COURSE SYLLABUS

Physics 1111K (Introductory Physics I),

Spring 2007

Course

· Credits: Four (4) credit hours

· Lecture: – 12:00-12:50 MWF.

· Duration: January 08- April 30

· Location: Kell Hall General, Room 519

· Laboratory: One two-hour laboratory meeting per week.

· Lecture Instructor: Dr Z. Felfli

10 Park Place

Suite LLF, office 4

Telephone: (404) 654‑6119

e-mail: zineb@phy-astr.gsu.edu

GENERAL INFORMATION: You are expected to attend three (3) lectures and one (1) two-hour laboratory session each week according to the published schedule. All lecture sessions meet in Kell Hall 519.

Laboratory: manual to be purchased at the printshop, 6 Decatur street.

lab sessions meet each week in the Natural Science Center, room 222/226.

For further assistance and questions regarding the laboratory, get in touch with the Physics Lab coordinator, Ms. Carola Butler (butler@phy-astr.gsu.edu)

Textbook: Physics seventh edition, by Cutnell & Johnson

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• Grade calculations are by the following formula: 1) class examinations, 30%; 2) homework Assignments 20%, 3)laboratory work, 25%; and 4) final examination, 25%.
• The final examination is comprehensive, and may consist of problem-solving questions, conceptual questions, or a combination of the two (2) question types.

PRE-REQUISITES: Algebra, Basic Calculus, and Trigonometry.

REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS:

• ALL examinations are REQUIRED. Each examination consists of problems and/or multiple-choice questions from: a) assigned textbook readings, b) lectures, c) class handouts, d) material placed on the class web site, and e) supplemental assignments.

MISSED EXAMINATIONS AND OTHER ASSIGNMENTS:

• NO make-up examinations will be given for other than INSTRUCTOR-APPROVED absences. There are NO excused absences from examinations other than illness documented by: 1) a physician, 2) an official school travel, 3) holidays, and 4) documented personal emergency.
• The instructor MUST approve requests for make-up examinations. ; assignments submitted past the due date will NOT be accepted.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES. Each student is expected to:

• arrive on time for all classes, and be prepared with all necessary materials (textbook, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, etc.);
• prepare for class activities by the scheduled date and time; any exception MUST have prior instructor approval;
• advise the instructor in advance of any expected absences from class or assignments;
• make and keep appointments with the instructor to discuss difficulties with the class content.

COURE OUTLINE-MAJOR TOPICS AND ISSUES

Time permitting, the required material for this course spans chapters 1 through 15 of the above-mentioned textbook.

1. Physics of Measurement. We describe the basic units of measurement, and develop an intuitive appreciation for the scale of physical processes and how these are suggested by the particular units being used. Also, we briefly outline how to check calculations by working out the appropriate units-algebra

2. Motion in One Dimension. We take the first step in quantifying physical processes. Thus, the notions of position, speed, velocity, acceleration are clarified.

3. Vectors. We motivate the notion of vectors, from the perspective of describing positions on a two dimensional surface, and then in a three dimensional environment. We proceed to define the corresponding notions of velocity, acceleration, and speed (i.e. the magnitude of the velocity vector).

4. The Laws of Motion. We describe Newton’s three laws of motion. We emphasize the Force = Mass x Acceleration law as both a definition of force and as a means to determine the acceleration of an object. Implicit in this is understanding what Mass is, and how this relation serves to clarify its significance.

5. Applications of Newton’s Laws: Circular motion and other forms of non-rectilinear motion (i.e. zigzag movements, etc.)

6. Work, Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy. We define the physical notions of work, kinetic energy, potential force fields, and energy conservation principles for conservative force fields.

7. Linear Momentum and Collisions. Regardless if collisions are elastic (i.e. no kinetic energy is lost to heat), or inelastic (i.e. some kinetic energy is lost as heat, when the particles collide), the total momentum of a closed system is conserved. We develop the concept of linear momentum (defined for three dimensional motion), and prove the momentum conservation theorem.

8. It is to be emphasized that all of the above will be developed not just for a few particles, but also for a collection of many (millions) of particles. This is important if we are to extend these concepts to everyday objects, which are themselves made up of individual particles (i.e. atoms, electrons, etc.).

9. Rotation of a Rigid Object, Rolling Motion, and Angular Momentum. We will introduce this subject in terms of vector dyads (i.e. special types of matrices), explained in the context of the lectures. We will first derive a broad understanding of the relevant equations, and then specialize them to particular situations (i.e. rotation around a fixed axis, etc.). We will introduce the Moment of Inertia Tensor, and the notion of principal axes (i.e. eigenvectors of the Moment of Inertia Tensor), etc.

10. Static Equilibrium and Elasticity

11. Oscillatory Motion: The equations corresponding to a simple pendulum (for small oscillations), a perfect (elastic) spring, and other similar oscillations (i.e. vibrating string, electronic circuits, etc.), can be mathematically described by the same type of differential equation (as explained in the course). We study various properties of such systems, revealing their common attributes.

12. The Law of Gravity. We study some of the basic issues related to the Kepler problem in which two objects interact via their mutual gravitational force field.

13. Fluid Mechanics. We study some of the basic properties of fluid systems.

14. Wave Motion. We study the basic properties of the wave equation, as manifested by a vibrating string, water waves, and sound waves. All have the same basic mathematical representation, which is essential linear, allowing for the superposition of disturbances.

15. Thermodynamics. We study how heat and mechanical energy affect the state (i.e. pressure, temperature, volume) of a system.

Assignments: Homework problems from the textbook will be assigned and performed online using E-grade (http://edugen.wiley.com). You will need to know your access code included with your textbook or obtained online from the publisher. The homework page for each class can be accessed at:

http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/class/cls33460

TESTS*	DAY	DATE
#1	Monday	February 19, 2007
#2	Monday	March 19, 2007
Final Examination	Monday	May 7, 2007 12:30

NOTE: *Dates for tests are subject to change. You will be notified accordingly.

OFFICE HOURS:

Wednesdays: 10:30 p.m. – 11:30 a.m. (all others by appointment only)