Phys 1405-81403 Syllabus

Dallas College – Richland Campus

Contacting Your Instructor
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weekend and holiday periods responses may be delayed. Find out more about
contacting your instructor.

Instructor Information
Name: Dr. Eric Osei-Yiadom

DCCCD Email: Email Professor ([email protected])

Office Phone: 972-238-6379

Office Location: Wichita Hall, WH-237

Office Hours:

Days Time Location

Monday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM In-person or Virtual (Email or Microsoft Teams)
Tuesday 11:00 PM – 12:00 PM In-person or Virtual (Email or Microsoft Teams)
Wednesday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM In-person or Virtual (Email or Microsoft Teams)
Thursday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM In person or Virtual (Email or Microsoft Teams)
Friday 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Virtual (Email or Microsoft Teams)

Division Office and Phone: Sabine Hall, S-205, 972-238-6248

Course Information
Course Title: Conceptual Physics I

Course Number: Phys 1405

Section Number: 81403

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Semester/Year: Fall 2023

Credit Hours: 4 Hours

Class Meeting Time/Location: LECTURE - RLWH–WH160 – T, R (12:30 PM–01:50 PM)

LAB – RLSH-251 – R (02:00 PM – 04:50 PM)

Certification Date: Saturday, September 02, 2023

Last Day to Withdraw: Thursday, November 09, 2023

Course Prerequisites
College level ready in Reading.

Course Description

This course is the first semester of conceptual level survey of Physics for liberal arts
and other non-science majors. Topics include mechanics, energy conservation, atomic
nature of matter, and thermodynamics. The history of scientific developments and their
impact on daily life are discussed. Also included are laboratory experiments that
emphasize a conceptual understanding of Physics.

Student Learning Outcomes

The specific objectives are: To understand and apply a method and appropriate
technology to the natural sciences; to recognize scientific and quantitative methods and
the differences between these approaches and other methods of inquiry; to
communicate findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally and in writing; to
recognize the influences and contribution of science to modern culture.

Texas Core Objectives

The College defines essential knowledge and skills that students need to develop
during their college experience. These general education competencies parallel the
Texas Core Objectives for Student Learning. In this course, the activities you engage in
will give you the opportunity to practice two or more of the following core competencies:

1. Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and

analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.

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 2. Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation, and
expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication.

3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of

numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.

4. Teamwork - to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work
effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

5. Personal Responsibility - to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and

consequences to ethical decision-making.

6. Social Responsibility - to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic

responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and
global communities.

Required Course Materials

• If your Dallas College course requires learning materials, they will be provided as
part of the IncludED program (see dcccd.edu/included) or as free materials you
can access in your online course shell. If you opt out of the IncludED program,
you are responsible for obtaining all your required learning materials by the first
day of the class (for more details: Institutional Policies).
• The textbook required is Paul G. Hewitt, Conceptual Physics, 12th Edition, ISBN-
13: 9780321909107
Note: A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from
a university-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an
independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Graded Work
The tables below provide a summary of the graded work in this course and an
explanation of how your final course grade will be calculated.
Summary of Graded Work

Assignments Points Totals

Homework 20% 20%

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 Assignments Points Totals
Laboratory 20% (lowest grade will be dropped) 20%
Quizzes 10% (lowest grade will be dropped) 10%
Major Exams 4 @ 10% each (lowest grade will be dropped) 30%
Final Exam 1 @ 20% 20%

TOTAL: 100%
Final Grade

Percentages Letter Grade

90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
0-59% F

Suggestions for Student Success:

To succeed in this course, you are expected to study the material from the textbook,
review lecture PowerPoints, watch lecture video links when provided and work with
others or by yourself through several practice problems. After reviewing the
PowerPoints and watching the videos you ought to integrate the material with what is
explained more extensively in the textbook and become familiar with the concepts
relative to the subject matter presented. Only a solid knowledge of the material gives
you a good chance to correctly answer the questions in the exams. If you need further
assistance, tutors are available for all subject areas and they can be reached at
Tutoring Services (https://www.dcccd.edu/resources/tutoring/pages/default.aspx).

