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I.
PREREQUISITES
Math 263A,
Analytic Geometry and Calculus, or equivalent
This course carries
no laboratory credit. A student who needs credit for five quarter hours
and/or laboratory credit must take the laboratory portion of this course
on the Ohio University Athens campus. Credit for the laboratory portion
taken previously at another institution may be transferred.
II.
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES
Recommended text for Physics 251, 252, 253 series:
ISBN# 1572596155 Tipler, Paul, et al, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th ed, W.H. Freeman, 1999 -- combined Volumes 1, 2 & 3.
Alternative to the above text---if you plan to take Physics 251 ONLY, you have the option of purchasing Volume 1 of the text separately:
ISBN# 1572594918 Physics For Scientists and Engineers: Volume 1: Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves, Thermodynamics (Chapters 1-21)
-----------------
OPTIONAL:
ISBN#
1572595116 Study Guide to Accompany Tipler Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Volume 1
...available from
EdMap's distance-learning online
bookstore.
| STUDENTS
ARE STRONGLY ADVISED NOT TO BUY TEXTBOOKS UNTIL REGISTERED
IN COURSES AS REQUIRED EDITIONS CAN CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. |
III.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Physics 251 is the first of a three-quarter sequence in General Physics
for students of science and engineering. Students are assumed to have
a working knowledge of calculus equivalent to the completion of Math 263A.
The General Physics
sequence will try to present a unified view of physics by analyzing the
basic principles, their implications and their limitations. Physics 251
deals with mechanics. Primary attention is given to the conservation laws
and their applications in classical physics as well as an occasional topic
in atomic and nuclear physics.
Scientists and engineers
are usually put into situations where they have to do things they, and
others, have not done before. A bridge of a given type may have been built
before but not in this new location; a new computer may use the same architecture
as slower speed models but not at this new higher speed; a doctor may
be treating a patient with a common disorder but not in this patient.
One reason why scientists
and engineers take physics as part of their degree program is because
their departments know that we test their ability to cope with unfamiliar
situations and recognize that the questions we present are readily answered
(i) with a knowledge of basic science, (ii) the capacity to interpret
illustrations, graphs and tables, (iii) the ability to read carefully
and process unfamiliar scientific information. The questions will often
feature illustrations or wording that may at first sight make you think
you cannot solve the problem but this is not so. Solving physics problems
is not just about what you know but also about how you think. You need
to know the basics and apply that knowledge in new and unfamiliar problems.
Memorization of facts
that are quickly forgotten is a useful asset in physics, as in many other
subjects, but is not sufficient. You will not be able to pass on memory
alone. You will need to learn the basic principles and know how to apply
them.
While a numerical
score will be used to determine your grade, I think it useful to share
with you what I expect student in particular grade-letter bands to be
capable of when they complete this course.
A students
will be able to solve correctly problems involving the motion of particles
subject to Newton’s laws of motion, in straight lines and in circular
paths. They will provide all the steps necessary for the solution and
they will explain them citing the relevant physical principles. They will
be able to solve problems involving vectors in two and three dimensions,
including the three--dimensional properties of vectors such as torque
and angular momentum. They will be able to solve problems involving the
use of the principle of conservation of energy in mechanical systems.
They will also be able to solve problems involving both conservation of
linear momentum, in one or two dimensions, and conservation of angular
momentum. They will be able to apply the principles of particle dynamics
to systems of particles and in particular rigid bodies.
B students
will be able to apply correctly the principles of conservation of energy
and momentum to mechanical systems. They will be able to solve most problems
correctly involving the motion of particles in straight lines but probably
have difficulties with rotational motion problems. They will give well
structured solutions to problems but may not complete them. They will
be able to solve problems involving vectors in two and three dimensions
including linear momentum.
C students will
be able to apply the principles of conservation of energy and momentum
to mechanical systems but will make mistakes in their solutions. They
will be able to solve some problems correctly involving the motion of
particles in straight lines. They will give some structure to solutions
of problems but will often not complete all steps. They will be able to
solve most problems involving vectors in two dimensions.
