PHYS 160: University Physics I
Instructor: Erhai Zhao
Office: Science and Technology I, Rm 313
Office hour: Friday 10:30-11:30 am or by appointment
Email: ezhao2 [at] gmu.edu
Time and Location
9:30 am - 10:20 am, MWF, Enterprise Hall 80
Textbook
University Physics, 13th Edition with MasteringPhysics, by Young and Freedman, Addison Wesley
There are several versions of the book (single or multi-volume),
Phys 160 only needs the first 14 chapters of this book.
MasteringPhysics
To access the homework, go to www.masteringphysics.com. The ID for this course is MPZHAO79225
To log in, you need to purchase the access code. It usually comes with your textbook. But you can also choose to purchase it individually. For help and tips, see for example, http://www.masteringsupport.com/videos/registration_tips/registration_tips.mp4, and other help contents at masteringphysics.com.
When you join the course, you must register using your exact first and last name as appeared on Patriot Web.
Also you must fill in your G number in the "Student ID" field.
Exam, Homework, and Grading policy
Course Overal Score = (Final)*25% + (Midterm II)*25% + (Midterm I)*20% + (Homework)*20% + (Recitation)*10%
a) Exams: Exams must be taken in class at the time scheduled, unless other arrangements are made with the Office of Disability Services in advance. Students can bring a non-graphing scientific calculator. Cell phones, ipods, ipads, laptops, and similar devices may not be used. Violation of the GMU honor code will result in zero credit. The midterm and final exam scores are not curved.
See grade distribution/histogram of the exams,
midterm I,
midterm II,
final exam.
b) Homework: Homework assignments are all electronic through MasteringPhysics. Assignments should be completed by the time and date specified in the "Due" column (it is your responsibility to check the availability and due date of the assignments). You are encouraged to discuss the problems with your peers, but copying each other is not allowed. Late homework will not be accepted.
How the homework score is calculated. The total homework points is 1400 (12 homework sets with 100 points each, the 13th homework with 150 points, and 50 points for the quiz). Note that all students get
50 points for taking the quiz. Your final homework percentage is your total points devided by 1400.
c) Recitation: You must also register for a recitation session for this course. Recitations are small group sessions that will concentrate on learning how to solve homework and exam-type problems. It is a required part of the course (and taught by other instructors), attendance will be taken. Recitation grades are assigned by the recitation instructor.
Course Goal and Prerequisites
This course introduces the concepts, principles, and applications of classical mechanics -- kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotation and angular momentum, equilibrium, fluids, gravity, and mechanical oscillations. It assumes you know calculus well. Course pre-requisite: Math 113; co-requisite: Math 114.
Lecture Plan
| Week |
Topic |
Reading |
Assignment Due |
| 1 |
Measurement, Units, Vectors |
1.1-1.9 |
|
| 2 |
Motion along a line |
2.1-2.6 |
|
| 3 |
Motion in higher dimensions |
3.1-3.5 |
|
| 4 |
Newton's laws |
4.1-4.6 |
|
| 5 |
Applying Newton's laws |
5.1-5.5 |
|
|
** Midterm I, Oct. 7th, Chapter 1-5 |
|
|
| 6 |
Work, kinetic and potential energy |
6.1-7.2 |
|
| 7 |
Momentum, conservation laws |
7.3-8.3 |
|
| 8 |
Collisions |
8.4-8.5 |
|
| 9 |
Rotation |
9.1-9.5 |
|
|
** Midterm II, Nov. 11, Chapter 6-9 |
|
|
| 10 |
Torque, angular momentum |
10.1-10.6 |
|
| 11 |
Equilibrium and Elasticity |
11.1-11.5 |
|
| 12 |
Oscillations |
14.1-14.5 |
|
| 13 |
Gravitation |
13.1-13.6 |
|
| 14 |
Fluid mechanics |
12.1-12.5 |
|
|
** Final Exam, Dec. 19, Chapter 10-14 |
|
|