Course Syllabus

In response to COVID-19, the following recommendations are in place to maintain your learning environment, to enhance the safety of our in-classroom interactions, and to further the health and safety of ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones.

• If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated. Vaccines are readily available and have been demonstrated to be safe and effective against the COVID-19 virus. Visit one.uf for screening / testing and vaccination opportunities.
• If you are sick, stay home. Please call your primary care provider if you are ill and need immediate care or the UF Student Health Care Center at 352-392-1161 to be evaluated.

Prerequisites

High school algebra and trigonometry, or the equivalent.

Description

This course is a first semester of algebra-based introductory physics (“Physics 1”). The topics covered include kinematics, Newton’s laws, circular and rotational motion, equilibrium, elasticity, energy, momentum, fluids, oscillations, waves, and sound. It is typically followed by a second semester course, PHY2054 (“Physics 2”), covering electromagnetism.

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to provide you with a foundation in the concepts, fundamental principles, and analytic techniques needed to solve problems arising in the context of Newtonian mechanics. Examples include knowing how to calculate the maximum height of a projectile, the tension in a support beam, the velocity of an object after a collision, the pressure at a given depth in a fluid, and the resonant sound frequencies in an open pipe. The course is designed for people who have already had a basic introduction to physics in high-school or otherwise.

Objectives

This course is a General Education designated course. As such there are specific student learning outcomes and subject-specific General Education objectives that must be met. By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in the concepts, principles, terminology, and methodologies used to describe motion (translational, rotational and combined) of simple objects, the basic properties of matter, harmonic oscillations, and wave motion. Specifically, you will be able to:

This section tells you how to contact the course instructor and TAs and gives an overview of how communication will happen and in what time frame.

The Official course e-mail is guaranteed a response by the instructors. You must email us from your official UF email to receive a response.  Instructors respond to the course email between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm M-F and will usually respond within 48 hours.

Please contact your TA using Canvas Mail. The office hours schedule and contact information for TAs can be found in Office Hour Links on Canvas.  Contacting TAs must be through Canvas message; for TA contact you do not copy the instructors.

All makeup quiz requests are to be sent through canvas to TA Travis Zeigler.

Class Comportment

All participants of this course (students, TAs, and instructors) should adhere to the following etiquette policies:

• Treat your instructor and classmates with respect in email or any other communication
• Always use your professors’ proper title: Dr. or Prof.
• Use clear and concise language.
• All college level communication should have correct spelling and grammar 
• Be cautious when using humor or sarcasm as tone is sometimes lost in an online interaction and your message might be taken seriously.

This section tells you the role and responsibilities of the TA, how to contact the TAs, and gives an overview of how communication will happen and in what time frame.

Statement on TAs' Role

The TAs will be: running your discussion sections, writing and grading your quizzes, managing quiz makeup requests, and holding office hours. We (the instructors) will guide the TAs in these endeavors.

TAs are actively involved in departmental TA training to continuously improve their teaching practices.  If you have any concerns please contact your instructors.

TAs are not responsible for creating or interpreting course policies.  Any questions/clarification required for course policy must be addressed to your instructors.

TA Responsibilities

• Create weekly quizzes.  Quizzes are approved by the instructors prior to being given.
• Grade weekly quizzes.
• Return graded quizzes/post grades 1 week from the date the quiz was taken.
• Approve makeup quiz requests within 3 days of the request being made.
• Provide a re-grade of quiz grades, when requested.
• Run discussion sections and hold office hours.

Contact Information

Contact TAs through Canvas email.  Office Location: See Office Hours on the left sidebar for full details. You are welcome to attend the office hours of any TA.

This section overviews the materials you will need to complete the assigned work in the course. 

UF policy is such that all quizzes and exams must be taken in person in Gainesville.

Required Reading and Other Course Materials

• Canvas Notifications:
  • You must have your notifications in Canvas set such that you get instant notification of all course Announcements and (minimum) daily notification of emails.
• UF All Access is required to opt-in for the text and HW systems
• You will get an email at your UF account from BryteWave with a link to click.  This link provides the eBook and the access code for the ExpertTA HW system
• Support for All Access: email allaccess@bsd.ufl.edu
• All Access ends on March 15th.  If you have not purchased access to the HW system by then you will need to use a credit card to use the HW system
• Text (e-book): College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Knight, Jones, and Field (4e).
  
