Objectives - phys161

chapter 1

Vocabulary

Circular Motion, Coordinates, Coordinate System, Coordinate Independence, Cartesian Coordinate System, Displacement, Displacement Vector, Hat Notation, Magnitude (of Vector), Motion, Motion Diagram, Operational Definition, Particle Model, Position, Position Vector, Projectile Motion, Rotational Motion, Scalar (or Scalar Quantity), Time Interval (or Duration), Trajectory, Translational Motion, Vector (or Vector Quantity), Average Acceleration, Average Speed, Average Velocity, Instantaneous Acceleration, Instantaneous Speed, Instantaneous Velocity, Centripetal Acceleration, Distance, Uniform Motion {this simply means motion in which the velocity is constant}, Unit Vector, Dimensional Analysis, Mechanics, Significant Figures.

Objectives. At this point in the course, the student should

1. Be able to construct the motion diagram for an arbitrary point-like object, given sufficient information about the object's motion.
2. Be able to describe the motion of an arbitrary point-like object, given a motion diagram of the object.
3. Understand the concept of a vector, and be able to contrast it with a scalar.
4. Be able to construct and interpret geometric representations of vectors. The student should also be able to obtain a qualitative estimate (magnitude and direction) of a vector sum or difference via graphical methods.
5. Understand the relevance of displacement vectors to motion diagrams.
6. Be able to determine the position vector of an object using 'hat' notation.
7. Realize that position vectors depend on one's choice of origin, while displacement vectors do not, and explain this difference.
8. Know the most common notations for position and displacement vectors.
9. Be able to determine the average speed and/or instantaneous speed of an object, given sufficient information about the object.
10. Be able to determine the average velocity and/or instantaneous velocity of an object, given sufficient information about the object.
11. Be able to determine the average acceleration and/or instantaneous acceleration of an object, given sufficient information about the object.
12. Be able to use the initial velocity and acceleration of an object to graphically determine the latter position and velocity of the object. At this point, the student need be able to do this only when the acceleration is constant.
13. Be familiar with the SI system of units, and know the SI units in which mass, length, time, position, displacement, velocity, speed, acceleration, density, volume, and area are measured.
14. Know the prefix, symbol, and value of all metric prefixes from femto- to tera-
15. Have memorized the conversion factors allowing conversion between inches and centimeters, feet and miles, and kilometers and miles. The student should also know that 1 cubic centimeter (cc) is the same as 1 milliliter (ml), and that 1 ml of water at standard temperature and pressure has a mass of almost exactly 1 gram (in the old days, this was the definition of the gram).
16. Be able to use dimensional analysis in problem solving.
17. Understand what is meant by significant figures, and be able to carry the correct number of significant figures when adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
18. Understand what is meant by the phrase Classical Mechanics, and understand that it is but a convenient limiting case of a more correct, underlying theory. The student should be able to describe situations in which the description given by Classical Mechanics would not be in accord with experiment, and should have a quantitative idea of the size of the errors introduced by using Classical Mechanics to describe the macroscopic world.