Physics for Architects

Howard University WASHINGTON DC 20059

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY -- (202) 806-6245 (main office), -5830 (fax)

Physics for Architects (PHYS-008) MWF: 10:10 am – 12:00 noon, in Mackey Bldg #B-32;
Office hrs.: M 3:00–5:00 pm, T 1:00–5:00 pm, and by appointment (at least one day ahead, confirmed)
[Topics][Daily Schedule][Minimal Requirements][Assignments][e-Gear][Welcome]

Instructor: Tristan Hubsch TKH#213, 806-6267 thubsch@mac.com
Textbook (required): Y. Salu, Physics for Architects (2nd ed.)
--- and several other sources, as given in class and available on-line.

Component	Time	Remark	% of Grade
Midterms (3)	See in daily schedule (50-min, in class)	topical	3×20%
Homework & Attendance	See in daily schedule	Late HW = 0 credit !!!	20%
Final exam	11/28 (50-min, in class)	comprehensive	20%

The aim of the course, is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the scientific description of Nature. This will cover: measurement; kinematics; forces, statics, work and energy; temperature and heat; electricity; waves and sound; optics and photometry; acoustics. Conceptual understanding rather than technical mastery is emphasized, although problem-solving skills will also developed.

A successful student is expected to demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the fundamental principles of physics, but also to demonstrate-and maintain-the ability to solve practical problems involving physics phenomena. For minimal requirements, see below!

“Success = 1% inspiration + 99% perspiration”--T.A. Edison

Topical schedule:
§1	Mathematical Review
§2	Motion in One Dimension
§3	From One to Two and Three Dimensions
1st Midterm exam--§1–3: 09/12 (open text, in-class)
§4	Statics
§5	Lateral Forces
§6	Work, Energy, Power, Momentum
2nd Midterm exam--§4–6: 10/12 (open text, in-class)
§7	Heat and Thermodynamics
§8	Electricity
3rd Midterm exam--§7–8: 11/02 (open text, in-class)
§9	Optics
§10	Acoustics
Final exam--11/28 (open text, in-class): comprehensive = (almost) everything,

Day-to-day schedule: Students are required to read ahead (after day 1)
08/20	*Introduction to the course* & Preliminaries: §1.1
08/22	Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry: §1.1–1.3
08/24	Units: §1.4 & Review
08/27	Kinematics in one dimension: §2.1–2.2
08/29	Newton's laws in one dimension & Forces: §2.3–2.4
08/31	*Applications and practice problems* [HW#1 due]
09/03	*Observed Holiday: Labor Day*
09/05	Statics & Dynamics in one dimension: §2.5–2.6
09/07	Vectors, forces and motion in two and three dimensions: §3 [HW#2 due]
09/10	*Applications and practice problems*
09/12	1st Midterm (§1–3); 110-min in-class
09/14	Static equilibrium & Center of gravity: §4.1–4.2
09/17	Statics of basic structural elements (beam & posts, ladder against a wall): §4.3.1–4.3.2 [HW#3 due]
09/19	Statics of basic structural elements (triangular arch, dome, buttress): §4.3.4–4.3.6
09/21	*Applications and practice problems*
09/24	Statics of multi-member structures, elasticity & Stresses and strain & Hydrostatic pressure: §4.3.7–4.5
09/26	Wind Effects: §5.1 [HW#4 due]
09/28	Earthquakes (plate tectonics, effect on structures, rigidity): §5.2.1–5.2.3
10/01	Earthquakes (flexibility, toppling; hydrostatic forces; lateral forces): §5.2.4–5.4
10/03	Work and kinetic energy & Work and gravity: §6.1–6.2 [HW#5 due]
10/05	Dissipated energy & Conservation of energy & Power & Conservation of momentum: §6.3–6.6
10/08	Temperature & Expansion and contraction: §7.1–7.2
10/10	Review
10/12	2nd Midterm (§4–6); 110-min in-class
10/15	Heat (nature & units, Laws of Thermodynamics, heat exchange): §7.3.1–7.3.6 [HW#6 due]
10/17	Heat (forms of heat, heat comfort) & Heat transfer: §7.3.7–7.4
10/19	*Applications and practice problems*
10/22	Electric charges and electric force & Electric currents: §8.1–8.2.1
10/24	Electric currents: §8.2.2–8.2.8 [HW#7 due]
10/26	*Applications and practice problems*
10/29	Nature of light: §9.1
10/31	The perception of color: §9.2
11/02	3rd Midterm (§7 & 8); 110-min in-class
11/02	Last day to withdraw from a course or the University; last day to request an institutional short-term emergency loan
11/05	Photometry & Daylight & Light in various mediums: §9.3–9.5
11/07	Propagation of sound & Sound waves & Sound intensity: §10.1–10.3 [HW#8 due]
11/09	*Applications and practice problems*
11/12	*Observed Holiday: Veterans' Day*
11/14	Reflection, absorption, refraction and transmission: §10.4 [HW#9 due]
11/16	*Applications and practice problems*
11/19	Interference & Diffraction of sound: §10.5 & §10.6.1–10.6.2
11/21	Diffraction in architectural contexts & Case study: §10.6.3–10.7
11/22–11/25: Thanksgiving recess
11/26	Review [HW#10 due]
11/28	Final Exam (comprehensive): 110-min in-class

Minimal requirements:

To pass the course with a grade B or better, a Student is expected at the time of the final exam be able to demonstrate the ability to:

state and apply Newton's laws and conservation laws to linear and rotational motion;
analyze the statics, stresses and strains in basic structural elements;
state and apply conservation laws of energy and momentum;
state and apply the first and second law of thermodynamics, and analyze heat transfer;
analyze photometric data, and sound intensity, reflection, absorption, refraction and transmission.

