Lectures, Upham Hall Room # 142, T-
Th 12:30 pm – 1:45pm
Lecturer:
Ms. Juliana Constantinescu,
Department of
Physics, UWW
Office: Upham
Hall #159 Phone: (262) 472-5115
E-mail: constanj@uww.edu
Office hours: 9:00-10:30
am Tuesday
and Thursday;
3:30 – 4:45 pm Wednesday
1:30 –3:00pm Friday
other times by appointment
Office hours are held by your instructor for your
benefit. If you want to see your
instructor and do not have free time during an office hour, please make an
appointment. Appointments may be
made after class, by phone, or by e-mail.
Feel free to contact your instructor by e-mail at any time. IÕll check my email until the
latest at 7:00pm.
So
if you write to me after seven pm, you cannot expect to receive an answer before
the next morning.
Course Objectives
This is a one-semester science course that it represents an introduction to topics in modern physics and beyond! Physics is the foundation for all other sciences and covers a wide range of topics. In this course, we will be starting with the concepts of motion and time, and light. Then we will see how Einstein revolutionized physics with his theories on relativity and look at some consequences such as time travel and black holes.
We will also investigate how physics is applied (or misapplied) in Science Fiction such as Star Trek , how matter-antimatter power generation could be possible, we will investigate what physics is applicable to create Ò the holodeckÓ, deflector shields and artificial gravity, ÒphasersÓ and Òhealing raysÓ and we will look at the possibility of time travel, space travel, warp speed, transportation, androids and teleportation. Learning about the fundamental physical concept that already made some of these real achievements today we will be able to understand why other science fiction futures are a very rare ( or even nonexistent) possibility of the future.
The course it will
introduces the basic aspects of physics and astronomy, including
knowledge regarding the structure of the smallest part of the matter up to the
structure of the Universe, forces and fields which are acting into the Universe, without analyzing
in deep the physical processes responsible for different phenomenon.
Course Prerequisites
Intermediate Algebra 141
Required Text and
Materials
v Black Holes & Time Warps, Thorne;
v The Physics of Star Trek, Krauss
A list of additional suggested readings is attached to the end of the syllabus. Any of the suggested books that you will read outside the required material could be considered extra-credit points. Talk to your instructor to find out what you need to do in order to have your reading counted as an extra credit activity
Other required materials: You are expected to bring graph paper and a calculator (a "scientific calculator"-- one with trigonometric and logarithmic functions, scientific notation, etc.) These are available for less than $20.
Activities and assignments: The course will consist of participatory activities during lectures. You will be frequently asked to work on questions related to the material under discussion. You will have a chance to discuss your answers with a neighbor, and then with the class as a whole. While not graded, these activities provide valuable opportunities to understand physics concepts.
Homework: There will be homework assigned every week . While you may work together on these problems, you are expected to do your own work, and write your answers in your own words. Homework is due in class the day for which it is due ( it will be announced during the lecture time) and will be assigned one week prior to the due date. Late homework will be given half credit if turned in by the next class period. Homework turned in after this point will not receive credit.
Papers: There will be two papers assigned during the semester. These papers
will be on topics related to the material under discussion and may involve
analysis of a physics problem or reporting on Web sites devoted to a physics
topic. The purpose of these papers is to increase your ability to communicate
about interesting physics topics in a clear and coherent manner. The papers should
be in 12-point font with 1 inch or smaller margins on 81/2 by 11 white paper
with no more than double spacing.
Any spelling, grammatical or punctuation
mistakes will result in the paper being handed back to you and an automatic 10%
penalty . You
are expected to cite any references and all papers are to be in your own words.
Papers may be checked for uniqueness via software search engines.
Exams: Finally, there will be two
mid-term exams as well as the
final exam. The final will cover material from the entire course, with
emphasis on topics covered since the second mid-term exam.
GRADING POLICY
SUMMARY:
¤ Mid term Exams 30%
¤ Final Exam
20%
¤ quizzes 5 %
¤ assignments 15%
¤ in class activities 15%
¤ papers 15%
---------
TOTAL
POSSIBLE = 100%
GRADE ASSIGNMENTS:
89%<A<100%; 76%<B<88%; 66%<C<75%; 56%<D<65%; F<55%
I reserve the right to adjust grades
slightly based on class participation. There will be occasional opportunities
for extra credit.
Policy of cellular phone
Cell phones are definitely a
convenience in this day and age, but they are not a necessity. Bringing a cell phone to school is a
privilege, not a right. No cellular telephone would be allowed
during the lectures and exams time in class . You are NOT allowed
to use the phone as a calculator. If you have an emergency, you should inform
me before the class, have your cell in vibrate, get out of the class and take
the call, without disturbing the class.
Students that will
be found text- messaging during class will be asked to leave the class and
receive a warning. After two warnings, you will be invited to talk with the
chair of the department and the dean of the college for unrespectfully
disturbing the class environment and insubordination
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE CELLULAR PHONE AS A CALCULATOR DURING
ANY EXAMS!
No iPod will be allowed during lecture time and exams time!
If a student plan on bringing his/her laptop in class, talk to your
instructor BEFORE CLASS. You are encouraged NOT to bring your laptop to class.
You are not allowed to bring your laptop, iPod and any other electronic
devices with you during exams time and during final exam time.
Attendance Policy and Defined Excuses
Attendance is expected. Students are expected to
participate fully in class discussions and in-group assignments.
¯ Show the instructor
documentation for missing class for a university sponsored event as soon as possible
in advance of the absence so that arrangements may be made for
makeup. Absences for university
sponsored events will not count as an absence in recording grades
¯ In case of illness or other
unavoidable reason for missing, it is the responsibility of the student to
contact the instructor within 24 hours and be able to document the reason
for being absent.
