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.

Instructor: Robert A. Cohen
Meeting Place: 118 Gessner

|Lab Final Info|

Send e-mail to course instructor (Robert Cohen)

Homework

Click here for the schedule of readings.

Due Date Readings Homework

Fri, Oct 9 3.4 (Newton's second law) worksheet (handed out in class)

Tue, Oct 13 4.3 (Free fall) worksheet 3b

Wed, Oct 14 3.3 (Acceleration and Velocity) worksheet 3c

Fri, Oct 16 None worksheet 3d

Mon, Oct 19 7.2-7.4, 7.7 (collisions) worksheet 3e

Mon, Oct 26 3.1-3.2 (displacement and velocity) worksheet 4a

Wed, Oct 28 4.1-4.2 (constant accel) worksheet 4b

Fri, Oct 30 4.4 (projectile motion) worksheet 4c

Mon, Nov 2 5.2 (radial acceleration) worksheet 4d

Wed, Nov 4 5.3 (curves) worksheet 4e

Fri, Nov 6 5.4 (orbits) worksheet 4f

Fri, Nov 13 6.2-6.3 (work and kinetic energy) worksheet 5a

Mon, Nov 16 6.6 (work for variable forces) worksheet 5b

Wed, Nov 18 6.1, 6.4-5, 6.7-8 (conservation of energy) worksheet 5c

Fri, Nov 20 9.8 (Bernoulli's equation) worksheet 5d

Wed, Dec 2 5.1, 5.6 (angular and tangential notation) worksheet 6a

Mon, Dec 7 8.2, 8.4-8.5 (torque and equilibrium) worksheet 6b

Fri, Dec 11 8.1, 8.3, 8.6, 8.8 (rotational inertia) worksheet 6c

Due Date	Readings	Homework
Fri, Oct 9	3.4 (Newton's second law)	worksheet (handed out in class)
Tue, Oct 13	4.3 (Free fall)	worksheet 3b
Wed, Oct 14	3.3 (Acceleration and Velocity)	worksheet 3c
Fri, Oct 16	None	worksheet 3d
Mon, Oct 19	7.2-7.4, 7.7 (collisions)	worksheet 3e
Mon, Oct 26	3.1-3.2 (displacement and velocity)	worksheet 4a
Wed, Oct 28	4.1-4.2 (constant accel)	worksheet 4b
Fri, Oct 30	4.4 (projectile motion)	worksheet 4c
Mon, Nov 2	5.2 (radial acceleration)	worksheet 4d
Wed, Nov 4	5.3 (curves)	worksheet 4e
Fri, Nov 6	5.4 (orbits)	worksheet 4f
Fri, Nov 13	6.2-6.3 (work and kinetic energy)	worksheet 5a
Mon, Nov 16	6.6 (work for variable forces)	worksheet 5b
Wed, Nov 18	6.1, 6.4-5, 6.7-8 (conservation of energy)	worksheet 5c
Fri, Nov 20	9.8 (Bernoulli's equation)	worksheet 5d
Wed, Dec 2	5.1, 5.6 (angular and tangential notation)	worksheet 6a
Mon, Dec 7	8.2, 8.4-8.5 (torque and equilibrium)	worksheet 6b
Fri, Dec 11	8.1, 8.3, 8.6, 8.8 (rotational inertia)	worksheet 6c

Practice Exam Solutions (requires Acrobat Reader)

Part	exam	solutions
I	exami.doc	exami.pdf
II	examii.doc	examii.pdf
III	examiii.doc	examiii.pdf
IV	examiv.doc	examiv.pdf
V	examv.doc	examv.pdf
VI	examvi.doc	examvi.pdf

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.

Links

Glossary of science words translated to various languages.
Videos by ESPN on various physical concepts.
Simulations from the University of Oregon.
Video of a flea pulling a textbook (no friction).
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
Projectile Motion
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)
- Dropped vs. Fired Bullet (MythBusters)
- 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
Video of a dropped slinky.
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: December, 2009

This page maintained by:

rcohen@po-box.esu.edu