PH1016 PHYSICS I COURSE SYLLABUS
FALL, 2014
INSTRUCTOR: DR. NGUYEN NGOC TUAN
OFFICE:
Building C10, Room 210
OFFICE HOURS: 10:30-12:00 Monday, 11:00-12:00 Tuesday;
Additional hours can be arranged upon request.
Don’t feel hesitate to ask for additional hours
OFFICE PHONE:
0438692801
E-MAIL ADDRESS: tuanphysics@gmail.com
BLOG:
https://sites.google.com/site/tuanphysics/
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/APPhysics1/
COLLOBORATORS: Prof. Vu Ngoc Tuoc, tuocvungoc@gmail.com (Lecturer For MEC & MSE)
Prof. Dang Duc Vuong, vuong.dangduc@hust.edu.vn (Instructor for EEE & BME)
LABS OFFICE:
Building D3, Room 102
PHONE: 0438682322
INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Trinh Quang Thong, thongtq97@yahoo.com
Dr. Dang Duc Dung: dung.dangduc@hust.edu.vn
Course Description:
Welcome to PH1016, Introduction to Classical Mechanics! In this course we will discuss
the basic laws describing forces and motion and we will develop the mathematical framework
needed to understand these in some detail. These topics are important, not only because they are
extremely interesting in their own right, but also because they form the foundation upon which
most physics and engineering is built. It is our goal that at the end of this course you will
understand the main concepts of mechanics, be able to apply them quantitatively for solving
relevant problems, and appreciate qualitatively how they play a role in many aspects of our lives.
The road to understanding is not a particularly easy one, but the journey is well worth the effort.
In order to help you, we have devised a multifaceted approach intended to maximize your
conceptual understanding and ability to solve practical problems.
Accompanying aims may be forming your self-learning skills: strategy to formulate and
seek solutions to the certain problems, to search relevant materials, transform and present them.
The last but not the least is to improve your communication skills, including: giving questions,
answering, confronting, defending, criticizing, complimenting etc.
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Course Components
1. Final exam. It occupies 60% of your grade. One 90-minute length exam composes from a test
(15 multichoice questions), a theoretical question and an essay problem.
2. Labs. You’ll have six lab sessions. Their contribution is 10% to the total.
3. Midterm test. It’ll be a 60-minute test of 20 multichoice questions.
ATTENTION: if your test score is below 3; you won't have right to take the final exam.
4. Homeworks. Weekly assignments and tentative schedule are posted in advance and can be
downloaded right below. It's strongly recommended to complete your assigments before coming to
teh class. Sometimes, additional material may be posted here. Check my blog regularly for updates.
5. Seminar. I provide you a opportunity to enhance your conceptual understanding and to improve
your communication skills. Doing seminars and writing reports are optional, but it's proved to be
very helpful in improving grades. Four students form a group and pick up one topic from the list
below, or you may suggest a new topic. Each team will have to send logs every week. Check the
following link to learn what a log is Each topic will be presented in 15-20 minutes + 10 minutes for
discussion. A report on the chosen topic will be limited within 5 pages. The Dead line to sign up to
seminars is Sep. 06, 2013. Think thoroughly before signing up because you won't be able to resign.
6. Bonuses. +1 pt to the midterm score for no absences.
+ 0 pt for 1-2 absences
-1 for 3-4 absences
-2 for 5 or more absences
There’s another bonus for those who’ll participate in Physics Olympiad. It’ll be announced around
November but you may start preparing right now, checking sample from my blog.
7. Quizzes: There would be several RANDOM QUIZZES without notices. They contribute up to
10%. FOR MEC & MSE ONLY
8. Grading scheme. FOR MEC & MSE ONLY
+ With Seminar:
Final = (Test*0.5 + Lab*0.25 + Quizzes*0.25 + Bonus)*0.4 + Exam*0.6
+ Without Seminar: Final = (Test*0.25 + Lab*0.25 + Seminar*0.25 + Quizzes*0.25 +
Bonus)*0.4 + Exam*0.6
Textbook:
H.D. Young, R.A. Freedman, “University Physics With Modern Physics”,
Addison Wesley, 2004. A copy is provided, ask from your Dean’s office.
