Course Syllabus

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Instructor: Prof. Nausheen R. Shah

Office: 362 Physics

E-mail: nausheen.shah@wayne.edu

Office Hours: Zoom appointments on Calendly
                        If you need to see me in-person, talk to me after lecture or email me to set up a meeting time to ensure I am on campus. 

 

Class Details: 08/25/25 - 12/15/25

Note: Labs are a separate/independent course PHY 2171 that you should have registered for separately. While the labs are a different course, they are coordinated with the lecture content in this course. I will uploaded the current schedules (in "Files" area) for the labs as have been provided to me. 

 

Location and Time :

Lectures: M-W-F 1:30 - 2:20 PM

                 General Lectures, Rm 0150

Discussion sessions:

                    Secs 1-6 for both 2170 and 2175. 

                                    Look at your schedule to see what you registered for!

 

3 Midterms (during regular class time):

Location: General Lectures 0100 (Big hall opposite regular lecture hall) 

                   Friday 26 Sep

                   Friday 24 Oct

                   Friday 21 Nov

 

FINAL EXAM:   

                (NOTE: DIFFERENT TIME from regular class for FINAL)

                 Friday 12 Dec, 2:45-4:45 PM                            

                Location to be determined. 

THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS.

Lowest midterm is extra credit (essentially dropped).

IF YOU HAVE A CONFLICT, Talk to me ASAP. 

 

Text: Your textbook for this class is available for free online!

University Physics, Volume 1 from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-20-4

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want.

Course Description:

This course, intended for students majoring in physical sciences and engineering. Core topics include an introduction to kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, gravitation and simple harmonic motion.

 

  • Homework: Assigned for each chapter
    Homework will not be graded but     HIGHLY recommend that you do it
    Homework will be discussed in the discussion sections

  • Clickers:

    • We will be using iClicker Reef (https://app.reef-education.com/#/login) from your cell phone or laptop to run attendance, quizzes and polls during scheduled class meetings.

    • Starting from Wed, Sep 10, we will use clickers in lecture

    • We will use iClicker cloud

    • Answering clicker questions in class counts as 5% of the grade

    • Answering correctly gives 3% extra credit

    • We will run practice sessions first couple of week with clickers to iron technical difficulties before they start counting for your grade. 

    • If you don’t attend lecture, you don’t get Clicker points.

• Pre-lecture Reading Quizzes:

    • Before each lecture, you need to answer a short reading quiz on

      canvas. They count as 10% of the grade

    • Reading quizzes are due at 1:30 PM on the day of the lecture

    • You will have at least 24 hours to do the reading quiz

    • No make up reading quizzes

  • Discussion Sections
    • Quizzes
      • 20% for the ten best quizzes (out of probably twelve for the semester).
        No make up quizzes
      • 5% for attendance and participation
    • Discussion sections:
      • Section will be divided into teams who work together every week. Active learning: spend time “doing”, not just watching.
      • Reasons for using this format:
        • Data show it works. Courses at WSU have repeatedly seen a 1% grade increase for each session students attend. This is about one letter grade over the semester.
        • You will learn more and remember more.
        • Active learning is more fun!

• Exams: 50-minutes exams (usual lecture time/location). 

  • -  Exam 1: 26 Sep

  • -  Exam 2: 24 Oct

  • -  Exam 3: 21 Nov

Lowest score dropped. Therefore, NO make up exams will be given.

• Final (Cumulative): 12 Dec

 

 

 Grading:

 

Grade determination:

A: 90+ %,    A-: 85-89%

B+: 80-84%, B: 75-79%, B-: 70-74%

C+: 65-69%, C: 60-64%, C-: 55-59%

D+: 50-54%, D: 40-49%

F: below 40%

 

Two Mid-Term Exams (15% each)

30%

 

Lowest Mid-Term Exam (extra credit)

5%

 

Final Exam

30%

 

Discussion Quizzes

20%

 

Discussion Attendance & Participation

5%

 

Pre-Lecture Reading Quizzes

10%

 

In-lecture Clicker questions (participation)

5%

 

In-class Clickers questions (correct)

3%

TOTAL 

108% (EXTRA CREDIT)



• If you need a certain grade to get into a program, please maintain an

adequate level throughout the semester.

  • Hints for getting a good grade:

    • ATTEND CLASS!!
    • Do the reading assignments, quizzes and homework!
    • You are responsible for your grade. You will get a good grade if you come to class and do your work diligently. No excuses will be accepted at the end of the semester. Your grade will be determined fairly by your grades on the assignments and exams and nothing else.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Predict the future trajectory of an object moving in two dimensions with uniform acceleration.
  2. Analyze a physical situation with multiple constant forces acting on a point mass using Newtonian mechanics.
  3. Analyze a physical situation with multiple forces acting on a point mass or extended object using concepts of work and energy.

