College Physics – Summer 2014

College Physics

Faculty: Krishna Chowdary, Ph.D.

College Physics was an accelerated, intensive course that covered one-half of a year-long standard sequence in algebra-based introductory physics with lab. Students worked through chapters 1-15 in College Physics (Rice University OpenStax Consortium), including: translational and rotational kinematics and dynamics; conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum; fluids; and thermodynamics. Emphasis was placed on developing conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability. Students had 25 three-hour class meetings consisting of interactive lectures, collaborative workshops, and ten labs: measuring motion with rulers & stopwatches, video analysis, sonic rangers; vector addition; Newton’s 2^nd law; conservation of energy; conservation of momentum; rotational dynamics and conservation of angular momentum; buoyancy and density; and gas pressure and volume. Students submitted 12 substantial homework assignments (each 18 problems, some with multiple parts) using the WebAssign on-line homework system. Students took three in-class exams. Students were evaluated through exams, exam revisions, homework assignments, and in-class work.

(Standard) Suggested Course Equivalencies

• 8– Algebra-based Physics I with Lab (classical mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics)

• As agreed to in class, the submission time for the Exam 3 Revision has been extended to 9 am Tue. Sep. 2.
• You can find the Exam 3 Revision version here. You can find the original Exam 3 here.
• You can submit a paper version of your Exam 3 Revision to my office Lab 2 3255 by the due time. Alternatively, you may email your Exam 3 Revision to me. Electronic submissions should be clearly readable and neatly organized

As per the Syllabus/Covenant,

• Students’ work in the program will be evaluated with the requirements provided in the Syllabus in mind.
• Basis for Awarding Credit
  • Demonstration of comprehension of content knowledge and competence in process skills covered in the program as shown through exams, homework assignments, and in-class work.
  • Completion and timely submission of assignments.
  • Regular, punctual attendance and engaged participation in all program activities.

• Evaluation Conferences will be on Wed. Sep. 3 between 9 am – noon. (A few conferences may be held late Tuesday afternoon as needed).
• Conference Sign-ups will occur Day 25 (Fri. Aug. 29) after Exam 3.
• Conference Ticket includes the following:
  • Portfolios due 5 pm Day 25 (Fri. Aug. 29) outside Lab 2 3255.
  • Self-Evaluations due 9 am Tue. Sep. 2 uploaded to your my.evergreen.edu
    • All students are required to write a self-evaluation and upload it. It is your choice if you want to include it in your official transcript – we can discuss that at your evaluation conference.
    • Your Self-Evaluation may inform my evaluation of your achievement.
  • Evaluation of Faculty due at your Evaluation Conference.
    • Submit your Evaluation of Faculty by uploading it to your my.evergreen.edu. You may choose to keep it from me until your evaluation has been posted but it should be uploaded by your Conference (this option shows that you uploaded an evaluation of me but hides the content until the faculty evaluation of student work has been submitted).

From the program Syllabus/Covenant, students are to “Maintain a portfolio of your work”. “Students will maintain an ongoing portfolio of their work consisting of

• reading/lecture notes,
• lab notes,
• homework sets, and
• exams

to serve as a lasting record and resource for their own future reference.” To this, please add or leave space for

• exam revisions (Exam Revisions will be returned to you in class by Day 25 or given to you at your Evaluation Conference).

What will I examine in your Portfolio?

• I will look through everyone’s lab notes, checking primarily for evidence of engagement, learning, and completeness.
• I will only look at your lecture/reading notes if you direct me to. Why might you ask me to look at your lecture/reading notes? They may provide evidence of your learning that is not clear elsewhere. Please indicate clearly if would like me to look at your lecture/reading notes, and direct me to your best work.
• I will generally only look at your written homework sets if you direct me to, as I have a record of your WebAssign scores. Why might you ask me to look at your written homework sets? For example, it might be the case that the score you received via WebAssign doesn’t reflect your understanding as shown in your written homework. Please indicate clearly to me which (if any) of your written homework sets you would like me to look at; please note that I can’t look at everything. Use your judgement (I suggest that WebAssign scores of 13.5 or higher don’t need to be addressed, while WebAssign scores of 9 or less should be addressed).
  • I may choose to look at your written homework sets if your scores through WebAssign and your results on exams are inconsistent.
• As I have already graded your Exams and looked at your Exam Revisions, I will only review those briefly.

• Exam 3 will be on Day 25 – Friday August 29 starting at 9 am in Lab 1 2046.
• The exam covers material in Unit 3: Fluids & Thermodynamics from Days 18 – 24. While the exam focuses on material from Unit 3, some aspects of the material are necessarily cumulative.
• You may use your calculating device, writing tools, ruler, and protractor. You may bring a personally prepared 3 inch by 5 inch note card, as well as the note cards you prepared for Exams 1 and 2. Scratch paper will be provided. Constants such as tables of densities, specific heats, or latent heats will also be provided.
• The exam will be a mix of conceptual questions and problems (simple to complex).

As requested, here is HW11 available early.

For our final week together, please read:

• Lecture 11 – Day 21 (Mon. Aug. 25): Ch. 13 (skip 13.2, 13.6), Ch. 14: 14.1 – 14.4
• Lecture 12 – Day 23 (Wed. Aug. 27): Ch. 15 (skip 15.5 and 15.7)

As discussed in class, here is the adjusted schedule for the rest of the course. Click on the image below for a larger version.

You can find the Exam 2 Revision information at the Calendar page for Unit 2.