Introductory Physics Courses Designed for Engineering and Science Students

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Introductory Physics Courses Designed for Engineering and Science Students"

Melanie Bond
5 years ago
Views:

1 Introductory Physics Courses Designed for Engineering and Science Students Three different introductory sequences for people with differing preparations, interests, and goals 1400 sequence: emphasizes basics, connections in the world, and college level physics problem solving 1600 sequence: + more abstract and theoretical; approach more mathematical; order of topics slightly different 2800 sequence: the three semesters of the 1600 sequence in two semesters; specifically for students with advanced placement in mathematics and strong background in physics All courses incorporate calculus at early stage You are now in Physics 1401(1) if you are well prepared in Physics, you are probably in the wrong course slide 1

2 Science/Engineering Sequences Sequence Points Recommended Median Grade Separate Lab Course Physics B/B or 1494 Physics , and mid B or 2699 Physics 2801, B + /A slide 2

3 1400 Sequence Three semester sequence (no labs included) 1401-Mechanics and Thermodynamics 1402-Electricity/Magnetism and Optics 1403-Wave motion and Quantum Mechanics Each is worth 3.0 points Recommended median grade at B-B + interface Separate Lab courses (when appropriate) If only, take 1493 in 3 rd semester If all 3 semesters, take 1494 in 4 th semester Emphasizes basics, connections in the world, and college level physics problem solving slide 3

4 Text and Topics Text is Halliday, Resnick, Walker; "Fundamentals of Physics", 6th ed. (with metromedia CD) Chapters 1-15, Mechanics: includes linear motion, forces, energy, rotations, thermodynamics Note that chapters are not covered this semester. These include topics on harmonic motion, waves, These topics are part of the third semester (1403) in the sequence slide 4

5 Mechanics of this Course No handouts All information transmitted on the web! Grades (I hate them, but responsibility to be FAIR!) detailed policy at website you MUST be able to do problems in exams homework, though only a small component of the final grade in itself, is an ESSENTIAL tool to assure yourself you know the concepts and how to do problems. College course: assume all are mature adults sorry for the pun! Check out the home page and links all information that I thought useful is written there slide 5

6 History (Big Picture) slide 6

7 Physics Matter and Forces Physics 1401 This course is meant to begin the study!! slide 7

8 Predictive Nature of Physics Useful And deadly if neglected!!!! slide 8

9 History (people oriented) BCE Universe started BCE Solar system & Earth formed BCE Man precursors with small brains 10 5 BCE Homo Sapiens with BIG brains 10 4 BCE Writing (for business) 1000 BCE Bible written down 400 BCE -400 Greeks, Romans ideas many wrong DaVinci, Brahe, Copernicus, Galileo Newton, -- Classical Mechanics Franklin, Maxwell --Electricity&Mag "Modern" Physics slide 9

10 Mathematics x=x 0 +vt Every formula carries a concept! Read them that way The math (algebra, trigonometry, calculus) are tools to ends! slide 10

11 Immediate Future I assume you know (reviewed in text) algebra and trigonometry well!! vector familiarity (review elementals as we go.) calculus simultaneously (know fundamentals!.) All assignments and due dates are posted. See website. Chapter 1 (Measurement, numbers,...) should be a review of what you know. Read it and make sure. Chapters 2 (1D motion) and 3 (vectors) also should be largely review. I will go quickly through first few chapters (so we have time to get through the topics programmed for the semester). slide 11

Measure radius! 1. Mark lake level at location of ship and place meter stick on ship side 2.

12 Simple problem (like sample 1 4) Eratosthenes (300 BCE) measured radius of the Earth to 5% using geometry, angle between Aswan and Alexandria. See NY Times, Sept 24,2002 Science s 10 most beautiful expts. q Earth spherical? Measure radius! 1. Mark lake level at location of ship and place meter stick on ship side 2. Go to lake shore (d = 4.4km) and sight along lake; find that sighting is on ship side at h = 2.0m. 3. What is the radius, R, of the earth? slide 12

13 Definitions of velocity and acceleration Average velocity v x t Average acceleration a v t slide 13

14 Velocity Average velocity Interval dependent Instantaneous velocity Limit of interval = 0 x vavg = v = t 6m Case shown v = = 2 m/ s 3s v inst lim x dx = v = = t 0 t dt slide 14

15 In the Beginning Chapter 1: Units, Dimensions, powers of ten, idea of mass. Should be mostly a review. Make sure you can do the problems in the text. (None assigned.) Chapter 2: Position, velocity, acceleration in onedimension (1D). Should also be largely a review. Some discussion here. Problems assigned. Chapter 3: Vectors -- essential for discussion of more than 1D. We will discuss. Next lecture, review chapters 2 & 3. Read them and start on assigned homework problems soon. Finish the day with a pretty description of the scales of physics Phillip Morrison slide 15

The class meets daily for 80 minutes for the entire school year. Chapter or unit tests occur every two to three weeks.

The class meets daily for 80 minutes for the entire school year. Chapter or unit tests occur every two to three weeks. Over view of AP Physics: Students who are interested in majoring in engineering, the physical sciences or mathematics and have completed or will be taking a calculus course at the start of the coming school