I. Course: General Physics I, Physics 201

II. Prerequisite: MAT 102 and 103 (or equivalent) or concurrent enrollment in MAT 201 and competency in basic math and trig.

III. Course Description: This is an introductory course in physics designed to meet the needs of liberal arts, life and health sciences students. Algebra and trig are used throughout the course. Topics include kinematics, dynamics, concept of energy, thermodynamics, and introductory description of materials. Outline of topics is attached.

4. Instructor: Dr. A. Umantsev. Office Room#-LS318 Office Hours: MF 11-12, W 1-2.

Day Time phone: (773) 298-3518. E-mail: aumantsev@uncfsu.edu

V. Instructional Material: Textbook: "College Physics", Serway and Faughn, Saunders College Publishing; "Physics Laboratory Experiments" Wilson, Houghton Miflin Company .

VI. Learning Objectives:

To be able to use scientific notations and to be able to convert the values of a physical quantity from one unit system to another.

To become familiar with the basic steps in solving a physics problem.

To be able to convert a physical situation into a mathematical equation.

To be able to apply this to living systems.

To understand vectors and to be able to apply them to the study of motion in two dimensions.

To have a working knowledge of Newton's three laws.

To be able to identify different forces.

To be able to study equilibrium and stability of a mechanical system.

To understand the relationship between force, work and energy.

To be able to apply the concept of energy conservation to a wide variety of problems.

To be able to make calculations and measurements of mechanical and thermal properties of solids, liquids and gases.

To understand basic principles of the wave motion.

To become familiar with the basic laws of thermodynamics and physical behavior of gases.

VII. Methods of Instruction

The lecture-demonstration method will be used throughout the course. There will be classroom discussion of physical phenomena, problem solving methods and laboratory experiments. Tutoring is available at the Learning Assistance Center in L114.

VIII. Course Practices Required:

Attendance of all lectures and laboratory sessions is expected. It is very important to follow the lectures and ask questions when something is not completely clear. The required readings will include the textbook and the laboratory write-ups. Homework assignments are critical for the course. Laboratory Practices include setting up the equipment, performing the experiment, and collecting and analyzing the data. Students will be expected to perform ALL experiments and submit ALL written laboratory reports.

IX. Methods of Evaluating Students Progress:

There will be four regulars and a final classroom tests, 50 points each. There will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS FOR ANY REASON. The lowest score of ONE REGULAR TEST will be dropped.

There will be 14 (approximately) laboratory experiments, each is worth 10 points. Please note that students are expected to perform all regularly scheduled laboratory experiments.

90 - 100% of the total score = A

78- 89.9% of the total score = B

60 - 77.9% of the total score = C

40 - 59.9% of the total score = D

1. Read the entire problem and try to understand the physical situation.
2. Draw a sketch of the physical situation. Label all known and unknown quantities on the diagram relevant to the problem.
3. Determine the unknown quantity that you need to find. State in few words what is the basic physical principle that you are going to use to work out a problem.
4. Write up mathematical relationships between known and unknown quantities in the form of equations.
5. Solve the equations for the unknown quantity so that you have an equality with only unknown quantity on the left-hand side and all of the known quantities and constants on the right-hand side.
6. Substitute the numerical values into the final formula. Include both the numerical values and the units for each quantity. Use scientific notations for big and small numbers.
7. Do the final check of your answer:

1. check that dimensions of your solution agree with the dimensions of the desired quantities,
2. check whether the order of magnitude of the answer is plausible,
3. check whether the physical interpretation of the answer makes sense,
4. if anything of this is wrong go back to the previous steps.

Any laboratory experiment has a purpose of testing an important physical concept and gives the student a more complete understanding of the relation between theoretical and experimental physics. That’s why the report should provide a record of what has been achieved in the laboratory and contain information which

1. Discusses the reason for performing the experiment.
2. Explains the mathematical equations used to analyzed the data.
3. Shows the data in clear and concise format.
4. Draws conclusions from the obtained results.
5. Answers provided questions. When doing this try to be specific.

