UNIVERSITY PHYSICS WITH LABORATORY I

PHYSICS 220 - SECTION 001

Spring 2015
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Catalog Course
Description:

Credit Hour Policy:

Dr. Wayne Bresser

SC 143
572-6678
bresserw@NKU.EDU

Office Hours:

MWF 1:00 2:00 PM

MTW 5:00 6:00 PM
- other times by appointment.

A calculus-based introduction to classical physics using guided inquiry activities.

Topics include techniques for data analysis, kinematics, forces and Newtons Laws of
motion, circular motion, work and energy, momentum, rotational motion, static
equilibrium. Course includes techniques for data acquisition and experimental error
analysis. A general education course (science inquiry).
In accordance with federal policy, NKU defines a credit hour as the amount of work represented in the
achievement of student learning outcomes (verified by evidence of student achievement) that reasonably
approximates one hour (50 minutes) of classroom instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class
student work. For every course credit hour, a typical student should expect to spend at least three hours per
week of concentrated attention on course-related work including, but not limited to, class meeting time,
reading, reviewing, organizing notes, studying and completing assignments. At least an equivalent amount of
time is expected for other academic activities such as online courses, laboratory work, internships, practica,
studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
Estimates of the time required for a typical student to complete course expectations are as follows:
In-Class: 3 days x 110 minutes x 15 weeks
Readings: 13 chapters x 3 hours each
Reviewing and Studying: 13 chapters x 2 hours each
Homework: 13 assignments x 4 hour each
Workbook: 13 assignments x 3 hour each

=
=
=
=
=

82.5 Hours (4950 minutes)

39.0 Hours
26.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
39.0 Hours

Total

= 238.5 Hours

Pre- or Co-requisite:

MAT 129 or MAT 227.

Lecture/Lab

SC 127 M, W, F 9:00 - 10:50 AM

Lecture Text:

"PHYSICS for Scientists and Engineers, 3rd Edition, Volume 1 by Randal D. Knight
"PHYSICS for Scientists and Engineers Student Workbook 3rd Edition, Volume 1 by Randal D. Knight
Published by Pearson Addison-Wesley. Both texts are required.

Blackboard:

Lab exercises, homework assignments and other announcements will be placed on Blackboard.
Access Blackboard directly by typing in learnonline.nku.edu or by selecting "Blackboard" from the Quick
Links drop down box in the upper right hand corner of the NKU home page. You will use the same
username and password as you do for your NKU email account.

Class Materials:

Students should bring the textbook, workbook, class notes and work, blank paper, pencils, eraser, and a
non-graphing, non-programmable calculator to each class. Students should have a red and blue pencil in
addition to a regular pencil.

Supplements:

- Web site for ActivPhysics Online: www.aw-bc.com/knight. We will make use of some of these
simulations in class; and you may wish to study them further on your own. But this site can be slow
loading applications even with high speed Internet access.
- StudentSolutionManual(Vol.1),for3rdEditionoftextbook.

Learning Approaches:
When studying a new concept or problem, there is often more than one approach to learning and solving.

1.
2.
3.

These approaches include:

Visual or graphical representations,
Verbal or descriptive responses; and
Analytical or mathematical reasoning.
Some people may seem to learn quickly by using only one of the approaches above, but most people gain
greater insight by using all of these approaches. For example, an application of velocity and acceleration
may be strictly mathematical, but by looking at the same application using graphs and visualizing motion,
one can gain greater insight; and when asked to use words to describe the application of these terms one
can again gain a greater understanding. This course will employ all of these approaches for in-class
questions and activities (experiments), homework and testing.

Preparation & Effective Use of Class Time:

Students should come prepared before class starts:
Read ahead. Read the textbook (following the Assignment Page) to gain some understanding of basic
definitions and concepts before the topics are covered in class. Complete work from the Assignment Page
on areas that were discussed in the previous class and be prepared to answer questions from the next few
pages in the Student Workbook: Physics.
Bring the Student Workbook: Physics to cover the current topics.
Bring a calculator and ruler.

