Syllabus for PHY101: Introduction to Physics

Online Spring 2019

Instructor:Dr. Julie ZifferPronouns: She/Her/HersScience 268Phone: 207-780-4449,Email: julie.ziffer@maine.eduEmail is by far the easiest way to get a hold of me. I set aside time each Monday and Wednesdayto answer emails. If you send me an email and I have not responded by the end of the followingemail day, please resend your original email.

Office Hours: 11:00- 12:00 PM Tuesdays and by appointment.

Course Materials:

1. Technology is an important factor for successful completion of an online course, but require-ments are kept to a minimum. Basic requirements include a desktop computer or laptop (lessthan three years old), a reliable internet connection, and up-to-date word processing software.You are also required to have access to a a way of taking digital pictures and uploading them.

2. You can use either Firefox or Internet Explorer, but make sure that you are using the mostup-to-date version of the browser. Blackboard does not run as well on Google Chrome. Yourbrowser must accommodate both JavaScript and Java. Firefox is provided at University ofMaine System campuses and you can download a free copy of Firefox for use on your homecomputer from the mozilla.com web site. Also, make sure you have QuickTime downloadedon your computer as that will be required to open some of the documentaries/videos you willbe watching on the Blackboard: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.

Prerequisites: Nominally there are none. However I expect that you will have had exposure toalgebra in high school. There will be a very small math-oriented component in this course, butit will not generally be arithmetic. Instead, you’ll be doing more relational math to learn aboutpatterns and relationships of physical properties.

Course Goals: (1) Learn basic concepts, theories, terms, and facts of Physics. (2) Develop abilityto think holistically about Physics. (3) Develop an informed understanding of the role and relevanceof Physics. (4) Learn to appreciate important contributions to Physics.

Course Description: An elementary approach to the study of mechanics, heat, sound, electricity,magnetism, light, and modern physics, intended for the student who desires a one-semester intro-duction to the subject with emphasis on concepts as opposed to problem solving. Students desiringlaboratory work should also register for PHY 102. Students planning to major in any of the naturalsciences are not directed to this course but rather to a more advanced introductory course.

Course Objectives: (1) Understand the physics we see everyday. (2) Understand popular mis-conceptions and why they are wrong. (3) Understand how we know what we know about science.(4) Understand that physics is not just a collection of facts but that it is a way to gain a deeperunderstanding of nature. (5) Understand the discussion of physics in media and popular culture.

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Expectations: You will be expected to turn in assignments through blackboard twice per week —Tuesdays and Thursdays.

1. Each Tuesday there will be either a physics video to watch (approximately an hour) withrelated questions to answer or an assignment related to scientific epistemology. They will bedue on the following Tuesday.

2. Each Thursday there will be activities assigned. They will usually take the form of lightinternet research, taking and uploading pictures of physics in action in your day to day life, orwatching and answering questions on shorter videos. Some weeks there may be a combinationof these. They will be due on the following Thursday.

Course Grade:

1. Tuesdays: Physics videos and epistemologies (50%),

2. Thursdays: Physics related activities and research (50%),

Note that grades are rounded to the nearest tenth of a point, not the nearest point.

Grading Scale:A = 94 - 100%A- = 90 - 94 %B+ = 87 - 90%B = 84 - 87%B- = 80 - 84%C+= 77 -80%C = 74 - 77%C- = 70 - 74%D+ = 67 - 70%D = 64 - 67%D- = 60 - 64%F < 60%

Available Assistance: The university is committed to providing students with documented dis-abilities equal access to all university programs and services. If you think you have a disabilityand would like to request accommodations, you must register with the Disability Services Center.Timely notification is essential. The Disability Services Center can be reached by calling 207-780-4706 or by email at dsc-usm@maine.edu. If you have already received a faculty accommodationletter from the Disability Services Center, please provide me with that information as soon aspossible. Please make a private appointment so that we can review your accommodations.

Academic Honesty: Each student in this course is expected to abide by the University Code ofAcademic Integrity. Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be thestudent’s own work.

You are encouraged to study together and to discuss information and concepts covered. Youcan give consulting help to or receive consulting help from students. However, this permissiblecooperation should never involve one student having possession of a copy of all or part of workdone by someone else, in a digital form or a hard copy. Should copying occur, both the studentwho copied work from another student and the student who gave material to be copied will both

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automatically receive a zero for the assignment. Penalty for violation of this Code can also beextended to include failure of the course and University disciplinary action.

As a University of Southern Maine student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s aca-demic honesty policy. Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable expla-nation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policyshould be directed to the instructor.

Counseling and Recovery Services: The USM Counseling Center offers comprehensive psycho-logical services to the students of the University of Southern Maine. The staff of the CounselingCenter is comprised of a diverse group of professionals, including licensed psychologists, a licensedclinical counselor, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and graduate interns. Together they em-body a great deal of experience with a multitude of issues. Students are eligible for up to 12 freesessions as long as they are registered for six credits.

The Recovery Oriented Campus Center (ROCC) at the University of Southern Maine is aboutestablishing peer support to build a supportive community for students in recovery from substanceuse and other mental health conditions. The ROCC is a place where students enter to reconnectwith themselves, each other, and their community; while also exploring their academic potentialand the boundless opportunities that await them in a life of recovery. The ROCC is located on theTop floor (third floor) of the Sullivan Gym in Portland.

Title IXThe University of Southern Maine is committed to making our campuses safer places for students.

Because of this commitment, and our federal obligations, faculty and other employees are consideredmandated reporters when it comes to experiences of interpersonal violence (sexual assault, sexualharassment, dating or domestic violence, and stalking). This means that if you tell me aboutany incident of interpersonal violence, I must notify the Universitys Deputy Title IXCoordinator who can help provide support and academic remedies for students who have beenimpacted.

For more information, please see the resources below:

• Information on the Campus Safety Project: http://usm.maine.edu/campus-safety-project orby contacting Sarah Holmes, USMs Title IX Coordinator: sarah.e.holmes1@maine.edu or207-780-5767.

Confidential Contacts:

• University Counseling Services (207-780-4050)

• 24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-871-7741)

• 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline (1-866-834-4357).

• National suicide hotline is 1-800-273-8255 and the text line is 741741.

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Copyright 2019 Dr. Julie Ziffer