Physics 1401
Physics for Nonscience Majors
Fall Semester 2016
Course Outline
Instructor: Thomas L. Gibson Office: Sc 27 Office Hours: 01:00-2:00 pm T,Th or 1:00-2:30 pm M,W (or by
appointment)
Required Texts: Conceptual Physics, 12th edition, by Paul G. Hewitt with MasteringPhysics online homework license
and Physics 1401 Laboratory Manual
Course Coverage: The course will cover topics from the eight sections in the text by Hewitt.
Web page: www.phys.ttu.edu/~ritlg/courses/p1401/index.html
This course satisfies part of the Natural Science core curriculum requirement. The objective of the study of the natural
sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in
the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing theories. The natural
sciences investigate the phenomena of the physical world.
Course Purpose:
Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to explain some of the major concepts in
the natural sciences and demonstrate an understanding of scientific approaches to problem solving,
including ethics.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcome Assessment
Distinguish between a scientific theory and speculation. Evaluation of test question responses.
Understand at a conceptual level the fundamental elements of
energy, motion, and thermodynamics.
Evaluation of test question responses.
Verify the importance of measurement to the scientific method. Evaluation of measured data and conclusions
from laboratory exercises.
Grading Policy:
The following six scores will be accumulated during the course of the semester:
OHLQ; Exam 1; Exam 2; Exam 3; Final Exam; Final Exam.
The course grade will be the weighted average of the OHLQ (40%) and the four highest exam scores
(15% each) of the five exam scores listed above. NO MAKEUP EXAMS will be given. Your letter grade
will be determined on the following scale:
(55-65) D; (66-81) C; (82-91) B; (92-100) A. I do use +/- grades one point either side of a grade boundary,
e.g., grades of 80 or 81 earn a C
+
while grades of 82 or 83 earn a B
-
.
OHLQ:(Average of Online Homework + Laboratory + Online Quizzes Bonus)
Online homework (course ID MPGIBSON36529) from the Mastering Physics website will be assigned
and graded on a regular basis. This will constitute half of the credit for the OHLQ category.
Laboratories will be conducted during the assigned lab periods. Your laboratory grade will constitute the
other half of the credit for the OHLQ category. Since this is a lab-credit course, you must pass the lab in
order to pass the course.
Finally, if you take all of the online quizzes and achieve a final average ≥ 92 before the due date (11:00
p.m. December 03, 2016), at the end of the semester you will receive 10 bonus points in your OHLQ
category. No other extra credit or bounus points are available.
Hour Exams: Three one-hour exams will be given. You will need a scantron sheet for each exam.
Final: A comprehensive final exam will be given. You will also need a scantron sheet for the final exam.
Important Dates:
August 29 = Monday---Classes start for the Fall 2016 Semester.
September 05 = Monday---Labor Day.
October 31 = Monday---Last day to drop course.
November 23-27 = Wednesday-Sunday---Thanksgiving Holiday.
December 07 = Wednesday---Last day of classes.
December 09 = Friday---Final Exam (Chapters 1-18,33,34) (01:30-04:00 pm) in SC010 unless we are
notified otherwise.
Approximate Dates for One-hour Exams:
Exam 1 Friday September 30, 2016.
Exam 2 Friday October 21, 2016.
Exam 3 Wednesday November 16, 2016.
Course Goals:
This course is intended to acquaint students with the basic laws of physics and to develop a better understanding
of physical science in general. To this end, we will emphasize concepts over mathematical manipulation and
student participation over more traditional lecture. The laboratory portion of this course, Physics 1401
Laboratory, is an important component of developing "hands on" understanding of the material that we will
cover in the lecture portion.
Strategy for Success:
Be prepared! Study your notes, read the material in the text before we cover it in class.
Take the online quizzes. These will help you keep up, will make for more productive classroom interaction, and
will help keep you prepared for the exams. It is your responsibility to make sure that your online quizzes are
being properly recorded.
Begin all homework assignments as soon as possible. The assignments take time and thought.
Once you can work through a problem with your notes, book, study group, etc., write the question down on a
blank sheet of paper and then try to rework it entirely on your own a few days later.
Never wait until the night before a test to "begin" studying.
See your instructor if you are stuck--that's why they pay me the big bucks!
Check out the web pages for important announcements, information, and FAQs.
Important Notes:
Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course
requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements.
Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor's
office hours. Please note instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student
until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional
information, you may contact the Student Disability Services office in 335 West Hall or 806-742-2405.
The faculty is strongly committed to upholding standards of academic integrity. These standards, at the
minimum, require that students never present the work of others as their own. Further, rude, disruptive, or
disrespectful behavior has no place in the classroom and will not be tolerated.
Texas Tech University is committed to providing and strengthening an educational, working, and living
environment where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are free from gender and/or sex discrimination of
any kind. Sexual assault, discrimination, harassment, and other Title IX violations are not tolerated by the
University. Report any incidents to the Office for Student Rights & Resolution, (806)-742-SAFE (7233) or
file a report online at titleix.ttu.edu/students. Faculty and staff members at TTU are committed to
connecting you to resources on campus. Some of these available resources are: TTU Student Counseling
Center, 806-742-3674, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scc/ (Provides confidential support on campus.) TTU
Student Counseling Center 24-hour Helpline, 806-742-5555, (Assists students who are experiencing a
mental health or interpersonal violence crisis. If you call the helpline, you will speak with a mental health
counselor.) Voice of Hope Lubbock Rape Crisis Center, 806-763-7273, voiceofhopelubbock.org (24-hour
hotline that provides support for survivors of sexual violence.) The Risk, Intervention, Safety and
Education (RISE) Office, 806-742-2110, rise.ttu.edu (Provides a range of resources and support options
focused on prevention education and student wellness.) Texas Tech Police Department, 806-742-3931,
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ttpd/ (To report criminal activity that occurs on or near Texas Tech campus.)
This page designed and maintained by t.l. gibson
This page was last modified on August 30, 2016
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