Possible Independent Investigation Topics PHYS 121 Kinematics Motion with constant acceleration in 1D and 2 D Position, velocity, acceleration, (jerk!) equations and graphs Projectile motion with and without air resistance Newton’s Law Newton’s three laws of motion Motion on inclined planes Spring forces Frictional forces (kinetic & static) Uniform circular motion Energy Work Conservation of energy Potential energy (gravitational and spring) Momentum Center of mass Motion of objects with no net external force (i.e. walking on a boat) Conservation of momentum Elastic and (completely) inelastic collisions Coef cient of restitution Impulse and the impulse-momentum theorem Lab vs center of mass frame for collisions Rotation Dynamics Moment of inertia Rotational kinematics Parallel axis theorem Torque and Newton’s 2nd law for rotation Rolling objects (with and without slipping) Objects rolling on ramps Massive pulleys Statics and Angular Momentum Rotational statics Analyzing frictional forces in statics Conservation of angular momentum Simple Harmonic Motion & Fluid Statics Mass on a spring Simple and physical pendula Buoyancy Pressure in uids Archimedes Principle fl fi Page 1 of 2 PHYS 122 Thermodynamics Ideal gas law Ideal gas processes Heat energy and calorimeter Heat engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps Electricity Coulomb’s Law Electric eld Electric ux and Gauss’s Law Electric potential energy Electric potential Circuits Capacitance Capacitors in circuits Resistors in circuits Kirchhoff ’s Laws RC circuits RL circuits LC circuits Magnetism Magnetic force on charged particles Magnetic force on current-carrying wires Magnetic potential energy and magnetic torque Magnetic dipole moment Biot-Savart Law Ampere’s Law Motional EMF Lenz’s Law Faraday’s Law fl fi Page 2 of 2
