PHY 213 COURSE OUTLINE Fall 98

INSTRUCTOR: K.W.NICHOLSON OFFICE HOURS: POSTED ON DOOR OF RM 224.

TEXT: SERWAY's Physics for Scientists and Engineers , Fourth edition, or rent a generic one free (see instructor) .

TOPICS COVERED: Part l Mechanics - Measurement & Math, Linear Motion, Force, Momentum, Work & Energy, Torque & Rotational Motion, Fluids, Heat & Thermodynamics

PURPOSE OF THIS COURSE:

Most physical phenomena can be explained and understood using a very small set of concepts developed between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. It also helps to learn a few techniques developed in the last decade. Specifically, the law of conservation of momentum, energy, and charge, the second law of thermodynamics, and Newton's three laws of motion.
The purpose of first semester physics is to obtain a solid understanding of the laws of motion and the laws of conservation of momentum & energy, and the accompanying entourage of words and symbols. We will apply these laws to explanations of, Properties of Matter, and Thermodynamics (end of first semester),Waves, Sound and Electricity and Magnetism (second semester).
My objective for the year is to have you leave here next spring with the distinct impression that you can solve just about any physical problem you encounter in life henceforth. Many can argue that this will be a false impression. That may be, but as you probably already know, (or will hopefully someday discover), attitude is the most important ingredient in the success of any project you undertake. Enjoy Physics!

EVALUATION:

Item	Date	Discussion
3-100 point tests	Sept. 15, Oct. 16, and Nov. 13	No make up tests will be given. A missed test will be replaced by 1/2 of your final exam score.
1-200 point Final Exam	Dec. 14, 15, 16, or 17	Final will be comprehensive.
13- 15 point experiments	Approximately one each week, usually on Friday	Lab write-ups due at the beginning of the next class after performed. Late labs cost 2 points each day late. You must make up missed labs to avoid an incomplete in the course. Make up labs will not be the same as regular class labs.
13-5 point lab data sheets	Due beginning of hour on Tuesday of the week performed.	You should retain a copy of your data sheet. No data sheets will be accepted late. Rules for Data Sheets: Name, class, experiment, and date of data sheet turn in must appear in the top right hand corner of the data sheet(s). Label each part of lab sheet. Lab sheet must have a box or blank for each measurement you take and each result you obtain. A formula must be given for any quantities that require a formula.
1- 80 point Project or 4- 20 point magazine article reviews.	Due Friday, Dec. 4, 1998	Magazine articles must contain your name, class, source and date of article. Write up a brief (maximum of 1 page) synopsis of the article, include why you included this article and what you got out of it. Due dates for projects will depend upon the individual projects. Due dates will be whatever is mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the project group. Some form of written description of your physics project and a progress report is due on this date. Both of the above will be charged 5 points for each day late. None accepted after final exam.
Daily 5 point get-there-on-time quiz	Due at the instant class is supposed to begin.	You get 3 points for your name, date, course, and some response. You get 2 more if you get it right!
Miscellaneous hand-in problems and quizzes	Due on date specified	Priced as marked.

- Bonus Points 60 pts. max.

- Letters to politicians, or editors expressing your opinion about issues regarding the physical universe in which we live. 1 point each, 15 points maximum. You may send copies of the same letter to a maximum of 5 different people. You must turn in letters in stamped, addressed envelopes, along with a copy for the instructor, on the same day project reports are due.

- Assisting math or physics students 5pts. per hour, 30 pts. max. (Must be done in the Library or Physics Lab verified in writing by either an instructor or librarian.)

- Occasional hand in bonus problems ( bonus questions on tests do not count toward this max)5 pts. each, 30 pt. max.
- Book report, 10 pts. (Book must be approved by instructor prior to reading, and reports are due on March 5, 1998)

GRADES:

The above total, excluding bonus points, is 1065, (plus a few points, depending on miscellaneous assignments), and your accumulative total will be divided by that amount to calculate your final average.

