The wise man doesn't give the right answers, he poses the right questions.
--Claude Levi-Strauss, Belgian anthropologist

PHYSICS 139

Summer 2019
Instructor

Igor Glozman
 Office:  29-332
Tel: (206) 592-3510
email: iglozman@highline.edu
web: http://people.highline.edu/iglozman/

Lecture MTuWTh 12:45 - 2:10 PM, 29-214 (6113)
check here for up-to-date room schedule
Office Hours

MTuWTh    11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
*also by appointment and whenever you can catch me

Textbook College Physics Any algebra-based physics textbook (published within the last 10 years) is acceptable. Here's a free version from OpenStax, although several others are probably just as good:

OpenStax Physics
OpenStax
 
Course description

Intended to prepare students for success in the calculus-based physics series. Major topics include Newton’s laws of motion, conservation of energy, collision and momentum. Students are presumed to have had some exposure to calculus.

Why Physics?

Whether you are a participant or a spectator, you need to know the rules of a game before you can fully enjoy it. To fully appreciate Mother Nature, in all her glory, you need to know the rules she plays by.  And that’s what physics is all about.

Course objectives In addition to helping students master course content (i.e., physics) and develop academic maturity (see below), this course is designed to help students achieve the following more general objectives:
  • Have fun!!!
  • Become an active member of a learning community.
  • Learn to learn (see FAQs for some quick tips).
  • Improve:
  • Learn to apply knowledge outside of class.
  • Have fun!!!
Grading       homework 15%
        participation 10% (or more)
        journal/Evals 10% (or more)
        Presentation/Science Articles 20%
        Midterm 20%
        Final 25%
  *The midterm occurs roughly 5 weeks into the quarter and the final occurs during finals week. All due dates will be announced in class.

 

Grading scale

Students often want to know where they stand in the class. While the question is difficult to answer with accuracy before all the assignments are turned in and the results compared to the rest of the class, the scale below should give you a rough idea.

Decimal grade Type of student
4.0 Exceptional student, strong in every aspect of the class.
3.0 Pretty good student, strong in most aspects of the class, with some weaknesses
2.0 Average student, weak in many areas but has a reasonable grasp of the important ideas
1.0 Serious issues with effort and motivation (or evidence thereof)
0.0 Little or no effort, virtually no motivation (or evidence thereof)

For a more detailed analysis, please visit the grade calculator, http://people.highline.edu/iglozman/classes/gradecalc.htm.

Course content

Chapters numbers are based on OpenStax Physics, although any algebra-based physics book should should have similar content.

 

faqsQuick FAQs (including common gripes and excuses)

Whether you have a gripe, an excuse, or a question related to the class, the answer can probably be found here: http://people.highline.edu/iglozman/classes/phy_syl_faqs.htm.


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****Note: The rest of the syllabus goes into a bit more depth and detail, including student rights and responsibilities, accommodation, details about the various course components, and some inspiring quotes. Please save trees if you can and access this section online: https://people.highline.edu/iglozman/classes/phy_syl2.htm****
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