Department of Physics and Astronomy

Physics 1201 – Physics for the Sciences I Course Outline

1. Course Information
Course Information
Physics 1201 – Physics for the Sciences I (3 lecture hours, 3 laboratory hours): An introductory
laboratory-based course in physics covering the foundational principles of kinematics, force and motion,
energy, linear momentum, rotational motion, torque, equilibrium, angular momentum, geometric optics
and optical instruments. Fundamental physics concepts are introduced with examples in physical,
biological, and medical processes to develop students’ problem-solving skills.

Note: This course, together with Physics 1202A/B, is a suitable prerequisite for modules having an
introductory physics requirement (including modules in the Faculty of Science, modules offered by the
basic Medical Science departments, and professional schools requiring a calculus-based laboratory
course in physics).

Pre- or Co-requisites
12U Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) or Mathematics 0110A/B.

Anti-requisites
Physics 1101A/B, Physics 1401A/B, Physics 1501A/B, the former Physics 1028A/B, or the former
Physics 1301A/B.

Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean’s
Designate to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record.
This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are
dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

Lectures: 3 in person lecture hours per week

Note: You must attend the section you are registered in as Section 001 is Full and the classroom cannot
hold more students.

Labs: 3 in person hours every two weeks.

2. Instructor Information
Instructor
Dr. Shantanu Basu
Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Office Hours: see course OWL site
Email: [email protected]
Lab Instructor
Dr. Shailesh Nene, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Material Science Addition (MSA), MSA-2203
Contact using JIRA ticket at https://help.sci.uwo.ca/servicedesk/customer/portal/8

Course Administrator
Dr. Isabelle Cyr, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Teaching Assistants
In person and online Help Centres will be available, and TAs will be there to assist you with your
homework assignments and preparation for exams. Details will be announced on the course OWL site.

Contact Information

1. Post technical, administrative or physics questions on the relevant forums on the course OWL
site.
2. For confidential issues that can’t be posted to the OWL forums, use a JIRA ticket:
https://help.sci.uwo.ca/servicedesk/customer/portal/8 .
3. To contact lab instructor, use JIRA ticket: https://help.sci.uwo.ca/servicedesk/customer/portal/8
4. For any issues not covered by the above, please send email to [email protected].
Note: We will not respond to emails sent to our Western personal email addresses or emails
from addresses other than your UWO email account(@uwo.ca).
3. Course Syllabus, Schedule, Delivery Mode
The course description is listed earlier in Section 1 of this Course Outline.

Course learning Objectives

• Develop physics thinking skills and problem-solving approaches that are useful in other fields
and in everyday situations. Learn calculus-based techniques in some approaches
• Acquire an intuitive understanding of fundamental physics concepts
• Engage in critical analysis of a problem individually and through team effort, effectively
communicating your approach to others, through laboratory projects or other activities

Lecture Schedule

See Section 4 for the textbook name and details.

Dates Chapter(s) Content

Sep 6 Introduction/Chapter 0 Math/Calculus review
Sep 9-13 Chapter 1/2 Measurements & Vectors,
Kinematics
Sep 16-20 Chapter 3 Kinematics/Dynamics
Sep 23-27 Chapter 4 Newton’s Laws and
Applications
Sep 30*-Oct 4 Chapter 5 Applications of Newton’s
Laws
Oct 7-11 Chapter 6 Circular Motion and
Gravitation
Oct 14-18 Reading Week
Oct 21-25 Midterm review Midterm Test Oct 26
Oct 28-Nov 1 Chapter 7 Work and Energy
Nov 4-8 Chapter 8 Momentum
Nov 11-15 Chapter 9 Rotational Motion
Nov 18-22 Chapter 10 Dynamics of Rotational
Motion
Nov 25-29 Chapter 23/24 Light/Optics
Dec 2-6 Chapter 24 and review Optics
*Sep 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (no classes)
Assignment Schedule

