SYLLABUS AND WELCOME! Fall 2016 COURSE: P123 Physics & Frontiers I – Mechanics phys.cwru.edu/courses/p123/ (we use website and email not Blackboard) INSTRUCTOR: Glenn Starkman • Email: gds6@case.edu -­‐-­‐ the best way to reach me! • Office phone: 216-­‐368-­‐3660 (not usually that effective) • Skype: Glenn Starkman (best if we agree by email first) • Office hours (Rockefeller 215): M 3-­‐4 & Th 3 -­‐4. Some late hour on north side by demand, if we can agree on a time and place. • My research: theoretical particle physics & cosmology LECTURE: Rockefeller 301, M W F 11:30am-­‐12:20pm; NOTE: There will be no class on Monday Oct 3 and on Wednesday October 12) LABORATORY: See website LEARNING GOALS: 1. Learn basic physical laws and associated mathematical tools 2. That is, learn how we model the interactions (forces) between bodies and predict the results of those interactions. 3. Delve into the fractal borderlands of chaos; plus other frontiers, eg. the expanding edge of cosmology or the frontiers of particle physics. PREREQUISITES: high school calculus/physics CREDIT: 4 Credit Hours EDUCATIONAL METHODOLOGY: In developing the critical thinking enabling one to use what is learned in new applications and to learn how to learn after coursework is finished, we have found a cyclic approach has helped. In this approach, we spend the first five weeks going over the whole course but at a simple level, then the next five weeks revisiting everything with more sophistication and math, and once more in the last five weeks. By research and assessment we have found this has helped students remember, reflect, and think more deeply about the subject, without increasing the time spent outside the classroom. P123 SCHEDULE (roughly): 2 hours per week on mechanics (standard, but important) 1 hour per week on frontiers STANDARD TOPICS: Motion, Forces, Rotation, Gravitation, and Oscillations Electronic “handouts” most days – may be all you need for a textbook, but see the next page … OPTIONAL REFERENCES (available in the bookstore) a) 121/123 cycle notes (also available on the website) b) Physics for Engineers and Scientists (Ohanian& Markert) CHAOS FRONTIER: Topics: Details behind most stories in Gleick (fractals, strange attractors, Mandelbrot set, unpredictability of weather, …) References: Hardcopy handouts, and the book Chaos by Gleick (not required, but a good read) Project -­‐ Computational modeling using nonlinearity analysis, to be introduced through lectures and problems, fleshing out the mathematics behind Gleick’s book. A final project and a laboratory experiment to test the results are included. A robust investigation is carried out and a word-­‐processed integrated report is required AS A GROUP EFFORT exhibiting computer programming, graphics, and spreadsheet usage. OTHER FRONTIERS: tbd as time is available. IN-­‐CLASS EXERCISES: Daily in-­‐class exercises are to be turned in at the end of class. DAILY HOMEWORK: There will be daily homework. This is REQUIRED and is due AT THE BEGINNING of the next class period. Some of your work will be done in groups of three or four. You will be assigned to a group, and MUST do the group assignments together, turning in one and only one finished version. Homework Hints: are sent by email after the lecture for some HW problems. SHORT TESTS: There will be three 50-­‐minute exams in Roc 301 given on: Sept. 28, Nov. 7, and Dec. 9 We will have a review session the evening before each hour exam: Sept. 26 (6-­‐7:30pm), Nov. 6 (time tbd), and Dec. 7 (6-­‐7:30). Location tbd NOTE: Please make any travel plans consistent with exam times! And note that we do have class the day before Thanksgiving. FINAL EXAM: Our final exam is on Dec 19 3:30-­‐6:30pm (review date and time tbd) GRADING SCHEME Daily In-­‐class exercises (“checkpoints”) Homework Three Mid-­‐semester Exams • Best of three 15% • Second best 10% • Third best 5% Total Chaos Project Laboratory Work Final Exam 5% 15% 5% 25% 20% 30%