Course Outline

Physics investigates the natural world and endeavors to provide an organized systematic description of the observed phenomena. Surprisingly, a vast range of natural phenomena can be described by applying a small collection of fundamental principles. For example, the same basic rules govern the motion of the moon around the earth or objects falling toward the surface of the earth.

This course will introduce you to some of the most profound concepts of physics. Some of the implications these, such as the fact that heat only flows freely from hot to cold objects, may seem obvious to you. Others, such as the apparent ability of a microscopic object to explore two divergent trajectories through space simultaneously, may confound your sensibilities. This course will also introduce you to the workings and tools of any scientific discipline: measurements, interpretation of data, hypotheses and theories.

This course will also introduce you to the machinery of any science: measurements, interpretation of data, hypotheses and theories.

The course will cover the following topics subject to minor modifications.

  1. Understanding the physical world via scientific inquiry: examples from planetary motion.
  2. Classical physics: "clockwork" description of the physical world.
  3. Energy and entropy: the driving rules for the physical world.
  4. Quantum theory: the modern description of the physical world.
  5. Nuclear physics: the workings of the atomic nucleus.

Homework Assignments

Due: 30 August 2024 Homework 1
Due: 6 September 2024 Homework 2
Due: 13 September 2024 Homework 3
Due: 23 September 2024 Homework 4
Due: 4 October 2024 Homework 5
Due: 9 October 2024 Homework 6
Due: 21 October 2024 Homework 7
Due: 4 November 2024 Homework 8
Due: 11 November 2024 Homework 9
Due: 4 December 2024 Homework 10

Exams

There will be three tests during class on the following dates: Friday, September 27, 2024, Friday October 25, 2024 and Friday November 15, 2023. There will be a comprehensive final exam on Wednesday December 11, 2024.

Tests, exams and solutions from previous semesters.

Fall 2022 Test 1
Fall 2022 Test 1: Solutions
Fall 2022 Test 2
Fall 2022 Test 2: Solutions
Fall 2022 Test 3
Fall 2022 Test 3: Solutions
Fall 2022 Final exam
Fall 2022 Final exam: Solutions
Fall 2023 Test 1
Fall 2023 Test 1: Solutions
Fall 2023 Test 2
Fall 2023 Test 2: Solutions
Fall 2023 Test 3
Fall 2023 Test 3: Solutions
Fall 2023 Final exam
Fall 2023 Final exam: Solutions

Exams and solutions from this semester.

Solutions will be posted after each exam has been graded.

Fall 2024 Test 1
Fall 2024 Test 1: Solutions
Fall 2024 Test 2
Fall 2024 Test 2: Solutions
Fall 2024 Test 3
Fall 2024 Test 3: Solutions

