Fundamental Physics I

PHYS 131 Fundamental Physics I

Fundamental Physics I covers the basics of force, acceleration, and energy using trigonometry and algebra. No calculus is used. A series of laboratory activities is used in support of the material.

Lecture: The lecture meets three times a week as with any other normal course. You need to be present at the classroom meeting place in order to benefit from the lecture portion of the class, upon which 75% of the grade is based.

Lab: In addition to meeting three times a week (for a total of three hours), this course also has a lab component. On the course schedule, it says the lab is taught via "per sys instr". There is no specified lab time because the lab is run differently. You are expected to work in the lab three hours a week but the exact three hours is left open to each student. The lab will be open for 18-21 hours each week and you choose the hours you would like to work (keeping in mind that some hours will be more crowded than others). When you go to lab, you let the lab workers know which lab you will be doing. You then work at your own pace, moving from one activity to the next when you are ready. The only requirement is that the instructor must okay your progress at various points within an activity in order for you to move forward.

Instructor: Robert A. Cohen
Meeting Place: 118 Gessner

Send e-mail to course instructor (Robert Cohen)

Math Supplement

The math supplement has short readings on the following areas:

Mathematical Notation (variable symbols and unit symbols)

Algebraic Techniques

Units

Scientific Notation

Equation Types

Graphing

Averages

Trigonometry

Powers of Ten (Logarithms)

The math supplement requires Acrobat Reader.

In-class Questions

To see the in-class questions, go to the E-instruction website and enter your username and password (if you have forgotten it, they can e-mail it to you or you can check with the course instructor). Click on "Student Admin" and then scroll down the page to "CPS Assessment Grades". You can click on the link within the table to see the questions and also how how well you did.

Textbook (requires Acrobat Reader)

Chapter 1	chapter1.pdf
Chapter 2	chapter2.pdf
Chapter 3	chapter3.pdf

Links

Glossary of science words translated to various languages.
Videos by ESPN on various physical concepts.
Simulations from the University of Oregon.
Physics Applets from Berkeley.
Practical Physics (out of print textbook with examples of practical applications of physics.
Search for physics demonstrations at The Physics Learning Laboratories
General help (tutoring, explanations, simulations, etc.) can be found at The Physics Classroom
EquMath is a site that explains mathematical techniques (like algebra and trigonometry); I believe the site is from Russia
Vectors
- Practice determining Components of vectors using sines and cosines. In this simulation, you need to choose whether sine or cosine is appropriate based upon the angle that is given and the requested component. This is from the Vectors portion of the Physics Illuminations Project.
- In the Vector Simulator you can create two vectors and the simulator will automatically calculate the components and draw the vector sum. Add up the components as a check.
- Vector Math allows you to draw two vectors and add or subtract them. To see the addition or subtraction, you must arrange the vectors head-to-tail for addition and tail-to-tail or head-to-head for subtraction. Add or subtract the components as a check.
Animations from St. Mary's High School
- First Law Challenge
- Newton's Mountain
- Monster Shoot
Collisions
- Applet by B. Surendranath
- Billiards (W. Bauer)
- 2-D collision
- Elastic and inelastic collisions (Walter Fendt)
Simulations
- Air Traffic Control Simulator (relationship between distance, time and speed) from NASA (Smart Skies)
- Video of astronaut dropping a hammer and a feather on the moon.
- An example of relative motion (throwing a ball off the back of a truck) Boat on a river (relative motion)
- Simulations
- Simulations from Giambattista
- Applets by B. Surendranath Reddy (e.g., see the Simple Harmonic Motion applet).
- Flash animations by Tony Wayne.
- Flash animations by David M. Harrison.
- Java Applets by Walter Fendt.
- PhET Simulations
RollerDouble by Erik Neumann (good context for energy)
Learningscience.org has a whole host of simulations, for all sciences.
PADs has interactive graphs and exercises.
Ball on Track (with graphing) from U of Pennsylvania.
Interactive Conceptual Tutoring (Automated Physics Tutor)
One resource of applications of physics to biology is given here.
Syllabi of physics courses elsewhere
How Stuff Works
Interesting questions
Powers of 10 video.
Context-Rich Problems
Interactive Physics simulations
LineRider simulations

Last updated: August, 2008

This page maintained by:

rcohen@po-box.esu.edu