3.

Class time will be a mix of the following:

1. Instructor giving mini-lectures on the topic of the day.
2. Students writing answers and working out solutions to problems in the textbook and the
Student Workbook: Physics. Students usually work in teams of 2 or 3 but occasionally as an
individual.
Instructor guiding students through solutions to in-class questions.
The use of a active-learning style classroom for teaching physics is intended to engage the students in
learning during class time. Lecture time is minimized since research shows that students learn better when
time is devoted to students conducting activities and responding to questions. As such, regular attendance
is critical for student learning and missing class will directly affect your grade: Attendance (and
participation) and in-class quizzes and work (collected).

Grading Attendance and Participation:

Your attendance, interaction and participation during class will be used as a factor in determining your final
grade. You are expected to attend lectures regularly and are responsible for all material, assignments, and
deadlines presented in class. The instructor may penalize your attendance for lateness (especially if
repeated) or for lack of participation when called upon to answer questions.
In-Class Quizzes and Workbook:
The instructor will collect and grade the workbook or in-class quizzes during any class meeting. If a
student misses a class meeting (regardless of reason) you will receive a zero for in-class quiz that day, but
the lowest in-class quiz grade will be dropped before computing his/her semesters average grade.
Dropping the lowest grade is intended for illness or emergencies and is not intended to encourage laziness.
Additional drops will not be permitted for any reason. Failure to bring the appropriate class materials may
also affect your in-class work/quiz grade for that day.
Homework:
As we complete a chapter you are to turn in your completed work on all assigned workbook and homework
problems and activities associated with that topic. The Assignment Page gives the complete list of expected
work to turn into the instructor by the due date. Note, completed work is due by 5:00 pm on the due date and
may be turned in by sliding the homework under the instructors office door (SC 143) if I am not available.
The instructor will examine all work for completeness and thoroughness.

Not showing work in an organized, thorough manner is a factor that will hurt your homework grade. Grading is based on the
details of your homework solutions, not just getting the correct final answer. Assistance on homework from fellow classmates
and the instructor is allowed. Answers (without solutions) to odd-numbered chapter questions/problems are provided in the back
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pages of your textbook. In general, how you work out the detailed solutions will determine your grade (not the answer itself).

Late Assignment Policy on Homework: Late homework will be penalized 5 % of the total point for that assignment if turned in
by the start of the next class meeting after the due date. Late homework turned in after the start of the next class meeting but
before being one week late will be penalized 25 % of the total point for that assignment. Homework will receive zero credit if
turned in more than one week late, but your lowest homework grade is dropped before averaging the homework grade for the
course. Dropping the lowest grade is intended for illness or emergencies; and is not intended to encourage laziness. Additional
drops will not be permitted for any reason. No late assignment will be accepted after the last day of classes, so no homework
assignment will be accepted during the week of final exams.

Exams:
Three exams and one comprehensive final exam will be given. Exams will be taken without the use of
books or notes; however, a non-programmable, non-graphing, non-text storing calculator is allowed.
Students are expected to know some basic expressions (or equations) and principles that are commonly
used in physics; but certain equations that apply to only specific physical situations will be provided with
each exam. A brief exam review will be given in class sometime prior to exam day. Being absent from any
exam is strongly discouraged. Make-up tests will not be identical to the in-class exam and will be more
difficult, could cover topics not specifically mentioned during the exam review, and will be either written,
oral, or both.

