PHYS 111 01

Basic Physics I
Dr. Eric C. Anderson
UMBCFall2013
Syllabus

Getting ready
PrerequisitesHigh school mathematics, including trigonometry, or MATH 150.
WorkloadExperience shows that success requires at least 8 hours per week of intensive effort outside of class - more for those with
weaker preparation or less effective study techniques. Be sure you have the time required for success.
The book and other required items College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Knight, Jones, and Field, 2nd ed., bundled with
Mastering Physics (MP) (or purchase MP access online). If you dont plan to take 112, you can get by with only Vol. I of the text and
MP. Turning Technologies clicker RFC-03.
Registering your clickerFrom Blackboard, go to Tools/Turning Point Registration Tool. The Response Device ID is the 6-digit code
below the bar code on your clicker. Register your clicker once, and youre good to go for all your classes that use clickers.
Registering for MPGo to http://www.masteringphysics.com/ and click Register, New Students, and give your access code (inside
your MP package.) The course ID is MPANDERSON14742. If you registered for MP before, login with your username and password.
Good stuffScientific calculator and straight edge. Hole punch and 3-ring binder to help keep you organized. Colored pens/pencils.
ClassLecture MWF 10-10:50 AM in Meyerhoff Chemistry 030. Check your schedule for your weekly laboratory section time in PHYS
108.

Goals and methods
Learning goalsBasic Physics I is intended for those majoring in the life sciences and others for whom basic knowledge of physics is
helpful or desired. My goals are for you (1) to be able to acquire, analyze, interpret and model experimental data using modern
computer tools, (2) to demonstrate a basic understanding of the concepts of motion, force, equilibrium and elasticity, energy, and fluids
(3) to aptly and flexibly employ scientific reasoning skills and mathematical techniques, (4) to employ a systematic approach to solve
physics problems, (5) to communicate your reasoning process using clear written expression, and (6) to transfer understanding of
physics to bioscience topics. See BB for a detailed list of learning goals.
Blackboard (BB)Log on to myUMBC, click the Blackboard tab and then click PHYS 111 Basic Physics I in the My Courses area for
access to course materials, discussion forums, your grades, helpful advice, and announcements. Log in at least once between classes.
Reading assignments and reading quizzesTo prepare you to actively engage in class, textbook sections that you should read
before class are given in parentheses in the day-by-day guide, later in the syllabus. Reading quizzes (RQs) consist of up to 10
questions (i.e.,multiple-choice, T/F, numerical) delivered online, through BB, usually due before each Monday class (9:50 AM).
LectureFind the PowerPoint lecture outline the night before each class on BB under Course Documents. Print it out to help you take
notes. Bring your clicker to each class. Your participation grade is based on the number of days in which you responded to clicker
questions. Lectures focus on deepening your understanding of the more difficult concepts and modeling scientific reasoning and
systematic problem solving, not on delivering the basic content.
Mastering Physics (MP)MP assignments are designed primarily to build conceptual understanding, develop scientific reasoning
skills, and provide practice and feedback with systematic problem solving. Keep a careful written record of your work for future
studying. Complete MP assignments online, due each Wednesday at midnight.
LaboratoryMany of the main concepts of the course will be reinforced in weekly laboratory sessions, through direct experience with
the physical world. Your grade for each lab is based on a prelab thats due at the beginning of the session (1 pt), full attendance and
participation in the session (2 pts), and lab homework due at the beginning of the next session (3 pts). Lab homework will only be
accepted if you complete the related lab. You must attend the session that youre officially registered for. Youll demonstrate
mathematical modeling skills that you developed in prior labs via a 20 pt individual exam using lab computers (21-23 Oct).
Exams4 exams and comprehensive final. Expect problems, conceptual tasks requiring you to explain your reasoning, and multiple-
choice items. Laboratory activities and homework, reading, lecture, and MP will help you acquire the understanding and skills youll
need. All needed quantitative relationships will be provided (see BB/Course Documents). Calculators are permitted.