90 - 100 = A, 80 - 89 = B, 70 - 79 = C, 60 - 69 = D, 0 - 59 = F

NOTES:
l. Final percentage will be rounded UP, i.e., a final percent of 79.00000001 will be rounded up to 80.
2. You should keep all returned papers. You should also keep track of the ratio (your accumulative total)/(The accumulative total possible to date) as the quarter progresses. If this ratio is below 70 at midterm (Feb 11, 1998), you should come for a conference with the instructor to discuss what each of us can do to retrieve you from doom.

Project Ideas

Show them the folder.
Discuss objective of spreading an interest in science and physics in particular among the local youth
Discuss fund raising for equipment & field trips

Possible Projects (last year's suggestions)

100 mpg carb

light experiment

fire ants

equilibrium lab

demos for local schools

observatory
solar power system
levers & lock down system
solve the water problem
motorize the moving building
organize and hold a star party

1. Let's design a Physics T-shirt. Something you'd actually like to wear that would help charge up people's interest in physics and the sciences.

2.Seeing physics in action is always a real inspiration for learning. We always take a trip in the spring to the Pensacola Naval station to tour their pilot training facility. I'm considering a fall trip to Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. That place is incredible. The only down side is the day's drive up and back. Also, we'd have to either raise money or pay for 2 nights lodging and buy meals. Or perhaps make it a Christmas vacation trip and fly up to Marquette Michigan and ski for a couple of days??

3. Join the CACC Science Team. Adopt third grade class for year. We'll divide into groups of four students, pick physics concepts, break them down into simple fun activities for kids, then go out to the same third grade class four or five times a semester and do the activities with the kids. It helps the third graders develop an early interest in science, and teaching physics is the best way to learn it. We did this last year and received rave reviews from the community, as well as several requests for a team this year. I'd like to have at least two teams of 4 people interested in doing this as their project.

4.Think of a money raising event and make it happen.

5.The lighting experiment.

6. A fall star party, or just a couple of nights having the Observatory open to the public. Perhaps we could incorporate it with a work night.

7. Join a solar car contest.
8. Be a computer Guru. Write program for grades and problems.
9. Be a lab assistant on a couple of Fridays.
10. Help build a data base of solved problems.
11. Start a used text book business for this campus.
12. Come up with your own project.

Definition of an Introductory Physics Course: A mixture of learning about physics (a coherent overview of the major concepts and ideas of physics) and learning to do physics (learning methods of reasoning, observation, measurement and analysis of data).

Expectations: This is neither a math course nor a memorization course.

I. Classical Mechanics - Motion and Change, a macroscopic view. Everything you will study in physics is about change and motion.

1. Study of motion
Two kinds of motion: Constant = motionless or straight line motion with constant speed.
Changing motion = changing speed or direction

Force: That which changes motion

Compare the motion of a pasco cart with that of a HoverCraft

2. Momentum = p = mv = quantification of motion

Force = change in mv over time = Æ(mv)/Æt = m(Æv/Æt) or (Æm/Æt)v or m(Æv/Æt)+ (Æm/Æt)v
Demo motion with change of mass using the airplane. We'll look at this later

But is change in motion just change in speed?
Look at a ball on a string being twirled in a circle with constant speed.

So v must indicate both speed and direction (we call it velocity), and any change in either speed or direction of motion constitutes a change in velocity which implies a force acting on a mass, or, a nonzero Æv/Æt = acceleration (denoted by the letter a)

3. The law of momentum: Look at elastic collisions and discuss what is constant (conserved).
Look also at someone spinning on the stool and discuss what is conserved.

4. Look at different causes of force: Contact forces - Push or pull
Action-at-a-distance forces - gravity, electricity, magnetism.
Look at demo of all three, and discuss briefly a fourth "passive" force that just lies in wait for you, friction.
(This quarter we'll only look at gravity as an action-at-a-distance force.)

5. Look at objects rolling down a hill and discuss Potential and Kinetic Energy. Do demo of long and short hill of same height.
6. Notice the different final speeds of two different objects w/same diameter and mass rolling down a hill and discuss rotational Kinetic Energy.

7. Lead into discussion of Temperature and Heat which we'll do at the end of this semester, which leads into electricity, which we'll do next semester. Pass around the three different objects & ask which is hottest, and do demo with crank thing.