Welcome to Physics 1010: The

Physics of Everyday Life

Instructor: Isidoros Doxas doxas@colorado.edu

Graders:
Mark Yeo (Exams and cummulative): Eng-hiang.Yeo@colorado.edu
Office Hours: TBA
Yu Ye (Clickers): Yu.Ye@colorado.edu
Office Hours: Friday 3:00pm-5:00pm in the Physics Help Room
Jing Yin (Homework): Jing.Yin@colorado.edu
Office Hours:TBA.

LAs: TBA.
Instructor: Isidoros Doxas
doxas@colorado.edu

What you will need:

Text How things work; the physics of everyday life, L.
Bloomfield
Clicker bring to class everyday. Available in the
bookstore
Calculator bring to class everyday (simpler is better!).

Prerequisites: High school algebra. The class will not use trigonometry,
but will use algebra frequently as well as working with
graphs and scientific notation.
 Measure lots of stuff to match class better to you

CLIKCERS
online registration - see webpage; saves your clicker data even before registration

Return immediate feedback, both to you and to me

Work out problems in class; address questions immediately

Surveys
Both attitude and content surveys
Extra credit; completing all surveys => 10pts
Guiding principles: (basis for how course is run)

Understanding physics (& solving problems that develop understanding)

is a learned skill, like a foreigh language, playing the piano, or playing
basketball.

Like learning a foreighn language, there is a lot of vocabulary (eg. vector,

acceleration, charge), but even more grammar and syntax (putting
things together to solve problems).

Learning the vocabulary and learning to solve problems require different

teaching and learning approaches

We cannot teach you physics!

Physics is not collection of facts.

Is way of thinking. Only you can teach yourself to think!
Analyzing, applying concepts, solving problems.
 Learning facts (vocabulary):
Physical constants (eg. Charge of electron, radius of the Earth)
Units (pounds, meters, amperes, and the like)
New concepts (acceleration, vector, voltage, etc)
~20% of the course
Repetition is the mother of knowledge

Problem Solving:
Is second nature, like speaking (and thinking) in a foreign language
Research over the past 15 years has shown that it is best learned by working
with others to solve problems (learning gains >> than lectures)
Most of the effort in the course
Will work in groups
Some grades will be group grades; most will be individual
 Physics 1010 website, source of all knowledge!
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1010/phys1010_fa06

Home Page
Weekly Assignments

Extra Credit assignments

Lecture Notes (posted after class)
Homework Solutions
Exam Reviews and Answers

Department of Physics Home Page

Physics links/downloads
Classwork & Grading: Grade based on total number of points earned.

You can drop

In-class participations (Clickers) 8 pts x~20 4 (of ~24)
Homework 15 pts x~8 2 (of ~10)
Hour Exams 40 pts x 2 1 (of 3)
Final Exam 80 pts x 1 0
Extra credit opportunities 30 pts

Total in-class and weekly homework count the most!

Grade depends most on showing up for class, doing reading, and
turning in homework every week.

You can drop your lowest-scoring classes, homeworks, and hour exam
THEREFORE:
No makeups, no excuses

DONT WASTE YOUR DROP QUOTA; YOU MAY NEED IT LATER!

To learn physics and do well in this
class, I expect to spend ? working
on physics outside of class.

a. Less than 2 hours per week

b. 2-4 hours per week
c. 4-6 hours per week
d. 6-8 hours per week
e. 8+ hours per week

right answer- c. On average 4-6 hours.

Means more some weeks. Students who think this too
much hate class, ones who think it ok, love the class.
How hard was the survey?

a. Easy as Pi
b. Medium (HS)
c. Hard (end of Freshman year)
d. Very hard (end of college)
e. Are you kidding me? (grad school!)
 Homework and Office Hours
Homework normally due Mondays at midnight.
Available through course website. Online
submission.

Office Hours
Instructor (in Physics Tutorial Rooms) :
Thursday 12:30-2:30

Graders, LAs: Check Course Website.