Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

College Physics I (Face-to-Face)

PHYS 2010-01

Course: PHYS 2010-01
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 33695

Course Description

Catalog Description

A trigonometric- and algebra-based introductory course in physics. Topics in mechanics, including vectors, motion in one and two dimensions, Newton’s laws of motion, work and energy, momentum and collisions, circular motion and rotational dynamics, will be studied. Additional topics include solids and fluids and selected topics in thermodynamics. A minimum grade of “C” (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a physical science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course.

Required Texts

Course Materials

Title: College Physics 2e
Authors: Urone & Hinrichs
Publisher: OpenStax
ISBN: 978-1-711470-82-5

Website

Learning Outcomes

Course Outcomes

Physical Sciences: Upon successful completion of the General Education Physical Sciences
requirement, students will be able to:

Explain scientific methods: Explain science as a process and as a way of understanding
the physical world;
Understand: Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on
physical systems;
Evaluate: Evaluate the credibility of various sources of information about science-related
issues; and
Apply: Describe how the Physical Sciences utilize their foundational principles to
confront and solve pressing local and global challenges, shaping historical, ethical, or
social landscapes in the process.

Course Requirements

Course Assessment Table

Your course grade will be determined as follows:
ItemPercentageMidterms | 50%
Homework | 15%
In-Class Exercises | 15%
Final | 20%

Assignment Outline

The grading scale for this course will be as follows. Note that the grade descriptions come from University Policy 6.13:

Grade | Range | DescriptionA | 100% - 93% | Excellent
A- | 93% - 89% | Excellent
B+ | 89% - 86% | Above average
B | 86% - 83% | Above average
B- | 83% - 73% | Above average
C+ | 79% - 76% | Average
C | 76% - 71% | Average
D+ | 71% - 67% | Below average
D | 67% - 63% | Below average
D- | 63% - 60% | Below average
F | Below 59% | Failure/poor
Exams: The three midterms and the final exam will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and true/false questions, and will be administered in class. The final is cumulative, and will be administered in our regular classroom on Dec. 8 at 3 pm. For each exam, including the final, you will prepare a one-page 'cheat sheet' with whatever equations etc. you deem necessary. I will provide constants, but it is your job to come prepared with the relevant equations.

Homework:

Homework will be administered approximately weekly through Canvas, and will be posted under 'Assignments.' The homework questions will come in a variety of formats. I encourage you to work together, although each student will need to submit their own work. The questions will be very similar to those in the back of the book, and some may even come verbatim from the book. No late homework will be accepted, and the lowest homework score will be dropped. Homework will be due at 10:00 pm.

In-Class Exercises:

There will be in-class exercises consisting of multiple choice, short answer questions, and short writing prompts on most days. I encourage you to talk with students around you and ask me questions during these exercises. These are meant to improve your understanding of the concepts as well as show who has been coming to class. I will drop the lowest three in-class exercises. This policy is designed to allow for illness, medical appointments, job interviews, university activities, etc.

Course Outline

Important Dates:

First Exam | September 26
Second Exam | October 24
Third Exam | November 21
Final Exam | December 8

Preliminary Schedule:

WeekDatesTopicReading1 | Aug. 27 – Aug. 29 | Units, Quantities, Sig Figs | Ch. 1
2 | Sep. 2 – 5 | Kinematics | Ch. 2
3 | Sep. 8 – 12 | Vectors | Ch. 3
4 | Sep. 15 – 19 | 2-D Kinematics | Ch. 3
5 | Sep. 22 – 26 | Forces I | Ch. 4
6 | Sep. 29 – Oct. 3 | Forces II | Ch. 5
7 | Oct. 6 – 10 | Forces II | Ch. 5
8 | Oct. 15 – 17 | Circular Motion & Gravity | Ch. 6
9 | Oct. 20 – 24 | Work & Energy | Ch. 7
10 | Oct. 27 – Oct. 31 | Work & Energy | Ch. 7
11 | Nov. 3 – 7 | Momentum | Ch. 8
12 | Nov. 10 – 14 | Statics & Torque | Ch. 9
13 | Nov. 17 – 21 | Rotation | Ch. 10
14 | Nov. 24 – Nov. 28 | No Class | Thanksgiving Break
15 | Dec. 1 – 5 | Angular Momentum | Ch. 10

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Policy

  • No late work will be accepted.
  • No late homework will be accepted; the lowest homework score will be dropped.
  • Any files that are blank or corrupted will receive a zero; emailed files will not be graded—work must be uploaded to Canvas.
  • No extra credit work is available. If you're doing well you don't need it, and if you're not doing well you should put that effort into regular class work. Additionally, the instructor will not respond to emails or requests to bump grades. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy

  • Regular attendance is required at all class meetings. This is listed as a face-to-face class, and the expectation is that you will attend the class in person. I don't Zoom the class so don't ask.
  •  Vacations and leaving early for break are not acceptable excuses; do not make travel plans that conflict with class or exams. If your parents will be making your travel plans, inform them of this policy and the official university academic calendar

Course Fees

$54

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.