Due Date Name Content

Sep 16 Assignment 1 Chapter 1
Sep 23 Assignment 2 Chapter 2/3
Oct 7 Assignment 3 Chapter 4/5
Oct 21 Assignment 4 Chapter 6
Nov 11 Assignment 5 Chapter 7/8
Nov 25 Assignment 6 Chapter 9/10
Dec 6 Assignment 7 Chapter 23/24

Dynamic Study Modules

Due Date Name Content

Sep 11 DSM 1 Chapter 0/1
Sep 18 DSM 2 Chapter 2/3
Oct 2 DSM 3 Chapter 4/5
Oct 16 DSM 4 Chapter 6
Nov 6 DSM 5 Chapter 7/8
Nov 20 DSM 6 Chapter 9/10
Dec 4 DSM 7 Chapter 23/24

Lab Schedule

You have signed up for an in-person lab section. However, for each lab section, there are four
subsections labeled A-D. You can find your subsection and the weeks for your in-person lab through the
course site on the Online Western learning (OWL) Brightspace site described in Section 4. Lab Manuals,
worksheets, and other lab instructions will be hosted on the e-book platform Perusall. Instructions on
obtaining the lab e-book are in Section 4.

Key Sessional Dates

Classes begin: September 5, 2024

Fall Reading Week: October 12 – 20, 2024
Classes end: December 6, 2024
Exam period: December 9 – 22, 2024

4. Course Materials
Required Text and Resources

- Sears and Zemansky’s College Physics, 11th edition, H. D. Young. P. W. Adams (Pearson).
Available in e-text bundled with access to the Mastering Physics online platform. (A print copy
is an optional purchase and can be ordered from the publisher.) The assignments and dynamic
study modules will be hosted on Mastering Physics from Pearson.
- Lab Manual for Physics 1201A.
The above resources in bold can be purchased online through the Western Bookstore. Here is a link to a
Western Bookstore site with all materials for this course. This includes the textbook and the Perusall lab
manual.

You should purchase the one-semester access to the College Physics ebook if you are planning to take
only P1201 and purchase the two-semester access (to College Physics and University Physics) if you are
planning to take both P1201 and P1202 this year.

If you would like a print copy of the textbook, it is an optional purchase and can be ordered from the
publisher.

You can also access your personal textbook list for all your courses by logging into your Student
Services account.

All course material will be posted to OWL: https://westernu.brightspace.com/. This includes lecture
slides plus supplementary material.

Students are responsible for checking the course OWL site (https://westernu.brightspace.com/) regularly
for news and updates. This is the primary method by which information will be disseminated to all
students in the class.

If students need assistance with the course OWL site, they can seek support on the OWL Brightspace
Help page. Alternatively, they can contact the Western Technology Services Helpdesk. They can be
contacted by phone at 519-661-3800 or ext. 83800.
5. Methods of Evaluation
Grading Scheme and Assessment Dates
The overall course grade will be calculated as listed below:

Assignments (5 out of 7) 20%

Dynamic Study Modules 5%
Laboratories 10%
Midterm Test 30%
Final Exam 35%

General information about missed coursework

If you will miss a course-related component (e.g., laboratory/tutorial, performance, presentation) or a

course-related assessment (e.g., term test, quiz, examination) due to extenuating circumstances, you may
be eligible to request an Academic Consideration. Academic Consideration may take the form of
completing the missed component at a later date or reweighting of the assessment, for example. See
further below for specific cases pertaining to this course.

Students must familiarize themselves with the University Policy on Academic Consideration –
Undergraduate Students in First Entry Programs posted on the Academic Calendar:
https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/academic_consideration_Sep24.pdf,

This policy does not apply to requests for Academic Consideration submitted for attempted or
completed work, whether online or in person.

The policy also does not apply to students experiencing longer-term impacts on their academic
responsibilities. These students should consult Accessible Education.

For procedures on how to submit Academic Consideration requests, please see the information posted on
the Office of the Registrar’s webpage:
https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/
All requests for Academic Consideration must be made within 48 hours after the assessment date or
submission deadline.

