Syllabus: PHYS 20474-040: Physics I with Lab:
Mechanics
Course &
Instructor Information
Course
Course Title, Prefix, Number, Section: PHYS 20474-040 - Physics I with Lab: Mechanics
Number of Credits: 4
Course Component Type: LCL
This is part one of a two-semester
calculus-based physics course. We will cover material dealing with classical
mechanics and thermodynamics.
Class Location: SWR 357
Class Meeting Day(s) & Time(s): MWF 12:00PM - 12:50
Zoom Access Information: Only in-class meetings
Instructor
Instructor Name: Dr. Yuri M. Strzhemechny
Office Location: SWR 373
Office Hours: SWR 373/https://tcu.zoom.us/j/368852310; M 3:00-4:00 PM, F 4:00-5:00 PM and by
appointment
Preferred Method of Contact: Email
Email: Y.Strzhemechny@tcu.edu
Final Evaluative Exercise & Important Dates
|
FINAL: TBA |
Note for students: The syllabus is your first course reading. It provides an orientation to, overview of the flow, and expectations of the course. You should turn to the syllabus for details on course policies.
Student Resources & Policy Information
Click or scan QR code for resources to support you as a TCU student. Please note section on Student Access and Accommodation and Academic Conduct & Course Materials Policies.
Table of Contents
Course & Instructor Information
Final
Evaluative Exercise & Important Dates
Student
Resources & Policy Information
Prerequisites
& Concurrent Enrollment
Teaching
Philosophy & Methodology
Course Description
Catalog Description
Prerequisites & Concurrent Enrollment
Prerequisite: MATH 10524, which may be taken concurrently, or permission of instructor.
Course Materials
Required Materials
Required textbook: Essential University Physics , Vol. 1, 4th Edition, by Richard Wolfson, Pearson, ISBN-13: 978-0134988559, ISBN-10: 0134988558
Lab instructions: Will be distributed via the Internet. Further information will be provided in your Laboratory Syllabi.
Teaching Philosophy & Methodology
There are several key principles I find necessary to
follow in teaching.
Practical learning. The most effective way to make a
person learn is to provide a connection between the theoretical concepts and
the hands-on experience. Learning by doing solving class problems, performing
course laboratories, and carrying out extra-curriculum research by far
outweighs learning by listening. Just attending the lectures is never enough.
Ideally, all aspects of practical learning have to be integrated into each
class.
Individual approach. It is necessary to have an honest
interest in your students. I try to get to know the students on a first-name
basis. I treat and respect every student as a unique individual. I remember
that different students have different goals to pursue. I accept that different
students learn differently. I care about developing a positive relationship
with my students and about them developing a positive view of the subject.
Engaging the classroom. This is where teacher s
enthusiasm is crucial. I feel like an emissary for the discipline I teach. I
try to make the students discover what motivates the subject and why it is
important. At the same time, their own interests have to be activated in the
learning process. Furthermore, the students have to be not just taught the
courses but be prepared for the future work place by learning the constructive
way of thinking, the communication skills, and other information that will be necessary
for them throughout their lives.
Effectiveness in delivering information. In the short
run, my goal is to convey a clear message of the course to an ordinary student.
To achieve this objective, I engage my teaching techniques to ensure
intellectual and emotional interaction with the classroom.
Developing research skills. I think that all students,
regardless of their level, should be exposed to research. This should include a
range of endeavors outside a fixed curriculum.
Weekly quizzes consisting of a few
problems (very similar to the homework problems) will be given every
Friday from 12:00 to 12:10 pm and will include material covered during the
previous week(s). The quizzes grade will be determined as the average of all
the quiz grades but one, with the lowest grade dropped. Three midterm
tests will be administered. Final exam will be
cumulative. The tests will contain multiple choices, conceptual questions and
problems. No electronic devices, graphing calculators, or cell phones on the
tests, please. Make-up tests will be provided to students having an Official
University Absence. Students with valid reasons for missed tests (e.g.,
doctor's note) will have to contact me regarding make-up tests as early as
possible. Lab is an integral part of the course and the lab grade
counts for 20% of the final grade. This grade will be determined as described
in the Lab Syllabus. Homework: It is crucial for
you to learn how to apply conceptual knowledge for problem solving. The
textbook provides excellent guidelines for you to acquire this skill. You are
strongly encouraged to go through the solutions of the sample problems. In
addition, for each chapter, I will supply a number of recommended problems for
your homework. It is in your best interest to solve those problems in a timely
manner for several reasons. First, it will provide additional training in
self-education. Second, homework problems will be very similar to those
given in the weekly quizzes. Third, homework problems will be related to those
offered in the tests and the final. I will not be grading your homework
assignments but I will sure grade the quizzes and the tests. If you are having
difficulty solving the homework problems you may want to contact me during my
office hours, or perhaps get a tutor (for tutors available within the
department, check our web page at http://www.phys.tcu.edu).
Active participation in all elements of
the course is essential to your success. The following polices are intended to
help you manage the impacts of rare but significant life disruptions. In the
event of extenuating circumstances (e.g., personal emergency/extended or
chronic illness) that are not manageable through the policies below, the
student should work with the Dean of Students and the professor to find
reasonable solutions on a case-by-case basis. Please do NOT submit medical documentation to the professor.
It is an infringement on student privacy for me to have access to student
medical records, and I cannot accept medical documentation to justify absences.
For any course at TCU, if you have a legitimate reason for your absence and
would like to provide verification, please use the Absence
Documentation Form.
You will have an option of getting up to 5% of extra
credit for an extracurricular research.
Such assignments will be given on request from a pool of topics on a lottery
basis.
Assignment Feedback: Faculty in the
Davis College of Science & Engineering are committed to providing students
with meaningful and timely feedback on their academic work to support learning
and improvement. While the nature, scope, and complexity of assignments may
influence grading timelines, students can generally expect feedback on
submitted work within a reasonable period, typically within one to two weeks.
For larger or more complex assignments, faculty will clearly communicate
anticipated timelines. In turn, students are encouraged to plan accordingly and
reach out if they do not receive feedback within the stated timeframe. This
shared commitment helps ensure that feedback remains an effective and integral
part of the learning process.
Mid-term Grades: Mid-term
evaluations for students will be in a letter grade format, i.e. A through F.
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
|
Course Activities: |
Number of Instances |
|
|
1 |
Quizzes |
Weekly |
|
2 |
Tests (including final) |
4 in total |
|
3 |
Labs |
Weekly |
Course Requirements
Grading
|
Assignments |
Percentage or Points |
|
Weekly quizzes |
20% |
|
Test 1 |
15% |
|
Test 2 |
15% |
|
Test 3 |
15% |
|
Final Exam |
15% |
|
Labs |
20% |
|
Total |
100% |
Grading Scale
|
Points |
|
|
A |
90 - 100 |
|
B |
80 - 89.9 |
|
C |
70 - 79.9 |
|
D |
55 - 69.9 |
|
F |
54.9 and below |