Note: The date scheduled for any of the three exams below may be changed if deemed necessary by the
instructor. Such a change will be announced in lecture and on Blackboard as soon as possible prior to the
originally scheduled date.
Tentative Exam Dates:

EXAM 1
Friday, 2/6
Vectors,BasicsofKinematics,UnderstandingForcesandMotion
EXAM 2
Friday, 3/6
TwodimensionalMotion,ApplicationofNewtonsLaws,CurvilinearMotionandNonInertial
ReferenceFrames
EXAM 3
Friday, 4/10
WorkandKineticEnergy,MechanicalEnergy,ImpulseandMomentum
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM

Grading:

Monday, May 4, 8:00 10:00 AM

Your final grade will be based on the following weighted categories:

Three Exams ......... 45%
Comprehensive Final Exam .. 25%
Homework assignments .... 10%
Quizzes & Workbook assignments ... 10%
One Formal Lab Activity Report ...... 10%

Grade Scale:

Grading: Spring 2015 semester grades will be assigned using the grading
scale shown below.
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+

Grade Points
4.000
3.667
3.333
3.000
2.667
2.333
2.000
1.667
1.333

Score Range
93.34 and above
90.00 to 93.33
86.67 to 89.99
83.34 to 86.66
80.00 to 83.33
76.67 to 79.99
73.34 to 76.66
70.00 to 73.33
66.67 to 69.99

D
F

60.00 to 66.66
59.99 and below

1.000
0.000

The instructor looks at many factors in determining final grades; but DO NOT expect a curve!
Lecture Topics:

We will attempt to cover most of 13 chapters from the lecture text in 30 classes.
The chapters and their order of presentation are:

CHAPTER
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13

TITLE
Concepts of Motion
Kinematics in One Dimension
Vectors and Coordinate Systems
Kinematics in Two Dimensions
Force and Motion
Dynamics I: Motion Along a Line
Newtons Third Law
Dynamics II: Motion in a Plane
Impulse and Momentum
Energy
Work
Rotation of a Rigid Body
Newtons Theory of Gravity

Important Dates:

See the web site -And

http://registrar.nku.edu/academiccalendar/Spring2015AcademicCalendar.html
http://registrar.nku.edu/Exam_Schedule.html

Electronic devices:

All cell phones, I-pods, MP3 players, tablets, laptop computers and other electronic devices are to be turned
off and put away (out of sight). If students are caught with their devices, the first offense is to have them to
place it at the front of the room and they can pick it up at the end of the class. If there are multiple offenses, it
can result in the reduction of the students grade for the semester.

Food in Class:

Food and drinks are not permitted in the classroom.

*** Mid-Term Grades for All Students ***

NOTE: All students will receive mid-term assessments of their performance.
o Students will be able to access mid-term grades through Norse Express as soon as faculty submit the grades;
o Mid-term grades are not part of students permanent records; they will be replaced by final class grades when these
are submitted; Mid-term grades do not guarantee a good or bad class grade; they reflect a current level of
performance that can be altered by the quality of subsequent work.
OutsideClassSupport:
PeerLearningSessions:ThesectionofPHY220willbesupportedbylearningsessionsledbyexperiencedphysicsmajorswhoare
STEMambassadorsfundedbyNSFtohelpstudentstakingphysicssucceed.Moredetailswillbeprovidedbytheinstructorregarding
thetimesandlocationsfortheselearningsessionsintendedforanyPHY220studentwhowantstoachieveahigherlevelof
understandingphysics.
Free1on1TutoringServices:
Always make full use of your instructors office hours. If unable to attend office hours, make
arrangements with instructor for other times. Weekly office visits are appropriate for any student who puts
a lot of time into studying. Think of your instructor as the best available free tutor. If you still need help
beyond this, then free tutoring is available through NKUs Learning Assistance Program provided tutors for
this course can be found: Location: University Center 107 (UC 107), phone: 572-5475, email:
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laplearn@nku.edu. If you are unable to find tutors for PHY 220, let your instructor know so he can recruit
qualified tutors.

