1. SYLLABUS FOR COLLEGE PHYSICS
Instructor: Dr. Fabio F. Santos
Office: Muntz Hall 366
Phone: 745-5758 ▪ Email: fabio.santos@uc.edu
Website URL: http://www.rwc.uc.edu/santos/
Welcome! My name is Fabio F. Santos, and I will be teaching your College Physics I, II & III and
College Physics Lab I, II & III this year. I have put a lot of thoughts into choosing the best materials and
resources to help you succeed, and I want to tell you about them so you can be prepared when class starts.
In this document, you will find general information about the course (e.g., course description, required
textbook and additional resources, schedule of topics covered, course requirements and assignments, and
course evaluation and grading methods), class policies, and student strategies for success. Please read
carefully over it, and see me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to having you in class!
Course description:
College Physics is an introductory algebra-based physics course, designed for non-physics major. It is
one-year sequence of three lecture courses, College Physics I, II & III, and their respective co-requisite
laboratories, College Physics Lab I, II & III. College Physics I, II, and III are four-credit courses offered
during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, respectively. Each of them is taught in two periods of two
hours each week along with its corresponding laboratory course. We will meet once a week during two
hours for the lab. Notice that each lab and its corresponding lecture course are separate courses. They are
co-requisite of each other. Pre-requisites: You must have completed one year of college algebra and
trigonometry in order to take College Physics I, the first course in the sequence. Do not take this course if
you do not have this minimum mathematics pre-requisite.
College Physics I is an introduction to mechanics. It includes motion in one and two dimensions,
Newton’s laws of motion and their applications, work and energy, linear momentum and collisions,
rotational motion, and principles of conservation. College Physics II, the second course of the sequence,
consists of electromagnetism topics. It covers a study of electric charges, forces, and field, Coulomb’s
law, electric potential and electric potential energy, electric current, electric circuits, and an introduction
to magnetism. College Physics III includes thermal physics, transfer of energy in thermal processes, the
laws of thermodynamics, vibrations and waves, periodic motion, oscillations, the motion of a pendulum,
sound waves, electromagnetic waves, the nature of light, and reflection and refraction of light.
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Goals: The main goals of the course are to:
Increase students’ understanding of natural laws in mechanics, electromagnetism, thermal physics, and
optics;
Develop students’ curiosity about physical phenomena;
Enhance students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills;
Enhance students’ language proficiency in the domain (e.g., use of scientific discourse, writing of lab
reports, etc); and
Increase students’ ability to connect physical concepts, principles, and laws to the solution of realworld
problems.
Resources:
The required textbook is Physics, 3/E. by James S. Walker. It will be used in the three courses of the
sequence, College Physics I, II and III. It is important to acquire this book because:
There will be required readings from the book;
Homework assignments will come from the book; and I
will test on material from the book.
Additional resources available to help you get the most from your course:
Companion website to the textbook – This website contains lots of practice problems and questions,
Physlet problems, review material, problems solutions, and other online resources. Visit
http://www.prenhall.com/walker
“e-tips for A grades” website – Here, you will find tips and advice from current students and recent
grads to help you succeed in tackling your academic, social, and professional challenges. In
particular, I recommend you to read the section “Make your textbook work for you” of the website.
Visit www.etipsforagrades.com
The Student Study Guide and Selected Solutions Manual, 3/E. This guide includes the following for each
chapter: Objectives, warm-up questions, chapter review with examples and quizzes, equations
summaries, important tips, puzzle questions, select solutions for several end-of-chapter questions and
problems.
Tutoring:
The Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science provides tutoring and assistance in the
Mathematics Laboratory (Muntz 112G) for students enrolled in this class. Just walk in and ask for help.
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Schedule of topics and reading assignments for College Physics I: This schedule is provided
to help you plan your course work. In order to prepare for class, please complete each reading
assignment before the class during which the topic is discussed. After the material has been covered in
class, repeat the reading at least once and practice examples from the text and your class notes.
