PHYS 1210/1310: Physics I – Mechanics
General Information
Instructor:
R. Michalak,
TAs:
N/A
Office
215 PS
E-mail
rudim@uwyo.edu
Office hours (RM): W4pm, F11am, F4pm or via email or by appointment
Expect that email inquiries may not be answered before the following day.
On exam days I hold office hour from 9-12.
This course fulfils university program requirement USP03 ‘SP’ and USP2015 ‘PN’ for 4 credit hours
Lecture:
MTR 2:10 to 4:00
Laboratory & discussion: WF 2:10 to 4:00
Text:
PS239
PS133
Sears & Zemansky’s University Physics, 13th edition by
Young&Freedman (older editions may vary substantially!
second hand books often come with expired homework key)
MasteringPhysics : www.masteringphysics.com use picture link for 13th ed
Go to University of Wyoming and choose class RM1210SUM15
Webpage:
You will find lecture templates and other course related information on my website
www.physics.uwyo.edu/~rudim
Supplementary Reading Suggestions: On your request I am happy to name some useful texts, which adopt
different teaching approaches than Young Friedman.
Course Content and Course Pre-Requisites:
This course is an introduction to the physical phenomenon of gravity and the field of mechanics. We will
approach the material from theoretical and applied angles. Our course is part of the suite of experimental
physics courses. Consequently, significant emphasis is put on developing laboratory skills. Most physics
courses differ from engineering courses in that we pay much more attention to where laws and equations
come from (‘derive’ them) and what their range of applicability is. ALL laws of physics have significant
limitations as to when and where they apply. It is important for any deeper understanding that the student
develops an insight into these aspects of physical law.
Mechanics builds the foundation of classical physics and many disciplines, which build on it. We will deal
with the so-called Newtonian Mechanics and will concentrate on an understanding of the concepts of force
and energy as cornerstones of the theory. We will formulate the principles of Newton’s Laws, Energy
Conservation, Momentum Conservation, and Angular Momentum Conservation.
These do all apply, too, in a bigger context than just Mechanics of Classical Physics, but their foundation
lies in this field. We will then extend our understanding of Newtonian Mechanics to periodic motion and
wave motion (Mechanics of Waves).
A working knowledge of calculus is required. Calculus I is a pre-requisite for this course! Calculus II is a
co-requisite! Note, that the systematic of the science of physics does not follow the systematic of
mathematics! We will have to use concepts like differentiation, integration, and vectors from week one on.
Also, good success in this course is unlikely without a solid grasp of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
All of the following information is tentative and I reserve the right to change any of it as seems
necessary to keep the class average on course. If such changes are made, they will be announced in
class:
Lecture
Our course consists of a large amount of information in terms of concepts and problems. I have arranged
the content into five major sections:
Kinematics – the study of motion;
Dynamics – the study of the causes of change of motion;
Laws of Conservation – how to set up other equations for solving problems;
Rotational Motion- ibid.,
Special Cases - Law of Gravity & Periodic Motion and Mechanical Waves.
Some technical notes:
The lecture will in part be presented in power point and in part on the white board. Demonstrations, videos,
and web-applets will be used wherever helpful in illustrating a complex or new phenomenon or principle.
You need to write down the information on the black board as your lecture notes, or it will be lost. You are
expected to take notes about videos and demonstrations. The content of both may be part of exam
questions.
I employ group work techniques during lecture. Our department’s record has shown that the use of modern
teaching techniques deepens understanding and reliably improves the outcome of standardized tests of
knowledge retention. You will see this at work when you do the FCI benchmark bonus test.
Our brain has only so much capacity to deal with new things in a short amount of time. To help you with
that aspect of learning, I break lecture down into actual lecture blocks and interactive activities. Some
activities deal with videos, others with web applets (bring an internet device to class, if you can), others
with in-class demonstrations, and yet others with active problem solving. They are designed to clear your
brain’s short term memory and make it susceptible again. This help will only be effective, if you actively
participate in the assignments.