A student who does not demonstrate the above listed abilities on the final exam forfeits a grade of B or better -- regardless of the total number of points acquired in homework, quizzes and exams, and regardless of the success in completing any other course requirement.

Homework assignments

All assignments refer to end-of-section problems (not "examples", not "review questions", not "review problems"!) as given in the text. See also homework solution suggestions.

#	Due Date	Assigned (77) Homework Problems*
1	08/31	Ch.1.1: (9) Problems # 25, 30, 40, 50; Ch.1.2: Problems # 2, 3; Ch.1.3: Problems # 5, 7, 8.
2	09/07	Ch.2: (8) Problems # 1, 3, 10, 15, 18, 28, 38, 44.
3	09/17	Ch.3: (7) Problems # 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15.
4	09/26	Ch.4: (9) Problems # 1, 3, 5, 8, 13, 15, 23, 26, 28.
5	10/03	Ch.5: (5) Problems # 2, 4, 6, 7, 10.
6	10/15	Ch.6: (6) Problems # 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10.
7	10/24	Ch.7: (10) Problems # 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 21, 26, 28.
8	11/07	Ch.8: (6) Problems # 6, 7, 11, 13, 15, 18.
9	11/14	Ch.9: (8) Problems # 1, 3, 7, 12, 14, 16, 20, 21.
10	11/26	Ch.10: (9) Problems # 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20.
* E.g., “Ch.1.2” means "section 2 of chapter 1" (found on pages 11–12).

All homework assignments are due in class, on the day indicated. Late homework will not be accepted, except in cases of proven emergency. It is recommended that students discuss and constructively collaborate in working on the homework problems. In addition, students are strongly recommended to:

follow through as many of the worked-out examples as you can;
work out as many end-of-chapter/section problems as you can;
discuss these with your colleagues in class.

Collaboration policy
Constructive collaboration -- but not blind copying -- on the homework assignments is strongly encouraged; students should use this to learn from each other. All exams and quizzes are open text and open class-notes (including notebooks and class handouts), but no collaboration is allowed; by signing the exams and quizzes, the student implicitly agrees to abide by this policy. Violation of this policy is covered under University regulations on academic dishonesty and cheating.

Presentation, organization and legibility
While a neat presentation of home,- quiz- and exam-work is not required for full credit, it certainly makes it easier to assess the quality of the work and give the proper credit due. In all cases, include a simple sketch if it might help conveying the approach or the calculations. Where necessary, include all units and symbols such as the measure of an integral, arrow on a vector, vertical bars for the absolute value of a quantity, for the magnitude of a vector or for the determinant of a matrix, etc.

Homework: Submitted answer sheets should be stapled (preferably in the top-left corner). The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page. Solutions should be labeled and ordered consecutively by the problem numbers. Include all calculation/work and give full reference to any result quoted from any source other than the text, and page/equation number for results quoted from the text.
Quizzes: The Student's full name (and ID number) should be indicated on the first (cover) page, unless otherwise requested at the time of the quiz. Include all calculation/work and give the page/equation number for results quoted from the text. Speed and efficiency is important, but the presentation must be legible.
Mid-term exams: All exam questions are given on a question sheet and include the detailed point distribution and the place to write in the Student's full name and ID number. This question sheet is to be stapled on the top of the answer sheets, in the top-left corner. It will be used to indicate the acquired points, part by part and in total, the average score and the standard deviation. The formula by which the points will be summed between the to parts will be given on the question sheet.
Final exam: All exam questions are given on a question sheet and include the detailed point distribution and the place to write in the Student's full name and ID number. This question sheet is to be stapled on the top of the answer sheets, in the top-left corner. It will be used to indicate the acquired points, part by part and in total, the average score and the standard deviation. The final exams are stored by the instructor, but are available to the individual student for review after the exam.

However, as all of the above are by definition forms of the Student’s communication with the instructor, unambiguous legibility is mandatory. This requires making complete sentences and statements, choosing words and phrases precisely, and using correct punctuation; part of the credit is earned by fulfilling this task. (Consider it also as practice for communication to the scientific community and wider.)

ADA disclaimer Howard University is committed to providing an educational environment that is accessible to all students. In accordance with this policy [details], students in need of accommodations due to a disability should contact the Office of the Dean for Special Student Services at 202-238-2420, for verification and determination of reasonable accommodations as soon as possible after admission to the Law School, or at the beginning of each semester.

Statement on Interpersonal Violence:
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