Course Description

Does Earth move? Does the Moon move? If so, how and are there causes or reasons for this motion? Are the basic rules that govern their motion the same as those for other objects such as a flying baseball, or water flowing through a pipe? What keeps an aircraft aloft? Are there limits to the efficiency of its engines? What is the nature of light? Why do some elements but not others conduct electric currents well? Why are we convinced that atoms exist? What are the fundamental particles from which all matter is built? Are there limits to our universe and could we learn them?

Physics addresses such questions by combining observations, results of experiments, and conceptual and mathematical notions into coherent theoretical schemes. The conceptual underpinnings of the physics we use today originated in the 17th century, when Newton and others produced a framework for understanding much of the physical world. Newtonian mechanics, still a cornerstone of physics, successfully explains a great diversity of physical phenomena and enabled the development of much modern technology.

Phys 131 is an introduction to Newtonian mechanics. You will discover the meaning and uses of concepts such as acceleration, force, momentum, and energy and apply them to assess physical situations and describe physical phenomena. You will see that they provide a simple and elegant framework for understanding the physical universe.

Course Number: PHYS 131

Instructor: Prof. David Collins, Physics.

Contact Information:

Class Times: MTWF 9:00 - 9:50am (Section 001), MTWF 10:00 - 10:50am (Section 002).

Classroom: WS 202.

First Class Meeting: Monday 17 August 2015.

Prerequisites: Math 135 or Math 151.

Text: Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 3ed, Volume 1, Pearson (2013).

Syllabus: Pdf Format


Syllabus

The following is subject to change.

  1. Motion in one and two dimensions.
  2. Vector analysis.
  3. Newton's laws of motion and system of mechanics.
  4. Conservation of momentum.
  5. Work, kinetic and potential energy, conservative and non-conservative systems.
  6. Rotational motion including angular momentum and torque.
  7. Newtonian gravitation.


Course Structure

The Monday, Wednesday and Friday class meetings will be in lecture format. You will be expected to read the relevant sections of the text beforehand and attempt designated exercises in the text.

The Tuesday meeting will consist of a discussion session during which you will work in small groups (with the instructor's help) on assigned problems. You will be expected to attempt the assigned problems before the Tuesday class meeting. There will be a short quiz covering the material at the end of the discussion session.


Homework Assignments

Complete homework assignments are below.

Homework Due date Problems (Numbers refer to Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers)
Homework 1 24 August 2015 Ch 2 Conc. Q: 5, 7, 8, Ch 2 Ex and Probs: 3, 5, 6, 8, 26 a) to e) (draw the graph accurately from 1s to 4s only.)
Homework 2 28 August 2015 Ch 2 Conc. Q: 12, 13, 14, Ch 2 Ex and Probs: 16, 19, 45a), 49, 58
Homework 3 7 September 2015 Supplementary Exercises: 11, Ch 4 Conc. Q: 1, 9, Ch 4 Ex and Probs: 13, 14, 42, 45, 49
Homework 4 18 September 2015 Supplementary Exercises: 14, Ch 6 Conc. Q: 4, 14, Ch 6 Ex and Probs: 2, 3, 12, 28, 39 ab) (the analysis considers the motion of the bullet through the wood)
Homework 5 25 September 2015 Supplementary Exercises: 17, Ch 6 Conc. Q: 5, 9, Ch 6 Ex and Probs: 21, 42, 46, 48, 54
Homework 6 5 October 2015 Ch 7 Conc. Q: 13, 15, Ch 7 Ex and Probs: 36, 41, Ch 8 Conc. Q: 4, Ch 8 Ex and Probs: 5, 48 Supplementary Exercises: 31
Homework 7 16 October 2015 Ch 9 Conc Q: 6, 13, 14, Ch 9 Ex and Probs: 17, 21, 40, 43, 58
Homework 8 23 October 2015 Supplementary Exercises: 35, Ch 10 Conc Q: 7, 12, Ch 10 Ex and Probs: 12, 20, 42, 50, 53
Homework 9 30 October 2015 Ch 11 Conc Q: Ch 11 Conc Q: 5, 7, Ch 11 Ex and Probs: 37, 44, 47, 50 Supplementary Exercises: 37cd, 38
Homework 10 13 November 2015 Ch 12 Conc Q: 6, 9, 10, Ch 12 Ex and Probs: 15, 26, 31, 55, 65
Homework 11 20 November 2015 Supplementary Exercises: 45, 46, Ch 12 Conc Q: 3, Ch 12 Ex and Probs: 32, 35, 42, 73, 75

Homework Solutions

Homework solutions are posted on the course drive. You can access these from any computer connected to the CMU network. The directory depends on your section number but can be found under K: -> PHYS131 -> 00X-YYYYY -> Share -> homework.