D students
will be get some parts to many problems correct but find it difficult
to complete correctly any of the problems on the exam. Parts of problems
that are correct will probably not be explained, diagrams will be missing
as will statements regarding the physical principles used.
To get an F
in this course a student will have had severe difficulties with the material
of the course such as: failing to grasp the concepts of vectors or being
unable to handle the mathematical knowledge required to solve the problems
given.
Statement regarding the mathematical knowledge assumed:
Students entering
Physics 251 are expected to have some knowledge of calculus as covered
in a high school math class, and all of the high school math leading up
to calculus. Students are required to have passed MATH 263A or 263B with
a C grade or better, or the equivalent course elsewhere. This means that
you are likely to have the skills necessary to handle the math required
by Physics 251. However, by no means
is all the math for Physics 251 covered in MATH 263A.Specifically,
you are expected to be fluent in the following topics:
- Basic arithmetic
and logical operationsAlgebra of single
and multiple variable equationsGraphical representation
of equationsLinear EquationsSolution of simultaneous
equations with 2 or 3 variablesTrigonometric
functions, their definitions, properties and associated identitiesLogarithmic and
exponential function propertiesDifferentiation
of simple functions, e.g., x, x2, x-1/2,
log x, sin x
- Integration of
simple functions, e.g., x, x2, x-1/2,
x-1, sin x
In addition, either
previously or during your studies for this course, you will learn and
become fluent with the properties of vectors including:
- vector addition
and subtraction
- vector multiplication,
both dot and cross products
V.
METHOD OF STUDY
The beginning
year of college physics is usually the most difficult. Many new ideas
and concepts are developed. Students who understand clearly the basic
physics, even if not yet able to apply it easily to complex situations,
have put behind them many of the real difficulties in learning physics
or related topics in engineering.
If you have difficulty
in understanding part of the course and in working problems, you should
go back and reread the relevant parts of a high school text. To comprehend
physics is not only to understand what you are reading but also to be
able to apply that understanding to problems. The exercises, particularly
the worked-out exercises, will be helpful. After reading a chapter, try
to solve the problems indicated for the chapter on the syllabus. This
should give you some experience for the examination.
V.
NATURE OF THE EXAMINATION
You will be allowed three hours to complete the examination. No textbooks,
notes or supplementary aids will be permitted. You must learn and/or
memorize all principles, formulae and equations necessary to do the
problems; no formulae or equations will be provided with the examination.
You may use your calculator in the examination but it must be free of
stored formulae or notes. We recommend a simple scientific or engineering
calculator that has scientific notation, the trigonometric functions sin,
cos and tan and their inverses, logs, exponentials, and square root.
It is not enough
to memorize important concepts and formulas. Rather it is better to work
problem after problem WITHOUT using the textbook in any
way. Do so until you can do most problems correctly in not more than 15-20
minutes each. This is the expected level of achievement in the
classroom course in preparation for the final examination. By disciplining
yourself to reach this level and not using any help from the text, notes,
friends, etc. in doing the problems, you will have to have learned
the formulas and their all-important applications and, thus, stand a far
better chance of doing well on the examination.
The examination consists
entirely of problems from which you must show both the physical and mathematical
reasoning used to solve them. Partial credit will be given, so it is important
that you show all the steps in your solutions. The problems will cover
such areas as: kinematics, application of Newton’s Laws, circular
motion, rigid body rotations, gravitation, potential energy and kinetic
energy.
VI.
GRADING FORMAT
Partial
credit for each problem will be given in proportion to the amount of work
completed correctly, and the final grade will be the sum of all the partial
credits in the form of a percentage. The equivalence in final letter grades
is as follows:
A = 80-100%
B = 70-79%
C = 60-69%
D = 50-59%
F = below 50%
VI.
STUDY NOTES
The following syllabus
and problem assignment list are based on the Tipler text. You will notice
that for each topic the appropriate textbook material is indicated. Study
these textbook sections thoroughly and then attempt to do the self-study
problems and exercises as a preparation for the examination. Syllabus
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