Introductory Physics Courses Designed for
Engineering and Science Students
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Three different introductory sequences for people with
differing preparations, interests, and goals
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1400 sequence: emphasizes basics, connections in the world,
and college level physics problem solving
1600 sequence: + more abstract and theoretical; approach
more mathematical; order of topics slightly different
2800 sequence: the three semesters of the 1600 sequence in
two semesters; specifically for students with advanced
placement in mathematics and strong background in physics
All courses incorporate calculus at early stage
You are now in Physics 1401(1) … if you are well
prepared in Physics, you are probably in the wrong
course
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 1
Science/Engineering
Sequences
Recommended Separate
Median Grade Lab Course
Sequence
Points
Physics 1401-2-3
3.0
B/B+
1493 or
1494
Physics 1601-2,
and
2601
3.5
mid B+
1493 or
2699
Physics 2801, 2802
4.5
B+/A-
3081
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 2
1400 Sequence
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Three semester sequence (no labs included)
 1401-Mechanics
and Thermodynamics
 1402-Electricity/Magnetism and Optics
 1403-Wave motion and Quantum Mechanics
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Each is worth 3.0 points
Recommended median grade at B-B+ interface
Separate Lab courses (when appropriate)
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If 1401-02 only, take 1493 in 3rd semester
If all 3 semesters, take 1494 in 4th semester
Emphasizes basics, connections in the world,
and college level physics problem solving
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 3
Text and Topics

Text is Halliday, Resnick, Walker;
"Fundamentals of Physics", 6th ed.
(with metromedia CD)
Chapters 1-15, 19-21
 Mechanics:
includes linear motion, forces,
energy, rotations, thermodynamics

Note that chapters 16 – 18 are not
covered this semester.
 These
include topics on harmonic motion,
waves, …
 These topics are part of the third semester
(1403) in the sequence
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 4
Mechanics of this Course
sorry for the pun!
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No handouts
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Grades (I hate them, but …responsibility to be FAIR!) …
detailed policy at website
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All information transmitted on the web!
you MUST be able to do problems in exams
homework, though only a small component of the final grade in
itself, is an ESSENTIAL tool to assure yourself you know the
concepts and how to do problems.
College course: assume all are mature adults
Check out the home page and links – all information that
I thought useful is written there …

http://www.nevis.columbia.edu/~sciulli/Physics1401/Ph1401.html
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 5
History (Big Picture)
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 6
Physics – Matter and Forces
Physics 1401
This course is meant to begin the study!!
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 7
Predictive Nature of Physics Useful
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And deadly if neglected !!!!
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 8
History (people oriented)
13 109 BCE
Universe started
5 109 BCE
Solar system & Earth formed
2 -1 106 BCE
Man precursors with small brains
105 BCE
Homo Sapiens with BIG brains
104 BCE
Writing (for business)
1000 BCE
Bible written down
400 BCE -400
Greeks, Romans … ideas … many wrong
1400-1650
DaVinci, Brahe, Copernicus, Galileo
1650-1900
Newton, … -- Classical Mechanics
1750-1900
Franklin,…Maxwell --Electricity&Mag
1900-
"Modern" Physics
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 9
Mathematics
x=x0+vt
Every formula
carries a
concept!
Read them
that way
The math (algebra,
trigonometry, calculus)
are tools to ends!
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 10
Immediate Future
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I assume you know (reviewed in text)
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algebra and trigonometry well!!
vector familiarity (review elementals as we go.)
calculus simultaneously (know fundamentals!.)
All assignments and due dates are posted. See
website.
Chapter 1 (Measurement, numbers, ...) should
be a review of what you know. Read it and
make sure.
Chapters 2 (1D motion) and 3 (vectors) also
should be largely review.
I will go quickly through first few chapters (so
we have time to get through the topics
programmed for the semester).
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 11
Simple problem (like sample 1 – 4)
Eratosthenes (300 BCE) measured
radius of the Earth to 5% using
geometry, angle between Aswan
and Alexandria.
See NY Times, Sept 24,2002
Science’s 10 most beautiful expts.

Earth spherical? Measure radius!
1.
Mark lake level at location of ship
and place meter stick on ship side
2.
Go to lake shore (d = 4.4km) and
sight along lake; find that sighting
is on ship side at h = 2.0m.
3.
What is the radius, R, of the
earth?
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 12
Definitions of velocity and acceleration
Average velocity
x
v 
t
Average acceleration
v
a 
t
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 13
Velocity
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Average velocity
 Interval
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Instantaneous velocity
 Limit
v avg
dependent
of interval = 0
x
v 
t
6m
Case shown v 
 2 m /s
3s
v inst
Physics 1401 - L 1
x  dx

 v  lim 


t  0  t 
dt
Frank Sciulli
slide 14
In the Beginning
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Chapter 1: Units, Dimensions, powers of ten,
idea of mass. Should be mostly a review. Make
sure you can do the problems in the text. (None
assigned.)
Chapter 2: Position, velocity, acceleration in onedimension (1D). Should also be largely a review.
Some discussion here. Problems assigned.
Chapter 3: Vectors -- essential for discussion of
more than 1D. We will discuss.
Next lecture, review chapters 2 & 3. Read them
and start on assigned homework problems soon.
Finish the day with a pretty description of
the scales of physics … Phillip Morrison
Physics 1401 - L 1
Frank Sciulli
slide 15