Discussion Sessions and Laboratory
Participation in discussion is mandatory. Discussions are integrated with the lab sessions. Your
participation will only count if you sign the signup sheet during discussion.
Participation in all laboratories is mandatory for the successful completion of this course. There is no
time for makeup labs. Each pair of students submits a streamlined single lab report. The report consists of:
The lab book with original data and pertinent information necessary to reproduce the results.
A summary statement about the main result(s) within error.
Tables with the main data analysis.
Graphs with proper error bars and appropriate fitting curves.
A self-evaluation of your own pre lab answers (pre lab submitted together with the report).
Active and thoughtful lab participation is part of the lab grade.
As the term progresses, my expectations will increase: During the first few labs, it is mainly your active
participation that is assessed. By the week of exam 1, we will operate at full expectation level. At that time,
thoughtful work will include the anticipation and correction of systematic errors, your decision to adapt the
experiment plan to the factual situation in the lab, and other such proactive contributions. The competence
of your contribution will include such factors as the correct use of measurement equipment and the
identifying of and timely correction of obviously wrong results. Think of this as a skill you need to master
for future job performance. In professional life you do have to display professional conduct and appropriate
reflection on your work. Look at our lab rules as training toward honing that professional competence.
A ‘good’ lab group consists of four students (you will need to build two pairs), who share in all aspects of
the experimental work, the note taking, and who are all reasonably prepared for the tasks. The latter
requires coming to lab prepared. Plan ahead to work at least half an hour on the lab manual before lab, and,
before the first lab, work through the data and error treatment sections.
Exams
The exams will contain both quantitative and conceptual problems. The exams will be closed books and
closed notes. I will provide you, however, with a formula sheet. The use of any electronic equipment is not
allowed during the exam.
All exams are mandatory and none of the grades will be dropped or replaced. The exams will be held at the
following times and cover the following chapters in Young & Freedman:
Exam 1, midterm, PS237 –
Exam 2, final,
PS237 –
F June 12th 410 – 550 pm Chapter 2-8
F July 3rd 410 – 550 pm Chapter 9-12, 15-16
Homework
We use the Mastering Physics online homework system (see course webpage). The online homework must
be submitted by each student individually but you are allowed to work together on the solution as long as
everyone contributes an equal share and contributes to all problems.
The deadline for each homework is indicated in the tentative schedule below but is subject to change as
announced during lecture and in Mastering Physics. Be advised not to work last minute on the online
submissions. The system tends to be busy at times and the internet connection could be down. It is your
responsibility to work and submit before the deadline. I set the online hw system up to accept post deadline
submissions for a penalty. The penalty builds up over two hours. The system will close for late submission
on the Saturday after final exam at 11pm.
The MP syntax requires some experience. I provide a no penalties training hw, which does not count
toward the grade, but which gives you opportunity to learn the language syntax to avoid penalties in the
actual hw. It is called ‘HW 0 - Introduction’. You should strive to use the training hw tonight because
regular hw will be due soon.
A short list of common sources of grade loss in MP:
- Wrong spacer between multiple entries
- Wrong rounding of final or intermediate results
- Multiple attempts used up for the same wrong answer (note also: MP has a 2% answer
tolerance criterion for grading)
Some problems have hint boxes. Opening hint boxes is not causing any penalty, except when you enter
wrong answers into answer boxes within hint boxes. On the other hand, you can earn partial credit for a
correct answer in a hint box.
Special accommodations
If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let
me know as soon as possible. I will try to accommodate your condition as best as circumstances
allow. You will need to register with University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room
330 Knight Hall, 766-6189, TTY: 766-3073. If you choose to notify me late about such
circumstances you forfeit your right for special accommodation for that instance.
Academic honesty
Don’t cheat. In the long run you are only hurting your chances at succeeding in college. The actual
university rules:
Academic dishonesty is defined in University Regulation 802, Revision 2 as “an act attempted or
performed which misrepresents one’s involvement in an academic task in any way, or permits another
student to misrepresent the latter’s involvement in an academic task by assisting the misrepresentation.”
and there is a well-defined procedure to judge such cases and serious penalties may be assessed. A shorter
common sense interpretation could sound something like this: If it’s not your work, don’t pretend that it is.
