Physics
&
Astronomy

Fall 2001
Courses

General Physics I

Jim Mahoney (mahoney@marlboro.edu)

General Info

Time
MWF 10:30 - 11:20
Place
SciBldg 217
Text
Young & Freedman's University Physics, 3rd edition
General Physics is the starting point for physics study at Marlboro, covering in the first term the essentials of Newtonian Mechancis: force, energy, linear and angular momentum. Sometimes we have time for a bit of relativity at the end. We emphasize the fundamental ideas and the problem-solving techniques.

While the course itself will not require math beyond algebra; the text does use calculus notation. My intent is to discuss what the calculus notation means and to use that notation conceptually. Depending on the backgrounds of the enrolled students I may split the course once per week into calculus/algebra sections and have slightly different assignments for each.

As weight lifters ("no pain, no gain") and music students ("do re me fa so fa me re do re me fa ...") have learned, repetition and drill can train your hands and your head to "know" a subject well. An introductory physics course is similar: there's no substitute for practice. Mastering this material requires studying the text and pounding away at the problems. Some folks even enjoy the experience.

For the text I've chosen the first third or so of a rather large text, which we will cover at a pace of roughly one chapter per week. For those who continue on I plan to use the same text for the continuation into second term, when we study Electricity and Magnetism, and it will also come in useful for the sophomore course. Expect weekly problem sets, posted here, and about three exams spread over the term. The course is worth 4 credits.

There's a "Project Lab" this semester for folks who want to try some experimental work, but in general I'd recommend waiting until second semester to do the lab that goes along with the electricity and magnetism part of the course.

Assignments

  1. for Wed Sept 12 (units, vector addition/components, start of 1D motion)
    1. Read the intro on "How to do physics" and chapter 1, especially units & conversions, powers of 10, and vector components / addition. Skip "dot" and "cross" product topics.
    2. Note the following resources, now and throughout the term: extra help with Jon Franklin (work study) or Jim, extra math sessions with Iuliana, study guide workbooks, computer aids (Interactive Physics, Mathematica, NumberCrunch, ...), video tapes, classmates - working together is fine.
    3. do Problems 1-3, 1-51, 1-29 and/or 1-57
      vector addition applet
    4. How many blades of grass on campus? Trees in Vermont? Compare.
    5. "g" is 9.8 m/sec2. What is it in miles/millenium2 (1 millenium=1000 years.)
    6. Start reading chap 2, especially 2-2 through 2-4.

  2. for Wed Sept 19 (acceleration in 1D)
    1. Finish reading chapter 2 (acceleration in 1 dimension)
    2. In chapter 2 do 2-5, 2-51, 2-13, 2-15, 2-41, *2-71
    3. Start reading chapter 3 (acceleration in 2 dimensions: projectile, circular motion)
    4. Calculus folks (optional):
      • Derive eqn 2-12 from definition of acceleration as 2nd derivative. Why are there two initial conditions? (x0, v0) 2-77
      • derive centrip. accel. formula starting from (x,y) = R ( cos(w t), sin(w t) ) by differentiating twice to get the acceleration. Be clear about magnitude and direction of your answer.

  3. for Wed Sept 26 (2D motion)
    1. Read chapter 3
    2. Do 3-13, 3-19, 3-23, 3-45, 3-71*

  4. for Wed Oct 3 ( F = ma , part 1 )
    1. Read chapter 4, on Newton's laws
    2. Do Q4-20, Q4-27, Q4-32 discussion questions. (Brief answers)
    3. Also in chapter 4 do exercises 4-7, 4-15, 4-23, 4-35
    4. Optional : 4-28* , 4-44*

      TEST 1 - THURS OCT 4 - material in chapters 1 - 4

  5. for Wed Oct 10 ( F = ma , part 2 )
    1. Read chapter 5, more practice with Newton's laws
    2. Do Q5-9, Q5-12
    3. Do 5-3, 5-13, 5-15, 5-31, 5-49, 5-69, 5-85, 5-103*

  6. for Wed Oct 17 ( work and kinetic energy )
    1. Read chapter 6 on energy, part 1. Skip section 6-4
    2. Q6-2, Q6-18, Q6-19
    3. 6-1, 6-9, 6-21, 6-35, 6-75, 6-77, 6-79

  7. for Wed Oct 24 ( potential energy - fairly short chapter)
    1. Read chapter 7.
    2. Q7-8, Q7-9
    3. 7-5, 10, 17, 39, 43 (Note: Mon,Tues are vacation)

  8. for Wed Oct 31 ( momentum, center of mass )
    1. Read chapter 8.
    2. Q8-7
    3. 8-9, 8-17, 8-23, 8-33, 8-41, 8-69, 8-71, 8-81

  9. For Wed Nov 7 - test 2 - no other assignment

  10. for Wed Nov 14 ( rotations and moment of inertia )
    1. Read chapter 9.
    2. Q9-3, Q9-6
    3. Do 9-9, 9-17, 9-20, 9-27, 9-33, 9-39, 9-59, 9-71*, 9-82*

  11. for Wed Nov 21 ( torque and angular momentum)
    1. Read chapter 10, especially sections 1,2,3, 6,7
    2. Q10-1, Q10-15
    3. Do 10-1, 10-11, 10-15, 10-24, 10-33, 10-37, 10-55, 10-82*

    TEST 3 - Mon or Tues, Dec 3/4.
    ( Practice test is here: practice_test_3.txt.)
    (And the solutions are here.)

  12. for Wed Dec 5 ( brief bit on statics; gravity )
    1. Read chap 11, sections 1 through 4
    2. Do exercises 11-40, 11-63
    3. Read chap 12, at least sections 1 through 6 (gravitation)
    4. Do Q12-1, Q12-9, 12-5, 12-24, 12-28, 12-47, 12-50, 12-75

  13. for Wed Dec 12 (relativity - last assignment)
    1. Read chapter 39, relativity
    2. Do Q39-5, Q39-13, Ex 39-3, 39-9, 39-19

Rough Syllabus


 - - - - Fall 2001 - - - -    - - - topic - - - -   - - - - - -
                            |                     |
** Sept ****                | chapter             |
   5 - 6   Intro Classes    |                     |
 (Fri) 7  regular schedule  + 1     vectors       |
                            |                     |
  10 - 14  week 1           + 1,2   1D x, v, a    |
                            |                     |
  17 - 21       2           + 2,3   2D motion     |
                            |                     |
  24 - 29       3           + 3,4   F = m a       |
** Oct ****                 |                     | - Quiz I -
   1 -  5       4           + 5     more F = m a  |
                            |                     |
   8 - 12       5           + 6     energy        |
         mid-term grades    |                     |
  24 - 26                   + 7     more energy   |
        (22,23 Hendricks)   |                     |
  29 -  2       6           + 8     momentum      |
** Nov ****                 |                     | - Quiz II
   5 -  9       7           + 8,10  rotations     |
                            |                     |
  12 - 16       8           + 11    more rot.     |
                            |                     |
  19 - 20 (22-23 Thanks.)   + 12    gravity       |
                            |                     |
  26 - 30       9           + 13    harmonic      |
                            |                     | - Quiz III -
  29 -  3      10           +       relativity    |
** Dec ****                 |                     |
   3 -  7      11           +       ?             |
                            |                     |
  10 - 12(Wed) 12           +      review         |
                            |                     |
  15, 17, 18       exams    |                     | - Final -
                            |                     |

Physics & Astronomy at Marlboro | Jim's Schedule

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