All laboratory reports should be neatly written, clean, uncluttered. All data should be labeled with the proper SI units and neatly organized in tabular and/or graphical form. Whenever possible, the experimental and theoretical results should be compared and the percent difference calculated.

Graphs should be

1. neatly drawn by hand or computer generated,
2. include origin where origin is of meaning,
3. have appropriately chosen scale,
4. include necessary calculations.

Should the graph include two or more curves, the horizontal axis (abscissa) should be the same.

The key to your success in the Lab is to come well prepared, which means to study the assignment at home the day before.

1. The Scientific method. Measurements and Systems of Units. Unit Conversion. Coordinate Systems and Frames of Reference.

HW: Chapter 1. Problems:

LAB #1: Experimental Error and Data Analysis. Measuring Circular Objects.

2. Linear Motion. Displacement. Speed. Velocity. Acceleration. Motion under Constant Acceleration. Freely Falling Bodies.

HW: Chapter 2. Problems:

LAB #2: Mass, Volume and Density.

LAB #3: Uniformly Accelerated Motion-Free Fall.

3. Vector Algebra and Trigonometry. Components of a Vector. Resolution of a Vector. Multidimensional motion. Velocity and acceleration in two dimensions. Projectile Motion in Two Dimensions.

HW: Chapter 3. Problems:

LAB #4: Vector Addition- Force Table.

Test #1

4. Tree Newton's Laws of Motion. Forces in Nature. Weight. Tension. Friction. Static Equilibrium.

HW: Chapter 4. Problems:

LAB #5: Static and Kinetic Sliding Friction.

5. Impulse and Linear Momentum. The Law of Conservation of Momentum.

HW: Chapter 6. Problems:

LAB #6: Conservation of Linear Momentum.

6. Work / Energy. Potential and Kinetic Energy. Conservation of mechanical and total Energy.

HW: Chapters 5. Problems:

LAB #7: Work and Energy.

7. Elastic and Inelastic Collisions in One and Two Dimensions.

HW: Chapters 5,6. Problems:

LAB #8: Elastic and Inelastic Collisions in Two Dimensions.

Test #2

8. Angles Measured in Degrees and Radians. Rotational Kinematics. Angular Velocity. Centripetal Acceleration. Uniform Circular Motion.

HW: Chapter 7. Problems:

LAB #9: Centripetal Force.

9. Newton's Laws of Universal Gravitation. Gravitational Force (Weight) and Acceleration.

HW: Chapter 7. Problems:

LAB #10: Projectile Motion.

10. Torque. Conditions of Equilibrium. Rigid Body. Center of Gravity and Center of Mass.

HW: Chapter 8. Problems:

LAB #11: Torques, Equilibrium, and Center of Gravity.

Test #3

11. Rotational Dynamics. Moment of Inertia. Conservation of Angular Momentum. Conservation of Energy in Rotational Motion.

HW: Chapter 8. Problems:

LAB #12: Conservation of Angular Momentum and Energy.

12. Periodic Motion. Mathematical Analysis of Simple Harmonic Motion. Hooke’s Law. Springs. Pendulum. Conservation of Energy in Harmonic Motion.

HW: Chapter 13. Problems:

LAB #13: Hooke’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion.

13. Wave Motion. Types of Waves. Characteristics of Waves. Diffraction and Interference of Waves. Standing Waves. The Doppler Effect. Sound.

HW: Chapters 13, 14. Problems:

LAB #14 Standing waves.

Test #4

14. Fluids. Density. Pressure and Pascal's Principle. Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle. Equation of Continuity. Bernoulli's Theorem. Applications of Fluid Flow Equations.

HW: Chapter 9. Problems:

LAB #15: Archimedes' Principle.

15. Thermal Physics. Temperature. Thermometer. Different Units of Temperature. Thermal Expansion. Ideal Gas Law. The Kinetic Theory of Gases.

HW: Chapter 10. Problems:

LAB #16: Specific Heat of Metals.

16. Calorimetry. Heat. Specific Heat. Change of Phase. Latent Heat. Heat Transfer.

HW: Chapter 11. Problems:

LAB #17: Heats of Fusion and Vaporization.

Final Test.