Lesson# Topic Read
1 Chapter 1: Introduction to Physics: Physics and the Laws of Nature; Units of
Length, Mass, and Time; Dimensional Analysis; Significant Figures;
Converting Units; Order-of-Magnitude Calculations; Scalars and Vectors;
Problem Solving in Physics
1.6 – 1.8
2 Chapter 2: One-Dimensional Kinematics: Position, Distance, and
Displacement; Average Speed and Velocity; Instantaneous Velocity
2.1 – 2.3
3 Acceleration; Motion with Constant Acceleration; Applications of the
Equations of Motion; Freely Falling Objects
2.4 – 2.7
4 Chapter 3: Vectors in Physics: Scalars Versus Vectors; The Components of
a Vector; Adding and Subtracting Vectors; Unit Vectors; Position,
Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration Vectors; Relative Motion
3.5 – 3.6
5 Chapter 4: Two-Dimensional Kinematics: Motion in Two Dimensions;
Projectile Motion: Basic Equations; Zero Launch Angle; General Launch
Angle; Projectile Motion: Key Characteristics
4.1 – 4.5
6 Review for Test #1
7 Test #1
8 Chapter 5: Newton’s Law of Motion: Force and Mass; Newton’s First Law of
Motion; Newton’s Second Law of Motion; Newton’s Third Law of
Motion; The Vector Nature of Forces: Forces in Two Dimensions; Weight;
Normal Forces
5.1 – 5.6
9 Chapter 6: Applications of Newton’s Laws: Frictional Forces; Strings and
Springs; Translational Equilibrium
6.1 – 6.3
10 Connected Objects; Circular Motion 6.4 – 6.5
11 Chapter 7: Work and Kinetic Energy: Work Done by a Constant Force;
Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem; Work Done by a Variable
Force
7.1 – 7.4
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12 Chapter 8: Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy: Conservative and
Non-Conservative Forces; Potential Energy and the Work Done by
8.1 – 8.5
Conservative Forces; Conservation of Mechanical Energy; Work Done by
Non-Conservative Forces; Potential Energy Curves and Equipotentials
13 Review for Test #2
14 Test #2
15 Chapter 9: Linear Momentum and Collisions: Linear Momentum;
Momentum and Newton’s Second Law; Impulse; Conservation of Linear
Momentum; Inelastic Collisions; Elastic Collisions; Center of Mass
9.1 – 9.7
16 Chapter 10: Rotational Kinematics and Energy: Angular Position, Velocity
and Acceleration; Rotational Kinematics; Connections Between Linear and
Rotational Quantities
10.1 – 10.3
17 Rolling Motion; Rotational Kinetic Energy and the Moment of Inertia;
Conservation of Energy
10.4 – 10.6
18 Chapter 11: Rotational Dynamics and Static Equilibrium: Torque; Torque and
Angular Acceleration; Zero Torque and Static Equilibrium; Center of
Mass and Balance
11.1 – 11.4
19 Dynamic Applications of Torque; Angular Momentum; Conservation of
Angular Momentum; Rotational Work and Power
11.5 – 11.8
20 Review for Final Exam
College Physics Lab I / Laboratory Experiments:
Lab # Title
Lab Orientation; An Introduction to Error Analysis
1 Absolute and Relative Error in Measuring the Gravitational Constant – Method 1
2 Absolute and Relative Error in Measuring the Gravitational Constant – Method 2
3 Hooke’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion
4 Two-Dimensional Equilibrium
5 Two-Dimensional Motion and Conservation of Energy
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6 Conservation of Momentum in Collisions
7 Angular Motion and Torque
8 Conservation of Angular Momentum
Schedule of topics and reading assignments for College Physics II: This schedule is provided
to help you plan your course work. In order to prepare for class, please complete each reading
assignment before the class during which the topic is discussed. After the material has been covered in
class, repeat the reading at least once and practice examples from the text and your class notes.