Quizzes

There will be a short quiz at the end of each of each Tuesday discussion session. Quiz solutions are posted on the course drive. You can access these from any computer connected to the CMU network. The directory depends on your section number but can be found under K: -> PHYS131 -> 00X-YYYYY -> Share -> quizzes.


Warm Up Exercises

There will be warm up exercise, approximately once per week, due by 8:00am . Exact dates will be announced by the instructor closer to the time. Warm up exercises are hosted on Desire 2 Learn (D2L).


Exams

There will be three 50 minute exams during class on the following dates: 9 September 2015, 7 October 2015 and 4 November 2015. There will be a comprehensive final exam on 7 December 2015 (section 002) or 9 December 2015 (section 001). Solutions to the exams for this semester will be posted below after the exams have been graded.


Exams and solutions from past semesters.

Fall 2013
2013 Class exam 1
2013 Class exam 1: Solutions
2013 Class exam 2
2013 Class exam 2: Solutions
2013 Class exam 3
2013 Class exam 3: Solutions
2013 Final exam (version 1)
2013 Final exam (version 1): Solutions
2013 Final exam (version 2)
2013 Final exam (version 2): Solutions

Fall 2014
2014 Class exam 1
2014 Class exam 1: Solutions
2014 Class exam 2
2014 Class exam 2: Solutions
2014 Class exam 3
2014 Class exam 3: Solutions
2014 Final exam (version 1)
2014 Final exam (version 1): Solutions
2014 Final exam (version 2)
2014 Final exam (version 2): Solutions


Exams and solutions from the current semester.

These will be entered after the each exam has been graded.

Fall 2015
2015 Class exam 1
2015 Class exam 1: Solutions
2015 Class exam 2
2015 Class exam 2: Solutions
2015 Class exam 3
2015 Class exam 3: Solutions