• Homework:
  • HW will be presented and submitted through Expert TA. To access the homework, click the "Assignments" link in the left-hand navigation menu. Clicking on an assignment will take you to the assignment in Expert TA. The first time you do this, you will be asked to enter your code from All Access/BryteWave.  See ExpertTA Support and FAQ for help navigating this process.
• Clickers:
  • Most lectures will feature a in-class clicker question for extra credit. UF has purchased a sitewide license to the iClicker system; if you need to create an account see iClicker information. Use only your @ufl.edu email address when registering; if you use a different account you will not sync to the gradebook and you will not be awarded any points. See iClicker FAQ and Support for help.
    
• Calculators:
  • Calculators are a necessity.
  • Internet-capable calculators and cell phones as calculators are not allowed.
  • You may not use a calculator that has a QWERTY keyboard. You are not allowed to store information in your calculators. Exam proctors may ask to check your calculator. 
  • Canvas does not have a built-in calculator.
  • You must bring your own calculator to your quizzes; failure to bring your own calculator is not grounds for requesting a makeup.

Recommended Reading and Other Course Materials

 We have provided additional OPTIONAL materials (problem solving, etc) in the Modules.

Required Technology

Lectures will be held in person. During lecture you need technology to respond to clicker questions for extra credit. Exams and weekly quizzes will be taken during discussion in-person.  Quizzes are electronic and will be taken in Canvas. You will need a reliable computer and internet access to access the etextbook and homework. Office Hours may be via Zoom.

• Materials and Supplies Fee: n/a.

Grading in this course takes place within the following parameters.

• Your course grade will be based on a 100.0 point fixed scale.
• All grades will be available in Canvas.
• We use drop-lowest as a make-up policy to accommodate circumstances that may arise throughout the semester that may hinder your performance in the homework, the discussion quizzes and participation, and the clicker questions. The drops for each category are given in the table below. Grading in this course is consistent with UF Grading policies
• Assignment Values: Point values/percentages for each assignment are available in the Assignments page of Canvas.

Policy on Late and Make-up Work

• Homework solutions are released immediately after the due-date.  No late HW can be accepted for credit. 
• Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies. 
  
• See the following drop-downs for further details: Additional Information, Exam-Specific Information, and Quiz-Specific Information.

Grade Return Timing

Homework grades and solutions are released within 1 minute of the due-date through Expert TA. Graded quizzes are posted by the following week's second Discussion Session. Exam grades are typically posted within 1 week of the exam.

Grade Composition

Note that a grade of C- is not a qualifying grade for major, minor, General Education, or College Basic distribution credit. 

This course is aligned with the UF policies described below. 

• Contact Hours:
  • "Contact Hours" refers to the hours per week in which students are in contact with the instructor, excluding office hours or other voluntary contact. The number of contact hours in this course equals the number of credits the course offers.
    

• Workload:
  • As a Carnegie I, research-intensive university, UF is required by federal law to assign at least 2 hours of work outside of class for every contact hour. Work done in these hours may include reading/viewing assigned material and doing explicitly assigned individual or group work, as well as reviewing notes from class, synthesizing information in advance of exams or papers, and other self-determined study tasks.
    • For tips and suggestions on how to approach this class and the appropriate amount of work required to master the topics we'll be covering see the page: How To Study For PHY2053

• UF Attendance Policy for Excused Absences

• Statement Regarding Evaluations:

  • Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at: https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public-
    results/.

