Physics 1315: General Physics I

Academic Semester/Term: Spring 2023 (Jan 17 – May 10)

Course description: This is the first course in a two-semester sequence which is a survey of the basic laws and principles of physics. This course covers the topics of mechanics, energy, fluids and heat using multicultural perspectives.

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Instructor: Dr. Aditya Togi

Course section number: 253

Classroom & meeting time: Supple 112 on Tuesday and Thursday 3:30--4:50 PM

Instructor’s office: RFM building, room 4209 Departmental phone: 512-245-3359

Email: aditya.togi@txstate.edu

Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 2:00--3:30 PM

Course information and materials: Canvas

Canvas: All material and resources needed for this semester will be posted on the Canvas class website. The syllabus, textbook,  announcements, quizzes, assignments, exams, grades etc will be all posted on Canvas.

General Education Core Curriculum (Code 030)

Students will describe interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences.

Multicultural mission statement

While the physical topics and core objectives are still the main learning goal of this course, the course gives a multicultural perspective on the topics throughout the whole course on many occasions.

Multicultural perspective means, that many different cultures will be represented in a variety of activities and physics problems, so that every student has the chance to see the topics more meaningful for them and nobody feels left out. The different cultures can be for example: age, race, LGBTQ+, religion, origin, gender, disability, nationality, etc. This course aims for more diversity, which is also supported and requested by the Multicultural Policy Statement of Texas State University. The goal is, that the course is an inclusive space using culturally responsive teaching.

Multicultural Policy Statement of the Texas State University:

Texas State believes that freedom of thought, innovation and creativity are fundamental characteristics of a community of scholars. To promote such a learning environment, the university has a special responsibility to seek diversity, to instill a global perspective in its students, and to nurture sensitivity, tolerance and mutual respect. Discrimination against or harassment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability are inconsistent with the purposes of the university.

Core Objectives/Competencies Outcomes:

• Critical Thinking
  • Students will demonstrate creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of
• Communication
  • Students will effectively develop, interpret and express ideas through written, oral and visual
• Empirical and Quantitative Skills
  • Students will manipulate and analyze numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed
• Teamwork
  • Students will recognize different points of view and work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or

Additional departmental or instructor course outcomes

Learn physical problem solving using basic mathematical modeling. The course goals are:

• To provide a basic introduction to physics and its place in everyday life
• To help students develop critical-thinking skills necessary to understand modern science
• To make students become more scientifically and technically literate and to develop a healthy degree of educated skepticism as citizens of an increasingly complex
• Understand multicultural issues related to science
• Recognize the physical topics in the student’s field of study and understand their impact.

Course Organization

Texts, etc (what you will need):

• College Physics (openstax)
• Find details here:

$WIKI_REFERENCE$/pages/textbook-and-additional-resources?module_item_id=gf5d33fc75ffb46140324d89004a4dbce  

Lessons:

Lessons will be posted in Canvas. Lessons may include recorded lecture clips, youtube videos, powerpoint slides, other form of files or concise written conceptual, definitional or mathematical problem-solving contents. All your homework and reading assignments will be in mastering physics and quizzes and exams will be on Canvas.

Homework:

Homework for this course will be completed online through Canvas. For this course, you will have frequent homework assignments. These assignments should take you, on average, between 50 – 80 minutes to complete. Homework assignments have a “soft” deadline: Incomplete problems may still be submitted after this point (subject to change at your instructor’s discretion), but at a 10% deduction per day, up to a minimum of 50%. No extension of deadlines after the last day of classes.

Reading Assignments:

Textbook readings will be assigned throughout the course. Read the textbook sections thoughtfully, identifying the most important concept in each section. These assignments may include a handful of pre-lecture videos, quick content questions and a short essay. (Note that these assignments all have “hard” deadlines; you will not have the opportunity to submit reading assignments after their deadlines.)

Assigned online homework

• Homework is assigned through the online system is embedded in Canvas.

Quizzes (in-person through Canvas):

You will have semi-regular quizzes throughout this course. There is NO make-up quiz, but the lowest one will be dropped.

Semester Exams (Online through Canvas):

Semester exams will be made from materials covered in the homework, in the textbook and in the lessons. A word of warning, though: You may expect to see new or modified problems to ensure you are able to use the tools you learn in class to tackle new problems. There is no make-up for semester exams, but the lowest of the three may be dropped.

FINAL EXAM (happens per university’s final exam schedule): 

The final exam will be comprehensive, and is not optional. There is no make-up or re-scheduling for the final exam except for a university, religious, or medical related reason with proper documentation.