OutcomesandAssessmentrelatedtoGeneralEducationAreas:
Studentswillbeassessedontheirabilitytocompletetheoutcomesbelowbyusingwrittenexams,homeworkassignments,inclass
activities/discussions,teamexperiments,andlabreports:
PHY220studentswillroutinely:
Obtainafundamentalbackgroundofthesubjectbyreadingthetextbook,handoutsforinclassactivities,andmaterialfrom
websitesandsoftwareprograms.
Applyscientificreasoningandmathematicalcalculationstosolveproblemsrelatedtophysicalapplications.
Writeexplanationsanddescriptionsofphysicalapplications(oftenseparateandindependentofanymathematical
calculation).
Conductactivitiesandexperimentsinteamsoftwoorthree.Oftenactivitiesandexperimentsrequireacollaborativeeffortto
completesuccessfully.
Makeuseofcomputerskillswithdataacquisition,dataanalysis(includingplottingtechniques),varioussoftwareprograms,
andwebsiteapplications.

GeneralEducation:NaturalScience(withLaboratory)OutcomesandAssessment:
Studentswillbeassessedontheirabilitytocompletetheoutcomesbelowthroughtheuseofwrittenexams,homeworkassignments,
inclassactivities/discussions,teamexperiments,andlabreports.
PHY220studentswill:
Describe,identify,explainandapplytheprinciplesandlawsofmechanics(suchasNewtonsLawsofMotionand
ConservationPrinciples).
Evaluate,testandverifyprinciplesandlawsofmechanicsbyexperimentation.
Explainhowtheprinciplesofmechanicsapplytoeverydaylife,suchaswiththestudyofmovingvehiclesandcollisionsof
vehicles.
Forlaboratorycreditstudentswill:
o Predictresultsregardingmotion,forceandenergyapplications,andtesttheirpredictionsexperimentally.
o Writeseveralshortlabreports(andoneormoreformallabreports)thatwilleachincludedataanalysisandacritiqueof
experimentalresults.
o Routinelycompleteerroranalysiscalculationswithexperiments.
PhysicsProgramOutcomesandAssessment(relevanttoPHY220):
Studentswillbeassessedontheirabilitytocompletetheoutcomesbelowthroughtheuseofwrittenexams,homeworkassignments,
inclassactivities/discussions,teamexperiments,labreportsandastandardizedtest.
PHY220studentswill:
Beabletocommunicateideasandconceptsparticulartophysicsorallyandvisually.
Understandfundamentalphysicsconceptsandtheirapplications,includingthefollowing:
o Kinematics(oneandtwodimensionalmotion)
o Forces,EquilibriumandNewtonsLawsofMotion
o Curvilinearmotion
o WorkandKineticEnergy
o MomentumandImpulse
o RotationalMotion,AngularMomentumandTorque
o ConservationPrinciples(Energy,MomentumandAngularMomentum)
o TechniquesinDataAnalysisandPropagationofUncertainty

Other Important Class Information:

ACADEMIC HONESTY
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Northern Kentucky University has adopted both an Honor Code and a Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities
http://www.nku.edu/~deanstudents/codes_and_policies/codeofstudent_rights/index.php .
The work you will do in this course is subject to the Student Honor Code. The Honor Code is a commitment to the highest degree of
ethical integrity in academic conduct, a commitment that, individually and collectively, the students of Northern Kentucky University will
not lie, cheat, or plagiarize to gain an academic advantage over fellow students or avoid academic requirements. All work to be graded is
expected to be completely and solely the student's own, unless specific instructions to the contrary are announced. Any behavior not in
keeping with this policy may result in a failing grade for the course.
You are bound by the Student Honor Code neither to give nor receive any unauthorized aid on any assignment.
This does not mean that students should not work together to study and learn the material; we encourage you to do so. However, this
should not extend to individual work to be graded.
DISABILITY SERVICES
Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments, auxiliary aids or services) for this course must register
with the Disability Services Office. Please contact the Disability Service Office immediately in the University Center, suite 320 or call
859-572-6373 for more information. Verification of your disability is required in the DSO for you to receive reasonable academic
accommodation. Visit our website at http://disability.nku.edu/.
BEHAVIOR
The department attempts to maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning. Therefore, as stated in the NKU Code of Student
Rights and Responsibilities, disruptive student behavior will not be tolerated. If a student becomes disruptive, the professor may take
disciplinary measures appropriate to protect the learning environment, including dismissal from the course. Disruptive behavior can
include the use of cell phones and beepers, excessive chatter and noise, eating or drinking, arriving late, sleeping in class, bringing small
children, and monopolizing class time. Any threatening behavior will be considered disruptive.
http://deanofstudents.nku.edu/policies/guidelines/disruption.html
POLICY ON INCOMPLETES
According to University policy, a grade of I (Incomplete) cannot be given unless requested by the student and there is a reasonable
expectation that the work will successfully be completed in a timely manner. Documentation, usually of a medical nature, may be
required of the student to show that this time extension is not unfairly being offered to one student when other students may have
wished to have one as well. In other words, it is unfair to offer a break to one student that could not be offered to all. If you have a
documentable justification for requesting an Incomplete and I agree to it, you should know that it must be made up before the midterm of the next semester (see the academic calendar for next semester for the exact date). It will be the responsibility of the student to
complete the necessary work by the deadline. Students should be forewarned that failure to complete all course requirements will
result in the I grade changing to an F. This may be your only notification. Students on financial aid should also know that
requesting an incomplete may affect financial aid applications because Is do not count as credit hours completed. Some continued
financial aid is contingent upon completing a certain number of credit hours with a certain time to remain eligible.
POLICY ON ATTENDANCE DURING THE FIRST WEEK