Policies
Grading5% (20 pts) for reading quizzes, 20% (80 pts) for lab, 10% (40 pts) for HW, 40% (160 pts) for 4 exams, 5% for participation
(20 pts), 20% (80 pts) for final exam. 360 pts (out of 400 possible) required for A, 320 pts for B, 280 pts for C, and 220 pts for D. Those
with an A average (288/320 pts) on 11 Dec have earned an A in the course and are therefore exempt from the final exam.
Reclaiming and reviewing work Lab homework and exams are returned to you in lab. Lab homework solutions are posted each
Friday at 5 PM in the glass case across from the Physics Tutorial Center (Physics 226). Exam solutions are posted on BB/ Course
Documents at 5 PM after each class exam. Please review graded work right away, and check that we enter your grades in BB
correctly. Notify us of any grading mistakes within a week: Contact your lab TA about lab grading mistakes. Get exams to me directly,
or through the Physics Department office (Physics 221), along with a note describing the mistake. (For errors in assigning partial credit,
make sure that youve examined the posted solutions and the grading scheme revealed therein, and that your note explicitly addresses
the discrepancy.)
Making up workIf you must miss an exam due to officially-sanctioned UMBC activities, illness, family emergency, detention by
authorities, or another difficulty, contact me as soon as possible. At my discretion, Ill request written verification of the cause of your
absence and arrange a makeup exam over the same material. If you must miss a lab, you may submit the homework from the previous
lab to me directly or through the Physics Department office before 5 PM Friday of the week of your missed lab. You may attend your
usual lab section during the makeup week (25-27 Nov) and submit the related homework to your TA within 48 hours. For MP, its better
late than never: Possible credit for each item drops steadily to 50% after 48 hours and stays there until 10 AM on 9 Dec. Start early on
reading quizzes, no late quizzes are possible. Your participation grade allows 6 free days, to account for absences and clicker
malfunctions. No individual accommodations are possible. Those who will represent UMBC in officially sanctioned university activities
should speak with me as soon as possible to address possible conflicts.
Academic integrityAll instances of academic misconduct will be addressed according to the UMBC Policy on Academic Integrity
(http://www.umbc.edu/integrity/students.html). Examples include attempting to make use of disallowed materials on exams, attempting
to communicate with anyone other than the instructor or TA during an exam, altering graded work and submitting it for regrading,
asking someone else to take an exam in your place, copying or paraphrasing anothers work on homework, asking someone else to do
homework and representing it as your own, and permitting or assisting another student to carry out any of the above. Penalties range
from a grade of 0 on a homework or exam to an F in the course (at my discretion), and from denotation of academic misconduct on the
transcript to expulsion (as determined by official hearing of the Academic Conduct Committee.)
CourtesyCell phones, ipods, gaming consoles, and radio-controlled airplanes turned off during class please.

Getting help
Contact me Eric C. Anderson, Physics 320, Office hours (in the Physics Tutorial Center Physics 226), MW 2:15-3, TTh 1:30-2:20.
(Check BB for updates). Phone 455-5823, email andersoe@umbc.edu (Best to email me through Blackboard. If through your UMBC
email, please be sure to give your name and your class. If you seek HW help or have a general course question, please post to the
appropriate discussion forum on Blackboard, so that others might benefit. (I check them between classes.)
Form or join a study groupPerhaps with the help of the Forming study groups forum on Blackboard.
Drop by the Physics Tutorial CenterPhysics 226, see Blackboard/Course Documents for hours.
Troll the discussion boardPost a question to a forum on Blackboard, or post an answer to anothers question.
Attend the help sessions (HS)Offered Wed 12-12:50 before each class exam in Eng 027.
Contact the Learning Resource CenterAt http://www.umbc.edu/lrc/ or 455-2444 and inquire about small group tutoring.
Dont smash your computerFor Blackboard, Blackboard Help/24/7 Support. For MP, click on Support/Support for Students.
Day-by-day guide

