Physics 210A
Fall 2005John Dunning
Course Outline
Welcome to the first semester of algebra based physics. The material is selected to be of use to Biological and Medical professionals. It will also be helpful with the MCAT examination. The topics covered include: Forces and Newton’s Laws of motion, kinematics, projectile motion, uniform circular motion, work, conservation of mechanical energy, momentum conservation, collisions, torques, simple harmonic motion, fluids, heat energy, transfer of heat, kinetic theory of gases and an introduction to waves.
Text: Physics, 6th edition, Giancoli, Prentice Hall
Course organization and Grading: Demonstrations, lectures, and selected problem solving will be employed to help you understand the concepts and acquire your own problem solving ability.
Allow sufficient time after each lecture to work on the relevant problems. The actual combination of problem solving, reading, lecture debriefing, study group participation, internet interactive solutions, etc. that optimizes results varies with the individual. A source of additional help is the study guide packaged with the text. Problem solving skills are very important. Read the text in advance of the lecture, keep problem solutions current, and you will be better off.
Weekly homework suggestions will be given on Friday with the solutions either posted on the internet or handed out on the following Wednesday. Doing this homework in a timely manner is a great reinforcing aid. Handwritten homework will be collected for the first four sessions on Fridays. If a grader is available, this homework will be graded with ½ point for handing it in and ½ point for getting it right. If no grader, those handing it in will earn one extra point per homework on the final grade.
Two midterms (20% each) are planned for Friday September 22nd and Friday October 28th. A review will be given the class before. In addition there will be half period quizzes on all remaining Fridays (30%) except December 9th. The quizzes normally consist of four problems taken from the homework and the lecture/demonstrations. Full credit is given for three correct. There are no make up quizzes. However, the quiz grade (30% of the total grade) will be based on one less than the number of quizzes. The final examination (30%) will consist of half new material, and half the most missed concepts from the midterms and quizzes.
Office Hours. Monday, Wednesday 1 – 1:50. These will be problem sessions. My official office is in Chalk Hill (664-2439) At other times I am most likely in the Keck Laboratory, Salazar 2009b 664-2258, home to our Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray Diffraction Equipment. I sometimes work in the Low Level Counting Laboratory in Carignane, 664-2335, home to our Germanium gamma ray detection equipment. I am happy to talk about physics. Messages to
Course Outline: The following is my planned topic order. The lectures will generally follow the sequence within each chapter. A chapter a week is planned. The starred (*) sections will be omitted, except where noted. Use the homework assignments and the material actually discussed in lecture as a guide to the material that will be on the tests.
Introduction to Physics: Forces, conservation laws, waves and resonance – 1 lecture
Forces (4 1/2 weeks)
One dimensional motion with constant acceleration: Ch. 2
Two dimensional motion: Ch. 3
Newton’s Laws and forces, gravitation, friction: Ch. 4
Circular motion Ch. 5-1- to 5-5, Gravitation 5-7 to 5-8
Midterm #1 on September 22nd
Conservation Laws ( 4 weeks)
Work, mechanical energy, potential energy defined, power. Conservation of mechanical energy, power: Ch. 6
Linear momentum conservation, one dimensional collisions: Ch. 7-1 to 7-6, 7-8 (center of mass concept)
Rotational variables, rotational energy, torques and conservation of angular momentum: Ch . 8-1 to 8-8
Midterm #2 October 28th
Fluid Flow, Temperature, Heat Energy flow (3 weeks)
Fluids, pressures in a fluid equation of continuity, Bernoulli’s equation: Ch. 10
Temperature, kinetic theory and the ideal gas law: Ch.13
Heat transfer, convection, conduction radiation: Ch 14
Vibrations and waves (3 weeks)
Simple harmonic motion, forced oscillations and resonance. Ch. 11.
The speed of sound, energy in a sound wave, resonating air columns, beats: Ch 12.
First Problem suggestions (due Friday Sept 2nd): Ch. 2 problems 11, 16, 23, 27, 33, 37 and the following:
Suppose the distance of fall under gravity is doubled, what is the fractional increase in speed?
Suppose the speed is doubled, what is the increase in stopping distance with constant deacceleration?
Ch. 2 problem 57
Ch. 3 (if we get this far) 18, 21, 22, 25, 33, 53, 65