Description of Graded Work

Problem Assignments:
You will be given homework assignments for each chapter. Homework will be assigned
through “Mastering Physics”, and this can be accessed by clicking the assignment link

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in Brightspace (D2L). It is crucial that you complete and understand every assignment.
The best way to learn in this class is to thoroughly work and understand the assigned
problems. The questions assigned as homework and shown in the PowerPoint slides
will be similar to the questions in the exams.
Quizzes:
There will be several quizzes given throughout the course. The score on each quiz will
count as credit toward the final grade. There will be no make up for a missed quiz
(unless for medical reasons with a doctor’s note as proof). The lowest grade on a quiz
will be dropped.
Examinations:
Five examinations will be given in the course: four major tests (lowest grade will be
dropped) and a final exam. Each exam will involve several questions (closed notes and
book, note card allowed for equations only, which will be turned in with your question
paper) similar to what is in the PowerPoint slides and homework assignments. If you
have read through your textbook and the PowerPoints, thinking carefully about the
concepts, and worked on your homework, the exams should be very straightforward.
Laboratory:
Laboratory experience is considered an essential part of the course. Students should
make every effort to do a competent work and learn from the opportunities available in
the lab. It is critical that you read the corresponding experiment in the laboratory manual
before coming to each lab session. The first hour of the lab is designed for Physics
Activity Time, such as a prelab activity which will be turned in before the start of the
lab, recitation, demonstrations, lecture theory of lab, simulation, or creating a secondary
lab. At the end of each lab, a lab report must be completed. You will work in groups, but
each person must turn in their own lab report, which represents your own work. Lack of
participation and collaboration will affect your grade. Record your data in your lab book
and it should be signed off before leaving the lab. The completed lab report should
contain a cover page (which can be downloaded on Brightspace), data,
calculations, and answers to questions. The cover page includes your name, lab
partners’ names, title of the lab, basic theories, conclusions, and errors you
encountered during the lab. Do NOT copy your objective, or theory from your lab

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manual. This is plagiarism. Use your own words. They will represent 20% of your final
grade. Lab reports are due at the beginning of the next lab meeting. Late reports will not
be accepted without permission. Each day an assignment or lab report is late; it will lose
10% of the grade. Students must earn a minimum of 60% of total lab assignment points
to receive a passing grade in this course.

NO INDIVIDUAL MAKE-UP EXAMINATION or QUIZZES (except for medical

reasons with a doctor’s note as proof) OR EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN, NO
MAKEUP LABS; however, one lab report of the lowest grade will be dropped from
the calculation of your lab grade. Attendance is mandatory in order to receive credit
for Lab Reports.

Attendance and Your Final Grade

Attendance is absolutely necessary at every class and lab meeting. It is in your own
interest to attend all classes. Material covered in class (sometimes not contained in the
book) may appear in homework problems and/or exams. Attending class and paying
attention is the key to a good grade. Professional and mature behavior is always
expected, both in and out of class, towards all members of the class. Cell phones need
to be set to silent or vibrate. No phone calls, texting, or browsing the Internet is
allowed during class.

Other Course Policies

Brightspace (D2L) and eConnect:

• Brightspace is the official on-line resource for the College and can be accessed
at Homepage - dallascollege (brightspace.com). It is the student’s responsibility
to check this site periodically for posted announcements/assignments and to
check the accuracy of their posted grades.
• I welcome your email; however, no assignment, tests or lab reports are
accepted via email. Everything must be submitted in ecampus. No exceptions.
• Emails can be sent to me via the envelope icon in Brightspace.

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Institutional Policies
Institutional Policies include information about tutoring, Disabilities Services, class drop
and repeat options, Title IX, and more.