Removal from a Course University Initiated

1. A student who, without previous arrangement with the instructor or department, fails to attend the first class
meeting of a given term may be dropped from the course. An instructor may drop a student for non-attendance
only during the regular drop/add period of the term as defined by the academic calendar. Non-attendance does not
release students from the responsibility to officially drop any course for which they have enrolled and choose not
to complete.
2. A student may also be dropped from a course as a result of his or her disruptive classroom behavior. See the Code
of Student Rights and Responsibilities:
http://deanofstudents.nku.edu/policies/student-rights.html
Implementation
The following language will appear in the 2014-15 NKU Undergraduate Catalog and all communications related to
implementation of this policy:
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NKU students are expected to attend the first day of each course for which they are enrolled.
For classes meeting more than once per week: If a student does not attend the first class meeting and has not contacted
the instructor in advance to declare this absence, the instructor may drop the student for non-attendance. If the student also
misses the second class meeting and still has not contacted the instructor about the absences beforehand, the instructor is
compelled to drop this student for non-attendance.
For classes meeting only once per week: If the student misses the first class meeting and has not contacted the instructor
about this absence beforehand, the instructor is compelled to drop this student for non-attendance.
For online classes: If the student does not log onto Blackboard and access course materials or contact the instructor during
the first week of classes, the instructor is compelled to drop this student for non-participation (i.e., non-attendance).
Rationale for Policy
The non-attendance policy to drop students during the drop/add period of a given term provides the following benefits:

Maximizes efficiencies of instructional resources, making unused class seats available to other students during the
open registration period.
Enforces the importance of first-day class attendance as a factor in student success.
Drops the student from the course during the 100% tuition adjustment period.
Helps facilitate accurate financial aid reporting.
Cleans up institutional no-shows prior to the universitys census date (IPEDS).
ONLINE INSTRUCTOR/COURSE EVALUATIONS
Northern Kentucky University takes Instructor and Course Evaluations very seriously as an important means of gathering information
for the enhancement of learning opportunities for its students. It is an important responsibility of NKU students as citizens of the
University to participate in the instructor and course evaluation process. During the two weeks* prior to the end of each semester
classes, you will be asked to reflect upon what you have learned in this course, the extent to which you have invested the necessary
effort to maximize your learning, and the role your instructor has played in the learning process. It is very important that you complete
the online evaluations with thoughtfully written comments.
Student evaluations of courses and instructors are regarded as strictly confidential. They are not available to the instructor until after
final grades are submitted, and extensive precautions are taken to prevent your comments from being identified as coming from you.
Students who complete an evaluation for a particular course (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) will be rewarded for their
participation by having access to their course grade as soon as that grade is submitted by the instructor. On the other hand, any student
who does not complete the course evaluation (or opt out of doing so in the evaluation) should expect to incur a two week delay in
access to his or her course grade beyond the university's official date for grade availability.
To complete online evaluations go to http://eval.nku.edu. Click on "student login" and use the same USERNAME and PASSWORD as
used on campus.
*Eight-week classes will be given one week before classes end to complete evaluations.
In addition, you should be aware of:

Evaluations can affect changes in courses. Evaluations without comments are less valuable and less credible than those filled
out thoughtfully. Comments that are expressed well are more effective than those that are not.
Positive feedback is just as important as criticism. Moreover, negative evaluations without any explanation and specifics are
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not especially useful.

Once grades are submitted, all evaluations are read not only by the instructor, but also by the instructors department
chairperson.

Evaluations not only provide feedback to your instructor, but also provide information to the department chair for use in performance
evaluations. This information affects reappointments, promotions, salaries, and teaching assignments.

Student help:
LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER.
NKU offers free peer tutoring to all students. All students can benefit from assistance at some point during college. Take advantage
of this great resource! The Learning Assistance Center is located in BEP 230. For more information, Call 572-5475. (Hint: If you
anticipate having some difficulty keeping up with the course material - go early in the semester - dont wait.) http://lap.nku.edu/
COUNSELING CENTER.
Topics covered in this class may be troubling to some of you, and it may be helpful to seek support if you have concerns about
yourself or others. Free and confidential counseling is provided to NKU students. Call 572-6373 for an appointment, or stop by UC
366. http://hcsw.nku.edu/
THE NKU WRITING CENTER,
The writing center, certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), provides assistance and support for students
with any college writing assignment -- essays, reports, research papers, etc. The Writing Center is staffed by skilled and experienced
student consultants who guide and advise student writers through the writing process.
The Writing Center is located in BEP 230 and is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00
p.m. We prefer that you visit the Center to register for services, but you may also call (859) 572-5475 to register or for more
information. http://lap.nku.edu/writing.html
How to make an appointment: Available appointment times can be found at https://tutortrac.nku.edu/tracweb40/default.html. You first
must register with the Learning Assistance Program to access this Internet appointment scheduling service.
What to bring to your appointment: You should come to the Writing Center with a copy of your writing assignment and with all other
relevant materials, including any writing done on the assignment.
You should also bring a proper attitude to the Writing Center. During consultations, you are the boss. Writing Center consultants
serve you! Explain to your consultant what kind of help or assistance you need or want. But remember, Writing Center consultants
dont do writing for students. Our goal is to help you become a better writer!

Helpful advice:

Please arrive on time for class.

You should regularly check Blackboard for announcements, lecture and lab materials. Please
read over the materials before class time.
The best preparation for the exams is to read the text before and after the lecture, and use
the lecture slides as a guide and aid for the topics covered. Please ask questions in class or
after class or email me.

Thecoursesyllabusismerelyaregisterofreasonableexpectationsaboutthecontent,style,format,andgrading
procedures.Unlikeacontract,itcanbeflexibleenoughtomeettheneedsofchangingcircumstances. I reserve the
right to change any part of this syllabus due to unforeseen circumstances may necessitate some changes during the
semester. Any such changes will be announced in the class as well as on Blackboard and it is your responsibility to take note
of them.
Request further explanation if any part of this syllabus or any course procedure or requirement in unclear.

UPDATED 1/11/15
WJB

Student Information Sheet

PHY 220 University Physics WITH LABORATORY I
Spring 2015
Electronic devices: All cell phones, I-pods, MP3 players, tablets, and other electronic devices
are to be turned off and put away (out of sight). If students are caught with their devices,
the first offense is to have them to place it at the front of the room and they can pick it up at
the end of the class. If there are multiple offenses, it can result in the reduction of the
students grade for the semester.

I have read, understand, and will follow the policies regarding this course.
Signature:

________________________________________________________

Name:
(print)

________________________________________________________

Date:

________________________________________________________

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