Links and Animations

  1. References
    1. Physlink Reference information and data, including decimal system notation, physical constants, math constants, astro-physical constants, etc,....
    2. Eric Weinstein's World of Physics Encyclopedia of Physics maintained by Wolfram Research. Entries at a variety of technical levels.
    3. Science and Engineering Encyclopedia: Physics Encyclopedia of Physics with a somewhat cumbersome interface. Includes conversion calculators.
    4. Periodic Table of Elements WebElements site.
    5. NIST Databases Administered by the National Institute for Standards and Technology. The final word in physical data. Intended for professionals.
  2. Animations
    1. PhET From the University of Colorado.
    2. Activ Physics Large collection provided by Addison Wesley.
    3. LTU Applets Collection of simulations provided by Scott Schneider, Lawrence Technological University.
    4. Animations for Physics and Astronomy Collection of simulations from the Penn State University, Schuylkill.
    5. Physclips Collection of simulations from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
  3. Demonstrations
    1. MIT TechTV Videos of demonstrations provided by MIT.
    2. University of Maryland Demos Lecture demonstrations provided by the University of Maryland.
    3. Wake Forest University Demos Main website for demonstrations provided by Wake Forest University, North Carolina.
    4. Wake Forest University Demos Videos of demonstrations provided by Wake Forest University, North Carolina.
    5. University of Iowa Demos Demonstrations provided by University of Iowa.
  4. Units and Measurement Scales
    1. Mars Climate Orbiter The greatest unit conversion fiasco ever?
    2. Secret Worlds: The Universe Within An updated "Powers of Ten" animation from Florida State University.
    3. Powers of Ten Official site of Charles and Ray Eames.
  5. Atoms and Brownian Motion
    1. Brownian motion Video of smoke particles undergoing Brownian motion. From University of Virginia.
    2. Images of atoms Images taken using a scanning tunneling microscope at IBM's Almaden lab.
    3. Images of atoms Images taken at various institutions. Hosted by Purdue University.
    4. Chemical elements Wikipedia list of elements.
    5. Periodic table A wooden periodic table from Theodore Gray.
  6. Motion in One Dimension
    1. Motion diagrams From Western Kentucky University and Davidson College.
    2. The moving man From PhET.
    3. Car in one dimension From Univ of Toronto.
    4. Rollerskating cow From University of Oregon.
  7. Freely falling objects
    1. Hammer and feather Demonstration by Apollo 15 commander David Scott. Provided by NASA.
    2. Guinea and feather Description of equipment construction and a video. From the Steven Troy, University of Washington.
    3. Guinea and feather Video. From Steven Troy, University of Washington.
    4. Ball bearing and feather From the Teralab.
    5. Free fall applet From Davidson College.
  8. Vectors
    1. Vector addition From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
  9. Motion in Two Dimensions
    1. Balls dropped and shot From University of Maryland.
    2. Projectile motion From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    3. Ladybug motion in two dimensions From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    4. Projectile motion From University of Toronto.
    5. Monkey and hunter From University of Toronto.
    6. Funnel cart From University of Maryland.
    7. Pulled funnel cart From University of Maryland.
    8. Gravity and orbits From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    9. Solar system From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
  10. Newton's Laws
    1. Voyager: NASA page Voyager I is the man made object most distant from the sun and now approximately free from interactions with the sun and solar system.
    2. Pioneer: NASA page Pioneer 10, launched in 1972, was the first man-made object to leave the solar system. The last signal received from this probe reached the earth in 2003.
    3. Isaac Newton British one pound banknote. From Jacob Bourjaily's website: Physicists on Money.
    4. Forces in one dimension From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    5. Forces and motion: basics From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    6. Forces and motion From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    7. Friction From PhET, University of Colorado.
    8. Forces and motion on a ramp From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    9. Fan cart with sail From University of Maryland
    10. Dropped slinky From University of Maryland.
  11. Circular Motion
    1. Ladybug revolution From PhET, University of Colorado.
    2. Angular velocity and acceleration Activ Physics 7.7.
    3. Whirlgig From University of Iowa.
    4. Centrifugal flattening From University of Iowa.
  12. Momentum
    1. Ship collsion Two ships colliding in the Suez canal. From NPR
    2. Particle collisions From the LHC at CERN.
    3. Particle collisions From the LHC at CERN. Information via Brookhaven National Lab.
    4. Collision lab From PhET, University of Colorado.
    5. Impulse pendulum From North Carolina State University.
    6. Impulse pendulum From University of Iowa.
    7. Impulse pendulum Activ Physics 6.2.
    8. Goddard vs NY Times Editorial critique from the NY Times of Robert Goddard's rocketry proposals.
  13. Gravity
    1. Newton's Cannon From the University of Virginia.
    2. Neptune From NASA.
    3. Neptune From Wikipedia.
    4. Neptune From nineplanets.org by Bill Arnett.
    5. Solar System From PhET, University of Colorado.
    6. Cavendish Experiment Schematic From San Diego State University.
    7. Cavendish Experiment Animation From Physics-Animations.com.
    8. Cavendish's Experiment From Science and Society Picture Library
    9. Stars and Black Hole Youtube video of unknown origin.
  14. Energy
    1. Energy Skate Park (Basics) From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    2. Energy Skate Park From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    3. The Ramp From PhET, University of Colorado.
    4. Springs and Masses From PhET, University of Colorado.
    5. Loop the loop From the University of Iowa.
    6. Stopped pendulum From North Carolina State University.
    7. Stopped pendulum From University of Iowa.
    8. Large pendulum From University of Iowa.
    9. Racing skiers From University of Toronto.
    10. Molecular Vibrations From UCLA.
    11. Ice Vibrations From Visionlearning.
    12. Internal Combustion Engine From How Stuff Works.
    13. Global energy balance Animated diagrams from Earthguide at UCSD.
  15. Rotational Motion
    1. Milky Way Galaxy Revolution Simulation from the University of Zurich.
    2. Ladybug Revolution From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    3. Torque From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    4. Center of Mass Motion YouTube video produced by MIT.
    5. Rotational Inertia Activ Physics 7.6.
    6. Hoops and Disks From University of Iowa.
    7. Rolling vs. Sliding From University of Maryland.
    8. "Falling Chimney" From University of Iowa.
    9. Falling Chimney Web Page From Loyola Marymount University.
    10. Toppling Towers Web Page From Physics Central, APS.
    11. Conservation of Angular Momentum From University of Iowa.
    12. Precessing Gyroscope Animation from PSU-Schuykill.
    13. Angular Momentum - Train From University of Iowa. Another link here.
  16. Simple Harmonic Motion
    1. Masses and Springs From PhET, the University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    2. Normal Modes From PhET, the University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    3. Spring and mass From Walter Fendt.
    4. Spring and Mass From Michigan State University. Clear and simple to use.
    5. Resonance From PhET, the University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    6. Simple Harmonic Motion and Circular Motion Davidson College and North Carolina A and T University.
    7. Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse From Archive.org.

This page is maintained by David Collins
Last modified: 13 November 2015