• Statement Regarding Course Recording:
  • Students are allowed to record video or audio of class lectures. However, the purposes for which these recordings may be used are strictly controlled. The only allowable purposes are (1) for personal educational use, (2) in connection with a complaint to the university, or (3) as evidence in, or in preparation for, a criminal or civil proceeding. All other purposes are prohibited. Specifically, students may not publish recorded lectures without the written consent of the instructor.
  • A “class lecture” is an educational presentation intended to inform or teach enrolled students about a particular subject, including any instructor-led discussions that form part of the presentation, and delivered by any instructor hired or appointed by the University, or by a guest instructor, as part of a University of Florida course. A class lecture does not include lab sessions, student presentations, clinical presentations such as patient history, academic exercises involving solely student participation, assessments (quizzes, tests, exams), field trips, private conversations between students in the class or between a student and the faculty or lecturer during a class session.
  • Publication without permission of the instructor is prohibited. To “publish” means to share, transmit, circulate, distribute, or provide access to a recording, regardless of format or medium, to another person (or persons), including but not limited to another student within the same class section. Additionally, a recording, or transcript of a recording, is considered published if it is posted on or uploaded to, in whole or in part, any media platform, including but not limited to social media, book, magazine, newspaper, leaflet, or third party note/tutoring services. A student who publishes a recording without written consent may be subject to a civil cause of action instituted by a person injured by the publication and/or discipline under UF Regulation 4.040 Student Code and Student Conduct Code.
    

• Honor Policy:
  • UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code". On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” The Honor Code specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. You are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor in this class.

Disability Resource Center (DRCaccessUF@ufsa.ufl.edu | 352-392-8565) helps to provide an accessible learning environment for all by providing support services and facilitating accommodations, which may vary from course to course. Once registered with DRC, students will receive an accommodation letter that must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodations. Students should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

• Accommodation for Students with Disabilities:
  • Students with disabilities who experience learning barriers and would like to request academic accommodations should connect with the Disability Resource Center. This class supports the needs of different learners; it is important for students to share their accommodation letter with their instructor and discuss their access needs as early as possible in the semester.
    
    • The DRC has an  online portal for sending out accommodation letters. Use the email address phy2053@phys.ufl.edu to generate your letter. Please send a copy of your DRC letter to your TA as well.
      • If you do not see "phy2053@phys.ufl.edu" in the drop-down menu when requesting ATRs, please send them to korytov@ufl.edu
    • DRC Accommodation Letters received at least 72 hours in advance of a timed assessment will be in effect for all future assessments.
    • If a response is submitted with less than 72 hours until the next scheduled assessment, then the accommodations will apply after the next timed assessment. Failure to meet the announced 72 hour deadline prior to a timed assessment is not a valid rationale for requesting a makeup assessment. 
    • DRC students will take their quizzes at the DRC on Tuesdays at 8:30 pm except for the week of Exam 2.  As Exam 2 falls on a Tuesday all DRC students will take their quiz that week on Monday at 8:30 pm.
      
    • Failure to show up for your scheduled DRC quiz is equivalent to failing to show up in-person in lecture for your quiz; you will receive a zero unless you have an excused absence.

Physics, like all human endeavors, is something that is learned. Physics is practiced and advanced by a scientific community of individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities and is open and welcoming to everyone. We recognize the value in diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of this course. This includes, but is not limited to differences in race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, religion, and disability.

Our aim is to foster an atmosphere of learning that is based on inclusion, transparency, and respect for all. We acknowledge the different needs and perspectives we bring to our common learning space and strive to provide everyone with equal access. Know that you belong here.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any concerns, or with any suggestions for improving the inclusivity of this course.

The following are additional policies regarding graded material for this course.

• See the Course Schedule for detailed information about lecture topics, quiz and exam content, etc.
• Homework:
  • Before you begin you will need to register your account.
    
  • Homework sets will be due on Fridays at 11:59 pm and will be open for a period of at least 7 days prior to the deadline.
  • You get 5 attempts to get a question right. You will receive a point deduction for each incorrect submission attempt.
  • For multiple choice or true/false type questions credit the deduction per incorrect answer = 100%/(# of options - 1).
  • Full solutions to homework will be available immediately after the due date in the homework system.
  • Expert TA requires your responses be within 3% of the correct answer to account for rounding errors. Going by significant figures can result in the system marking your answer wrong despite you technically being correct. Do not worry about significant figures unless specifically asked for them in the HW problem.
  • Follow appropriate practices of academic honesty when working on the homework problems: discussions with colleagues and/or tutors about methods of posing and solving a homework problem are acceptable and encouraged. Using a formula that is specific to the problem, derived by someone else to input answers is considered cheating. 
• Make-up Homework
  • Solutions are released immediately after the due-date; no make-ups and no extensions are possible for homework. We apply drops to your lowest 2 homework grades.
    

