Time Schedule:
Oscar E Vilches
PHYS 115
Seattle Campus
Basic principles of physics presented without use of calculus. Suitable for students majoring in technically oriented fields other than engineering or the physical sciences. Heat and electromagnetism. Credit is not given for both 115 and 122. Prerequisite: PHYS 114 or 121; recommended: concurrent registration in PHYS 118. Offered: AWSpS.
Class description
This class offers an introduction to fluid mechanics (density, pressure, buoyancy, motion of incompressible fluids), thermodynamics (temperature, thermal equilibrium, heat conduction, ideal gas law, heat capacity, first and second laws of thermodynamics, entropy), electrostatics (charge, electric field, electrostatic potential, energy storage), electric currents and simple circuits, and magnetism (magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction), using mathematics at the algebra level. Students following the course and doing reasonably well should expect to be able to obtain the foundations on which much of everyday phenomena, energy problems, and biological systems operate. The text contains a large number of applications to these practical problems of humanity.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Four lectures per week with lots of lecture demos, computer managed and graded weekly homework, not graded weekly homework from the text, ample office hours for discussions. The Department of Physics has a Study Center in the level below the lecture halls where assistance is availabe duirng the week from about 9 am until 3:30 pm.
Recommended preparation
Results from Physics 114 (Mechanics, taken at UW or elsewhere) will be used throughout. Some repetition of main results (Newton's laws, kinetic energy, momentum) will be done. If students have taken Mechanics a long time ago, it is recommended that before starting Phys 115 students read the "highlights" of the three topics mentioned. Algebra, trigonometry, and vectors, will be used frequently. If rusty, see Math appendix in text.
Class assignments and grading
Every week a set of problems using the Tycho computerized system will be assigned, due on Fridays by 5 pm for full credit, and the following Monday by 5 pm for 50% credit. Every week about 8 to 10 problems from the text will be assigned. They will not be turned in. It is highly recommended that you do the problems, and if you can not solve them, that you seek help solving them. A summary solution will be posted, but don't wait to read the solution! There is no substitute for doing the problems to understand topics.
For Spring quarter 2005 there will be three term exams (April 15, May 6, May 27), and a final exam (Monday, June 16, 8:30 am). The final exam will be almost comprehensive. 60%% of he final grade will be computed from the best two term exam scores, 30 % from the final exam, and 10% from the computerized homework. If a term test is missed, that one will be the "low score" to be dropped. There will be no make ups. For links and other information specific to this course, click on Additional Information link below (when activated).
