DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY -- (202) 806-6245 (main office), -5830 (fax)

Physics for Architects (PHYS-008) MTWR: 9am-12:30pm, in TKH#111;
Office hrs.: MW 2-4 pm, and by appointment (at least one day ahead, confirmed)
[Topics][Daily Schedule][Minimal Requirements][Assignments][e-Gear][Welcome]

Instructor: Tristan Hubsch TKH#213, 806-6267 thubsch@mac.com

Textbook (required): D.Ewen & N.Shurter, Physics for Career Education (7th ed.)
--- and several other sources, as given in class and available on-line.

Component	Time	Remark	% of Grade
Homework	See in daily schedule	Late HW = 0 credit !!!	30%
Class work/Quizzes	See in daily schedule	current material	30%
Final exam	08/09, 8:00am - 10:00am	comprehensive	40%

The aim of the course, is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the scientific description of Nature. This will cover: measurement; kinematics; forces, work and energy; simple machines; phases of matter, temperature and heat; waves and sound; electricity, magnetism and electronic circuits; propagation, diffraction and refraction of light; and modern physics. Conceptual understanding rather than technical mastery is emphasized, although problem-solving skills will also developed.

A successful student is expected to demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the fundamental principles of physics, but also to demonstrate-and maintain-the ability to solve practical problems involving physics phenomena. For minimal requirements, see below!

Topical schedule:

1. Measurements, Problem Solving and Vectors: §1-3
2. Linear Motion, Forces, Work and Energy:§4-6
3. Rotational Motion and Simple Machines:§7-8
4. Phases of Matter, Temperature and Heat:§9-12
5. Electricity, Magnetism and Current: §13-16
6. Propagation, Reflection and Refraction of Light:§17-18
7. A Nodding Introduction to Modern Physics:§32

Day-to-day schedule: Students are required to read ahead (except for day 1)

07/01: Introductory Matters: Details of the Syllabus and Roll-Call
07/02: Measurement and the Metric System, §1
07/03: Problem Solving Techniques, §2
07/04: Observed Holiday: Independence Day
07/08: Vectors, §3 [HW#1 due]
07/09: Linear Motion and Newton's Laws, §4-5.4
07/10: Planar Motion, Forces and Torque, §5.5-13
07/11: Work and Energy, §6
07/15: Rotational Motion and its Transfer, §7 [HW#2 due]
07/16: Simple Machines, §8
07/17: Properties and Phases of Matter, §9
07/18: Fluids, §10
07/22: Temperature and Heat Transfer, §11 [HW#3 due]
07/23: Properties of Gasses, §12
07/24: Wave Motion and Sound, §13
07/25: Electric Charges, Forces, Fields, Currents and Simple Circuits, §14.1-8
07/29: Combined Electric Circuits and Instruments, §14.9-14 [HW#4 due]
07/30: Magnetism, §15
07/31: Alternating Current and Circuits, §16
08/01: Light and Its Propagation, §17
08/05: Reflection and Refraction of Light and Ray-Tracing, §18 [HW#5 due]
08/06: Atoms, Periodic Table and Atomic Nuclei, §19.1-7
08/07: Nuclear Reactions, §19.8-12
08/09: Final (Comprehensive) Exam: 8:00 am - 10:00 am

Minimum requirements:

To pass the course with a grade B or better, a Student is expected at the time of the final exam be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. state and apply Newton's laws and conservation laws to linear and rotational motion;
2. analyze the use of simple machines (lever, pulley, inclined plane) and their variations;
3. state and apply Archimedes' principle, the "method of mixtures," and the Charles-Boyle law;
4. state and apply Coulomb's and Ohm's laws, and analyze simple electric circuits;
5. analyze and construct simple optical devices with mirrors and lenses, using ray-tracing.

A student who does not demonstrate the above listed abilities on the final exam forfeits a grade of B or better -- regardless of the total number of points acquired in homework, quizzes and exams, and regardless of the success in completing any other course requirement.

All assignments refer to end-of-section problems (not "examples", not "review questions", not "review problems"!) as given in the text. See also homework solution suggestions.

All homework assignments are due in class, on the day indicated. Late homework will not be accepted, except in cases of proven emergency. It is recommended tha tthe students use Friday 9:00am - 12:30pm for group-study, ideal for working on the homework problems.In addition, you are strongly recommended to:

1. follow through as many worked examples as you can;
2. attempt to answer as many review questions as you can;
3. work out as many additional end-of-section problems as you can;
4. work out as many end-of-chapter review problems as you can;
5. discuss these with your colleagues in class.

Collaboration and resource policy
Collaboration -- but not blind copying -- on the homework assignments is strongly encouraged; students should use this to learn from each other. All exams and quizzes are open text and open class-notes (including notebooks and class handouts), but no collaboration is allowed on these; by signing the exams and quizzes, the student agrees to abide by this policy. Violation of this policy is covered under the University regulations on academic dishonesty and cheating.

Coursework presentation and organization
While a neat presentation of home,- quiz- and exam-work is not required for full credit, it certainly makes it easier to assess the quality of the work and give the proper credit due. In all cases, include a simple sketch if it might help conveying the approach or the calculations. Where necessary, include all units and symbols such as the measure of an integral, arrow on a vector, vertical bars for the absolute value of a quantity, for the magnitude of a vector or for the determinant of a matrix, etc.

• Homework: Submitted answer sheets should be stapled (preferably in the top-left corner). The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page. Solutions should be labeled and ordered consecutively by the problem numbers. Include all calculation/work and give full reference to any result quoted from any source other than the text, and page/equation number for results quoted from the text. All homework assignments will be graded and returned to the individual students.
• Quizzes: The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page, unless otherwise requested at the time of the quiz. Include all calculation/work and give the page/equation number for results quoted from the text. Speed and efficiency is important, but the presentation must be legible. All quizzes will be graded and returned to the individual students.
• Final exam: All exam questions are given on a question sheet and include the detailed point distribution and the place to write in the Student's full name and ID number. This question sheet is to be stapled, in the top-left corner, on the top of the answer sheets. It will be used to indicate the acquired points, part by part and in total, the average score and the standard deviation. The final exams are stored by the instructor, but are available to the individual student for review and photocopy after the exam;, no detailed solutions will be provided.

© Tristan Hubsch, 2002