Physics 1403 Section 201
General Physics I Course Outline Second Summer Semester 2023
Instructor: Thomas L. Gibson Office: Sc 27 Office Hours: Online, by appointment only. Required Texts and Material: College Physics, 3rd Edition by Freedman et al with Achieve. Information about these materials available on Blackboard. You will also need the lab manual to accompany this course---information regarding the laboratory and lab manual will come from the lab director, Dr. Keith West.
The lecture portion of the course will be in person in SC 010. Exams, and access to the online Homework (Achieve) as well as the e-Text will be available from our Blackboard course page. It is important that you use a recommended browser (currently Chrome is recommended on the Blackboard landing page) and that you test yours to make sure that it is compatible---click the Blackboard Support link on our course page and follow the links to the Browser Compatibility Check. Also, follow the tips for successfully taking Blackboard exams on this page. Failure to do so can result in your losing points on exams. Full functionality of Blackboard features may not be available with some tablets or phones.
This course satisfies part of the Natural Science core curriculum requirement. The objective of the study of the natural sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing theories. The natural sciences investigate the phenomena of the physical world.
Course Purpose:
| Learning Outcome | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Distinguish between a scientific theory and speculation. | Embedded Assessments. |
| Understand and Compute the fundamental elements of energy and motion. | Embedded Assessments. |
| Verify the centrality of experiment to the scientific method. | Evaluation of laboratory reports. |
Course Coverage: Time permitting, the course will cover material from chapters 1-13 in the text. Course Web Page: Before July 03 or Blackboard
- Grading Policy:
- The following average scores will be accumulated during the course of the semester: Homework (HW); Attendance; Exams; and Laboratory (Lab). The course grade will be the weighted average of the following average scores: HW and Attendance at 10% each; Exam at 60%; and the Lab at 20%. Three midterm exams and a comprehensive final will be used to determine the Exams average with the lowest exam score being dropped---yes, this does include the final exam. NO MAKEUP EXAMS will be given. Your letter grade will be determined on the following TTU default scale: (less than 60) F; (60 < 70) D; (70 < 80) C; (80 < 90) B; (90-100) A.
- HW: (Online from Achieve)
- Consists of three basic assignment categories:Pre-Lecture Videos-, Bridge-, and Homework-Assignments. These are accessible from Blackboard under the Achieve & Homework link. It is your responsibility to check due dates and times as some of these will be due before class and some after class on an approximately daily basis. It is also your responsibility to check your internet browser's compatibility with the Achieve system so that your results can be accurately recorded. While you may discuss homework problems with each other, you must not simply give answers to another student or allow them to just copy your solutions.
- Attendance:
- Attendance will be taken daily. To receive full credit you must be on time and remain for the full class period. Further, research has shown that being prepared for active class participation is critical for understanding the course material. To help facilitate this and to minimize distractions, keep your laptops and cell phones stowed with your cell phone on silent. For a physics class, it is easier to use pencil and paper to write down equations and diagrams as well as take notes. Please also bring a calculator as we will be crunching numbers during class.
- Lab: (Laboratory)
- You will receive information about the laboratory component of the course from our lab director Dr. Keith West.
- Exams (Midterm and Final Exams)
- Midterm Exams: Three exams will be given on Blackboard during part of our regular class period on the approximate dates listed below. You must neither give nor receive help when taking the exams. You must also follow the written instructions and restrictions for each exam.
- Final Exam: A comprehensive two-and-a-half-hour final exam will be given on Blackboard during the date and time scheduled for our course (see below). Again, you must neither give nor receive help when taking the final exam. You must also follow the written instructions and restrictions for the final exam.
- Important Dates:
- July 03 = Monday---Classes start for the Second Summer Semester.
- July 04 = Tuesday---4th of July Holiday.
- July 31 = Monday---Last day to drop course.
- August 02 = Wednesday---Last day of classes.
- August 03 = Thursday---Final Exam (Chapters 1-13) (08:00 am-10:30 am) on Blackboard under the Exams link.
- Course Goals:
- This course is intended to acquaint students with the basic laws of physics, to develop a better understanding of physical science in general, and help prepare you for other upper-division classes. To this end, the course will emphasize a mix of laboratory, conceptual understanding, and standard "end-of-chapter" homework solving skills.
- Approximate Coverage and Dates for Midterm Exams
- Exam 1 (Chapters 1-5): Friday, July 14, 2023.
- Exam 2 (Chapters 6-8): Friday, July 21, 2023.
- Exam 3 (Chapters 9-11): Friday, July 28, 2023.
- Be prepared! Study your notes, read the material in the text before we cover it in class. Expect to answer and ask questions over the material.
- Texas Tech guidelines say that you should expect to spend at least 2 hours studying outside of class for every hour of lecture.
- Begin all homework assignments as soon as possible. The assignments take time and thought.
- Once you can work through a problem with your notes, book, study group, etc., write the question down on a blank sheet of paper and then try to rework it entirely on your own a day or so later.
- Never wait until the night before a test to "begin" studying.
- Physics requires a lot of work outside the classroom. Don't get behind.
- Contact your instructor if you are stuck.
- Important Notes:
- Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor's office hours. Please note instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, you may contact the Student Disability Services office at 335 West Hall or 806-742-2405.
- The faculty is strongly committed to upholding standards of academic integrity. These standards, at the minimum, require that students never present the work of others as their own.
- Texas Tech University is committed to providing and strengthening an educational, working, and living environment where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are free from gender and/or sex discrimination of any kind. Sexual assault, discrimination, harassment, and other Title IX violations are not tolerated by the University. Report any incidents to the Office for Student Rights & Resolution, (806)-742-SAFE (7233) or file a report online at titleix.ttu.edu/students. Faculty and staff members at TTU are committed to connecting you to resources on campus. Some of these available resources are: TTU Student Counseling Center, 806-742-3674, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scc/ (Provides confidential support on campus.) TTU Student Counseling Center 24-hour Helpline, 806-742-5555, (Assists students who are experiencing a mental health or interpersonal violence crisis. If you call the helpline, you will speak with a mental health counselor.) Voice of Hope Lubbock Rape Crisis Center, 806-763-7273, voiceofhopelubbock.org (24-hour hotline that provides support for survivors of sexual violence.) The Risk, Intervention, Safety and Education (RISE) Office, 806-742-2110, rise.ttu.edu (Provides a range of resources and support options focused on prevention education and student wellness.) Texas Tech Police Department, 806-742-3931, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ttpd/ (To report criminal activity that occurs on or near Texas Tech campus.)
- Since there are many of you and only one of me, if you have questions about the course, please check the Frequently Asked Questions page first.