Equipment needed

You need a scientific calculator, and a device to login to Canvas such as a cell phone, tablet, or laptop.

Rules

Attendance is required. Don’t use your cellphone to distract yourself or your classmates with facebook, Instagram, youtube, … . No eating during class. Please refrain from unnecessary conversations during class. Mature, collegial, adult behavior is the expectation at all times. Disrespectful, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Everybody has to follow the Texas State University Honor Code.

Cheating:

Tests (third-Term tests and the final exam) have to be done without any help from another person. Do not plagiarize in any assignment (e.g. the homework). Any cheating leads to the course grade F.

Students with disabilities

If you have a disability, I will try to accommodate you in the lecture as best as possible. Let me know if I can do anything. You should also contact the Office of Disability Services (http://www.ods.txstate.edu/) to get further accommodations (such as extended test time for example).

Office Hours:

I encourage you to join my office hours for one-on-one attention or in groups. I can answer questions, help you with problems, listen to your study habits and make suggestions for improvement, and watch you trying to solve a new problem while coaching you on your general approach to problem solving. If you have a conflict, let me know so we can possibly schedule a zoom meeting that works for you.

Grading for the course:

Third-term Tests (3)	35%
Final Exam	25%
Homework Assignment	25%
In-Class Quizzes	10%
Attendance	5%

Description:

Third-term Tests (35%):

Three third-term tests will be given on the day posted in the course schedule. Once you start the test, you have 80 minutes to complete it. I may decide to drop the lowest test grade, but you should not rely on it. The average of the third-term tests is worth 35% of the course grade.

Final Exam (25%):

It covers content from the entire course taught and is worth 25% of the course grade.

Homework Assignment (25%):

The homework is given on Canvas with the due date is visible. Late  submission may be possible with a penalty of 10 % per day (only for the parts which are submitted late, the other parts get full credits). If homework is submitted later than that the penalty is 50%. However, late submission policy is subject to change at your instructor’s discretion.

In-Class Quizzes (10%):

During class, we will have quizzes. The earned points will be added to the final course percentage grade. Pop quizzes can’t be made up.

Attendance (5%):

Your class attendance percentage makes up the attendance grade, worth 5% of the course grade.

Final course grade-scale:

90% to 100%	A
80% to 89.9%	B
70% to 79.9%	C
60% to 69.9%	D
<60%	F

Class Participation and Respectful Learning Community:

Every discussion session will give you opportunities to actively engage with the course material. Be respectful of your fellow students and your instructor so everyone can fully benefit from the experience. Some ways to demonstrate respect are being willing to: share your ideas and listen to the ideas of other students; explain your thinking, and have your ideas challenged by your peers; think carefully about the ideas your peers explain, and challenge them respectfully if they do not make sense to you; put your thoughts out there; be okay with being wrong sometimes; and know that by sharing your ideas (right or wrong) you are helping the learning community construct knowledge, build ideas together.

Mental Health and Wellbeing:

Students may experience diminished mental health due to significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or problems with eating and/or sleeping. Texas State University provides free mental health services through the Counseling Center to help students manage personal challenges that threaten their personal or academic wellbeing. If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact the Counseling Center at (512)-245-2208 or counselingcenter@txstate.edu. You may visit their office in the LBJ Student Center or visit their website at https://www.counseling.txstate.edu/ They may be contacted Monday-Friday 8 a.m. 5 p.m. during university days of operation.

Special Needs:

Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with the Office of Disability Services (http://www.ods.txstate.edu/) and identify themselves to the instructor at the beginning of the semester. If these accommodations extend to test taking (e.g. extra time) be sure to see the instructor at least a few days prior to the exam to ensure that everything is in order. Disability Services require forms to be submitted no less than two days before a test is scheduled.

Texas State Honor Code:

Texas State University expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is beyond reproach. Learning and teaching take place in an atmosphere of intellectual fair-minded openness and all members of the academic community are responsible for supporting this freedom and openness through rigorous personal standards of honesty and fairness. Plagiarism (not to be confused with collaboration; talk to your instructor if you are unclear with the distinction) and other forms of academic dishonesty undermine the very purpose of the university and diminish the value of education. Students found in violation of the Honor Code are subject to disciplinary action, which may include receiving an F

for the course. The full Texas State Honor Code can be found at https://www.txstate.edu/honorcodecouncil/

Dropping and Withdrawal:

Refer to the “Office of the University Registrar” page at https://www.registrar.txstate.edu/persistent- links/academic-calendar/academic-calendar-student.html. Remember that dropping and withdrawing are administrative procedures that you must carry out.

