Welcome to the course page for PHYS101, Physics for Science and Mathematics I. My schedule is on the welcome page of this site for your convenience in setting up appointments. Check back frequently for homework, updated course documents, etc. I’ll post solutions to homework and some in class exercises here to motivate your preparation for exams.
Physics for Science and Mathematics I Course Documents
Syllabus v2024.05.13
Tentative Schedule v2024.05.09
Physics Reference Card v2022.10.29
Lab Workbook v2018
OpenStax College Physics Text
Get it Here
Consider ordering a hard copy from the OpenStax people (or Amazon, where you can rent it if you wish). There will be some copies in the bookstore as well. You’re under no obligation to buy a copy, but I recommend a hard copy.
Schaum’s Outlines Supplementary Text
While the OpenStax text we use has more example problems in it than any general text I’ve used, students always want more. The Schaum’s Outline series can provide this for you. They are inexpensive, easily had, and have fewer errors than you will find just cruising the internet. Here’s one on Amazon. There are many more out there – just steer clear of anything with “Physics for Engineers” or “University Physics” in the title – those support more advanced courses.
Tidbits
Course Specific
Here’s a general guide to grading and a problem-solving template, as well as a primer on significant figures to supplement the text coverage. Be sure to check out the grading guide – I don’t generally need to write extensive comments on your work because I post very detailed solutions on this page. This, of course, only works if you read them.
A primer on the dot and cross products for multiplying vectors. It’s a section of my notes from 102, dressed up slightly and published on the 102 site originally after I realized that not every instructor has you learn the proper ways to multiply vectors in 101. Until I find the time to make a completely generic version, I’ll link it here in unedited form.
Missed class? Some content that approximates the in-person experience is here.
Computer Stuff
These links will help if things don’t go smoothly on the class PCs.
Physlets: compadre.org. Also note that many browsers don’t like Java and the physlets are only presently being converted to run on html5. While that happens, Firefox seems to be the best option to access the simulations (at least on the in-class PCs).
Other simulations: PhET simulations
Data Studio Activities: my OneDrive
Other Supplementals
A cool video about free fall. Under 5 minutes, sonorous British accents.
A fun little thing to visualize how hard it is to make a planet sit in a stable orbit around another mass.
Here’s some physics in unfortunate action: Galloping Gertie!
And here’s some physics in (also) awesome action: Jamestown Bridge Demolition. This one is the same thing from a different perspective.
Physics for Science and Mathematics I Homework
Below is a link to a list of problems I like from the text. I expect that you will do well in the course if you can solve all of them without notes. The more problems you do, the better prepared you’ll be to encounter the new ones on exams – you ought to do more than what are on the list.
Problems I Like (v2023.08.01)
Once a problem is done, don’t abandon it. Revisit it and try to solve it again a different way, perturb it and see how the answer changes. Predict what other questions could be asked about the same physical scenario – what other information would you need to be given in order to be asked these questions, etc. I like to take problems I know you’ve seen, change up the known and unknown quantities, and put them on exams.
Assignments consist of a limited selection of problems from the list linked above. I expect you will pass the course if you can do all of them without notes. Please turn in the problems on loose leaf paper, in order, and provide a solution to each that is clearly separated from the rest of the assignment. Unless otherwise indicated, each problem must include a sketch with your chosen coordinate system, list of given information, and multi-part calculation as per class discussion. Solutions will be posted after class on each due date.
Rather than spending time making links for individual homework assignments, I’ll just link a folder here that I’ll throw the assignments and solutions in. Don’t worry about the files with the extension “.nb”- that’s just the source file I used to create the pdf you’ll need to access.
Old General Physics I Exams Folder
(link above in title) These are provided only to give you an idea of what types of questions I’ve asked on exams – how homework, class examples, lab activities, etc. become the stuff of exams. Take one when you think you are ready, see how you do, work more problems if you are unsatisfied. Rinse, repeat.
Memorizing the solutions to these is almost certainly a waste of time, and there’s no guarantee that your exam X will cover the same content as was tested on exam X of semester Y. I’m happy to discuss these problems at office hours, but understand I’m not just going to do the problems for you. More than likely, I’ll ask you to walk me through your attempted solution to the exam(s), and depending on where you’re stuck, I’ll have you walk me through whatever exercise(s) led me to put a given question on the exam.
Physics for Science and Mathematics I Exams
Exam One:
Exam Two:
Physics for Science and Mathematics I Grades
Nothing here yet
Physics for Science and Mathematics I Help!
Free tutoring is available from me (see office hours times marked on the schedule on the welcome page of this site) and from student tutors in the Academic Success Center (in the basement of Adams Library). You can make an appointment here.
If those don’t work for you I can do Zoom meetings with a day or so advanced notice. To get a convenient meeting scheduled as quickly as possible, please just send me an email proposing two explicit meeting times at least a day away and keep them open until I respond confirming one.