Week
of:
Monday Lab Wednesday Friday
26-30
Aug


Introduction to the
course
RQ (Ch 1 and syllabus)
due
Motion
Concepts of motion and
mathematical
background (1.1-6)

MP 0 due (ungraded)

2-6 Sep
RQ (Ch 2.1-3) due
Motion in one dimension
(2.1-2)
MP 1 due
Motion in one dimension
(2.3)
9-13
Sep
RQ (Ch 2.4-5) due
Motion in one dimension
(2.4)
Lab 1 Intro to motion Motion in one dimension
(2.5)
MP 2 due
Motion in one dimension
(2.6)
16-20
Sep
RQ (Ch 2.6-7) due

Motion in one dimension
(2.7)
Lab 2 Changing motion

Motion in one dimension
HS 12-12:50 in Eng 027
MP 3 due
Exam 1 (Ch. 1-2; labs
1-2)

23-27
Sep
RQ (Ch 4) due
Force
Forces and Newtons
laws of motion (4.1-5)
Lab 3 Creating
mathematical models of
motion
Forces and Newtons
laws of motion (4.6-7)
MP 4 due
Forces and Newtons
laws of motion (4.8)

30 Sep-
4 Oct
RQ (Ch 5.1-6) due
Applying Newtons laws
(5.1-4)
Lab 4 Force and motion

Applying Newtons laws
(5.5)
MP 5 due
Applying Newtons laws
(5.6)

7-11 Oct
RQ (Ch 3.8, 6.2-5) due
Vectors and motion in 2D
(3.8); Circular motion,
orbits, and gravity (6.2-3)
Lab 5 Force, mass, and
acceleration

Circular motion, orbits,
and gravity (6.4-5); HS
12-12:50 in Eng 027
MP 6 due
Exam 2 (Ch 4-6; labs 3-
5)

14-18
Oct
RQ (Ch 7.2-3, 8.1) due
Equilibrium and elasticity
Rotational motion (7.2-3)
Lab 6 Gravitational
forces
Equilibrium and elasticity
(8.1)
MP 7 due
Equilibrium and elasticity
21-25
Oct
RQ (Ch 8.3-4) due
Equilibrium and elasticity
(8.3)
Lab Exam
(Mathematical modeling)
Equilibrium and elasticity
(8.4)

MP 8 due
Energy
Energy and work (10.1)
28 Oct-
1 Nov
RQ (Ch 10.1-6, 8) due
Energy and work (10.2-5)
Lab 7 Torque and
equilibrium
Energy and work (10.6)
MP 9 due
Energy and work (10.8)

4-8 Nov
RQ (Ch 11.1-3) due
Using energy (11.1-3)
Lab 8 Elasticity

Using energy; HS 12-
12:50 in Eng 027
MP 10 due
Exam 3 (Ch. 7-8, 10;
labs 6-8)
11-15
Nov
RQ (Ch 11.5; 12.5-6, 8)
due
Using energy (11.5);
Thermal properties of
matter (12.5-6)
Lab 9 Conservation of
energy
Thermal properties of
matter (12.8)
MP 11 due
Thermal properties of
matter
18-22
Nov
RQ (see BB) due
Chemical energy (see
BB)
Lab 10 Chemical energy Chemical energy (see
BB)
MP 12 due
Chemical energy (see
BB)
25-29
Nov
RQ (Ch 13.1-4) due
Fluids
Fluids (13.1-3)
Makeup week Fluids (13.4)
MP 13 due

2-6 Dec
RQ (Ch 13.5-7) due
Fluids (13.5-6)
No labs Fluids (13.7); HS 12-
12:50 in Eng 027
MP 14 due
Fluids

9-13
Dec
Exam 4 (Ch. 11-13; labs
9-10)
No labs Review
16-20
Dec
Final Exam
(comprehensive)
16 Dec 10:30-12:30 in
Meyerhoff Chemistry
030