Physics 101: Major Concepts of Physics  Fall 2001

Lecturer: Prof. Peter Saulson, Rm. 263-4, 3-5994, saulson@physics.syr.edu

Course Secretary: Ms. Arlene Johnston, Physics Bldg. Rm. 111, 3-1915

Course Description

   PHY 101 is an introductory course in physics. The course is devoted to the concept of energy. Energy is important because there is a law of nature (sometimes called the 1st Law of Thermodynamics) that states that the energy of any isolated system always remains the same, neither increasing nor decreasing. This is an astonishingly powerful idea.
   Energy is perhaps the single most important unifying idea in physics, and is the reason that physics is applicable throughout chemistry, biology, engineering, economics, geography, nutrition, and exercise science. By exploring the concept of energy, we can follow this chain of connections from physics out into the world at large.
   No prior knowledge of physics is required, although previous knowledge may help you to see certain concepts in a richer context.
   The companion laboratory course, PHY 111, is NOT required. It is intended to reinforce the concepts covered in PHY 101, and to offer a hands-on experience in physics.
   PHY 101 is on the Basic List in Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the Liberal Arts Core. Taking the optional laboratory PHY 111 satisfies the requirement for a course with laboratory.
   PHY 102 is the companion course to (and prerequisite for) Physics 102, which is devoted to the concept of entropy, or disorder. Energy is cool, but if anything entropy is cooler. We hope that you like PHY 101 so much that you will want to take PHY 102.

Course Objectives

      Our goal in PHY 101 is for you to learn something essential about how the world works. More specifically, you should expect to learn the following:
  1. What are the basic objects out of which the world is made, what rules govern their behavior, and how the parts are related to one another? This will take us through some high points of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, chemical energetics,  thermodynamics, ecology, physiology, earth science, and power engineering.
  2. The key numbers that describe the scale of important processes in the world. By the end of the course, you should know how much electricity you use each day, how much it costs, and why; you should also be able to express (in the same units of measurement) how much you eat and why.
  3. How the concept of energy can enable a unified understanding of such a wide range of subjects.
  4. Some ways of thinking about what it means to have a scientific understanding of the world, as well as about the limits of scientific thinking.
   Numbers carry a lot of the meaning of the concept of energy. We won't do complicated mathematics, but we will speak the language of numbers. You will need to be fluent in the use and interpretation of graphs, and also will need to memorize and use a few simple formulas.

Textbook

   The text for PHY 101 is Energy: An Introduction to Physics by Robert H. Romer. It is available at the Copy Center in Marshall Square Mall.

Course Work

   Lectures will meet in Stolkin Auditorium in the Physics Building on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. until 9:50 a.m. The lectures will be given by Prof. Saulson.
   Each Monday (except Labor Day) your recitation section will meet. This is a key time to go over difficult concepts, discuss the homework, and solidify your understanding.
   Each week there will be a homework assignment. Working the homework problems is the most important single activity of PHY 101, since that is where you clarify concepts and test your understanding. The homework will be graded. Exams will be drawn to a very large extent from the homework problems, so doing the homework each week is the best way to prepare for exams.

Mid-term and Final Examinations

   There will be two mid-term exams, held in your recitation period on the days given in the Course Calendar. No make up exams will be given. If you have to miss a mid-term exam for a legitimate reason, you will need to take an oral examination with Prof. Saulson.
   The Final Exam will be held on Wednesday December 12 at 7:15 p.m. No make-up Final Exam of any form will be offered for any reason.

Office Hours

   Every member of the staff of Physics 101 is committed to giving you every opportunity to succeed in the course. If you need help, please speak to one of us. We would also be happy to discuss any course topic in more detail.

   Prof. Saulson will hold office hours on Wednesdays from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. in Room 263-4, Physics Building. If this time is inconvenient, please call 3-5994 or send an e-mail message to saulson@physics.syr.edu for an appointment. The other members of the course staff will announce their Physics Clinic hours shortly.

   Ms. Arlene Johnston is available in Room 111, Physics Building, from 8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. weekdays. She is the person to see for signatures on add/drop forms, or for other administrative matters. If she is ever unavailable, please go to the Physics Department Main Office, Room 201 Physics Building, for assistance.

Grading

   Grades will be calculated based on your scores on various course activities, in the following proportions:
Mid-term exam #1: 15%; mid-term exam #2: 25%; Final Exam 40%; homework 10%; class participation 10%.
   Your course grade will be determined from your total score at the end of the semester. The grade limits will not be stricter than the following: 60% for a C-, 80% for a B-, and 90% for an A-. More detailed breakdowns will be determined at the end of the semester.

A note about working with friends

   Working with friends can be very helpful in learning a difficult subject like physics. We encourage you to find other classmates with whom to study. However, when it comes time to write up your homework, you must work on your own. You should never copy anybody else's work, or even paraphrase it. We will be strict about enforcing this rule.