Eastern Kentucky University

Department of Physics & Astronomy

PHY 101
Concepts of the Physical World
CRN: 28875
Spring 2015
Credit Hours: 3
Course Location: Website on Blackboard
Instructor:
Dr. Marco Ciocca
Office:
NSB 3162
Phone:
622-6172
E-mail:
marco.ciocca@eku.edu
Office hours: I will respond to e-mail during regular business hours, (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
I will reply within 24 hours of receiving your message. I will not be normally available over
weekends.
Course Description: This course is designed primarily for non-science students. Topics
include mechanics, energy, electricity, magnetism, and light. This course will introduce
students to the terminology and the fundamental concepts and processes of basic physics,
and teach students how to apply these basic principles to specific situations.
Required Text & Materials:
Texts:

Conceptual Physics, 12th edition, by Paul G. Hewitt, ISBN-13: 978-0321909107

Conceptual Physics Practice Book, by Paul G. Hewitt, ISBN -13: 978-0321940742

Any electronic version of these texts, e.g., e-book, kindle etc. is certainly acceptable. You
may find they are also less expensive.
Materials:

A D-size battery

Four pieces of electric wire (10 each).

two flashlight light bulbs bayonet type (RadioShack Model: 44 Catalog #: 2721108 (2pack, $0.47 as of this writing)

E 10 Bayonet base with solder tabs Model: 272-355, Catalog #: 2720355 (6-pack,
$1.99 as of this writing).

You will also need access to 2 pairs of glasses: a pair for nearsighted vision and a pair of
reading glasses. (You can borrow them from a relative or friend). You can substitute the
reading glasses with a magnifying lens if you have it. The reading glasses can be purchased
inexpensively at a larger grocery store or department store, if needed.

Other materials will be provided online via Blackboard or on the Internet.

General Education Goals:

PHY 101 is a general education course. It will introduce students to the terminology and the
fundamental concepts and processes of basic physics, and teach students how to apply
these basic principles to specific situations.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Use appropriate methods of critical thinking and quantitative reasoning to examine
issues and to identify solutions. (For example, simple laws are used to predict the
behavior of light.)
2. Analyze the fundamental natural processes of the world and the interactions of humans
and their environment. (For example, the production of electricity using magnets and
the need to move magnets results in environmental issues with coal.)
3. Distinguish the methods that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts, humanities,
natural sciences, history, and social and behavioral sciences. (For example, student
use of the scientific method is the only source of knowledge used in the class).
4. Integrate knowledge that will deepen their understanding of, and will inform their own
choices about, issues of personal and public importance. (For example, an informed
public must understand the process of science to make sound public policy about issues
such as intelligent design.)
Note: In the activity component of this course we will demonstrate the basic laboratory goals
of; a) how measurements are made in physics, b) how data is analyzed, including how data
is graphed, and c) how to draw quantitative conclusions from data in tabular and graphical
form.
Critical thinking skills are essential in this course and are needed to:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Apply general principles to specific situations

Frame a physical problem in a conceptual model
Generate and use data
Generate and interpret graphs.

Finally, students will gain an appreciation of the many ways in which the
understanding of basic physics can aid them in decision making in their everyday
lives.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning and the scientific method.
2.
Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the topics of introductory physics.

3.
4.
5.

Apply scientific method in laboratory exercises to generate good data

Analyze the results of experiments
Integrate understanding of observable quantities with the physical laws that govern
their behavior.
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic scientific laws that govern
these topics and be able to use the laws to make scientific predictions. Further, students will
use this scientific knowledge to understand commonly used technologies in these areas,
particularly in regards to Energy.

Course Outline:
Unit 1 Mechanics I: Force and Motion
Exam 1: February 15 2015
This unit is covered in chapter 1-4 of the textbook, and will be delivered via PowerPoint
presentations, video lectures and video analysis activities.
Unit 2 Mechanics II: Energy and Momentum
Exam 2: March 15 2015
This unit is covered in chapter 5-7 & 9 of the textbook, and will be delivered via PowerPoint
presentations, video lectures and video analysis activities.
Unit 3: Electricity and Magnetism.
Exam 3: April 12 2015
This unit is covered in chapter 22-24 of the textbook, and will be delivered via PowerPoint
presentations, video lectures and video analysis activities
Unit 4: Light
Exam 4: May 10 2014
This unit is covered in chapter 19, 26-28 -4 of the textbook, and will be delivered via
PowerPoint presentations, video lectures and video analysis activities
Final Exam (comprehensive): Sunday, May 14 2015
Note: These dates are subject to change as needed at the discretion of the Instructor.
Course Methodology:
This is a new kind of physics course. The design of the course follows activity based
instructional methodology pioneered by Pricilla Laws, et al. This course does not separate
lecture and laboratory sections. You are being asked to be more responsible for your own
learning. Many traditional approaches such as homework, examinations, and video lectures
will be retained. Please note that formal lecture will not be the only instructional method used
in this class. Activities and videos will also be used. There is no separate laboratory in this
course. All laboratory experiences are integrated into the main class. Concepts will be
introduced through lecture and reinforced through inquiry processes during activities and
assessed through chat post discussions and homework. The responsibility for learning lies
with the student. This process results in greater retention of content and hopefully a more
interesting way to learn difficult concepts. You must download the activities to be
performed from Black Board when assigned. These activities will be assigned regularly
and the completed file e-mailed to the instructor as PDF. I will let you know when these are
due.