All Academic Consideration requests must include supporting documentation; however, recognizing that
formal documentation may not be available in some extenuating circumstances, the policy allows
students to make one Academic Consideration request without supporting documentation in this
course. However, the following assessments are excluded from this, and therefore always require formal
supporting documentation:
• Midterm Test (Designated by the instructor as the one assessment that always requires
documentation when requesting Academic Consideration)
• Final Exam scheduled during the official examination period (Defined by policy)

When a student mistakenly submits their one allowed Academic Consideration request without
supporting documentation for the assessments listed above or those in the Coursework with
Assessment Flexibility section below, the request cannot be recalled and reapplied. This privilege is
forfeited.

Evaluation Scheme for Missed Assessments

If you are unable to meet a course requirement due to illness or other unusual circumstances, please note
the instructions below.

Midterm
With academic counseling approval, you may take the makeup midterm on Oct 31 if you missed the
midterm on Oct 26. If you missed both the midterm and the makeup with academic counseling approval,
then your midterm grade weight will be shifted to the final exam.

Final Exam
If you miss the Final Exam and the Academic Counselling office of your Faculty of Registration has
ruled you are eligible, you may take the Special Exam (the name given by the University for a makeup
Final Exam).

You may also be eligible to write the Special Exam if you are in a “Multiple Exam Situation” (e.g., more
than 2 exams in a 24-hour period or more than 3 exams in a 47-hour period).

Labs
Please refer to the ``lab information’’ document. Deadlines for each component are listed in that
document. There is no flexibility in the deadlines. If you miss a lab with academic counseling approval,

Coursework with Assessment Flexibility

The following two categories have some built in flexibility.

Assignments. The course has 7 assignments and the 5 assignments with the highest marks are counted
toward your final grade. Students are expected to submit each of the 7 assignments by the deadline
listed. Should extenuating circumstances arise, students do not need to request Academic Consideration,
and they are permitted to submit their assignment up to 72 hours past the deadline without a late penalty.
Assignments will not be accepted beyond 72 hours past the deadline. Academic Consideration requests
may be granted only for extenuating circumstances that started before the deadline and lasted longer
than the No-Late-Penalty Period (72 hours). Should extenuating circumstances arise that last beyond the
No-Late-Penalty-Period, students do not need to request Academic Consideration for the first 2 missed
assignments. Academic Consideration requests will be denied for the first 2 missed assignments.
Academic Consideration requests may be granted when students miss more than 2 assignments, and
these additional (3rd, 4th…) missed assignments will be reweighted to the final exam.

Dynamic Study Modules. Students are expected to complete each of the modules by the deadline listed.
This will allow you to keep pace with learning goals for the course and properly prepare for upcoming
weeks of lecture as well as the midterm test and final exams. In the textbook, each chapter assumes
knowledge of material in previous chapters, so it is important to keep learning as we move along in the
course. However, the modules can be completed anytime till the final day of classes (Dec 6). Due to the
built-in flexibility, no Academic Consideration will be granted for the Dynamic Study Modules.
6. Additional Statements
Calculator
For the midterm test and final exam, a non-programmable scientific calculator such as the Sharp E1-
510Rtb, available at the bookstore, is permitted. Programmable scientific calculators are not permitted.

Department Policy
Course marks may, in some cases, be adjusted to conform to the meaning of course marks described in
the Western Academic Calendar, and to conform to Department policy. Final grades will be rounded to
the nearest integer, and you cannot expect that grades ending in 9 (e.g., 69) will be increased by 1 mark.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The principles of EDI are very meaningful to me, and I will try to foster an atmosphere of respect and
inclusion, where all voices can be heard. All class members should treat others with professional respect
and equal consideration in both written and spoken communication. We should work to provide an
environment that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas.
Western has historically had EDI challenges, and it requires ongoing efforts by all for improvement. I
encourage you to read the report of the President’s Anti-racism Working Group, available at
https://president.uwo.ca/pdf/arwg-final-report-to-president-shepard-fnl.pdf, and seek out resources
available at https://www.edi.uwo.ca/resources/.
The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) has published a special magazine issue on inclusion
available at https://pic-pac.cap.ca/ and the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) has compiled a list
of EDI resources at https://casca.ca/?page_id=17441.

