Physical Science 101

Fall Quarter 2001

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Echols, rechols@calpoly.edu, 756-2656, www.calpoly.edu/~rechols

Office Hours: M 10:00-11:00 a.m., W 1-3:00 p.m., Th 9-10:00 a.m. in my office, 25-221

and Th 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the Learning Center 52-C20

Schedule: Tu & Th 1:40-3:00 p.m. in 52-E26

Textbook: Hewitt, Conceptual Physics, 8^th edition

Reading Topics:

I. Intro to Science, Chap. 1

II. Vision, Color, Waves, Light, Sound, Chaps. 25-29, 18-20 Approx. 4 weeks

III. Motion, Forces, Momentum, Rotations, Chaps. 2-5,7 (Also Pressure, Bernoulli, and Buoyancy in Lab, parts of Chaps. 12 and 13) Approx. 4 weeks

IV. Mechanical energy, Heat energy, Chaps. 6, 14-16 Approx. 2 weeks

Homework:

I will assign questions/problems from the text which will be due on most Thursdays. I encourage you to discuss the homework exercises with each other and/or me, but be certain that you have a good understanding on your own so that you will be able to ace the quizzes and exams.

Quizzes and Exams:

We will have one midterm exam and a comprehensive final exam. In addition we will have a quiz most Tuesdays during the quarter except the week we have our midterm. Your quiz with the lowest point value will not be counted towards your final grade.

Extra Credit:

Your are welcome to write a paper describing a topic in the course that you would like to investigate in more detail. Please talk with me for more information.

Grading:

Your final grade will be based on your overall performance in the class with the following approximate percentages: lab (10%), homework (10%), quizzes (15%), midterm (30%) and final exam (35%).