Health & Safety Measures:

Access and follow the “Roadmap to Return” information at https://www.txstate.edu/coronavirus/road- map.html

Email Communication at Texas State:

A Texas State email address is a course requirement. Use your Texas State email address to email your instructor. Messages from other email services usually cannot be replied to. Emails can be sent via Texas State Bobcat Mail (go to www.txstate.edu and select bobcatmail). Put your course and section number in the subject line. Putting the course and section number in the subject allows for me to respond to you in a timely manner. University policy discourages sending grade information through emails. Please use office hours to discuss grading and to go over exams.

Statement about online instruction and COVID-19:

Because of COVID-19, the instructional context is going be different from what we had in the past. We should  acknowledge  that nobody  signed up  for  this; not  for  the  sickness, not  for  having to abandon in- person interactions, and not for financial hardships. As in the Fall, this is going to be a challenging semester as everyone (me, you, your friends, your TA's, your other faculties) continues to navigate classroom responsibilities, instructional goals, college life, new technology, and work and family obligations all while struggling through the new normal of social distancing and zoom instruction. We are all flying by the seat of our pants and as we work together as an academic community, it is critical that we be able to extend to one another patience, empathy, and support.

Tentative Course Schedule:

This table is intended to give you a rough estimate of topics covered each week. However, due to the dynamic nature of learning, some topics may require more or less time than anticipated.

Class	Topics		Quiz/Exam	Reading Assignment
Week 1-4				Chapters 1, 2, 3
Tue 1/17	Introduction, syllabus, policies, etc.
Thu 1/19	Physical quantities, units (fundamental and derived), SI units, dimensions etc.
Tue 1/24	Accuracy, uncertainty & significant figures.
Thu 1/26	Math review, right-angles triangle, trigonometric ratios etc		Quiz-1
Tue 1/31	Motion in 1D, position, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, problem-solving
Thu 2/2	Graphical analysis of speed, velocity, acceleration, kinematic equations, free-fall
Tue 2/7	Vectors & vector algebra, Components of a vector, addition of velocities
Thu 2/9	2-D kinematics, trajectories, motion of a projectile, problem-solving		Quiz-2
Week 5-8				Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7
Tue 2/14	Exam-1 (Ch-1 thru Ch-3)
Thu 2/16	Force, mass, acceleration, Newton’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd law
Tue 2/21	Applications of N’s laws, FBD, equilibrium, problem-solving
Thu 2/23	Friction, Drag, further applications of N’s laws, elasticity, stress and strain
Tue 2/28	Uniform circular motion, centripetal force, speed of car on a curved road, banking of tracks, problem-solving
Thu 3/2	Gravitation, values of g, ISS, Geostationary satellites, orbital speed, problem-solving		Quiz-3
Tue 3/7	Work (positive, negative, zero), Kinetic energy, potential energy (gravitational, elastic), total energy, conservation of energy
Thu 3/9	Transforming energy, thermal energy, power, using energy, efficiency
Week 9-12				Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11
	Spring Break 3/12 thru 3/19
Tue 3/21	Exam-2 (Ch-4 thru Ch-7)
Thu 3/23	Momentum, impulse, impulse-momentum theorem, conservation of momentum, collisions (elastic and inelastic)
Tue 3/28	Elastic and inelastic collisions in 1D and 2D, problems		Quiz-4
Thu 3/30	Static equilibrium, conditions for equilibrium, center of gravity, center of mass, torque, sign conventions for torque, problems-solving
Tue 4/4	Angular acceleration, sign conventions angular acceleration, angular momentum, problem solving
Thu 4/6	Rotational inertia, kinetic energy of rotation, conservation of angular momentum
Tue 4/11	Fluids, density, pressure, gauge pressure, atmospheric pressure, absolute pressure, measurements of pressure
Thu 4/13	Pascal’s principle, Archimedes’ principle, cohesion and adhesion, surface tension, capillarity action
Week 13-16				Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15
Tue 4/18	Exam-3 (Ch-7 thru Ch-11)
Thu 4/20	Laminar and turbulent flow, flow rate, equation of continuity, Bernoulli’s equation, diffusion
Tue 4/25	Heat and temperature, heat engines, efficiency, heat pumps, COP,		Quiz-5
Thu 4/27	Thermodynamics, 1st and 2nd laws, Entropy, Atomic model, Ideal gas laws, R and kB, thermodynamic processes, equations, PV diagram, Kinetic theory of gases, RMS speed
Tue 5/2	Reading day (No class after 5/1)
	Final Exam (00:00am–00:00pm) – Comprehensive		Final Exam	Chapters 1 thru 15