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Books for additional reading:
1.
B.
Crowell,
“The
Light
http://www.lightandmatter.com/lm.pdf
And
Matter”,
download
here
2. D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, “Fundamentals of Physics”, 9th ed., John Wiley &
Sons, 2011.
3. Lương Duyên Bình (Chủ biên), “Vật lý đại cương” tập 1: Cơ- Nhiệt, NXB Giáo dục Viêt
Nam, 2010.
4. J.-M. Brebec (Chủ biên), “Cơ học I, II”, NXB Giáo dục, 2001. Sách dung cho sinh viên
chương trình Chất lượng cao PFIEV.
5. http://textbookequity.com/oct/Textbooks/Schnick_CalculusBasedphysics.pdf
6. http://openstaxcollege.org/files/textbook_version/hi_res_pdf/9/col11406_1_8_13.pdf
7. www.motionmountain.net/mmdownload.php?f=MM.zip
Seminar topics.
1. Special curves of motion.
We describe some naturally beautiful curves of motion: brachistochrone, tautochrone,
Archimedes spiral.
2. Tsiolkovsky’s equation and motion of rocket.
We apply Tsiolkovsky’s equation to study the motion of rocket launched from the ground,
calculate basic input: masses of fuel, of rocket itself, limit velocity, trajectory.
3. Ballistic motion under air/fluid resistance.
Here motion of projectile under the influence of gravitation, air resistance will be studied to
find the optimal launch.
Second option: you may pick this topic but use computer to model the motion, Required a bit
programming skill and user acquaintance with scientific programs like Mathematica, Matlab.
4. Relation between potential energy and conservative force.
Focused on detecting the potentialness of one force, how to convert a potential to force and
vice versa.
5. Kepler’s problems.
Applying Newton’s gravitational law to describe motion of planet in our Solar system;
6. Satellites orbits. Escape speeds.
Applying Newton’s gravitational law to calculate period, launch speeds and heights of
artificial satellites;
7. Collision in the center of mass frame.
A concept of center of mass frame is introduced to simplify the studying of collision problems.
8. Koenig’s theorems.
There are two Koenig’s theorems on translational and rotational motions of a rigid body.
Those are very helpful in solving problems and analyzing day-life phenomena
9. Complex-number representation of SHM.
An alternative, but no less effective way to describe harmonic oscillation than Fresnel’s
diagram. It proves to be very helpful in analyzing electrical circuits.
10. Electro-mechanical analogy.
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An conceptual comparison allows one to understand the working principle of microphone and
speakers.
11. Wave front and wave packet.
These concepts introduce geometrical representation of wave and principle of radio
communication.
12. Mini-project: Computer modeling of simple mechanical processes. Use computer to model
some types of motion: ballistic, pendulum, rocket, standing wave, interference….On choice.
13. Home-made physics experiments.
Use simple devices to set up a physic experiment. On choice.
Recommendation: search in www.youtube.com
Note:
1) Besides above suggested topics, you may suggest your own topics. Just send me an email for approval.
2) Chronological order of seminars will approximately the same as the list order.
3) You have 02 weeks to arrange yourselves and choose topics. Each group leader
should send me a list of group’s members and its chosen topic as latest as Sep. 06,
2013.
4) As latest, an outline of the seminar report should be submitted by e-mail a week
before the seminar actually takes place.
5) Written report should be submitted by e-mail one week after the seminar, as latest.
You have maximal two chances to edit/change your report after the submission.
6) The amount of pages for each report should not exceed 6, including the title page.
How do I grade your reports:
1) Logical structure
2) Choice of material
3) Clarity, explanation, illustration, examples.
4) Creativity (new findings)
5) Integrity into learning process.
How do I grade your representation:
1. Creativity (you have a freedom of choosing your own form of representation, make it as
impressive as possible).
2. Clarity: how do you make the material understandable to the audience (after each seminar I
will test the audience)
3. Integration: how the audience is involved into your representation.
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4. Your material possession: how do you answer questions of the audience (including me)
and confront its criticism.
Last year’s performance
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