PHY 161.003: General Physics I- Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Spring 2005

(Corequisites:  MAT 191 and PHY161L)

Text: Fundamentals of Physics, 7th ed., Halliday, Resnick and Walker

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

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

Webpage:  http://physics.mercer.edu/hpage/peters.html

Office Hours:  MWF 2-3, TR 9-10, or by appointment

Lecture:  MWF 11:00-12:00

Schedule (general):  Holidays or no classes -- Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, Jan 17; Spring Break, Mar 7-11; Good Friday, March 25;

Last class day, May 3

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 37 year  post-doctoral teaching 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 and homework (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,  5 May 9-12.)

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 be collected but not carefully 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 Center of mass and linear momentum

Ch. 10 Rotation

Ch. 11 Rolling, Torque and angular momentum

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

SURVEY of Selected Topics from:

Chapters 12-15:  Equilibrium & Elasticity incl. Stress/Strain, Newton's law of Gravity, Bernoulli's Equation (incl. erroneous applications), Pendulum (incl. misconceptions).

Ch. 18 Temperature, heat and the first law of thermodynamics

Ch. 20 Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics incl. heat engines

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

Note:  Chapters 16 and 17 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.

Documented Disability Statement:

Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting. The instructor will refer you to the office of Student Support Services (SSS) for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations for accommodation, if needed. Students will receive from SSS the Faculty Accommodation Form. On this form SSS will identify reasonable accommodations for this class. The form must be given to the course instructor for signature and then returned to SSS.

To take full advantage of disability services, it is recommended that students contact the Office of Student Support Services, immediately. The office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.