Wright State University Lake Campus/2019-9/Phy 1050/Syllabus

Phy 1050 W01 How Things Work
Instructor: Guy Vandegrift email:guy.vandegrift@wright.edu
236-Dwyer Hall Wright State University Lake Campus, Celina OH 45822


PHY1050: How things work The physics associated with everyday scientific and technological phenomena and devices, including those associated with the generation, detection, and application of sound, light, and energy (4 credit hours.) There is also a 1 credit required lab that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a General Education course with no prerequisites.

There is no textbook. But we will borrow from the following online (and free) resources:

  1. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/ (good high school introduction to classical physics)
  2. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/How_things_work_college_course (A Wikiversity predecessor to the current course)
  3. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Quizbank/HTW (will be the source for some exams)
  4. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wright_State_University_Lake_Campus/2018-9/Phy1050 (Last year's exams)

Topics edit

  1. Classical physics is associated with the work of Galileo and Newton during the 17th century. This mathematical view of the world formed the foundations for our understanding of fluids (i.e. weather forecasts, and much of our understanding of chemistry, sound, and light.
  2. The Modern Physics revolution is associated with the 20th century. It includes the quantum theory of the atom and Einstein's relativity. We will spend a great deal of time exploring Bell' theorem, which was discovered in 1964 and has been called "the most profound discovery of science" (not everybody agrees.)
  3. Computers, with an emphasis on the history of computers in science dates back to ancient times.
  4. The Industrial Revolution.
  5. The Global Warming controversy.


At each lab it will be announced whether the report is to be turned in electronically or on paper. Paper reports are due at the end of the lab, and electronically prepared reports are due via Pilot before next week's lab begins.

Teaching Materials edit

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Tutorial

WikiJournal of Science article edit

  1. Impossible correlations
  2. The car and the goats
  3. Tube entanglement

Test bank edit

Partial Study Guide


Assessment edit

These values are subject to change. 30% Scheduled tests
20% Cumulative final exam
20% Lab reports and weekly labs
15% Quizzes 15% Final report

Lab reports are due via Pilot on Friday after each of the scheduled There is no provision for allowing the 7 scheduled quizzes to be taken after the test date. But extra quizzes might be necessary to allow students to compensate for low test scores or missed quizzes, and for that reason daily attendance is required. Attendance will be taken at every lecture and lab.

Schedule and office hours edit

Guy Vandegrift   236 Dwyer Hall   guy.vandegrift@wright.edu

Monday Aug 26, 2019 - Friday Dec 13, 2019

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
9am PHY 1110-W01 PHY 1110-W01 PHY 1110-W01
9:00 am-9:55 am 9:00 am-9:55 am 9:00 am-9:55 am
DH 162 DH 162 DH 162
10am PHY 1110R-W01 PHY 1110L-W01
10:00 am-10:55 am 10:00 am-11:40 am
11am DH 162 DH 162
12pm Office Hour Office Hour Office Hour Office Hour Office Hour
12:00-1:00 pm 12:00-1:00 pm 12:00-1:00 pm 12:00-1:00 pm 12:00-1:00 pm
1pm PHY 1050-W01 PHY 1050L-W01 PHY 1050-W01 PHY 1050L-W01 PHY 1050-W01
1:00 pm-1:55 pm 1:00 pm-1:55 pm 1:00 pm-1:55 pm 1:00 pm-1:55 pm 1:00 pm-1:55 pm
DH 154 DH 225 DH 154 DH 225 DH 154
2pm PHY 2410-W01 PHY 2410-W01
2:00 pm-3:20 pm 2:00 pm-3:20 pm
AN 186 AN 186
3pm PHY 2410L-W01 PHY 2410L-W02
4pm 3:30 pm-5:20 pm 3:30 pm-5:20 pm
DH 225 DH 225
5pm PHY 2410R-W01
6pm 5:30 pm-6:25 pm
AN 186