PHYSICS 161 – SUMMER 2008

Department of Physics

University of Maryland

 

 

Instructor:        

Dr. Violeta A. Prieto

Email: violeta@umd.edu

Office Hours:   M W 11:00-12:00 and 4:15-5:15 or by appointment (except on exam dates)

 

Teaching assistants:

Katayoon Saadin, Section 0101                                       Brian Hamilton, Section 0181

Email: saadink@umd.edu,                                               Email: bkham@umd.edu

 

**   I am teaching TWO lectures —please check which section you are in ***

 

Lectures: 

Section 0101 M, Tu, W, Th, F     9:30am - 10:50am, Phys3301

Mastering Physics Course ID:  PRIETO1610101 —use your university ID as your identification # when you register

 

Section 0181 M, Tu, W, Th, F     5:30pm - 6:50pm, Phys 4220

Mastering Physics Course ID:  PRIETO1610181 —use your university ID as your identification # when you register

 

Discussion Sessions:       

The purpose of the discussion sessions is to discuss the material that you went over in the class, solve problems (other than the ones assigned as homework), clear up difficulties with concepts, and get feedback on homework and exam problems that you have already handed in.  Please attend these classes regularly and make good use of them.

 

Textbook:                  

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A strategic approach, Randall D. Knight; 2nd edition (Addison-Wesley)

Student Workbook, Randall D. Knight; 2nd edition (Addison-Wesley)

Mastering Physics, Student access kit

 

Course description:          

Physics 161 is the first of a three semester introductory course on physics.  The subjects covered will be mechanics and particle dynamics, and we will cover chapters 1–13 of the text. 

 

Prerequisites: 

MATH 141.  You are expected to know simple differentiation, integration as well as elementary algebraic manipulations and trigonometric rules.

 

Reading Assignments:    

You will be given assigned reading to do before almost every lecture. You are expected to take the reading assignment seriously, so that we can build on the material in the book and concentrate on solving problems in class.

 

Homework:     

There will be two weekly homework assignments, due on Mondays and Thursdays.  Each homework assignment will consist of two parts, one on masteringphysics.com and graded by the computer and the other to be handed in during class and graded by the TA. The first time you log on to masteringphysics.com you will need to enter the course ID. Homework submitted to masteringphysics.com will be due at 2:00pm (for all sections), with penalty for missing the deadline.  Homework to be handed in class is due before the end of the lecture period. Late homework will not be accepted for the homework to be submitted on paper since the solutions will be posted immediately after the homework is due.  

 

Quizzes:           

There will be two types of quizzes. At the beginning of some lectures you will be given reading quizzes, consisting of a simple multiple-choice or short-answer question designed to check whether you have done the assigned reading. During some discussion sections, you will be given quizzes with questions similar to the already turned in homework problems. The quizzes will not be announced in advance.

 

Midterm Exams:                         

There will be three midterm exams to be administered during lecture time:  Thursday, June 12, Wednesday, June 25, and Monday, July 7.

 

Final Exam:                        

There will be a 2 hour final exam. You must take the final exam in order to pass the course.

         

          Section 0101: Friday, July 11     8:50am – 10:50am

          Section 0181: Friday, July 11     5:30pm – 7:30pm

 

Grading:          

Your grade for the course will be based on the following percentages:

          Homework:                30%          

          Quizzes:            10%

          Midterm exams:        30%          

          Final exam:                 30%

 

Excuses

All excuses will require validation and after the fact excuses may not be acceptable. You must speak to the instructor; your TA does not have the authority to excuse you from any requirement.

 

Academic Integrity:

The consequences of academic dishonesty are very severe. For more information, please visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/code.html .

 

Tips for Doing Well:

Do the homework. It constitutes a large portion of your grade and will prepare you for the exams. It is not possible to learn the subject without working through the problems. Start the homework early, so that you have time to get help if you get stuck. Make sure you really understand the homework problems, and do additional problems and examples in the text that are similar to the homework problems. The student workbook that comes with your text is also a good source of practice problems.

 

Do the reading assignments. Prepare for class. Read the material in the textbook before the material is covered in lecture so you can maximize your understanding during lecture time. Read the book after to solidify any weak points.

 

Participate in class and in the discussions sections and ask questions. If you find yourself in trouble, seek help.  Contact the instructor or the TA.  Don’t wait until just before the exam. The summer session is VERY SHORT!

 

Remember that you are responsible for material discussed in class, including demonstrations, even if it does not appear in the textbook. You are also responsible for material in the text even if not covered in class.

 

Tentative schedule and reading assignments:

 

Date

Main Topics

Chapter

Reading Assignment

M 06/02

Intro. Motion diagrams.

1

1.1- 1.2

Tu 06/03

Position, velocity, acceleration.

1

1.3-1.8

W 06/04

1-D Kinematics

2

2.1-2.4

Th 06/05

1-D Kinematics cont.

2

2.5- 2.7

F 06/06

Vectors and coordinate systems

3

3.1- 3.4

M 06/09

2-D Kinematics, Projectile motion

4

4.1-4.3

Tu 06/10

Relative motion, Circular motion

4

4.4- 4.7

W 06/11

Force, Newton’s 2nd law

5

5.1-5.5

Th 06/12

Exam I (Ch 1- 4)

 

 

F 06/13

Newton’s 1st law, FBD

5 and 6

6.1- 6.3

M 06/16

Friction, Drag, Examples

6

6.4-6.6

Tu 06/17

2nd law examples. 3rd law

6 and 7

7.1-7.3

W 06/18

3rd law examples

7

7.4-7.4

Th 06/19

2-D dynamics, Circular motion

8

8.1-8.3

F 06/20

Orbits, Examples

8

8.4-8.5

M 06/23

Nonuniform circular motion, Momentum

8 and 9

8.7, 9.1-9.2

Tu 06/24

Conservation, Inelastic collisions, Explosions, 2-D

9

9.3-9.6

W 06/25

Exam II (Ch 1- 8)

 

 

Th 06/26

Kinetic energy, Gravitational potential energy

10

10.1-0.3

F 06/27

Elastic potential energy, collisions, Diagrams

10

10.4-10.7

M 06/30

Work and Kinetic energy, Examples, Variable force

11

11.1-11.4

Tu 07/01

Problems, Conservation

11

11.4-11.8

W 07/02

Power, Rotational motion and energy

11 and 12

11.9, 12.1-12.3

Th 07/03

Moment of inertia, Torque, Dynamics

12

12.4-12.8

F 07/04

Holiday

 

 

M 07/07

Exam III (Ch 1- 11)

 

 

Tu 07/08

Rolling, Angular momentum

12

12.9-12.11

W 07/09

Theory of Gravity

13

13.1-13.5

Th 07/10

Orbits and Kepler’s laws

13

13.6

F 07/11

Final Exam (Ch 1- 13)