Physics 4A

Winter 2024
Instructor: David Newton

Office: S12b
Email: newtondavid@fhda.edu
Web Site URL: http://nebula2.deanza.edu/~newton (in addition to Canvas)

Office hours:  Tuesday 12:30-1:20pm, Wednesday 2:30-3:20pm.

Final exam date: Tuesday, March 26th, 1:45 pm to 3:45 pm.  Finals will not be given earlier or later.

Text: Physics for Scientists and Engineers: by Serway, edition… whatever you want.
Prerequisites: Passing Physics 50, 2A, or high school physics, and at least concurrent enrollment in Math 1B.

This class will cover elementary mechanics beginning with kinematics, then Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotation, gravitation, and then briefly at the end, simple harmonic oscillations. Previous competence in vectors, basic kinematics, and Newton's laws is assumed.

• It is the student's responsibility to drop the class if necessary. Otherwise, an F grade will be assigned.
• Grading mistakes or protests for exams and quizzes will only be considered when a written cover letter is submitted to your instructor with the exam or quiz in question. Your appeal will be considered, and the resultant decision will be final. No protests will be considered orally, this includes simple addition errors.
• A grade of zero points will be assigned to any work done if a student has been found cheating.
• You must take the two mid-term exams, the lab final and the lecture final to pass the class.
• Lab attendance is required.
• Grades will be given on the percentages as shown below:

A:   92-100%;
A-:  90-91%
B+: 88-89%
B:   82-87%;
B-:  80-81% 
C+: 78-79%
C:   60-77%;
D:   50-60%;
F:    lower than 50%.

Grades will not "curved".

The grade distribution is as follows:

Lab 10% (Attendance absolutely required.)

Quizzes 20%

Exams: two midterm exams, 20% each.

Final 30%  (comprehensive, with seven exam-style questions.)

Lab Policy: Lab attendance is mandatory. You may miss no labs without a written physician's note or some other documented and serious reason. If you miss two labs even with a “justified” excuse or just one unexcused lab you will be liable for an instructor initiated drop from the entire course.