PHYS 101 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Course Description

College Physics:  Mechanics & Heat

Credit: Credit is not given for both PHYS 101 and either PHYS 211 or PHYS 213.

Prerequisite: Trigonometry.

Physics 101 is a non-calculus-based approach to classical mechanics and thermodynamics. Topics covered include:

• Newton's Laws
• work and energy
• rotational motion
• fluids
• thermodynamics
• waves

Course Goals

By the end of this course the student will be able to:

• describe the physics concepts in problems involving
  • mechanics
  • heat (thermodynamics)
  • waves (mechanical).
• execute basic problem-solving strategy for problems in
  • mechanics
  • thermodynamics.

Course Components

All students are required to participate in all course components. 

Credit is granted in each course component. 

All course components are subject to the Academic Integrity Policy.

Learning Strategy

Our learning philosophy is tailored to help students efficiently process problems in physics by providing the necessary experiences.

In introductory physics, the learning philosophy of the Department of Physics can be summarized as follows:

1. Think About It! (pre-lectures and checkpoints)
2. Untangle It! (lectures)
3. Challenge! (homework)
4. Apply and Explore It! (labs)
5. Close the Loop! (discussion)

This course covers a large amount of new material:

• Each concept builds on previous course concepts. 
• Mastery of previous material is essential.
• This is the student's responsibility.
• In order to succeed the student must not fall behind!

Component Description

Think About It: Pre-lectures and Checkpoints

Due before each lecture, these web-based assessments are designed to introduce the key ideas/concepts of the lecture. 

Assignments are due as presented in the course schedule.

Pre-lecture

• Each question may be attempted several times.
• Each question must be answered correctly to complete the activity.
• No late credit.

Checkpoint

• Available after prelecture is complete.
• Answer all questions for full credit.
• No late credit.

Untangle It:  Lecture

Participation is required.  You must have a functional iClicker at each lecture.

The notes from each lecture will be posted on the course website.

Participation will occur as follows:

• Attend the lecture in person.
• Answer questions during lecture using the iClicker response system.
• Credit will be granted:
  • Participation in each lecture.
  • Bonus credit for correct iClicker questions answered.

Each lecture will focus on a topic of the day as described in the course schedule. 

The notes from each lecture will be posted on the course website, see the links in the course schedule.

Challenge: Homework

Homework is assigned and distributed through smartPhysics.  The homework is due according to the course schedule (typically on Thursdays at 8am).

You must work on the problems before, and complete them by the deadline in smartPhysics to receive full credit for the homework.

Homework problems are designed to:

• Evaluate conceptual understanding.
• Develop problem-solving skills.

Background for the homework is provided by:

• working through the pre-lectures and checkpoints
• attending or viewing the lectures.

The web-based homework covering each week's material is due the following week.

To start work on a homework assignment:

• Go to smartPhysics.
• Select the assignment for the week.
• Each problem, or part thereof, may be worked 10 times.
• Full credit for each correct problem will be awarded when an assignment is completed before the deadline.
• Up to 80% credit will be awarded for finishing a problem up to one week after the deadline.
• Up to 50% credit will be awarded for finishing a problem later than one week after the deadline.

Apply and Explore It: Laboratory

The lab cycle (see course schedule) is designed to provide the opportunity to explore the applications and implications of the concepts developed in lecture.

The laboratory portion of this course will consist of four (4) 3-hour laboratories.

1. A prelab exercise due the morning of each laboratory period.
2. The laboratory exercise in which students will:
   1. plan and set up simple experiments to investigate topics studied in class
   2. perform measurements of different phenomena studied in lecture
   3. analyze experimental results
   4. make conclusions based on their results and their understanding of the experimental system.
3. A laboratory write-up which will be completed during the session and turned in at the end of the lab session.

Close the Loop: Discussion

Students must be on time for discussion. Students arriving more than 10 minutes late for discussion will receive a grade of 0% on their group assignment for the day.

Each discussion session will consist of the following:

• Pre-discusssion work:
  • Students will be organized in groups of four (4) within their discussion section.
  • Each student will select one of the four (4) discussion questions for the week to work on in advance of attending their discussion section.
  • Each problem in the weekly set must be worked on by a student in the small group.
• In-discussion work:
  • When your group convenes for the weekly discussion, each student should bring their discussion problem to discuss in the small group.
  • Each student, within their small group, will work together to complete a single problem set solution, using their pre-discussion work.
  • Each group should work together to resolve any differences.
  • Each group will submit one document with their solution set to GradeScope for the TA to evaluate. This solution set will count as your discussion participation grade.
  • Students will take turns submtting the problem set each week.
• The individual skills quiz:
  • The quiz will be given in the last 40 minutes of the discussion session.
  • The quiz will be taken in PrairieLearn.
  • Each student will work on their own quiz.

Supplemental

Also there will be open office hours every week to give students one-on-one assistance if they need more help.  Do not be bashful about taking advantage of these!

Academic Integrity

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should also be considered as a part of this syllabus. Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Read the Code at the following URL: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/.

Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Every student is expected to review and abide by the Academic Integrity Policy: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1_part4_1-401.html. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.

Infractions include, but are not limited to:

• cheating
• plagiarism
• fabrication
• academic interference
• computer-related infractions
• unauthorized use of university resources
• sale of class materials or notes
• facilitating infractions of academic integrity.

Violations of any of these rules will be sanctioned and reported to the student's home college.

All aspects of the course are covered by these rules, including:

• quizzes
• homework
• written assignments
• discussion
• iClickers
• exams
• labs
• documentation submitted for petition for an excused absence

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If you have questions about this page, please e-mail the Undergraduate Office (undergrad@physics.illinois.edu).