Additional Class Information

Exam Dates1

EXAMS % OF GRADE DATE CHAPTERS

EXAM 1 10% OF GRADE Week 04 (09/14) Chaps 1 – 4

EXAM 2 10% OF GRADE Week 07 (10/05) Chaps 5 – 7

EXAM 3 10% OF GRADE Week 10 (10/28) Chaps 8 – 10

EXAM 4 10% OF GRADE Week 13 (11/16) Chaps 11 – 13

FINAL EXAM 20% OF GRADE Week 16 (12/07) Comprehensive Exam

Drop Date and Holidays

• Classes begin on Monday, August 21, 2023.

• 12th Class Day (Certification Date) is Tuesday, September 02, 2023.
• The last day to withdraw is Thursday, November 09, 2023.
• Thanksgiving Holidays begin on Thursday, November 23, 2023, and end on
Sunday, November 26, 2023.
Withdrawal

Failure to participate in class does not constitute as a withdrawal from the class. Failure
to withdraw from a class after the final withdrawal date indicates your acceptance of the
grade you are earning in the course. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from
the class. The official withdrawal deadline to receive a grade of “W” on your transcript
for this semester is Thursday, November 09, 2023.

1 The instructor reserves the right to change this schedule upon proper notification.
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Tentative Course Schedule2

Tuesday Reading Assignment Thursday Reading Assignment

Week 1 22-Aug Chap 1 24-Aug Chap 1

Week 2 29-Aug Chap 2 31-Sep Chap 2

Week 3 05-Sep Chap 3 07-Sep Chap 4

Week 4 12-Sep Chap 5 14-Sep Exam 1

Week 5 19-Sep Chap 5 21-Sep Chap 6

Week 6 26-Sep Chap 7 28-Sept Chap 7

Week 7 03-Oct Chap 8 05-Oct Exam 2

Week 8 10-Oct Chap 8 12-Oct Chap 9

Week 9 17-Oct Chap 9 19-Oct Chap 10

Week 10 24-Oct Chap 10 26-Oct Exam 3

Week 11 31-Oct Chap 11 02-Nov Chap 11

Week 12 07-Nov Chap 12 09-Nov Chap 13

Week 13 14-Nov Chap 13 16-Nov Exam 4

Week 14 21-Nov Chap 14 23-Nov Thanksgiving Day

Week 15 28-Nov Chap 15 30-Nov Chap 15

Final Exam
Week 16 05-Dec No class 07-Dec (Comprehensive)

2 The instructor reserves the right to change this schedule upon proper notification.
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Labs Schedule, Fall 2023, SH229
Experiment
Availability Dates Lab Session
Number/manual

8/21 – 8/25 Lab time: Introduction/Lecture/demo

8/28 – 9/01 1 Lab 1: Measurements

9/05 – 9/08 2 Lab 2: Linear Motion: Measuring g Value

9/11 – 9/15 3 Lab 3: Force Table: Equilibrium and Vectors

9/18 – 9/22 4 Lab 4: Dynamics of a Rolling Cart

9/25 – 9/29 5 Lab 5: Coefficient of Friction

Lab 6: Dynamic Carts Collisions:

10/02 – 10/06 6
Conservation of Momentum

10/9 – 10/13 7 Lab 7: Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy

10/16 – 10/20 8 Lab 8: Ballistic Pendulum

10/23 – 10/27 9 Lab 9: Centripetal Acceleration

10/30 – 11/03 10 Lab 10: Equilibrium

11/06 – 11/10 11 Lab 11: Elasticity of Spring

11/13 – 11/17 12 Lab 12: Specific Gravity

11/20 – 11/24 Lab time: Lecture/Test

11/27 – 12/01 13 Lab 13: Latent Heat and Specific Heat

12/04 – 12/07 No Lab

Note: The guidelines and days in this syllabus are subject to change, deletion, or
amendment at the discretion of the instructor.

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