Note that collusion and complicity are also punishable under this rule.
For our work the following is of particular relevance:
HW is group work in the sense explained above.
Exams are not group work and must be entirely your own work and must be performed without consulting
any help (no books, notes, electronic media, etc. other than what is being handed out to you).
You may use solution CDs and other sources, which provide answers to practice questions for MP, but
using such sources for the actual hw problems is fraud.
Anyone, who will be caught committing such fraud, will receive an F as course grade and the Dean of
Students will be formally notified of the incident to take it on record.
Grading
-
The average final grade in the course has historically been a B (~2.6). This is right on target for College of
A&S and College of Engineering grade averages for 1000 and 2000 level classes. Some courses have often
significantly lower grade averages (for example, Calc I, II, III or Statics and Dynamics, and Phys 1210).
Details of grading
Exams:
Homework:
Labs:
(subject to revision):
2
(60%)
11
(20%)
9
(20%)
_____
100%
Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
> 90.0%
80.0-89.99%
70.0-79.99%
60.0-69.99%
< 60.0%
I reserve the right to curve the final grade and each exam.
I will discuss grades for hw, labs, exams, and all other grades only for up to one week after the work has
been handed back to class (not one week after you have collected it).
General Rules of Conduct during class time:
No electronic devices
No taping of any kind without prior permission
No unrelated activities that interrupt class.
Read your university email account at least once daily.
Schedule Phys 1210 Summer Course ‘15
M
May 16-29
T
Intro
K1
W
K2
K3
R
K4
K5
Proj Motion
+ disc 1
HW0, 11pm
June 1-5
D1
D2
D3
D4
Newton’s Law
+ disc 2
F
HW1/2, Sun 11pm
D5
D6
disc 3
+ C1
HW3/4, Sun 11pm
June 8 – 12
C1
C2
C3
C4
Energy
+ disc 4
C5
C6
HW5/6, Sun 11pm
June 15 -19
June 22-26
R1
R2
R7
PM1
R3
R4
PM2
PM3
Ramp Race,
Atwood
+ disc 6
Pendulum
+ disc 8
R5
R6
Momentum
+ disc 5
midterm
AngMom
+ disc 7
HW7/8, Sun 11pm
W1
W2
StdgWave
+ disc 9
HW9/10, Sun11pm
June 29-July3
W3
W4
W5
W6
Kundt/Sound
+ disc 10
W7
G1
G2 G3
final exam
HW11, Sat! 11pm
HW12, Sat!11pm
K – Kinematics
PM – Periodic Motion
D – Dynamics
C – Conservation Laws
W – Mechanical Waves G- Gravity
R – Rotational Motion
Tentative lecture plan (use reading guide on webpage to come prepared):
Intro
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
R7
PM1
PM2
PM3
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
W6
W7
G2
G3
G4
Syllabus,
ch 2: velocity and acceleration, vectors
ch 2: examples
ch 3: examples, more on vectors
ch 3: examples
ch 3: relative motion
ch 4: Newton Laws, forces
ch 4: examples, more on forces
ch 4: examples
ch 5: examples with friction
ch 5: examples
ch 5: examples
ch 6: work and energy
ch 7: energy conservation
ch 7: examples
ch 8: impulse and momentum, momentum conservation
ch 8: examples
ch 8: center of mass, examples
ch 9: translation key, radians ‘unit’
ch 9: rotational kinematics
ch 9: moment of inertia
ch9/10: torque
ch10: rotational dynamics
ch10: angular momentum
ch10: loose ends
ch14: period and equilibrium, displacement eqn
ch14: examples
ch14: pendulum, damped and forced PM
ch15: transverse waves, wave velocity
ch15: standing waves, wave eqn
ch15: examples
ch15: examples
ch16: longitudinal waves
ch16: intensity, beats, Doppler Effect
ch16: examples
ch13: Law of Gravitation, examples
ch13: grav. Energy, g(r)
ch13: Kepler etc.