New York City College of Technology , The City University of New York
Physics Department
PHYS 1433 – General Physics I: Algebra Based
Lecture Professor: Office: Email: Office Hours: Lab Professor: Office: Email: Office Hours:
Course Description
This is the first semester of an introductory one-year college level algebra-based physics course, which covers basic principles of mechanics. We cover kinematics (the description of observed motion), dynamics (the description of the causes of motion i.e. forces, torques), energy and momentum (an alternative description of dynamics in terms of conserved quantities), thermodynamics (temperature, heat transfer), fluids, and waves. We learn to solve simple quantitative problems that illustrate these physical principles. We discuss how this framework explains some of the phenomena we observe in everyday life and in nature. The laboratory experiments give us an opportunity to quantitatively test the principles learned in lecture, in the real world. We learn to collect and analyze data, as well as write a scientific report.
NUMBERS OF HOURS AND CREDITS
4 Credits total; 2 hours laboratory each week + 4 hours of lecture each week
TEXTBOOK for Lecture
The textbook is online and free in electronic form, either online or a downloadable pdf. A paper copy can be purchased through the website, if you wish.
College Physics, Dirks, Hinrichs, Sharma, Urone, et. Al., OpenStax
https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics
An approximate schedule of topics and suggested homework problems is provided below. The homework problems provide the opportunity to engage with the material, apply and practice the concepts learned in lecture, and acquire a basic level of proficiency in the subject.
Note that the professor may emphasize additional or different homework problems from those listed below.
Also note that while the basic list of topics is fixed, the precise schedule may change somewhat due to the dynamics of a particular class.
Approximate Schedule of Lecture Topics and Suggested Homework Problems from
College Physics, Dirks, Hinrichs, Sharma, Urone, et. Al., OpenStax
https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics
| Week | Topics | Chapter | Homework Assignment |
| 1 | Measurements, Unit Conversions | 1 | Ch.1: Problems/Exercises: 1, 17 |
| 2 | Motion Along a Straight Line | 2 | Ch. 2: Problems/Exercises: 3, 12, 18, 23, 44, 46, 66 |
| 3 | Vectors, Motion in a plane | 3 | Ch.3: Problems/Exercises: 5, 16, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 43 |
| 4 | Newton’s Laws. | 4 | Ch.4: Problems/Exercises: 6, 9, 13, 20, 22, 35, 41 |
| 5 | EXAM 1 ; Applications of Newton’s Laws | 5 | Ch.5: Problems/Exercises: 4, 7, 18, 19 |
| 6 | Circular Motion and Gravitation | 6 | Ch.6: Problems/Exercises: 4, 11, 19, 23, 25, 33, 35, 45 |
| 7 | Work, Energy and Power | 7 | Ch.7: Problems/Exercises: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 20, 21, 25, 27, 48, 59 |
| 8 | Momentum and Collisions | 8 | Ch.8: Problems/Exercises: 27, 30, 44, 50 |
| 9 | Statics and Torque | 9 | Ch.9: Problems/Exercises: 2a), 3, 5, 6, 29, 32 |
| 10 | EXAM 2 ;
Fluid Statics |
11 | Ch.11: Problems/Exercises: 2, 12, 15, 25, 36, 41, 45 |
| 11 | Fluid Dynamics | 12 | Ch.12: Problems/Exercises: 4, 13, 19, 23a), 28 |
| 12 | Temperature, Gas Laws | 13 | Ch.13: Problems/Exercises: 4, 11, 25a) , 32, 39, 46 |
| 13 | Heat, Heat Transfer;
Thermodynamics |
14
15 |
Ch. 14: Problems/Exercises: 6, 11, 13, 24
Ch.15: Problems/Exercises: 4, 14, 20, 30, 48 |
| 14 | Mechanical Waves;
Sound |
16
17 |
Ch.16: Problems/Exercises: 52, 53
Ch.17: Problems/Exercises: 2, 16, 42 |
| 15 | Review and Final Exam |
GRADE BREAKDOWN
Laboratory Grade 25% + Lecture grade 75% = total grade
There are three exams: two midterms and a final. The three exams are weighed equally so the lecture grade is an average of the three exams. The final examination is cumulative. There is no guarantee of a makeup exam, if an exam is missed. In case of serious personal emergency or conflict, e.g. illness, contact the professor as quickly as possible.
LABORATORY
Actively participating in performing the experiment and filling out the data tables is 60% of the lab report grade. Note that this credit is given for work on the experiment, not simply for being in the room. The lab professor may require you to submit your data for their approval either during or after the experiment in order to receive this credit.
The laboratory report, is due at the beginning of the following laboratory session, and is graded between 60% and 100%. A late lab report is penalized 10 points per week. Each student must write and submit their own original laboratory report, although the laboratory experiments are performed in teams of two or three.
The worst grade out of the 13 lab reports is dropped. The laboratory grade is based on the average of your 12 best laboratory reports grades and the laboratory final exam. The final exam is worth about 10% of the laboratory grade. The laboratory grade is 25% of the final grade for PHYS 1433.
If you are absent, you cannot perform the experiment, and receive 0 credit for it. In case of an unavoidable absence e.g. illness, contact the professor as quickly as possible. While not guaranteed, there may be a possibility of a make up class or partial credit for the data analysis.
TEXTBOOK for Laboratory
Laboratory Experiments in College Physics, Roman Kezerashvili, Gurami Publishing.
Laboratory Schedule:
| 1 | Introduction to Excel and Data Analysis and Lab Report Format |
| 2 | Measurements and the Determination of Density |
| 3 | Simple Pendulum |
| 4 | Linear Uniformly Accelerated Motion |
| 5 | Acceleration Due to Gravity |
| 6 | Addition of Vectors |
| 7 | Projectile Motion |
| 8 | Hooke’s Law and Spring Constant |
| 9 | Rotational Equilibrium and Center of Gravity |
| 10 | Conservation of Mechanical Energy |
| 11 | Conservation of Linear Momentum |
| 12 | Ballistic Pendulum |
| 13 | Measurement of the Specific Heat of Metals |
| 14 | Boyle’s Law |
| 15 | Laboratory Exam |
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