PHY 117 SYLLABUS
Honors Physics I
Fall 2012, Lectures Mo, We, Fr 10-10:50pm in Fronczak 341, Recitation Tu 9-9:50am in
Fronczak 341
Instructor: Dr. J. Cerne; office 128 Fronczak Hall; telephone 645-2542; email jcerne@buffalo.edu;
office hours: Tu 12-1 pm; Fr 11am-12pm
Recitation Instructor: Dr. T. Abtew; office 309 Fronczak Hall; telephone 645-6079;
email tesfayea@buffalo.edu ; office hours: We 2-3pm, Th 2-3pm
Learning Expectations:
TOPIC UNITS
Newton’s laws of motion
†
LEARNING OUTCOMES
OUTCOME ASSESSMENT
Students are expected to master the following: Learning on topics is assessed as follows:
Conceptual understanding of Newton’s laws of
HWs 1 and 2; Exam 1; Final Exam
motion [1]; making free-body diagrams [2,3];
solving differential equations for the motion [2,3];
solving projectile motion problems[2,3];
understanding motion in a plane [1]; using polar
coordinates [2,3]
Oscillations
Solving linear differential equations [2,3]; solving HWs 2 and 3; Exam 1; Final Exam
simple harmonic motion, damped harmonic
motion and driven/damped harmonic motion
problems [2,3]; develop a basic understanding of
coupled oscillators [1,2]
Conservation of energy and
momentum
Application of conservation of energy in one to
HW 3; Exam 1; Final Exam
three dimensions [1,2,3]; solving small oscillation
problems [2,3]; using conservation of energy to
solve problems involving gravity [1,2,3];
conceptual understanding of momentum [1,2];
transforming problems to/from the center of mass
frame[1,2,3]; solving elastic and inelastic
collision problems [2,3]
Lagrangian method
Basic understanding of the Euler-Lagrange
HW 4; Exam 2; Final Exam
equations and the principle of stationary action
[1,2]; apply Lagrangian method to basic and more
advanced mechanics problems [2,3]; ability
represent problems using different coordinates
systems [2,3]
Special Relativity
Knowledge of postulates and fundamental effects HW 5; Exam 2; Final Exam
caused by the speed of light being independent of
frame [1]; being able to make
Lorentz transformations from one frame to
another [2,3]; understanding the invariant interval
and applying it to basic problems [1,2,3]; solving
basic special relativity problems [2,3]
†
The bracketed numbers in the 2nd column give the correspondence to the Physics Dept.’s
undergraduate curriculum goals covered most strongly in PHY 122. These goals seek to achieve
course-appropriate levels of proficiency in: [1] the basic laws of physics, [2] critical thinking,
[3] problem solving, [4] lab. skills, [5] knowledge of the development of physics, [6]
contemporary physics, [7] scientific communication. For further details see,
http://www.physics.buffalo.edu/undergraduate.html.
Course Description:
Classical Newtonian mechanics and Special Relativity for students with good preparation
in physics and mathematics at the level of the advanced placement curriculum. The
mathematical level is higher than in PHY 107 and the topics will be covered in a greater
depth.
List of topics
Introduction: Newton’s Laws and simple mechanical systems;
Second order differential equations as a description of physics; Oscillations and
resonance – free, damped and/or driven harmonic oscillations; Conservation of energy
and momentum – kinematics and scattering – the Center of Mass frame; Hamilton’s
principle, the Lagrangian and the Euler-Lagrange equations; Symmetries and Noether's
theorem – the relation between the Lagrangian, the energy and the momentum; Einstein's
special relativity in space-time; Energy-momentum and 4-vectors in special relativity;
Force in special relativity - rockets; Angular momentum in 2 dimensions - cross products,
rotations, and rotation in a plane; Angular momentum in 3 dimensions with fixed axis –
the angular momentum and angular velocity vectors, torque, angular impulse, and the
moment of inertia tensor; General angular momentum in 3 dimensions – the space and
body frames.
Textbook:
“ Introduction to Classical Mechanics with Problems and Solutions”
David Morin, Cambridge University Press, (2008)
The textbook is very well written and Morin does an excellent job of explaining
fundamental concepts. Please read the appropriate material in the textbook before lecture
so that you can ask questions during lecture on parts of the chapter that you had trouble
with. The lectures supplement but do not substitute for the reading. Lectures will cover
the major topics, emphasizing and discussing the important points. Your active personal
participation is important.
Homework:
Problem sets are an essential part of this class. The homework is extremely important.
The assignments are designed to help you master the most important points of each topic.