Special Needs Statement
Students with special needs
should contact the instructor to make appropriate arrangements.
Religious Beliefs
Accommodation
Board of Regents policy
states that students' sincerely held religious beliefs shall be reasonably
accommodated with respect to scheduling all examinations and other academic
requirements. Students must notify
the instructor, within the first three weeks of the beginning of classes
(within the first week of summer session and short courses) of the specific
days or dates on which they will request accommodation from an examination or
academic requirement. For
additional information, please refer to the section of the University
Bulletin and the Timetable titled, Accommodation of Religious
Beliefs.
Academic Misconduct
Academic
dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or
citations, plagiarism, and helping someone else commit an act of academic
dishonesty. It usually involves an
attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skills that
she or he does not posses.
á Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to
obtain credit for work by the use of any dishonest, fraudulent, or unauthorized
means.
á Plagiarism is the act of taking the specific substance
of another and offering it as oneÕs own without giving credit to the source.
The University believes that
academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher
education and of the University of Wisconsin System. The University has a responsibility to promote academic
honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with
instances of academic dishonesty.
Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of
their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others'
academic endeavors. Students who
violate these standards are subject to disciplinary action. URS Chapter 14 identifies procedures to
be followed when a student is accused of academic misconduct. For additional information, please
refer to the section in the Student Handbook titled, Student Academic
Disciplinary Procedures.
Absence for University
Sponsored Events
University policy adopted by
Faculty Senate and the Whitewater Student Government states that students will
not be academically penalized for missing class in order to participate in
university-sanctioned events. They
will be provided an opportunity to make up any work that is missed; and if
class attendance is a requirement, missing a class in order to participate in a
university event will not be
counted as an absence. A university event
is defined to be any intercollegiate athletic contest or other such event as
determined by the Provost.
Activity sponsors are responsible for obtaining the Provost's prior
approval of an event as being university sanctioned and for providing an
official list of participants.
Students are responsible for notifying their instructors in advance
of their participation in such events.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW
The University of Wisconsin
– Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory
learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and
graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding
Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination
and Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the
Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the ÒRights and ResponsibilitiesÓ
section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; the Academic Requirements and Policies
and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the
ÒStudent Academic Disciplinary ProceduresÓ [UWS Chapter 14]; and the ÒStudent
Nonacademic Disciplinary ProceduresÓ [UWS Chapter 17]).
These required syllabus contents were agreed upon by the actions of the Whitewater Student Government (S95- 96:09). Academic Staff Assembly, Faculty Senate (FS956- 13 and FS989- 11), Provost Prior, and Chancellor Greenhill (approved November 17, 1996.)
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
|
Class |
Week |
Topic |
Readings |
|
1-2 |
Week 1 : 9/02-9/05 |
Introduction to motion, distance, speed, velocity, mass, weight |
|
|
3-4 |
Week 2: 9/08-9/12 |
NewtonÕs laws, gravity, KeplerÕs laws |
K 3-11 T61-70 |
|
5-6 |
Week 3: 9/15-9/19 |
Gravity – classical mechanics |
|
|
7-8 |
Week 4: 9/22-9/26 |
Einstein Bio |
|
|
9-10 |
Week 5 : 9/29 – 10/3 |
From rollercoaster to rockets – Review for exam Mid term exam 1 Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 |
|
|
11-12 |
Week 6: 10/6 – 10/10 |
Energy,/Mass change and equivalence ; Matter: subatomic particles, plasma, matter and antimatter |
K 65-98 |
|
13-14 |
Week 7: 10/13 – 10/17 |
Nuclear energy: fission / fusion reactions |
|
|
15-16 |
Week 8: 10/20-10/24 |
Particle/Wave duality |
|
|
17-18 |
Week 9: 10/27-10/31 |
Electromagnetic spectrum, Plank law and quantization of energy |
T300-321 |
|
19-20 |
Week 10: 11/3-11/7 |
Light and matter Review for exam Mid term exam 2 Thursday November 6, 2008 |
|
|
21-22 |
Week 11: 11/10-11/14 |
Einstein theory of relativity: time dilatation, length contraction Heisenberg , Einstein-Bose experiment |
|
|
23-24 |
Week12: 11/17 – 11/21 |
Stars and their life formation of black hole |
K 133-159 T 121 - 163 |
|
25-26 |
Week 13: 11/25 – THANKSGIVING BREAK |
Inside Black holes and event horizon |
K 12-29 T 209-482 |
|
27-28 |
Week 14:12/1 – 12/5 |
Wormholes and time machine, space travel, hyperspace |
K 30- 61 T483-527 |
|
29-30 |
Week 15: 12/8-12/12 |
SETI/Voyager / Pioneer |
K99-108 |
FINAL EXAM : Thursday December 18, 2008 , 1:00-3:00pm, room #142
EXTRA CREDIT READINGS DURING THE SEMESTER ( talk to your instructor
to find our how you can receive credit for these books):
1. RELATIVITY VISUALIZED, by Lewis Carroll Epstein ( San Francisco: Insight Press)2000
2. RELATIVITY , The special and the general theory, by Albert Einstein, Three River Press, New York, 1961
3. BLACK HOLES WORMHOLES AND TIME MACHINES, Jim Al- Khalili, Institute of Physics Publishing, 2000 and 2001
4. BREAKING THE TIME BARRIER, THE RACE TO BUILD THE FIRST TIME MACHINE, by Jenny Randles, Paraview 2005
5. PYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, by Michio Kaku, Doobleday, 2008