Physics 5A General
Physics
Mechanics, Heat, and Sound
California State University, Sacramento
Course
Objectives
Reading
Materials
Other
Materials
Grades
Assignments
Course
Units
CSUS Catalog Description:
The Physics 5A-B sequence is a two-semester course in introductory physics in which fundamental concepts are emphasized including some physiological applications. These courses satisfy the requirement for pre-medical and pre-dental students and biology majors. Lecture one hour; quiz two hours; laboratory three hours.
Prerequisites: recently completed three years of high school algebra and geometry (Math 9 recommended for those having an inadequate mathematics background.
Homework assignments and due dates, exam dates and other course events are posted on the course calendar .
Homework is due at the beginning of class on the date specified in the course calendar .Homework problems will be similar to those given on the exam. No late homework will be accepted.
The final course grade will be determined by performance in the following areas:
Laboratory work*
20%
Homework
10%
Short Quizzes
15%
Two Unit Exams (15% each)
30%
Final Exam**
25%
* If more than two laboratory absences occur, the student may receive a failing of incomplete grade in the course.
** The instructor will have the descretion of raising or lowering the final course grade based on performance on the final exam.
- Unit exams will be closed book, but a 4" x 5" index card of information will be allowed in the exam. The final exam will also be closed book and the index cards used in the unit exams may be used. When solving problems indicate your reasoning, show all mathematical steps, and when apprpriate include a detailed diagram. Full credit will not be given to a corret answer without reasoning. Exams in Physics 5A may be composed of essay questions and numerical problems.
- NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. If you miss one exam with a valid and documented excuse, the weight of you final exam will be greated to compensate for the missed exam. The 15% value of a missed unit exam will be added to that of the final exam making the students's final exam weight 40%.
- All grading of exams will be on a curve with a B- or C+ being the average depending on the strength of the class.
Required: The text for the course this semester is/are:
- Urone, Paul Peter. (1998). College Physics. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing company.
DEPARTMENT / CSUS