Teacher: Fred Kral, Ph.D.
Email me: fkral
Call or text me: 415-857-KRAL (5725)
Call classroom: 415-339-9336 x111
Get info on homework and more: http://teach.kralsite.com or google "Fred Kral"
Course Description
In this introduction to physics, students learn the laws of physics through the study of interactions of familiar objects. Topics studied include mechanics, vibrations and waves, electricity and magnetism, light, and modern physics. Students work with objects from ordinary life, apparatuses that they construct themselves, equipment from the laboratory, and computer simulations. They engage in conceptual and analytic thinking and perform estimates. Scientific ideas are communicated using graphical, numerical, algebraic, verbal, and physical approaches. Examples of objects studied are roller skates, pinwheels, bouncing balls, bicycles, balloons, clocks, xerographic copiers, microwave ovens, lasers, and cameras. Objects not readily accessible, such as satellites, power plants, and medical imaging equipment, are studied as well.
Required text and supplemental materials
- Bloomfield, Louis A., How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life, 5th Edition. New Jersey: Wiley, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-1118237762. Ordered by school. Required.
- Hewitt, Paul G., Conceptual Physics, 10th edition with media update. New York: Pearson, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0-321-54833-7. Ordered by school. Required.
- Bloomfield textbook companion website, http://www.wiley.com/college/bloomfield (direct link to 5th edition). Required.
- Hewitt textbbook conceptual physics supplemental materials, http://www.phschool.com/atschool (direct link to to 9th edition). Optional.
- The Physics Classroom website, http://www.physicsclassroom.com. Recommended.
- Laptop computer. Strongly recommended.
- Texas Instruments TI-84 Graphing Calculator (Plus and Silver Editions are OK). Required.
- Organizer of paper: holes punched and not; Pencils (mechanical recommended).
Assessment
| Homework: timely completion of homework assignments. Assessed formally and informally. | 10% |
| Quizzes and Tests: written and graphical solutions of problems. | 10% |
| End-Semester Assessments: Final examination or final project. | 20% |
| In-Class work: positive energy and interest level during in-class work including discussion, working on experiments, and practice during class. Assessed informally. | 30% |
| Commitment to learning: Taking on what is challenging to you, getting help, communicating with the teacher, engaging with the material, and documenting work in the notebook. Assessed informally. | 5% |
| Projects, Presentations, and Labs: quality and correctness of written and graphical results, and quality of delivery. | 25% |
Late work policy and tardy policy
The teacher enters grades once per week on a weekday communicated to the students. Students get credit for late work up to that weekly deadline. Students who are late to class or leave the classroom for an extended time during class receive a maximum of 60% of the day's in-class work credit.
I encourage study groups. You may work with others (not just students) unless instructed otherwise as long as all of you contribute. It is wise to put the name of each contributing student on an assignment to avoid issues with plagiarism.
Come visit, text, or email as often as you like! – Fred
Please see the web site for other information.