PHY 161.003: General Physics I- Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Spring 2002

(Corequisites:  MAT 191 and PHY161L)

Text: Fundamentals of Physics, 6th ed., Halliday, Resnick and Walker

(NOTE:  Some solutions to problems are found at: http://www.wiley.com/college/hrw)

Instructor:  Randall D. Peters, PhD, Office WSC 115

Phone 301-2757, e-mail: peters_rd@mercer.edu

Webpage:  http://physics.mercer.edu/petepag/nonlin.htm

Office Hours:  MWF 9-10, TR 3-4, or by appointment

Lecture:  MW 3:00-4:15

Schedule (general):  Holiday - Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, Jan 21; Spring Break, Mon - Fri, Mar 11-15; Holiday - Good Friday, March 29; Last class day, Tuesday, April 30

General:

This course is the first of the two-semester General Physics sequence.  It is a calculus-based introduction to the discipline. Its main themes are mechanics and thermodynamics.  It is imperative that you master the mathematics used in the sample problems of the text. Since math is the primary 'language' of physics, this aspect of the course will have a significant influence on your final grade. Following a brief consideration of measurement concepts and elementary mathematics, we will start a detailed series of major topics, which are listed below.  Successful completion of this course will enable you to understand the basic concepts and associated problems involving:  

Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, momentum, gravity, fluid mechanics and thermal physics.

Class attendance is not mandatory.  Be warned, however, that the instructor's 33 year career shows a clear correlation between absences and reduced grades or failure (independent of missed quizzes).

Grades:

100-A-90, 89-B-80, 79-C-70, 69-D-60

Weightings for Final class grade:

Average of 3 Tests (65%)

In-class Quizzes (15%)

(5-10 minute pop quizzes are possible, especially in response to poor class attendance.  No makeup of quizzes is possible.)

Final Exam (20%)  It will be comprehensive.  (Thursday,  05/02,  2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Tests: A make-up will only be given to students with valid excuses as defined by the university handbook (illness, emergency, class trips with prior notification). Any disputes concerning a test grade must be resolved within one week from the time the tests are returned to the class.  Partial credit will be awarded for problems. The amount of credit will be at the discretion of the instructor. You will be allowed to bring in one 8.5”x11’’ sheet of equations or numerical constants that you might find helpful. Worked out examples and definitions are not permitted.

Homework: Assigned problems will not be graded, but history shows that practice in problem solving is essential to success in physics. All work for which a grade is received must be the original work of the student without aid or assistance of another party, or any printed and or electronic data/information. Failure to follow these policies will result in an automatic grade of “F” for the course.

Material To Be Covered (Tentative)

Ch. 1 Measurement

Ch. 2 Motion along a straight line

Ch. 3 Vectors

Ch. 4 Motion in two and three dimensions

Ch. 5 Force and motion I

************************Test 1***********************

Ch. 6 Force and motion II

Ch. 7 Kinetic energy and work

Ch. 8 Potential energy and conservation of energy

************************ Test 2************************

Ch. 9 Systems of particles

Ch. 10 Collisions

Ch. 11 Rotation

Ch. 12 Rolling, Torque and angular momentum

********************** Test 3 *************************

SURVEY of Selected Topics from:

Chapters 13-16:  Torque equilibrium, Stress/Strain, Newton's law of Gravity, Bernoulli's Equation (incl. erroneous applications), Pendulum (incl. misconceptions).

Ch. 19 Temperature, heat and the first law of thermodynamics

Ch. 22 Heat engines, entropy and the second law of thermodynamics

(Testing of Survey topics via quizzes and the final exam.)

Note:  Chapters 17 and 18 are part of PHY162.  

Material coverage of none of the chapters will be exhaustive. You will need to attend class to find out what has been omitted.

Cell phones and Pagers: Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event.

The College’s academic misconduct policy will be followed. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for this course as required under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and subject to the criteria and procedures used by the Student Development office. Students who believe that they possess disabilities for which accommodation is required must so inform instructors immediately after the first class meeting, indicating the nature of the disability and the sort of accommodation needed. If you believe that you possess a disability for which reasonable accommodation must be made, you must consult with the instructor immediately after the first meeting of this class, reporting both the nature of the disability and the nature of the accommodation requested. If it seems advisable, the instructor will refer you to the appropriate office for documentation of your disability and evaluation of your request for reasonable accommodation. If you do NOT consult with the instructor about any disability claimed and accommodation sought, your failure to do so will constitute a waiver of any claim of disability and request for accommodation on your part.