Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | PHY-1041-VU01 - Physics I

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Warren Ellison
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Jennifer Guarino

General Education Requirements

VSCS Natural Science

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course provides insight into how basic physics principles are used and applied. Students develop practical problem-solving and analytical thinking skills as applied to Newtonian mechanics, energy, fluids, and the mechanical properties of matter. Includes a laboratory. College level Pre-Calculus is strongly recommended. Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra or above.

Essential Objectives

1. Define and apply basic problem-solving techniques.
2. Describe scalar and vector quantities, the components of a vector, and employ vector addition both graphically and analytically.
3. Explain kinematics in one and two dimensions (velocity, acceleration, and displacement) and apply to problem-solving.
4. Identify the relationship between force and motion as defined by Newton's first, second, and third laws, and apply these laws to the analysis and solution of physical problems.
5. Explain the concepts of equilibrium, circular motion, rotation, work, power, energy, momentum, and conservation of momentum, and apply these concepts to the solution of physical problems.
6. Describe the mechanical properties of matter such as density and elasticity.
7. Explain such concepts of fluid mechanics as pressure, Archimedes' Principle and fluid flow, and apply these to the solution of physical problems.
8. Explain simple harmonic motion, energy in the simple harmonic oscillator, period and sinusoidal nature of SHM, the simple pendulum, damped harmonic motion, resonance in forced vibration, wave motion and its characteristics.
9. Explain the characteristics of sound, intensity, response to sound, sources of sound, interference of sound, and the Doppler Effect.
10. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, evaluating, and applying quantitative data and information.
11. Explain how knowledge created in the natural sciences has contributed to the creation, maintenance and dismantling of social inequalities and discuss the impacts of diversity and inclusion on scientific research and practice.
Laboratory Objectives:
1. Apply knowledge of the scientific method to:
a. formulate and evaluate real-world scientific questions;
b. ethically plan and implement accurate data collection;
c. analyze and evaluate data;
d. generate conclusions based on analysis and justify claims with evidence;
e. integrate the related work of other scientists; and
f. propose ideas for further inquiry.
2. Communicate findings in a format appropriate to the discipline and type of investigation, such as a laboratory notebook, laboratory report, observational study, field investigation report, poster, or presentation using appropriate evidence to support these findings.
3. Understand the structure and purpose of peer-reviewed publications.
4. Evaluate scientific information for validity, accuracy, reliability, and methodology.
5. Identify and follow lab safety techniques that are aligned with CCV’s Chemical Hygiene Plan, Lab Safety Agreements and chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Spring 2024 textbook details will be available on 2023-11-06. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

PHY-1041-VU01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

Physics I is a lab course. We meet for two 2 3/4 hour sessions each week.

1. There's a lot of physics to learn in the semester. To keep the class flowing and not entirely teacher-centered, the classes will have their focus divided amongst textbook covering lecture and discussion, relevant lab exercises, guided computations and recitational problem solving, and small quizzes covering past work.

2. Weekly homework problem sets from the textbook will be assigned.

3. Students will be required to turn in lab reports written in a stylized scientific format.

4. Numerical calculations and estimations will be done by pencil, brain, and machine. A basic calculator is appropriate (you don't need a graphing calculator). The calculator should be able to figure square roots, raise numbers to different exponential powers, and be able to extract the trigonometric functions and their inverses.

Evaluation Criteria

Lab write-ups 25%

Chapter Quizzes 25%

Cumulative tests 30%

Final Exam 20%

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

In-person classes work best when everyone is present and actively engaged. To that end, I ask that you attend classes, perform lab activities with a group, turn in assignments on time, work on problems when class time is devoted to them, be considerate of others who are trying to solve physics problems, ask questions and try to help others who ask questions. Be kind, understanding and respectful.

Please avoid activities that distract from a good learning environment. Examples of this might be frequently showing up for class late, using electronic devices during class time, not doing assignments or being unprepared for class, or not respecting the ideas or views of another person in the class. I feel these types of behaviors harm the learning environment and ultimately slow down the pace of the course to everyone's detriment.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Grades are based on performance. That performance will be judged based on your quality of coming to class, behaving with a proper & respectful attitude, doing class/home work, submitting assignments, and taking quizzes/tests. All of these activities work together to create a successful learning experience.

If students are absent or non-attentive, if homework is late, neglected or missing, or if quizzes/tests are skipped, the results of the semester simply won't be rewarding.

So... Please be responsible and do the work needed to be a successful student. It is the responsibility of every student to communicate their needs to the teacher. If for some reason a student needs to be absent, an assignment needs an extension, or a test needs to be postponed, it is required that the student work out a plan with the teacher before the situation arises or the due date occurs. Hopefully an amenable resolution can be found.

There is a limit, however. Credit is not given for homework problem sets after solution sets have been distributed. Late assignments are not accepted after their associated tests have been given. The point of doing problem sets, homework, and lab write-ups is to give students time to practice the material and get feedback before examinations. Turning in preparatory material after solutions are given or when feedback can not be helpful for better test-taking seems counter productive.

Speak with the teacher about difficulties and extenuating situations. Communication usually makes all the difference.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity