Physics 111         Fall 2007

The entire document is in the website: http://physics.washcoll.edu/course_notes/physics_111/physics_111.html. Please check frequently for updates.

Text: Physics (Third Edition), by H. Ohanian and J. Markert.

Instructor: Juan Lin       Office: Dunning N203      E-mail: jlin2@washcoll.edu

Office hours: MTuWThFr : By appointment.

Attendance Policy: LAB: 100%

LECTURES: A minimum of 90%

HOMEWORK: Only problems outlined in bold will be collected and corrected. The remaining problems are warm-up exercises. Many of these problems will be discussed in class. However, understanding of class assignments is your responsibility.

TESTS: There will be three 50-minute tests on material discussed in class. Problems in each test will be similar to those assigned for homework.

COURSE GRADE: Homework: 10%; Lab: 15%; Tests: 45%; Final: 30%

This is the first part of a two-semester course. Our goal will be to understand the fundamental concepts of mechanics and thermodynamics. There are three reasons why you want to learn this material:
A. To comprehend how few basic concepts and laws can explain and predict vast numbers of phenomena.
B. To increase your intuition of model building by learning to visualize, formulate and solve problems.
C. To better understand the connections between physics and your intended field of concentration.

 

TENTATIVE LAB SCHEDULE

Laboratory location: Dunning N201

Aug. 27 - 31   No lab.

Sept. 3 - Oct. 6: Errors in measurements, free fall, motion along an incline and projectile motion.

            Oct. 8 - Oct. 12: No lab.

Oct. 15 - Nov. 9: Newton's second law, friction and conservation of energy.

Nov. 12 - Dec 6: Conservation of momentum and heat capacity.

Chapter 1. Space, time and mass.

Due September 5. Problems: 14, 15, 22, 35, 38, 66.

A good introduction to dimensional analysis can be found at UGuelph. Eratosthenes from Egypt measured the size of Earth around 235 B.C. For an interesting description of his contributions and that of other important physicists please refer to Famous people. Observe the size of our universe in Powers of Ten.

 

Chapter 2. Motion in one dimension. (Only 2.1 - 2.6)

 Due September 12. Problems: 13, 18, 27, 38, 39, 51, 56.

The father of modern science is Galileo. There is a fascinating look at his life and time in the Galileo Project. Newton is considered by many to be the greatest physicist of all time. Please check Newton's biography for a portrait of his life. Be aware of the difference between distance and displacement. Find the consequences of your reaction time in NTNU-reaction. The interplay between displacement, velocity and acceleration is clearly illustrated in DVA or in ConstantA.

 

Chapter 3. Vectors. (Only 3.1 - 3.3)

Due September 19. Problems. Chapter 2: 75, 84. Chapter 3: 1, 6, 17, 20.

   

For a brief discussions of vectors, go to Vector addition and Vector sum .

 

Chapter 4. Motion in several dimensions. (Only 4.1 - 4.5)

Due September 26. Problems: 1, 2, 9, 15, 20, 29, 59, 62.

 

Try simulations of projectile motion at UOregon and at NTNU-projectile. Run simulations on circular motion and centripetal acceleration at C&CA. The connection of projectile and satellite motions is vividly described in P&S.

 

 

Chapter 5. Newton's laws.

Due October 17. Problems: 5, 8, 25, 39, 44, 54, 57, 60, 69, 70.

Check Free-Body diagrams.

 

Chapter 6. Applications of Newton's laws. (Only 6.1 - 6.3)

Due October 24. Problems: 3, 4, 7, 17, 37, 40, 51, 52.

Try a simulation of frictional and gravitational forces at NTNU-friction.

 

    

                              

Chapter 7. Work and energy.

Due November 2. Problems: 5, 8, 23, 25, 26, 45, 48.

Simple simulations of energy conservation can be found at Batesville.

 

Chapter 8. Conservation of energy. (Only 8.1)

Due November 9. Problems. Chapter 7: 61, 62. Chapter 8: 1, 11, 12, 13, 14.

 

Chapter 11. Momentum conservation. (Only 11.1 - 11.3)

Due November 16. Problems: 1, 2, 5, 17, 22, 31, 41, 44.

For a visual understanding of collisions you may access 1-D collision.

 

 

Chapter 19. Temperature and the ideal gas.

Due November 28. Problems: 4, 9, 14, 15, 21, 41, 44, 63.

Try the simplest one-dimensional gas model, Fowler's simulation, to understand the ideal gas law. You will find more sophisticated simulations in Hwang's molecular model , Brownian motion and the Oregon site.

Chapter 20. Heat and thermodynamics. (Only 20.1 and 20.4 - 20.5)

Due December 5. Problems: 1, 5, 10, 11, 58, 59, 71, 74.

 

For a simulation of specific heat from the molecular point of view, try SpecificHeat. Run SpecificHeatVP, to visualize specific heats at constant volume or at constant pressure. The Carnot cycle is an example of a reversible engine operating between two temperatures.