*Professor*: [[Race Roberson]]. Format will be similar to PHY-200, exams will allow a sheet of notes (front & back). ## Syllabus ### **PHYS 250 Motion Dynamics, Fall 2025** #### **Prerequisites:**  _MAT 200, PHYS 200_ #### **General Information:** Class Schedule: _M/F 1:00pm-2:20pm, Th 2:00pm-2:50pm_ Class room: _Jimbo and Plato_ Professor: _Dr. B. Race Roberson_ Contact: _Teams Chat or Email_ [email protected]_ Class web page: _The Moodle page, redirected from somewhere_ Office Hours: _F 2:30pm-4:30pm or by apt._ #### **Description:** This calculus-based course presents the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, oscillations, waves, geometric optics, and thermodynamics. #### **Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:**  This course will provide a fundamental understanding of various bodies, both static and dynamic. An understanding of fluids, waves, and oscillation will be built up to enable the exploration of sound, light, and basic thermodynamics.  #### **Required Materials:**  Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics; 5th edition, Douglas Giancoli, ISBN 9780321992277, Physical & Ebook Availability Subscription to www.MasteringPhysics.com $70 (cheapest option for 18-week period that includes eText access). You will be given a Course ID that links you directly into your course. #### **Homework:**  - Problem sets will be assigned through mastering physics.  - You are welcome to work with other students. You _must_ work out, understand, and submit your own solutions.  #### **Exams:**  - All exams are closed book. One sheet of notes is permitted for an exam.  This sheet of notes must be handwritten by you, and no larger than a ‘normal’ (8½” x 11”) piece of paper. Front and back of the page may be used.  - The midterm will cover all material taught up to the exam date. The final exam will be cumulative and comprehensive, with emphasis on areas not covered in the midterm. Any material covered in the course is valid for testing; including concepts covered in lecture, homework, or other communications and/or assigned work.  - Make-up exams are only available for excused absences.  #### **Grading Policy:**  - 25% Homework (approximately weekly)  - 25% In Class Quizzes - 25% Midterm - 25% Final #### **Calculator Policy:**  Calculators are required for exams**.** You may use calculators on exams for basic mathematical operations. You may not use a calculator with an Internet connection (including a phone).  You are welcome to check out calculators from the library for exams if you don’t have your own. #### **Use of course materials:**  Distributed course materials, including problem sets, exams, and supplementary handouts, are for personal use in the completion of this course. These course materials may not be distributed, saved, copied, or stored without the express permission of their author. This includes physical and electronic copies of all material. #### **AI Use Policy:**  I would recommend against using AI to learn about physics concepts or even performing calculations using common formulas.  While I do not have personal experience with using AI in this way, friends of mine have shared horror stories with me of their colleagues using AI for calculations and being off by orders of magnitude.  I would recommend instead using other online resources written by humans such as encyclopedias (such as Wikipedia) or pages maintained by academic institutions.  It's not forbidden in this class to use AI to aid in learning the material, but I don’t think it would be a good idea at this time. **Permitted Use of AI**: You may use AI to get advice on physics principles and solving problems, but doublecheck by hand anything it gives you, as I wouldn’t consider it reliable. **Prohibited Use of AI**: You may not submit AI solutions as your own work for homework problems, quizzes, exams, or any other work being graded for credit.  **Academic Integrity:** Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this course. Cheating, copying, plagiarizing, or any other form of academic dishonesty (including doing someone else’s individual assignments) will result in, at the extreme minimum, a zero on the assignment in question, and could result in a failing grade in the course or even expulsion from DigiPen. Working together on homework assingments is allowed, even encouraged, provided each individual understands and writes up their own solutions. **Disabled Students Services:**“If students have disabilities and will need formal accommodations in order to fully participate or effectively demonstrate learning in this class, they should contact the Disability Support Services Office at (425)629-5015 or [email protected]. The DSS Office welcomes the opportunity to meet with students to discuss how the accommodations will be implemented. Also, if you may need assistance in the event of an evacuation, please let the instructor know.” **Religious Accommodation:** DigiPen Institute of Technology provides reasonable accommodations to students who may be absent from activities or incur significant hardship due to religious holidays or observances. These holidays or observances must be part of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization, and the course instructor must be notified in writing during the first two weeks of the course. The institute’s policy for grievances is published in the course catalog **General Course Outline:** Topics in the course will build upon each other. Reading the relevant book sections _before_ the material is taught is strongly encouraged. The approximate order and general outline of the course will be as follows: | | | | |---|---|---| |**_Timeline_**|**_Topic_**|**_Approximate Book Sections_**| |Week 1|Fluids: pressure and buoyancy|13| |Week 2|Oscillations: simple harmonic oscillators|14.1-14.7| |Week 3|Damped oscillations, driven motion, and Waves.|14.8-15.4| |Week 4|Superposition, Interference, propagation of waves, Reflection & transmission|15.5-15.8| |Week 5|Resonance, intensity, and standing waves.|15.9| |Week 6|Sounds waves, longitudinal waves, and pressure waves.|16.1-16.3| |Week 7|Review and Midterm|Chapters 13-16| |Week 8|Sound waves: intensity, harmonics, overtones, and the Doppler effect.|16.4-16.9| |Week 9|Transverse waves and light|33.1-33.3| |Week 10|Geometric optics, reflection, and spherical mirrors|33.3-33.4| |Week 11|Refraction, Snell’s law, diffraction, and lenses|33.5-34.1| |Week 12|Thin lenses, and lens making|34.2-34.10| |Week 13|Temperature and ideal gases|17| |Week 14|Real gases, phase changes, and the laws of thermodynamics|18.1-18.4, 19 (20?)| |Week 15|Final exam|All material.| **This entire syllabus, particularly the timeline, may be adjusted or changed at any time by the instructor.**`