Decolonization Statement
Western sits on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and
Chonnocton Peoples. The legacy of colonization and colonialism is felt globally and is imprinted in our
educational system. Western is taking some initial steps toward recognizing it. Textbooks can be biased
toward a particular cultural narrative. Physics textbooks are no exception. I will strive to include unique
content as much as I can, and I seek your feedback. I encourage you to read the following articles and
share your ideas on this topic with me and with your colleagues.
https://news.westernu.ca/2021/06/moving-toward-decolonizing-the-curriculum/
https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/learning/12-ways.html

Religious Accommodation
When conflicts with a religious holiday that requires an absence from the University or prohibits certain
activities, students should request an accommodation for their absence in writing to the course instructor
and/or the Academic Advising office of their Faculty of Registration. This notice should be made as
early as possible but not later than two weeks prior to the writing or the examination (or one week prior
to the writing of the test).
Please visit the Diversity Calendars posted on our university’s EDID website for the recognized
religious holidays:
https://www.edi.uwo.ca.

Accommodation Policies
Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact Accessible Education, which provides
recommendations for accommodation based on medical documentation or psychological and
cognitive testing. The policy on Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities can be
found at:
https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic Accommodation_disabilities.pdf.

Academic Policies
The website for Registrar Services is https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/.

In accordance with policy,

https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section1/mapp113.pdf,
the centrally administered e-mail account provided to students will be considered the individual’s
official university e-mail address. It is the responsibility of the account holder to ensure that e-mail
received from the University at their official university address is attended to in a timely manner.

Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy,
specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site:
https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and exams may be subject to submission for similarity review
by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

In the event of a health lock-down, we will switch from in-person tests and exams to an online format.
Tests and examinations in this course will then be conducted using a remote proctoring service. By
taking this course, you are consenting to the use of this software and acknowledge that you will be
required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will
be recorded. Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a
device that meets the technical requirements for this service. More information about this remote
proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring
website at:
https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.

Support Services

Please visit the Science & Basic Medical Sciences Academic Advising webpage for information on
adding/dropping courses, academic considerations for absences, appeals, exam conflicts, and many other
academic-related matters: https://www.uwo.ca/sci/counselling/.

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western

(https://uwo.ca/health/) for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

Western is committed to reducing incidents of gender-based and sexual violence and providing
compassionate support to anyone who has gone through these traumatic events. If you have experienced
sexual or gender-based violence (either recently or in the past), you will find information about support
services for survivors, including emergency contacts at
https://www.uwo.ca/health/student_support/survivor_support/get-help.html.
To connect with a case manager or set up an appointment, please contact [email protected].
Please contact course email [email protected] if you require lecture or printed material in an alternate
format or if any other arrangements can make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to
contact Accessible Education at
http://academicsupport.uwo.ca/accessible_education/index.html
if you have any questions regarding accommodations.

Learning-skills counsellors at Learning Development and Success (https://learning.uwo.ca) are ready to

help you improve your learning skills. They offer presentations on strategies for improving time
management, multiple-choice exam preparation/writing, textbook reading, and more. Individual support
is offered throughout the Fall/Winter terms in the drop-in Learning Help Centre, and year-round through
individual counselling.

Additional student-run support services are offered by the USC, https://westernusc.ca/services/.

This course is supported by the Science Student Donation Fund. If you are a student registered in the
Faculty of Science or Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, you pay the Science Student Donation
Fee. This fee contributes to the Science Student Donation Fund, which is administered by the Science
Students’ Council (SSC). One or more grants from the Fund have allowed for the purchase of
equipment integral to teaching this course. You may opt out of the Fee by the end of September of each
academic year by completing the online form linked from the Faculty of Science’s Academic Advising
site. For further information on the process of awarding grants from the Fund or how these grants have
benefitted undergraduate education in this course, consult the Chair of the Department or email the
Science Students’ Council at [email protected].