Links and Animations

  1. Reference Sources
    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. Periodic Table of Elements WebElements site.
    4. NIST Databases Administered by the National Institute for Standards and Technology. The final word in physical data. Intended for professionals.
    5. NASA Solar System Data Reference information and data for the Sun's solar system.
  2. Animations
    1. PhET From the University of Colorado.
    2. Animations for Physics and Astronomy Collection of simulations from the Penn State University, Schuylkill.
    3. Fowler's Physics Applets Collection of simulations provided by Michael Fowler, University of Virginia.
    4. Physclips Collection of simulations from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
    5. LTU Applets Collection of simulations provided by Scott Schneider, Lawrence Technological University.
  3. Videos
    1. Minute Physics
    2. Physics Girl
    3. Steve Mould
    4. Veritasium
  4. Planetary Motion
    1. Jupiter and Saturn Conjunction From NPR, 2020.
    2. Big Dipper and Little Dipper From Astropix.
    3. Star Motion Time lapse video from City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho.
    4. Star Trails NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day.
    5. Jupiter and Saturn Orbits 2000 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day.
    6. Jupiter and Saturn Orbits Summer 2020 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day.
    7. Mars Orbit NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day. Other examples of Mars' retrograde motion are here and here. Venus's retrograde motion is illustrated here. Saturn's complicated retrograde motion is illustrated here.
    8. Geocentric and Heliocentric Models From David Velasco Villamizar.
    9. Aristotle's Solar System Model From Britannica.
    10. Ptolemaic System Simulator From Foothill College.
    11. Epicycles - Visualization of Retrograde Motion From Tad Thurston.
    12. 3D Solar System Animation From The Sky.
    13. 3D Solar System Animation From Solar System Scope.
    14. 2D Solar System Animation From eduMedia.
    15. Retrograde Motion Animation From University of New Mexico.
    16. Lunar Phase Simulation From ??.
    17. The Moon's Orbit Simulation From SEPUP (Science Education for Public Understanding Program).
    18. Phases of Venus Simulation From University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
    19. Phases of Venus Image From NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day.
    20. Venus' phases From the European Southern Observatory.
  5. Atoms, Elements and Compounds
    1. Imploding soda can. From Bearded Science Guy.
    2. Brownian motion. Video of fat globules undergoing Brownian motion. From Paul Baker.
    3. Brownian motion. Video of polystyrene spheres undergoing Brownian motion. From Institute of Physics.
    4. Brownian motion. Video of smoke particles undergoing Brownian motion. From University of Maryland.
    5. Brownian motion. Video of smoke particles undergoing Brownian motion. From University of Virginia.
    6. Quantum Corral. Images taken using a scanning tunneling microscope at IBM's Almaden lab.
    7. Images of atoms. Images taken at various institutions. Hosted by Purdue University.
    8. Chemical Elements. Wikipedia list of elements.
    9. Periodic Table of Elements. Wikipedia table of elements.
    10. Periodic table. A wooden periodic table from Theodore Gray.
    11. Gas properties. PhET animation.
    12. States of Matter (Basics). PhET animation.
    13. Fire syringe. Video by Veritasium.
  6. Measurement Scales
    1. Secret Worlds: The Universe Within. An updated "Powers of Ten" animation from Florida State University.
  7. Freely falling objects
    1. Hammer and feather. Demonstration by Apollo 15 commander David Scott. Provided by NASA.
    2. Guinea and feather. Video of equipment construction and operation. From the Steven Troy, University of Washington.
    3. Ball Bearing And Feather. From the Teralab.
  8. Motion
    1. Hawk Eye in Tennis. From the Australian Academy of Science.
    2. Hawk Eye in Cricket. From Jarrod Kimber.
    3. Hotwheels Race Brachistochrone Curve. From Engineering and Architecture.
    4. Brachistochrone Curve. From Engineering and Architecture.
    5. Galileo's Ramp. From Physierge.
    6. Inertia Thought Experiment. From Rhys Lewis.
    7. Projectile Motion From PhET, University of Colorado.
    8. Shoot the Monkey From University of Iowa.
    9. Moving Man. From PhET.
    10. Forces and Motion. From PhET.
    11. Motion diagrams. From Andrew Duffy, Boston University.
    12. Energy Skate Park (Basics) From PhET, University of Colorado.
    13. Forces and Motion (Basics). From PhET, University of Colorado.
    14. Forces in One Dimension. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    15. The Ramp. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    16. Voyager I. Voyager I is the man made object most distant from the sun and now approximately free from interactions with the sun and solar system.
    17. Mentos Skateboard Rocket. YouTube video.
    18. Bottle Rockets. YouTube video from Science Buddies.
    19. NY Times editorial correction. Correction to the 1920 editorial. From NY Times.
    20. Gravity and Orbits. From PhET, University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
  9. Gravity
    1. Newton's Cannon. From the University of Virginia.
    2. Gravity and Orbits. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    3. Neptune. From NASA.
    4. The Wonderful Story of How Neptune was Discovered. From AstroAddict.
    5. Neptune. From Wikipedia.
    6. Neptune. From nineplanets.org by Bill Arnett.
    7. Plant Nine. From Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown, Caltech.
    8. Plant Nine Video. From Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown, Caltech.
    9. Cavendish Experiment Animation. From Physics-Animations.com.
    10. Cavendish's Experiment. From Science and Society Picture Library
    11. Stars and Black Hole. YouTube video of unknown origin.
  10. 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. Masses and Springs. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    5. Loop the Loop. From the University of Iowa.
    6. Stopped Pendulum. From University of Iowa.
    7. Large Pendulum. From University of Iowa.
    8. Molecular Vibrations. From UCLA.
    9. Molecular Vibrations. Controllable animation. From ChemTube3D
    10. States of Matter. From PhET.
    11. Ice Vibrations From Visionlearning.
    12. Four Stroke Engine YouTube video from Yash Verma.
    13. Otto Cycle Engine From Penn State University, Schuylkill.
