SP211: General Physics I
This is the first course in a two-course core sequence covering general introductory, calculus-based physics. You will learn the concepts and problem solving strategies of basic mechanics, concerning 1D, 2D and 3D motion (kinematics), rotational motion, forces (dynamics), energy, as well as intorductory ideas of gravity, fluids, and waves.
Here are some of the resources for the course:
Text Book
We will be using "Physics for Scientists and Engineers (6th edition)" by Tipler and Mosca. Alonmg with the physical copy you got at the book store there is an electronic version. To access this, you will need to register for the Achieve homework system using the access code you purchased. Instructions for registration can be found here.
Homework
Will be using the Achieve homework system for this course. Instructions for signing up can be found here.
Course ID:
section 1123: qxy5pt
section 3323: dgivs9
Lab and Logger pro
Many of the labs you will perform in this course will use data software called Logger Pro.
Instructions for installing Logger Pro can be found here
The following is a set of basic steps for setting up Logger Pro and configuring various interfaces and common sensors. I recommend printing this off and bringing it with you as a reference for each lab.
Study Materials
An additional set of practice problems is available through the MyOpenMath system. While not worth any credit in our class, these do provide an excellent resource for studying for midterms and the final exam.
MyOpenMath course ID: 286975
Enrollment Key: BeatArmy
Schedule
Below you will find a day-to-day schedule for the lessons in this course. I will keep this updated as we progress. Any in-class work (such as group problems or worksheets) will appear as a link next to that day's topic. Lab procedures can be found by clicking on the link for the relevant lab on the relevant day in the schedule.
| Day | Topic (with links to materials) | Reading |
| M 8/18 | Course Introduction | - |
| T 8/19 | L1: Displacement Velocity and Speed in 1D | 2.(1,2) |
| W 8/20 | L2: Constant acceleration and motion | 2.(2-3) |
| F 8/22 | L3: Integration and the kinematic equations | 2.4 |
| M 8/25 | L4: Displacement, velocity, and acceleration in 2D | 3.1 |
| T 8/26 | Lab 1: 1D Kinematics | |
| W 8/27 | L5: Relative motion | 3.1 |
| F 8/29 | L6: Projectile Motion | 3.2 |
| M 9/01 | Labor Day | - |
| T 9/02 | Lab 2: 2D Kinematics | - |
| W 9/03 | L7: Circular Motion | 3.3 |
| F 9/05 | L8: Newton's 1'st law, force, mass, Newton's 2nd | 4.(1-3) |
| M 9/08 | L9: Weight, contact forces, springs and strings, free-body diagrams | 4.(4-6) |
| T 9/09 | Lab 3: Newton's laws | - |
| W 9/10 | L10: Newton's 3rd law and more problem solving | 4.(7-8) |
| F 9/12 | L11: Friction I | 5.1 |
| M 9/15 | L11 cont: Friction II | 5.1 |
| T 9/16 | Lab 4: Uniform circular motion | - |
| W 9/17 | L12: Drag | 5.2 |
| F 9/19 | L13: Motion along a curved path | 5.3 |
| M 9/22 | L14: Center of Mass | 5.5 |
| T 9/23 | Exam 1 | - |
| W 9/24 | L14 cont: Center of Mass again | 5.5 |
| F 9/26 | L15: Work, kinetic energy, and the work-energy theorem | 6.(1,2) |
| M 9/29 | L16: Work with variable forces | 6.(2,3) |
| T 09/30 | L17 and Lab 5: Power and the work-kinetic energy theorem | 6.4 |
| W 10/01 | L18: Potential Energy | 7.1 |
| F 10/03 | L19: Potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy | 7.2 |
| M 10/06 | L19 cont: Conservation of mechanical energy II | 7.2 |
| T 10/07 | Lab 6: Momentum and 1D Collisions | - |
| W 10/08 | L20: Conservation of total energy | 7.3 |
| F 10/10 | L18/19: Potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy | 7.(1,2) |
| M 10/13 | Indigenous People's Day | - |
| T 10/14 | L19/20: Conservation of total energy | 7.(2,3) |
| W 10/15 | L21: Linear momenutm, conservation of momentum, energy of a system | 8.(1,2) |
| F 10/17 | L22: Collisions in 1D and Impulse | 8.3 |
| M 10/20 | L22 cont: Collisions in 1D | 8.3 |
| T 10/21 | L23 and Lab 7: 2D collisions and center of mass | 8.(3,4) |
| W 10/22 | L24: Rotational kinematics | 9.1 |
| F 10/24 | L25: Rotational kinetic energy and moment of inertia I | 9.(2,3) |
| M 10/27 | L26: Torque | 9.(4,5) |
| T 10/28 | Exam 2 | - |
| W 10/29 | L27: Newton's 2nd for rotation, power, and applications | 9.(4,5) |
| F 10/31 | L28: Rolling motion | 9.6 |
| M 11/03 | L29: Angular momentum and torque as a vector | 10.(1,2) |
| T 11/04 | Lab 8: Rotational kinematics | - |
| W 11/05 | L30: Conservation of angular momentum | 10.3 |
| F 11/07 | L31: Kepler's Laws and Newton's gravity | 11.(1,2) |
| M 11/10 | L32: Gravitationat potential energy, orbits, and escape speed | 11.3 |
| T 11/11 | Veterans' Day | - |
| W 11/12 | L33: Fluids, density, and pressure | 13.(1,2) |
| F 11/14 | L34: Buoynacy and Archimede's principle | 13.3 |
| M 11/17 | L35: Simple harmonic motion, energy of simple harmonic motion | 14.(1,2) |
| T 11/18 | L36 and Lab 9: Simple harmonic motion, pendulums | 14.(2,3) |
| W 11/19 | L37: Simple wave motion, harmonic waves | 15.(1,2) |
| F 11/21 | L38: Harmonic sound waves and intensity | 15.(2,3) |
| M 11/24 | L39: Doppler effect | 15.5 |
| T 11/25 | L40: Superposition, interference, and beats | 16.1 |
| W 11/26 | Fall Break | - |
| F 11/28 | Thanksgiving Break | - |
| M 12/01 | L41: Standing waves | 16.2 |
| T 12/02 | Lab 10: Standing Waves | - |
| W 12/03 | Exam 3.1 | - |
| F 12/05 | Exam 3.2 | - |
| M 12/08 | TBD | |
| TBD | Final Exam |