Evaluation: Your final grade will be based on the following items and will be weighted as
follows:
Participation via discussion posts
Homework (8, 25 pts each)
Quizzes (12, 20 pts each)
Activity reports (9, 40 pts each)
Tests (4, 200 pts each)
Final Exam (comprehensive)

200 pts
200 pts
240 pts
360 pts
800 pts
500 pts

Total:

2200 pts

Letter grades will be awarded as follows:

Grade Range
1980-2200 pts
A
1760-1979
B
1540-1759
C
1320-1549
D
Below 1320
F
The instructor reserves the right of modifying this scale, but only to help the students.
Homework: Homework will be assigned and it will be due at the end of the module (check
for deadlines!). It will consist of multiple choice questions, short exercise or short essay
questions on the material covered. The student will answer each question and upload them
via e-mail to the instructor as a PDF document. The homework will need to be turned in by
11:59 PM on the due date for each module due date
Quizzes: The quizzes will be given for each chapter covered, and they will test your learning
effectiveness. The quizzes will be graded based on correctness. Reviewing the material
covered on the chapter will help you prepare for these quizzes. The quizzes contain 10-15
multiple choice questions and will be delivered via Black Board. They will be timed and you
will have 20 minutes of total time. They will be made available by the instructor with a
minimum of 24h notice. The quizzes will need to be completed by 11:59 PM on the due date
Virtual Laboratory Activities: Once a virtual laboratory activity is completed, your data and
conclusion will be written on the downloaded document, saved and submitted as a PDF
document via e-mail on to the instructor. These summaries will be individual, even though
the activities can be group activities. The completed activities will need to be turned in at
11:59 PM on the due date.
Tests: Understanding and solving the homework problems and quiz questions as well as
participating in lecture sessions should help prepare you for these exams. The tests will
comprise 40 multiple choice questions (each correct answer worth 5 points) on the unit
covered. The tests will be delivered via Black Board, will be timed and will be made available
by the instructor with a minimum of 48h notice.

Once started, you will have 60 minutes to complete them and will need to be submitted by
11:59 PM on the due date.
Final Exam: This is a two hours and comprehensive exam. The test will comprise 80
multiple choice questions (each correct answer worth 5 points) on all the unit covered. The
final will be delivered via Black Board, will be timed and will be made available by the
instructor with a minimum of 48h notice. Once started, you will have 2 hours to complete it.
The test will need to be submitted by11:59 PM on the due date.
Make up test: A missed regular semester test will be counted as a zero. Its score will be
replaced by your score on the final. No make-up tests or exams will be allowed except due to
illness, serious family emergency, special curricular requirements, legal reasons, or
participation of a university event. You must give me advance notice and present a note from
the appropriate official (e.g. doctor)
Class participation: To foster the sharing of information and to promote active learning the
students are encourage to participate in threaded discussion posts. Your participation and
replies to threaded discussion board topics and questions within a defined time period. All
online posts are due by 5:00 p.m. on the due date. Such responses should be both wellreasoned and well-written. The instructor reserves the right to remove any posts that are
deemed inappropriate for content or other reasons.
General Comments: The best way for you to ensure your success in this course is to DO
THE HOMEWORK! I encourage you to work together, but make sure that you understand the
material and can work the problems successfully on your own. It will hurt you in the end if you
do not do your own work on the homework. Studying for the exams should consist of working
a lot of exercises.
Official E-mail: An official EKU e-mail is established for each registered student, each faculty
member, and each staff member. All university communications sent via e-mail will be sent to
this EKU e-mail address.
Academic accommodations
A student with a disability may be an individual with a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities such as learning, seeing or hearing.
Additionally, pregnancy or a related medical condition that causes a similar substantial
limitation may also be considered a disability under the ADA.
If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please obtain
your accommodation letters from the OSID and present them to the course instructor to
discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you believe you need accommodation
and are not registered with the OSID, please contact the office in the Whitlock Building Room
361 by email at disserv@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) 622-2933. Upon individual
request, this syllabus can be made available in an alternative format.
Academic Integrity Policy: Students are advised that EKUs Academic Integrity policy will
strictly be enforced in this course. The Academic Integrity policy is available at
www.academicintegrity.eku.edu. Questions regarding the policy may be directed to the Office
of Academic Integrity.

Useful Dates
January 25
March 15
March 30-April3
April 10
May 9
5/14/2014

Last day to drop/add without W

Midterm Grades due
Spring Break
Last day to withdraw from a full semester class with a W
Last day of classes
Final exam

Tentative Class Schedule (The official deadlines and class schedule will be communicated
via announcements on Black Board. Make sure your consult the announcements at least
once a day).
CLASS START
All of Module 1 assignments and test 1 due
All of Module 2 assignments and test 2 due
All of Module 3 assignments and test 3 due
All of Module 4 assignments and test 4 due
Final Exam (comprehensive)

January 20 2015
Sunday February 15 2015, 11:59 PM
Sunday March 15 2015, 11:59 PM
Sunday April 12 2015, 11:59 PM
Sunday May 10 2015, 11:59 PM
Thursday May 14 2015, 11:59 PM