Physics 140 - General Physics 1

Overview
Materials

photo of newton's cradle (pendulum toy with shiny chrome balls)

Image adapted from viking_79 under a Creative Commons license: BY-NC-SA.

Term:

Fall 2007

Published:

January 27, 2009

Revised:

June 5, 2015

Physics 140 offers introduction to mechanics, the physics of motion. Topics include: linear motion, vectors, projectiles, relative velocity and acceleration, Newton's laws, particle dynamics, work and energy, linear momentum, torque, angular momentum, gravitation, planetary motion, fluid statics and dynamics, simple harmonic motion, waves and sound.

Instructor: August Evrard

dScribes: Brandon Smith

Course Level: Undergraduate

Schedule

1. What is Physics?

2. Basic Kinematics

3. Motion in Two Dimensions, Projectile Motion

4. Relative Motion, Circular Motion

5. Newton’s Laws of Motion (I + II), Dynamics: Force and Acceleration

6. Newton’s Laws of Motion, Newton’s Third Law: Action-Reaction Pairs

7. Friction, Circular Motion Dynamics

8. Work, Kinetic Energy

-. Midterm Exam Review #1

9. Power

10. Potential Energy, Mechanical Energy

11. Energy Conservation, Force from the Derivative of Potential Energy

12. Momentum, Impulse, Collisions in One Dimension

13. Elastic and Inelastic Encounters, Collisions in Two Dimensions

14. Center of Mass, Rockets

15. Rotational Kinematics, Rotational Kinetic Energy, Moment of Inertia

16. Moment of Inertia: Parallel Axis Theorem, Torque,
Newton’s Second Law of Rotation

17. Rolling Dynamics, Mechanical Energy of Rolling

-. Midterm Exam Review #2

18. Angular Momentum; Conservation Of Angular Momentum; Precession (Gyroscopic Motion)

19. Static Equilibrium, Stress and Strain

20. Newton’s Law Of Gravitation; Gravitational Potential Energy; Orbital Mechanical Energy; Escape Velocity, Circular Velocity; Shell Theorem

21. Keppler's Laws

22. Restoring Forces Produce Oscillations; Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM); Damped Harmonic Motion; Natural Frequency, Driven Oscillations And Resonance

23. Mass Density; Hydrostatic Pressure; Pascal’s Principle And (Hydraulics); Archimedes Principle (Floating)

24. Ideal Fluid Dynamics; Volume Flow Rate (Incompressible Fluids); Bernoulli’s Equation

-. Midterm Exam Review #3

25. Mechanical Waves (Transverse, Longitudinal); Wave Speed (Taut String); Wave Superposition (Addition); Standing Waves, Nodes, Anti-Nodes

26. Sound Waves; Speed Of Sound; Sound Intensity, Decibel Scale; Standing Waves, Harmonics; Interference, Beats; Doppler Effect

-. Final Exam Review

About the Creators

Gus Evrard

Gus Evrard is a Professor in the Department of Physics who specializes in Astrophysics Theory. Professor Evrard studies phenomenological problems in cosmology. As a computational cosmologist, he uses numerical methods to model the formation and evolution of large-scale cosmic structure. Universes are realized in silico using algorithms that solve the time evolution of the coupled astrophysical processes that drive the development of dark and visible matter components within large random spatial volumes. These virtual worlds are created within the framework of a particular underlying cosmology. Mock telescopic observations of galaxies and clusters of galaxies contained within this virtual environment afford the means for direct comparison to data from real-world observatories. Such comparative studies address questions ranging from the fundamental (What are the energy and matter components that dominate our universe?) to the detailed (How much material is lost by a typical galaxy over its lifetime?). Prof. Evrard was a recipient of a 2012 Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize. more...

B.S. University of Pennsylvania 1981
Ph.D. The State University of New York, Stony Brook 1986