PHYSICS 140

ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS I

FALL 2006

Catalog Description:

PHYS 140-141

(E) Elements of Physics 8 credits

(Co-requisite: Mathematics 114-221) Calculus-based introduction to the elements of physics. Topics covered: mechanics, heat, sound, light electricity and magnetism. Required of physics, EE, mathematics, computer science and chemistry majors. Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per semester.

Textbook and useful websites:

PHYSICS for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach. Randall D. Knight. Pearson/Addison Wesley (2004). Besides the text you absolutely must have the accompanying Student Workbook. The two websites that support the course are at:

www.masteringphysics.com and www.aw-bc.com/knight .

Coordinator:

Paul F. Fahey, Ph.D., Room 279 Harper-McGinnis Wing of St. Thomas Hall. Email: faheyp1@scranton.edu

Goals:

This course should impart a good understanding of general physical principles (such as conservation laws) and their implications for the other natural sciences and engineering. Students should also enhance their analytical and problem solving skills.

Attendance Policy:

Students are responsible for all material assigned. Cuts will be recorded only for students receiving failing grades after the midterm. These students will be permitted no unexcused cuts.

Assessment:

The primary assessment will be via three full period tests and the final (which will count as one and one-half tests). There will also be some short quizzes at the beginning of class on the reading assignment for that day. All of these quizzes added together will equal one full period test. Quiz material will be announced one class period prior to the quiz and test material will be announced at least one week prior to the test date. There will be tests on Friday, September 15; Friday, October 13; Friday, November 10. The time and date of the final will be announced by the Registrar. Also, there will be Workbook exercises for regular and for extra credit and there will be plenty of other extra credit opportunities.

Topics:

These topics comprise the chapter contents of the textbook. Notice that there are 14 weeks plus a finals week in the semester and there are 18 topics in the list below. Therefore, the pace will be a little quicker than one topic per week. You must gear up to full study speed in the first week.

1. Concepts of Motion.
2. Kinematics: Mathematics of Motion.
3. Vectors and Coordinate systems.
4. Forces and Motion.
5. Motion along a line.
6. Motion in a plane.
7. Motion in a circle.
8. Newton’s Third Law.
9. Impulse and Momentum.
10. Energy.
11. Work.
12. Newton’s Theory of Gravity.
13. Rotation of a Rigid Body.
14. Oscillations.
15. Fluids and Elasticity.
16. A Macroscopic Description of Matter.
17. Work, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics.
18. The Micro/Macro Connection.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-9:00
9:00-9:50	OFFICE	OFFICE	OFFICE	OFFICE	OFFICE
10:00-10:50
11:00-11:50	PHYS 140 STT 363		PHYS 140 STT 363		PHYS 140 STT 363
12:00-2:00
2:00-2:50	PHYS 140 STT 211		PHYS 140 STT 211		PHYS 140 STT 211
3:00 4:00					RESEARCH SEMINAR
7:00 8:00			SEMINAR Provost Conf. Rm.

PAUL FAHEY, Ph.D. Fall Semester 2006

Office hours are by appointment preferred