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)

Click here for the schedule of readings.

Textbook (version 10.1)

Answer Keys

In-class Questions (requires Acrobat Reader)

Date
09 07 2010
09 09 2010
09 21 2010
09 23 2010
09 28 2010

Practice Exam Solutions (requires Acrobat Reader)

Part	solutions
II	examii.pdf
III	examiii.pdf
IV	examiv.pdf
V	examv.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

Why not just tell you what you need to know?
Glossary of science words translated to various languages.
Science on the Simpsons
Videos by ESPN on various physical concepts.
Science of NFL football (includes vectors, projectile motion, Newton's laws of motion and torque)
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
- Roller Coaster Creator (create and run your own roller coaster and learn about graviational and kinetic energy conversion)
- 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: January, 2011

This page maintained by:

rcohen@po-box.esu.edu