Phys 101
Phys 101
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Course Description:
The topics covered include particle kinematics and dynamics; conservation of energy and linear
momentum; rotational kinematics; rigid body dynamics; conservation of angular momentum;
Gravitation; simple harmonic motion; the statics and dynamics of fluids.
Textbook:
"Principles of Physics", by Halliday, Resnick and Walker, 10th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
(2014).
Teaching Method:
The course material will be presented in lectures (3 hrs. per week). Problem solving techniques will be
shown in recitations (1 hr. per week). The understanding of concepts learned in the lectures will be
strengthened by laboratory work (3 hrs. per week). All classes (lectures and recitation) will start
from the first week. Labs will start from week #2.
Course Learning Outcomes: On successfully completing the course the students can:
1. Solve kinematic problems involving motion of a point particle in one, two, and three dimensions
including vector operations with an overall average of 50% in exams.
2. Formulate and apply Newton’s laws that govern the mechanics of a point particle and score an
average of 55% in exams.
3. Understand the concepts of mechanical energy and linear momentum and apply their conservation
laws to analyze simple mechanical systems with an average of 50% in exams.
4. Solve kinematic and dynamic problems involving rotation of a rigid body about a fixed axis and
smooth rolling motion and score an average of 50% in exams.
5. Extend the rules of basic mechanics of translational motion to circular and orbital motions and
score an average of 55% in exams.
6. Solve problems related to static equilibrium of extended bodies under the action of forces and/or
torques and score an average of 55% in exams.
7. Analyze and solve basic static and dynamic fluid problems and score an average of 55% in exams.
8. Explain the oscillatory motion in one and two dimensions and solve problems for simple
mechanical systems and score an average of 50% in exams.
9. Operate basic Laboratory equipment, collect and plot data, write results and draw conclusions in a
concise report and score an average of 70% in lab grade.
Attendance Policy:
1. A DN grade shall be given to the student who has 3 or more unexcused absences in the
LAB.
2. A DN grade shall be given to the student who has more than 12 unexcused absences in
lecture + recitations,
3. A Student who has a valid excuse (from KFUPM clinic or Students Affairs) for
his/her absencemust present it to the instructor no later than one week after
resuming classes.
Assessment:
Grading Policy %
Class Work 10
Lab Work 20
First Major Exam (Chapters 1-6): exam time: 120 minutes, consists of 20 MCQ 20
Second Major Exam (Chapters 7-11): exam time: 120 minutes, consists of 20 MCQ 20
Final Exam (Comprehensive covering Chapters 1 – 15): exam time: 180 minutes, consists of 30 MCQ 30
Total 100