Phys 151 Syllabus Instructor Galen T. Picket Office H 205512

Phys 151 Syllabusa Instructor Galen T Pickettoffice Hsci 260phone

Welcome to PHYS 151, “Mechanics and Heat,” a course that explores the foundations of modern mechanics, emphasizing fundamental principles such as motion, energy, momentum, and angular momentum through theoretical understanding and experimental investigations. The course aims to develop critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and teamwork skills via online lectures, laboratory exercises, homework assignments, and group projects.

The course structure includes weekly online lectures, regular homework via WebAssign, laboratory experiments utilizing Tracker software, and collaborative group work through the Koondis platform. Assessments comprise online homework (25%), laboratory exercises (25%), exams and quizzes (50%), and participation in team work and office hours. Grading is based on a point scale with corresponding letter grades, with specific thresholds outlined in the syllabus.

Laboratory activities involve proposing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, and reporting findings. Group-based workflows include drafting experiment proposals, executing experiments, reviewing peer reports, and replicating or critiquing previous work to uphold scientific integrity. Assignments follow a structured format, including background, procedure, results, and conclusions, guided by instructor and peer evaluations.

The course schedule covers topics starting with vectors, momentum, and gravitation, progressing through energy, thermal concepts, collisions, and angular momentum, culminating in comprehensive reviews and a final exam. Weekly labs reinforce lecture concepts with practical video analysis, data collection, and verification exercises. These include analyzing video footage to measure forces, proposing experiments, and conducting replication studies to understand scientific reproducibility.

Students are encouraged to utilize the online curriculum resources, including WebAssign and Tracker, and to communicate regularly with instructors and peers via Beachboard and Koondis platforms. Students with approved accommodations from DSSC are advised to coordinate with the instructor for necessary adjustments. The syllabus emphasizes academic integrity, strict deadlines, and active participation as integral to success in this course.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Physics education has continually evolved to integrate theoretical principles with practical application, fostering not only knowledge but also skills essential for scientific inquiry. The course PHYS 151, “Mechanics and Heat,” exemplifies this approach by blending foundational concepts such as Newtonian mechanics, energy, and momentum with hands-on experimental work. This integrated pedagogical strategy aims to develop critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and teamwork capabilities among students, preparing them for advanced scientific pursuits and informed citizenship.

Course Structure and Pedagogical Approach

The course employs a comprehensive online format that combines asynchronous video lectures, digital homework, laboratory experiments, and collaborative group work. The online lectures provide theoretical foundations, while WebAssign delivers interactive homework assignments crucial for reinforcing conceptual understanding. The laboratories leverage Tracker software, an accessible video analysis tool, enabling students to investigate real-world phenomena through video data collection and analysis. The emphasis on video-based experiments allows for a flexible, safe, and cost-effective laboratory experience that adapts to diverse student circumstances.

The pedagogical core of PHYS 151 rests on experiential learning through experimentation, analysis, and peer review. Students propose experiments in response to specific scientific questions—like validating the momentum principle or energy conservation—and execute them remotely. This process involves drafting detailed proposals, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting findings through formal reports. Critical to this endeavor is the process of replication and review, fostering an understanding of scientific validity and integrity.

Laboratory and Experimental Activities

Laboratories are designed to progressively deepen students’ understanding of physical principles. The initial lab familiarizes students with data collection using Tracker software, focusing on forces and trajectories in simple motion. Subsequent weeks involve proposing experiments based on Requests for Proposals (RFPs), conducting experiments, and then reviewing or replicating peer work to reinforce concepts such as conservation of momentum and energy. For example, students analyze video footage of objects in motion, measure forces, and compare their findings against theoretical predictions, gaining insight into experimental uncertainties and the importance of reproducibility.

The RFP process introduces students to authentic scientific inquiry, requiring them to formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and justify procedures. The proposal format emphasizes clarity, scientific reasoning, and methodological rigor. Once experiments are approved, students execute them, gather data, and visualize results through graphs and tables, culminating in reports that are critically reviewed by peers. This iterative process highlights the importance of transparency, skepticism, and validation in science.

Assessment and Grading

Student assessment balances different learning modes: online homework (25%) ensures ongoing engagement with core concepts; laboratories (25%) develop experimental skills and teamwork; exams and quizzes (50%) evaluate conceptual mastery and analytical skills; and participation in team projects and office hours enhances collaborative and communication skills. The grading structure incentivizes steady effort and intellectual rigor, with clear thresholds for each letter grade.

Implications for Science Education

The structured integration of theoretical learning with practical experimentation in PHYS 151 exemplifies best practices in science education. By engaging students in proposing, executing, and reviewing experiments, the course fosters critical scientific skills such as hypothesis formulation, data analysis, peer review, and ethical scientific conduct. This approach encourages students to appreciate science as a dynamic process—one that relies on empirical evidence, replication, and skepticism—keys to cultivating scientific literacy and inquiry skills.

Conclusion

By combining rigorous theoretical instruction with experiential laboratory work, PHYS 151 provides students with a comprehensive understanding of mechanics and heat. The use of innovative tools like Tracker for remote experiments, coupled with collaborative group activities and structured assessments, promotes active learning and scientific thinking. Such an integrative course model advances science education by preparing students not only to understand physical principles but also to critically evaluate scientific data, uphold ethical standards, and communicate findings effectively—a necessary foundation for future scientific endeavors and informed citizenship.

References

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