Course Content:

  • Vectors and Scalars
  • Newton’s Laws
  • Statics and Dynamics
  • Translational Kinematics
  • Rotational Kinematics
  • Rotational Dynamics
  • Work and Energy
  • Momentum
  • Gravitation
  • "Floating Topics" which may be included in this semester
    • Fluids
    • Mechanical Waves
    • Special Relativity
    • Laws of Thermodynamics
    • Heat Engines
    • Kinetic Theory
    • Entropy
    • Simple Harmonic Motion

 

Important Notes:

  • Religious holidays:

    Because of the extraordinary variety of religious affiliations of the University student body and staff, the Academic Calendar cannot guarantee provisions for all religious holidays. However, it is University policy to respect the faith and religious obligations of the individual. Students with classes or examinations that conflict with their religious observances are expected to notify me well in advance so that mutually agreeable alternatives may be worked out.

  • Student Disabilities Services:

    If you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Student Disability Services (SDS) office is located at 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the Student Academic Success Services department. The SDS telephone number is 313-577-1851 or 313-202-4216 for videophone use. Once you have met with your disability specialist, I will be glad to meet with you privately to discuss your accommodations. Student Disability Services’ mission is to assist the university in creating an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in their educational experience at Wayne State University. You can learn more about the disability office at www.studentdisability.wayne.edu.

     

    To register with Student Disability Services, complete the online registration form at:

    https://wayne-accommodate.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/

     

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS):

    It is quite common for college students to experience mental health challenges, such as stress, anxiety and depression, that interfere with academic performance and negatively impact daily life. Help is available for any currently enrolled WSU student who is struggling with a mental health difficulty, at WSU Counseling and Psychological Services (caps.wayne.edu; 313 577-3398). Other options, for students and nonstudents, include the Counseling and Testing Center, and the Counseling Psychology Training Clinic, in the WSU College of Education (coe.wayne.edu/tbf/counseling/center-index.php). Services at all three clinics are free and confidential. Remember that getting help, before stress reaches a crisis point, is a smart and courageous thing to do – for yourself, and for those you care about. Also, know that the WSU Police Department (313 577-2222) has personnel trained to respond sensitively to mental health emergencies at all hours.

     

    Academic Dishonesty -- Plagiarism and Cheating:

    Academic misconduct is any activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the institution or undermine the education process. Examples of academic misconduct include:

    • Plagiarism: To take and use another's words or ideas as your own without appropriate referencing or citation. This includes use of AI. 
    • Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use or intentionally providing unauthorized materials, information or assistance in any academic exercise. This includes copying from another student's test paper, allowing another student to copy from your test, using unauthorized material during an exam and submitting a term paper for a current class that has been submitted in a past class without appropriate permission.
    • Fabrication: Intentional or unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation, such as knowingly attributing citations to the wrong source or listing a fake reference in the paper or bibliography.
    • Other: Selling, buying or stealing all or part of a test or term paper, unauthorized use of resources, enlisting in the assistance of a substitute when taking exams, destroying another's work, threatening or exploiting students or instructors, or any other violation of course rules as contained in the course syllabus or other written information.

    Such activity may result in failure of a specific assignment, an entire course, or, if flagrant, dismissal from Wayne State University. https://doso.wayne.edu/conduct/academic-misconduct

     

    Course Drops and Withdrawals:

    In the first two weeks of the (full) term, students can drop this class and receive 100% tuition and course fee cancellation. After the end of the second week there is no tuition or fee cancellation. Students who wish to withdraw from the class can initiate a withdrawal request on Academica. You will receive a transcript notation of WP (passing), WF (failing), or WN (no graded work) at the time of withdrawal. No withdrawals can be initiated after the end of the tenth week. Students enrolled in the 10th week and beyond will receive a grade. Because withdrawing from courses may have negative academic and financial consequences, students considering course withdrawal should make sure they fully understand all the consequences before taking this step. More information on this can be found at: https://wayne.edu/registrar/withdrawing-from-a-course/

     

     

     

    Student Services:

     

    The following may need to be updated with new information about these resources:

     

    • “virtual STEM Commons”: A Canvas course that students can self-enroll in, staffed by Physics graduate students. Undergraduates taking physics courses can receive free tutoring from Physics Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) or Learning Assistants (LAs).  

      In-person drop-in hours are in the STEM Commons – room 132 of the STEM building (the building where physics and astronomy lab classes meet).
      See document posted in "File" for more details. 

    • The Academic Success Center (1600 Undergraduate Library) assists students with content in select courses and in strengthening study skills. Visit https://success.wayne.edu for schedules and information on study skills workshops, tutoring and supplemental instruction (primarily in 1000 and 2000 level courses).

    • The Writing Research and Technology Zone is located on the 2nd floor of the Undergraduate Library and provides individual tutoring consultations free of charge. Visit http://www.clas.wayne.edu/writing to obtain information on tutors, appointments, and the type of help they can provide.

    • Library research assistance: Working on a research assignment, paper or project? Trying to figure out how to collect, organize and cite your sources? Wayne State librarians provide on-campus or online personalized help. Contact them at: https://library.wayne.edu/forms/consultation_request.php

     

Course Summary:

Date Details Due