PHYS 1210/1310: Physics I – Mechanics
General Information
OfficeE-mail
Instructor:R. Michalak, 215 PS
TAs:N/A
Office hours (RM): W 10am, F11am 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:MTRF 2:10 to 4:00 Enzi 195
Laboratory & discussion:W (lab) and F (discussion, sometimes with short lecture section)
Text: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 : use picture link for 13thed
Go to University of Wyoming and choose class RM1210SUM17
Webpage:You will find lecture templates and other course related information on my website
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 twenty minutes hands-on experiments taken from labs, 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
Discussions are on F and may be integrated with lecture sessions.
Participation in all laboratories is mandatory for the successful completion of this course. There is no time for makeup labs. Labs are on W during lecture time. Each pair of students submits a streamlined single lab report. The report consists of:
The lab bookwith 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 also a part of the lab grade. Take note of these categories as points for reports are awarded according to this list only.
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 two students, 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. Calculators with no formulas stored on them are acceptable.
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, Enzi195– F June 10th 410 – 550 pm Chapter 2-7
Exam 2, final, Enzi195 – F July 1st 410 – 550 pm Chapter 8, 9,10,12,13,15,16
* discuss optional 3rd exam with class – F week 2, 4, 6 *
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 onthe 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 misrepresentthe 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 academic dishonesty of any kind, will have charges filed against them with the College of A&S and the Dean of Students will be formally notified of the incident to take it on record. A typical penalty will be an F in the course.
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).
Details of grading (subject to revision):
Exams: 2(60%)
Homework: 11 (20%)
Bonus hw:hw no.12will add performance based bonus to course hw score
Labs w/ reports: 5(20%)
_____
100%
Scale:
A> 90.0%
B 80.0-89.99%
C 70.0-79.99%
D 60.0-69.99%
F< 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 other than for classroom advised internet access.
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 ‘17
M / T / W / R / Fhw deadlines to be updated
May 22-26 / Intro
K1 / K2
K3 / K4
K5
HW0, 11pm / D1
D2
w/Newton’sLaw
lab excerpts / disc 1+2 - K
HW1/2, Sun 11pm
May29-Jun2 / - / D3
D4 / Proj Motion (I) / C1
C2
HW3 R 11pm / disc 3+4 - D
HW4, Sun 11pm
Midterm1 4pm
Jun 5 – 9 / C3
C4 / C5
C6 / Momentum(II) / R1
R2 / disc 5+6 -C
HW5/6, Sun 11pm
Jun 12 -16 / R3
R4
w/Unfair Race lab excerpts / R5
R6 / Atwood+
AngMom.(III) / PM1
PM2
HW7 R 11pm / disc 7+8– R
Midterm2 4pm
HW8, Sun 11pm
Jun 19- 23 / PM3
PM4 / W1
W2 / Pendulum(IV) / W3
W4 / disc 9+10 – P,W
HW9/10, Sat!11pm
Jun 26-30 / W5
W6
w/ StdgWave
lab excerpts / G1
G2 / Sound (V) / G3
G4
HW11, Thu!11pm / disc 11+12 – W,G
final exam 4pm
HW12, Sat!11pm
K – Kinematics D – Dynamics C – Conservation Laws R – Rotational Motion PM – Periodic Motion W – Mechanical Waves G- Gravity
Blue sections are full labs with lab reports due at the next blue lab.
w/lab excerpts means that shortened lab sections are done studio style during lecture.
Tentative lecture plan (use reading guide on webpage to come prepared):
IntroSyllabus,
K1ch 2: models, velocity and acceleration, vectors
K2ch 2: examples
K3ch 3: examples, more on vectors
K4ch 3: examples
K5ch 3: relative motion
D1ch 4: Newton Laws, forces
D2ch 4: examples, more on forces
D3ch 4: examples
D4ch 5: examples with friction
C1ch 6: work and energy
C2ch 7: energy conservation
C3ch 7: examples
C4ch 8: impulse and momentum, momentum conservation
C5ch 8: examples
C6ch 8: center of mass, examples
R1ch 9: translation key, radians ‘unit’
R2ch 9: rotational kinematics
R3ch 9: moment of inertia
R4ch 9: more rotational kinematics
R5ch9/10: torque + rotational dynamics
R6ch10: angular momentum
PM1ch14: period and equilibrium, displacement eqn
PM2ch14: examples
PM3ch14: simple pendulum: the harmonic oscillator, small angle approximation
PM4ch14: pendulum, damped and forced PM, resonance
W1ch15: transverse waves, wave velocity
W2ch15: standing waves, wave eqn
W3ch15: examples
W4ch15: examples
W5ch16: longitudinal waves
W6ch16: intensity, beats, Doppler Effect
G1ch13: Law of Gravitation
G2ch13: Law of Gravitation, examples
G3ch13: grav. Energy, g(r)
G4ch13: Kepler etc.