    14. Internal Combustion Engine From How Stuff Works.
    15. Energy 101: Electricity Generation YouTube video from energynownews.
    16. Global Energy Balance Animated diagrams from Earthguide at UCSD.
  11. Electromagnetism
    1. Rutherford Scattering. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    2. Models of the Hydrogen Atom. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    3. Crystal Model of Sodium Chloride From ChemTube3D.
    4. Circuit Construction Kit: DC. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    5. How a Battery Works. Video from Kinetic School.
    6. Galvanic Cells Video from Tyler DeWitt.
    7. Jumping Wires From The University of Iowa.
    8. Parallel Wires From The University of Minnesota.
    9. Oersted Compass Needle From The Science Museum.
    10. Jumping Wires (Magnet acting on a wire). From The University of Iowa.
    11. Faraday's Laws - Induced Currents. From The University of Iowa.
    12. Charges and Fields. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    13. Electric Field Hockey From PhET, University of Colorado.
    14. Magnets and Electromagnets. From PhET, University of Colorado.
    15. Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab. From PhET, University of Colorado.
  12. Fluids
    1. The Shaky Life of a Water Drop in an Anise Oil-rich Environment. Gallery of Fluid Motion.
    2. The Cheerios Effect. From the University of Virginia.
    3. Mixing Sauces. Surprising flows with honey and mayonnaise mixtures. From Yonghao Yue.
  13. Waves
    1. Waves Intro. From PhET, the University of Colorado.
    2. Wave on a String. From PhET, the University of Colorado.
    3. Wave Interference. From PhET, the University of Colorado.
    4. Diffraction and Interference. From Dietrich Zawischa.
    5. Water Wave Interference. From Loyola University, Chicago.
    6. Microwave Interference. From The University of Iowa.
    7. Poisson Spot. From Physics World.
    8. Poisson Spot. From Harvard University.
    9. Radio Waves and Electromagnetic Fields. From PhET, the University of Colorado.
    10. Electromagnetic Spectrum Comprehensive Site from NASA.
    11. Electromagnetic Spectrum From NASA.
    12. Aircraft Landing. Doppler effect: aircraft landing at Princess Juliana Airport
    13. Aircraft Landing. Yet another landing at Princess Juliana Airport
    14. Extrasolar Planets. From California and Carnegie Planet Search.
    15. Standing Waves. From Paul Falstad.
    16. LIGO. Official LIGO site
  14. Quantum Theory
    1. Hydrogen atom models From PhET, the University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    2. How Does a PET Scan Work? NIBIB, National Institutes of Health.
    3. Photoelectric Effect From PhET, the University of Colorado.
    4. Photomultiplier From Ted Baldwin.
    5. Photomultiplier Tubes From Hamamatsu.
    6. Photomultiplier Tubes Handbook from Hamamatsu.
    7. Photon Absorption: Photoelectric Effect. From PSU Schuylkill.
    8. Photon Absorption: Atom Excitation. From Michael Richmond, RIT.
    9. Coherent Scattering. From From PSU Schuylkill.
    10. X-Ray Production. YouTube video from Succeed Technologies.
    11. X-ray Diffraction Patterns. From University of Pennsylvania.
    12. Quantum Wave Interference From PhET, the University of Colorado.
    13. Video recording true single-photon double-slit interference Reuben S. Aspden and Miles J. Padgett, American Journal of Physics, Vol 84, pg 671 (2006).
    14. Young's double-slit interference demonstration with single photons Bill J. Luo, Leia Francis; Valeria Rodriguez-Fajardo , Enrique J. Galvez, Farbod Khoshnoud, American Journal of Physics, Vol 92, pg 308 (2024).
    15. Fermi Bubbles. Gamma ray bubbles from NASA.
    16. Crookes Tube Paddlewheel. From Richard Walding.
    17. Electron interference patterns from IMM Institute of the Italian National Research Council (CNR)
    18. Electron Scattering Davisson-Germer experiment. From PhET, The University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    19. Single Slit Diffraction of Neutrons, C. G. Shull, Phys. Rev. 179, 252 (1969). Description of a neutron single slit diffraction experiment.
    20. Single and Double Slit Diffraction of Neutrons, A. Zeilinger, R. Gahler, C. G. Shull, W Treimer, W Mampe, Rev. Mod. Phys. 60, 1067 (1988). Description of a neutron single and double slit diffraction experiments.
    21. Matter Waves in Time-Modulated Complex Light Potentials, S. Bernet, R. Abfalterer, C. Keller, M. K. Oberthaler, J. Schmiedmayer, and A. Zeilinger, Phys. Rev. A, 62, 023606 (2000). Description of diffraction experiments with argon atoms.
    22. Wave Nature of Biomolecules and Fluorofullerenes, L. Hackermuller, S. Uttenthaler, K. Hornberger, E. Reiger, B. Brezger, A. Zeilinger, and M. Arndt, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 090408 (2003). Description of diffraction experiments with large molecules.
    23. Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules, A. D. Cronin, J. Schmiedmayer, and D. E. Pritchard, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 1051 (2009). Overview of particle interference experiments.
    24. Colloquium: Quantum interference of clusters and molecules, K. Hornberger, et. al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 84, 157 (2012). Description of a particle interference experiments.
    25. Fullerene Diffraction From Anton Zeilinger, University of Innsbruck, Austria,
    26. Electron microscopy Assorted images from Wikipedia.
    27. Electron diffraction Images from NIH.
    28. Hydrogen Spectrum from McQuarrie and Simon.
    29. Emission Spectra From JPL.
    30. Models of the Hydrogen Atom From PhET, The University of Colorado. Alternative link here.
    31. Quantum Cryptography Explained From Physics Girl.
  15. Nuclear Physics
    1. Chart of Nuclides (Isotopes) From the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
    2. Heavy Mouse Carbon-13 enriched mouse, from the University of Cambridge.
    3. Incredible Isotopes From IAEA.
    4. Alpha Decay From PhET, University of Colorado.
    5. Beta Decay From PhET, University of Colorado.
    6. Radioactive Half-Life From Andrew Duffy, Boston University.
    7. Radioactive Dating Game From PhET, University of Colorado.
    8. K-Ar Dating on Mars From The University of Queensland.
    9. Nuclear Fusion From Atomic Archive.
    10. Nuclear Fission From Atomic Archive.
    11. Nuclear Fission From PhET, University of Colorado.
    12. Nuclear Chain Reaction From Atomic Archive.
    13. Nuclear Fusion Reaction From Equinox Graphics for Science Photo Library.
    14. CNO Cycle in the Sun From Science Photo Library.