You are encouraged to discuss the homework with other students. Feel free to form study
groups with your classmates and seek help from the instructor during his office hours as
you attempt to solve the problems. Make sure that you understand the solutions and
WRITE THEM UP YOURSELF. The hardcopies of the homework are to be placed in
my mailbox in Fronczak 239 by 5pm on the due date.
There is a strong correlation between homework and exam scores. If you can do the
homework, you should do well on the exams.
Grading:
Student mastery of the course objectives will be measured through the midterm examination,
a comprehensive final examination and solutions to homework problems. The course will not
be curved, so if everyone does well (does all the homework and does well on exams),
everyone in principle can get an A. I will use averages from previous PHY117 courses as
well as some absolute standards to determine the letter grades.
The exams and homework will be weighted as follows:
Homework: 25%
Higher Score on Midterm: 25%
Lower Score on Midterm: 15%
Final Exam: 35%
Exam Schedule and Content:
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. The midterm exams are 50 minutes
long and will be given during lecture. The midterms are tentatively scheduled for Oct. 29
and Nov. 30, 2012. The first midterm will cover homework assignments 1-3 while the
second midterm will cover homework assignments 4-6. The final exam will be three
hours long and will be given during the final exam period (Dec. 10-17, 2012).
For the final exam please note the day, time and place in the published exam schedule.
This exam will cover the material of the entire course.
The best way to prepare for exams is to do all the homework carefully and to attend
lectures in an active way.
Exams will consist of problems very similar to the worked example problems in the text
and the assigned homework problems. Full credit on exams will be awarded for complete
solutions including drawing a figure and deriving necessary formulas if appropriate, and
for numerically accurate answers with units. Partial credit may be given for correct
derivations if the answer is numerically wrong due to arithmetic errors. No credit will be
given for equations written down at random or for numerical answers that are not
supported by a reasonably complete derivation. You must show a clear justification for
your answer no matter how trivial it may appear.
The best way to prepare for the exams is to study the example problems and work out the
assigned homework problems each week. Also, you should work as many additional
problems from the text as you can. This is the best way to insure your understanding of
the material.
Exams will be graded and returned to you and solutions will be posted on UBlearns. You
may request regrading of specific parts of your exam by returning it to your lecture
instructor in class or during office hours within one week after it has been returned to
you. This request must be accompanied by a neatly written note specifying which
problems or problem-parts you wish regraded and why. The note should be attached to
the exam. Only one regrade request will be allowed for each exam. NOTE: It is possible
for scores to go up or down when the answer is reviewed. So consider your request
carefully. Please do not write on your exam booklet or alter it in any way. Exams will be
randomly photocopied. Exams that have been tampered with or altered in any way will
not be regraded, and further appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
Missed Exams:
You will be assigned a score of zero on any exam you miss. You may request a make-up
exam from your lecture instructor if you have a valid excuse. A valid excuse is
a documented major emergency, or a written certification by a registered medical
practitioner that you were unable to take the exam due to illness.
If you maintain a passing average on the midterm exams and homeworks but miss the
final exam with a valid excuse you may request an incomplete grade (I) for the course.
Incompletes:
Incomplete work must be made up when the course is offered again, and before the 1
year default deadline. If you are currently making up an incomplete from a previous PHY
117 course, you must inform your lecture instructor in writing during the first two weeks
of class.
Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodations to enable you to
participate in this course, such as note takers, readers, or extended time on exams and
assignments, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall (tel. 7452608), and also see your lecture instructor during the first two weeks of class.
Discussion Board:
All routine questions concerning the course should be posted here and will be answered
by fellow students or instructor. Before starting a new thread/reply, please have a quick
look at the existing threads and see if you can recognize a subject that might contain your
question. This is not intended to discourage you from starting a new item, but to keep the
board organized so that others can easily browse through. We ensure that someone will
answer them within 24 hours. The discussion board is monitored by the instructor;
anonymous posts are not allowed.
Reading Assignments & Homework Deadlines:
Reading appropriate material should be done before we begin covering the material in
lecture. No late homework can be accepted.
Calendar
Assignment
Number
Due
Date
Chapter Problems
Homework 1
9/7
3
Homework 2
9/21
3-4
Homework 3
Homework 4
10/5
10/19
4-5
6
Homework 5
11/9
11
11.29; 11.30;
11.35
8
8.33; 8.37
8
8.44; 8.48
Midterm Exam 1
HW 1-3 (during 10/29
lecture)
Homework 6
11/26
3.26; 3.29;
3.33
3.37; 3.38;
4.15
4.28; 5.68
6.25
Midterm Exam 2
HW 4-6 (during 11/30
lecture)
Homework 7
12/7
Review
12/7