• Lecture: LSC 168, 9:25-10:40 TuTh
• Labs: LSC 159, Tuesdays 10:50-12:05, 12:15-1:30
• Semester: Spring 2008
• Instructor: Carl Frederickson, Ph. D.
• Office: LSC 006    Phone:450-3199     email:carlf@mail.uca.edu
• Course Web Page: faculty.uca.edu/~carlf/PHYS_1405 (this will provide information and another connection to WebCT)
• Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 - 9:00 Fridays 8:00-10:00
• Required Textbook: Physics with Health Science Applications, by Paul Peter Urone
• Required Classroom Response System (Clicker): interwrite^TM PRS^RF

Course Objectives

This introductory physics course will introduce health science majors at UCA to the principles of physics as they apply to human health. A very broad range of topics will be presented though none will be presented in great depth. Students will increase their knowledge of the models used to describe human biological processes. The course will help to increase student's skills in critical thinking, quantitative analysis and the use of technology. Lecture time will be spent using questions and discussions to develop a conceptual understanding of the models. Active participation in the Lectures is expected. A Classroom Response System (Clicker) will be used during Lecture and Lab. Laboratory time will be used to provide students hands-on experience with some of the concepts discussed in lecture.

WebCT

This course will make extensive use of the WebCT web site. You will have regular homework and quiz assignments on-line. There are a number of reasons for using this tool.

1. The web site provides a convenient location for class news and information.
2. On-line quizzes can provide an opportunity for you to test your knowledge by providing instant feedback (and often a second chance).
3. Threaded discussions can be used to continue classroom discussion after class is over.
4. Grades can be posted to the web site allowing you access to the numbers used to determine your course grade.
5. Lecture notes can be posted giving more detailed information then during class. This allows us to use class time for questions (some of yours and some of mine).
6. Some assignments can be collected on-line saving a tree or two throughout the semester.
7. You can relay questions to me just before class.

Studying

There will be reading assignments from the textbook for each lecture. These are noted on the course calendar. You are responsible for the reading. We will spend class time discussing as much of the reading material as possible. We will not have time to discuss everything in the reading. Discussions can be continued outside of class using the WebCT chat rooms. Do not fall behind, daily reading and problem solving sessions are the best plan of action.

It is often a useful exercise to make a personal outline of each chapter. This activity will require you to isolate important ideas and realtionships. Your outline should go beyond listing the subsection titles and include your own comments. I have found that this is a more productive activity than high-lighting. You are required to write out the ideas in your own words which improves understanding.

Homework

Homework assignments will be posted for each lecture on the course and WebCT sites. You will be responsible for completing these assignments. Some of them will involve working problems while others will be conceptual in nature. You will have ample time for each assignment. The assignments will not be collected. I will post on-line quizzes on the WebCT site that will be based on the assigned homework. Your performance on the on-line quizzes will constitute your homework grade. The homework assignments will also provide exam ideas. Do not wait until the last minute to complete an assignment.

Physics is similar to any other activity. You must practice to improve. The Homework assignments are a minimum. You should work all of the problems in the textbook. If you have questions, please bring them up in class, on-line, during office hours, or make an appointment to see me.

Laboratory

There is a laboratory component to this course. The laboratory periods provide the opportunity for hands-on experience with a few of the concepts we will introduce in lecture. I expect you to be present during each lab period. If you miss a lab you cannot participate in the activities during that class. It will be very difficult to makeup a lab on your own. Many of the activities will require more than one person. If you are going to miss a lab you must talk to me before the class period. I will try to work out an acceptable alternative with you. If you have three unexcused absences from lab, I will drop you from the course with a WF. I reserve the right to determine what are excused and unexcused absences.

We will be using the clickers in lab to complete lab quizzes. You are responsible for bringing your clicker to lab each week. Think of it as a vital piece of equipment. If you do not have your clicker with you, you will lose points for that lab.

Exams

There will be 4 in-class exams during the semester. Each of the in-class exams will be given during a laboratory period. The dates for the exams are noted on the course calendar. You should plan to be here on those days. The final exam will be a two-hour exam and counts as two in-class exams (the first half covering new material and the second half comprehensive) for a total of 6 exams. I will drop your worst exam. There will not be any makeup exams. If you miss an exam for any reason other than a scheduled university activity, that will be the exam that you drop. If you have a scheduled university activity, you must contact me well before an exam to schedule an alternate exam time. Your exam score will be the average of the five highest exams.

Each exam will focus on the latest material covered. However, physics is, by nature, a cumulative subject. I will expect you to be able to use ideas covered on any earlier exam in each later exam. Just because we have not recently covered forces does not mean that you can forget them.

Participation

There will be classroom participation points given for in-class activities. I will occasionally give pop-quizzes or ask the class to participate in a demonstration. We will use Clickers nearly every day in class. If you do not have your Clicker with you, you will not be able to participate that day and will lose those participation points. Participation will make-up 5% of your grade. If you are not in class, or you do not have your Clicker with you, you will not get these points. There is no make-up for classroom participation.

Attendance Policy

I will expect you to be in class every day. There may be times when you are unable to attend. If you know this ahead of time, let me know. If you miss an exam, that will be the exam that you drop. If you will miss lab you must let me know as soon as possible. I will keep records for class participation, and if you are not in class you will not receive credit. I will not drop you for missing lectures. I will drop students who accumulate 3 unexcused absences from lab.

Other Policies

The policies and procedures detailed in the UCA 2007-2008 Student handbook (www.uca.edu/divisions/student/handbook/ucastudenthandbook.pdf) are also part of this syllabus. Particularly, but not limited to, those pertaining to Academic Policies (beginning on page 36 of the handbook) and the Sexual Harassment Policy (beginning on page 114 of the handbook).

The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under the Act due to a disability, contact the UCA Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3613 (www.uca.edu/divisions/student/disability/).