedman/Young
ISBN-10: 0321897447 / ISBN-13: 978-0321897442
 Online Homework System (instructor preference)

Ranking Task Exercises in Physics, Student Edition
by Thomas L. O'Kuma, David P. Maloney, and Curtis J. Hielggelke
ISBN-10: 013144851X / ISBN-13: 978-0131448513

Student Response System (i.e. “clickers”)
 Scientific Calculator
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will:
 Draw well-reasoned, logically supported conclusions from information. Students will
demonstrate the ability to engage in creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation, and synthesis of information.
 Demonstrate effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral,
and visual communication.
 Students will demonstrate the ability to apply scientific and mathematical concepts. Students will
be able to manipulate and analyze numerical data or observable facts to reach informed
conclusions.
 Students will demonstrate the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively
with others in support of a shared purpose or goal.
 Be able to solve quantitative problems by applying physical principles.
 Be able to analyze a physical system and make qualitative predictions about the behavior of
the system.
 Have developed an understanding of how the physical world around them operates.
 Know typical terminology used in the sciences (i.e. force, energy, power, torque,
temperature, etc.), what the dimensional units for these terms are, and how these terms are
related.
Course Prerequisites
 Read and write at the college level.
 Manipulate and solve mathematical problems using algebra, trigonometry, and calculus
(i.e. Calculus I)
Grade Scale
100 - 90 = A (4.0)
89 - 80 = B (3.0)
69 - 60 = D (1.0)
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79 - 70 = C (2.0)
≤ 59 = F (0.0)
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Topics Covered
Lecture Topic
Calculus Review
One-Dimensional Motion/Motion Graphs
Vectors & Two-Dimensional Motion
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Applications of Newton’s Laws
Static Equilibrium
Conservation of Linear Momentum and
Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy and Energy Conservation
Rotational Kinematics, Moment of Inertia, and Rotational Kinetic
Energy
Rotational Dynamics and
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Fluids
Periodic Motion
Thermal Expansion, Laws of Thermodynamics, & Heat Engines
Textbook Readings
---------pg. 35 - 58
pg. 10-26, 69-94
pg. 104 - 126
pg. 134 - 161
pg. 344 - 357
pg. 241 – 266, 176 - 181
pg. 207 - 230
pg. 278 - 298
pg. 308 - 331
pg. 373 - 392
pg. 437 - 459
pg. 557 – 562, 654 - 669
Grade Distribution for Lecture Class




20%
20%
10%
50%
Reading/Homework Quizzes
Homework
Daily Work
Tests (3 Tests => 20% on highest test grade, 15% on other two)
Reading Quizzes
Short quizzes over assigned readings from the textbook will be given periodically. Assigned reading will
be announced in class prior to the quiz. Quizzes will take between 10 to 20 minutes of class time.
Students may miss two quizzes without penalty. Quizzes will not be returned to students, but grades on
quizzes will be posted online. Students are encouraged to come by my office to discuss questions about
grading of quizzes, both on individual quizzes and the reading quiz grade in general.
Suggestions to help studying for the reading quizzes:
 Read through the material at least twice, with some period of time (more than 2 hours) between
readings.
 Highlight the main sentence in each paragraph of the reading assignment, or outline the reading
assignment using the main sentence in each paragraph of the reading.
Homework
Homework will be assigned from an online homework service. Each problem (or part of a problem) will
be worth a total of two points. Completing the problem, but getting the wrong answer, is worth one
point. Completing the problem with the correct answer will be worth two points. Homework is due at
the beginning of class on the assigned due date.
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Homework Quizzes
Short quizzes over homework problems will occasionally be given in-class. These quizzes are given to
encourage students to do the homework. It also gives me a chance to see if student solutions are
intelligible. These may be graded for effort or for completeness.
Daily Work
During the lecture, students will be given conceptual problems related to the topic being studied. These
problems are designed to give students a chance to check their understanding of the topic. Some of these
problems will be answered using the i>clicker student response system (i.e. “clickers”). For other
problems, answers will be written out and turned in. Solutions to these problems are then typically
discussed after each person has answered the question.
Each problem will be assigned a score of a check-plus (√+ = 3), check (√ = 2 ), or check-minus (√- = 1).
Based on this scale, a check on an assignment is equivalent to a 100 (on a 100 point scale); Check-pluses
therefore constitute a form of extra-credit.
In figuring the final grade, averages over 100 on these parts will be scored as a 100. However, students
with averages of over 100 on this part of the grade may have their final grade increased by 2 points if it
puts the student in the next letter grade bracket.
Tests
Three tests will be given over the material covered lecture and in the homework. Approximately half of
the test will consist of conceptual questions similar to what is done in class with clicker and written
questions. The remaining half of the test will consist of calculation problems similar to the homework
problems and homework quizzes. Tests will be equally spaced throughout the semester. Students will be
given a notice of at least one week before a test date is assigned.
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