• In-Class Clicker:
  • In-lecture clicker questions begin to count on Thursday, January 26th, 2023. You must use either a computer or mobile device to participate in the clicker questions.
    
  • Correct responses to clicker questions are worth 2 points and incorrect responses will be worth 1 point. No response is worth 0 points.
  • It is your responsibility to make sure your technology works. If you are present in class but the system does not record your response, seek iClicker support before the next class and this class will be one of your drops.  Responding for other students is considered cheating by both parties.

• Discussion Section Participation:  GP
  • During your second discussion section you will work in groups of ~5 to solve problems.
  • There are 11 group problem sessions. 
  • There is 1 drop. 
  • GP points total up to 1 Quiz in the Quiz category.

This section provides information on exam content, dates, and makeup policy.

• Exams:
  • Exams each have 15 multiple choice questions and are worth 25 points.
  • Exams are closed book/closed notes; the only materials allowed are your pencil/eraser/pen/highlighter, scientific or graphing calculator.
  • We will provide scratch paper. 
  • Private formula sheets and cell phones as calculators are not allowed.
  • An official formula sheet will be provided.  If you come with your own formula sheet you will be reported for academic fraud.
  • There will be variable-only problems.
  • The Final Exam will be cumulative.
  • Dates and content covered by the Exams is found on the Course Schedule
  • The answer you mark on your Exam is your final answer to a question. We do not look back over your work, even if you think you solved your answer correctly on the scratch paper.
    
• There are three makeup exam dates. 
  • Makeup Exam 1 and Exam 2 will be scheduled ~1 week after the date of the originally scheduled exam.
  • The Final Exam makeup date is set by UF and found in the Course Schedule.
  • A student who will miss an assembly exam due to an exam conflict or any other foreseeable reason that is approved under UF attendance policies must request in advance to take the makeup exam.
  • A student who has an unforeseeable absence from an exam should contact the instructor as soon as possible, normally within 24 hours after the missed exam.
  • For an absence to be approved, documentation of the reason for absence must be provided. 
  • The conflict exam will cover the same subject matter as the regular exam and in a similar format, although the exams will not be identical.

This section provides information on quiz content, makeup policy, and how to use Canvas to take your quizzes.

• Quizzes:
  •  Quizzes will be administered in your first discussion section of the week. All students will be taking the quiz on Canvas. You have 30 minutes total to take the quiz once started.
  • Forgetting to bring your laptop or mobile device is not grounds for requesting a makeup quiz.
  • You must be present in person to take the quiz. 
  • Quizzes will contain the formula sheet.
    
  • We will supply and collect the scratch paper.
  • You will supply an appropriate calculator and writing implements.
  • Quizzes are open-book, open-notes
  • Quizzes test how well you have learned the concepts and methods of the assigned homework problems. The quiz questions will be related to, but not identical to, the online homework problems.
    
  • There will be two questions on each quiz. Each question will be graded on a 5 point scale.
  • To allow for partial credit we will include a text entry field where you can describe in proper English your approach to the problem. This should just be a rough outline of the main ideas you used in getting to your solution.  Bullet-points are acceptable.
  • You are expected to do the problems on your own without any additional help.
    
  • Content covered by quizzes is found in the Course Schedule. Quiz # corresponds to the HW# it is based on. 

• Make-up quizzes are permitted provided you have a valid documented excuse (e.g. doctors excuse for illness, official UF sanctioned event).  Please contact TA Travis Zeigler through Canvas email with your excuse note to request a makeup quiz.
  • TA will approve or deny the request. 
  • If approved you will take your Makeup Quiz at 8.30pm in NPB 2205 as on the Course Schedule.
  • The make-up quiz must be taken within 3 weeks of the missed quiz (not within 3 weeks of the request for approval of the makeup).
  • There will be no make-up quizzes for quiz 1-10 given after 5 pm on Monday of the last week of classes.  You have until this date to request any re-grade or to question any grade discrepancy pertaining to the quizzes.