Lesson # Topic Read
1 Chapter 19: Electric Charges, Forces, and Fields: Electric
Charge; Insulators and Conductors; Coulomb’s Law
19.1, 19.2
2 Coulomb’s law 19.3
3 The Electric Field; Electric Field Lines; Shielding and Charging by
Induction; Electric Flux and Gauss’s Law
19.4 – 19.6
4 Electric Flux and Gauss’s Law 19.7
5 Chapter 20: Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy:
Electric Potential Energy and the Electric Potential; Energy
Conservation
20.1, 20.2
6 The Electric Potential of Point Charges; Equipotential Surfaces and
the Electric Field
20.3, 20.4
7 Capacitors and Dielectrics; Electrical Energy Storage 20.5, 20.6
8 Review for Test #1
9 Test #1
10 Chapter 21: Electric Current and Direct-Current Circuits:
Electric Current; Resistance and Ohm’s Law; Energy and Power in
Electric Circuits; Resistors in Series and Parallel
21.1 – 21.4
11 Kirchhoff’s Rules 21.5
12 Circuits Containing Capacitors; RC Circuits; Ammeters and
Voltmeters
21.6 – 21.8
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13 Chapter 22: Magnetism: The Magnetic Field; The Magnetic Force
on Moving Charges; The Motion of Charged Particles in a Magnetic
Field; The Magnetic Force Exerted on a Current-
Carrying Wire
22.1 – 22.4
14 Loops of Current and Magnetic Torque; Electric Currents,
Magnetic Fields, and Ampere’s Law; Current Loops and Solenoids;
22.5 – 22.8
Magnetism in Matter
15 Chapter 23: Magnetic Flux and Faraday’s Law of Induction:
Induced Electromotive Force; Magnetic Flux; Faraday’s Law of
Induction; Lenz’s Law
23.1 – 23.4
16 Mechanical Work and Electrical Energy; Generators and Motors;
Inductance
23.5 – 23.7
17 RL Circuits; Energy Stored in a Magnetic Field; Transformers 23.8 –
23.10
18 Review for Test #2
19 Test #2
20 Review for the Final Exam
College Physics Lab II / Laboratory Experiments:
Lab # Title
Lab Orientation
1 Angular Motion and Torque
2 Conservation of Angular Momentum
3 Types of Electric Charge
4 Mapping the Electric Potential
5 Operation of Digital Instruments and Basic Measurements; Series and Parallel
Electric Circuits
6 Ohm’s and Kirchoff’s Laws
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7 RC Circuits
8 Magnetic Fields due to Currents
Schedule of topics and reading assignments for College Physics III: This schedule is provided
to help you plan your course work. In order to prepare for class, please complete each reading
assignment before the class during which the topic is discussed. After the material has been covered in
class, repeat the reading at least once and practice examples from the text and your class notes.
Lesson # Topic Read
1 Chapter 16: Temperature and Heat: Temperature and the Zeroth Law of
Thermodynamics; Temperature Scales; Thermal Expansion
16.1 – 16.3
2 Heat and Mechanical Work; Specific Heats; Conduction, Convection, and
Radiation
16.4 – 16.6
3 Chapter 17: Phases and Phase Changes: Ideal Gases; Kinetic Theory;
Solids and Elastic Deformation
17.1 – 17.3
4 Phase Equilibrium and Evaporation; Latent Heats; Phase Changes and
Energy Conservation
17.4 – 17.6
5 Chapter 18: The Laws of Thermodynamics: The Zeroth Law of
Thermodynamics; The First Law of Thermodynamics; Thermal Processes
18.1 – 18.3
6 Specific Heats for an Ideal Gas: Constant Pressure, Constant Volume; The
Second Law of Thermodynamics; Heat Engines and the Carnot Cycle
18.4 – 18.6
7 Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, and Heat Pumps; Entropy; Order, Disorder,
and Entropy; The Third Law of Thermodynamics
18.7 –
18.10
8 Review for Test #1
9 Test #1
10 Chapter 13: Oscillations About Equilibrium: Periodic Motion; Connections
Between Uniform Circular Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion; The
Period of a Mass on a Spring
13.1 – 13.4
11 Energy Conservation in Oscillatory Motion; The Pendulum; Damped
Oscillations and Resonance
13.5 – 13.8
12 Chapter 14: Waves and Sound: Types of Waves; Waves on a String;
Harmonic Wave Functions; Sound Waves
14.1 – 14.4
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13 Sound Intensity; The Doppler Effect; Superposition and Interference;
Standing Waves; Beats
14.5 – 14.9
14 Review for Test #2
15 Test #2
16 Chapter 25: Electromagnetic Waves: The Production of Electromagnetic 25.1 – 25.3
Waves; The Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves; The Electromagnetic
Spectrum
17 Energy and Momentum in Electromagnetic Waves; Polarization 25.4 – 25.5
18 Chapter 26: Geometrical Optics: The Reflection of Light; Forming Images
with a Plane Mirror; Spherical Mirrors; Ray Tracing and the Mirror Equation
26.1 – 26.4
19 The Refraction of Light; Ray Tracing for Lenses; The Thin-Lens Equation;
Dispersion and the Rainbow
26.5 – 26.8
20 Review for Final Exam
College Physics Lab III / Laboratory Experiments:
Lab # Title
Lab Orientation; More on Error Analysis
1 Determining the Specific Heat of Metal Samples
2 Measuring the Latent Heat of Fusion
3 Measuring Thermal Conductivity
4 Measuring Thermodynamic Efficiency
5 Speed of Sound in a String
6 Beat Frequencies
7 Index of Refraction
Course evaluation and grading method for College Physics I, II & III:
Two in-class tests will be given during the quarter. Each test will include material covered in class up to
that point, with emphasis on material covered since the last test. In addition, you will take an in-class
comprehensive final examination. If a student misses one test, then the final exam will count for a larger
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percentage of his/her grade. If a student misses more than one test, then he/she will receive a grade of F in
the course. Students may make up the grade of either Test #1 or Test #2 by taking a make up test the
same day of the final exam. Please be sure to bring your calculator to all tests. Calculators cannot be
shared.
