Physics 110								Paul Dolan

Fall 1998										S-221-G

TR 5:40-6:55 (S-102) (Plus Lab)					794-2539

TEXT:	Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt
	
Prerequisite:  MATH-102 (Intermediate Algebra)

	If you have always wanted to take a physics course but the 
thought of intense mathematics nauseates you, then this course 
is for you.  If you have never wanted to take a physics course-
-but you have a science requirement to fulfill, then this 
course is especially for you.  Although we will use some 
mathematics (essentially simple algebra), we will concentrate 
on describing and understanding basic physical principles, and 
applying them to the world we deal with every day.

	This approach will entail asking a lot of questions, and 
doing a lot of pondering.  Without a doubt, we will ask many 
questions that we can't even answer.  However, if we're 
successful, you may at least gain a feeling for the types of 
questions that physicists ask.  With any luck, you may even 
learn to ask good questions on your own.  With this ability 
will come a new awareness of the world around you and a new 
appreciation for many things you may previously have taken for 
granted.

	HOMEWORK: will be assigned weekly, but will not be 
collected and graded.  Instead, you should be prepared for a 
short quiz each week on the previous week's homework.  (I will 
try to have solutions posted outside S-217 on Mondays, and a 
solution manual will be on reserve in the library and in the 
Physics FILE.)  There will be no make-up quizzes, but (at 
least) one quiz grade will be dropped.

	(nominal) OFFICE HOURS:  Tuesdays 3:00-5:00
				Wednesdays (and some Mondays) 4:00-6:00
	I will usually be found in the Physics FILE (S-233) during 
these times.
 
	EXAMS: There will be one midterm exam (week 7 or 8), a 
final (given in the assigned time slot:  see Schedule of 
Classes), and a project.  The short quizzes will count as 
roughly one exam, and the project as 5% of the grade.  Other 
factors such as active participation in class discussions can 
significantly influence your final grade

	LAB:	 Meets in room 209 on Tuesdays or Thursdays.  Your 
reports, together with my observations of your performance in 
the lab, will contribute roughly 30% to your final grade.

	TUTORING:  Will be available at the tutoring center in the 
library.  You are also encouraged to use the facilities of the 
Physics FILE (Friendly Interactive Learning Environment) which 
is in room S-233, where tutoring and other instructional aids 
will be available.

	NOTE: You must pass BOTH the lecture and lab components to 
pass the course.


Physics 110 Lab Syllabus						Fall 1998

Lab meets each week in S-209

Section 31, Tuesday, 7:15-9:15 p.m.
Section 32, Thursday, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Section 33, Thursday, 7:15-9:15 p.m. 

1) Sept.  1-3			Simple Pendulum

2) 		8-10			Estimation & Measurement

3)		15-17		Qualitative Observation

4)        22-24		Velocity & Acceleration

5)	   29-Oct. 1		Newton's Second Law

6) Oct.	6-8			Collisions/Ballistic Pendulum

7)		13-15		Simple Machines

8)		20-22		Rotational Motion

9)		27-29		Density & Buoyancy, part 1

10) Nov.  3-5			Density & Buoyancy, part 2

11)		10-12		Sound & Waves

12)		17-19		Atomic Spectra

    Nov. 24-26			THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 
	Note:  Lecture WILL meet on Tuesday, 11/24.

13) Dec.	1-3			Radiation
  
		8-10 		<<<	Project Presentations  >>>







Physics 110 Lab

PLEASE READ the lab handout and do the prelab exercises BEFORE 
the lab period!!!!!  You will not be permitted to do the lab if 
you are not prepared!  Prelabs will be collected at the 
beginning of the period, but will be returned before you leave: 
 There may be useful information on the prelab that you will 
need to know while compiling your report!  If you absolutely 
must miss a lab period, speak to me BEFOREHAND and we will 
arrange a make-up time.  You are expected to complete and turn 
in a report on all lab exercises.

LAB REPORTS will be due at the next lab period.  You will note 
that many of the lab handouts are of the 'fill in the blank' 
variety.  This does NOT mean that they are to be taken as 
'cookbook' exercises.  As you are doing the lab, be sure to 
record your general (qualitative) observations.  Some of the 
exercises are primarily qualitative (i.e., few actual 
measurements will be taken), so your CAREFUL observations will 
be especially important.  Note that we have (at least) 3 
purposes in doing these  exercises: 1) to demonstrate more 
fully certain physical principles; 2) to get some feeling for 
how science is really done; 3) to learn how to make careful and 
accurate observations and draw conclusions from them (or at 
least to decide what other observations need to be made to draw 
meaningful conclusions).

In addition to the 
observations/measurements/calculations/questions specifically 
posed, you should include in ALL your reports:

--Lab Partner(s) and any equipment and/or station numbers.

--Sources of Error (Uncertainty).  This takes two forms: 1) an 
estimate of the uncertainty in any measurements you made (we 
may do a full numerical error analysis in one of the 
exercises); and, 2.) general sources, such as air resistance, 
friction, clumsy lab partner, etc.

--A comparison of the 'known' value (if any) with your 
experimental result and whether your stated error accounts for 
any discrepancy.

--A (usually brief) conclusion.  What did you do and why.  What 
were the results and were they as expected.  If you have any 
general observations or suggestions for improvement, please 
feel free to make them as well as comments on where you have 
previously observed the effect we studied, or how you might 
apply the measurements we made.  NOTE that whether or not the 
handout explicitly provides a space, a lab report ALWAYS needs 
a conclusion!!

You are expected to do each lab and to turn in a report on each 
lab.  Any lab for which a report is not received will be graded 
F; any lab you do not do will receive a grade of Zero.  While 
it is expected that there will be cooperation between lab 
partners in the preparation of reports, merely copying of your 
partner's work is NOT  acceptable.  Any reports that are not 
the result of your own work will receive a grade of ZERO; this 
also applies to anyone whose work is made available for 
copying.  A penalty may be assigned to late reports, not to 
exceed one letter grade.