Your final grade will be determined by the following weighting:
Test #1 30%
Test #2 30%
Final Examination 40%
Course Evaluation and Grading Method for College Physics Lab I, II & III:
The final grade for the laboratory will be based on the lab reports (one for each lab exercise) students must
write. Each lab report must follow a special format (which is described below) and is due one week after
the corresponding exercise is completed. Each lab report should be no more than ten pages, excluding the
title page, and must contain the following sections, in the order indicated:
• Title Page (containing the title of the experiment, your name, names of other group members, date of
the experiment, and laboratory section number);
• Objective (a statement of the objective of the experiment);
• Theory (a concise description of relevant theory and equations);
• Equipment and Materials (a list of the equipment and materials utilized to perform the experiment);
• Procedure (a step-by-step description of the procedure used to carry out the experiment);
• Data (a presentation of the all the relevant raw data obtained during the experiment);
• Analysis (a description of the formulaic manipulation carried out to obtain the desired result; the final
results of the data analysis are presented in this section, using paragraphs, tables, and graphs; it must
also include error analyses and statements about the accuracy of the data);
• Discussions of Results (here the information from the data analysis is examined and explained in the
context of the objective of the experiment)
Converting your final numerical grade to a letter grade:
Your final numerical grades for College Physics I, II & III and College Physics Lab I, II & III will be
converted to letter grades according to the following scale:
Numerical Grade Letter Grade Numerical Grade Letter Grade
Below 60 F
60-62 D- 80-82 B-
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63-66 D 83-86 B
67-69 D+ 87A-89 B+
70-72 C- 90-92 A-
73-76 C 93-96 A
77-79 C+ 97-100 A+
Academic Honesty: Students are expected to perform their own work on all assignments in this
course. Dishonesty on an exam, quiz, homework, or lab report will result in a grade of zero for that
assignment. Severe cases will result in a failing grade for the course.
Hints for best performance:
Complete each reading assignment before the lecture.
Use all of the resources available for the course (e.g., textbook, study guides, relevant websites)
Don’t miss class; get notes from someone if you have an unavoidable absence.
Be an active participant in class.
Bring your calculator every day. Use it at every opportunity.
Complete as many exercises as you can. You learn by doing. The secret is practice.
Before trying to solve the problems in the homework, go over my notes a couple of times and over the
examples in the book.
Before you can solve a problem, you need to understand it. Then, read the problem carefully before
you try to solve it.
Sketch the system. This visual tool will help you to understand what is going on.
Develop a strategy for solving a given problem. Find out what concepts and principles are involved in
the problem. Then develop a plan to solve the problem.
Check results to make sure they are reasonable.
Get help, come to my office, visit the math lab—but only after trying the problem yourself.
Students with Disabilities:
Raymond Walters College is committed to providing all students equal access to learning opportunities.
Disability Services is the official campus office that works with students who have disabilities to arrange
reasonable accommodations. Students who have or think they have a disability are invited to contact
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Disability Services for a confidential discussion. It is recommended that students initiate contact early in
the quarter to allow adequate time for services to be arranged. Location: Muntz Hall; room 112E.
Telephone: (513)792-8625.
