Physics 131 - Physics for Biologists I (Fall 2019)

You can find an overview of the text readings for this class (plus readings I am not assigning) at: NEXUS/Physics.

Notes:

This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Reading Assignments are online with responses in Canvas due midnight the evening before the lecture. Paper assignments are due in class on Friday and the online assignments at 9 PM.
Attend recitation during the first week of class to do our surveys and meet the prof.
Recitations and labs begin on August 26th.
A (*) on the date indicates a recognized religious holiday. Please let me know in advance if you will have to miss class for it.
A "(RQ)" indicates there is a brief reading quiz based on that reading due before class the next day

Date	Class	Reading		Lab
Week 1			No recitation	No lab
8/26	1	Overview and introduction Thinking fast and slow: One-step thinking Modeling with mathematics How math in science in different from math in math Building your mathematical toolbelt
8/28	2	The structure of physical modeling Measurement Dimensionalities Complex dimensions and dimensional analysis Changing units
8/30	3	Significant (and insignificant) figures Scientific notation The idea of algebra: unknowns and relationships Symbols in science Variables, constants, and parameters		HW 0
Week 2			No recitation	No lab
9/4	4	Estimation (RQ) Some useful numbers Approximations Mathematics recap Vectors	Quiz 1
9/6	5	Overview: Where and when? Location in space -- Coordinates Time Derivatives What is a derivative, anyway? (RQ)	WAWA: Estimation	HW 1
Week 3			Recitation: How big is a worm?	Surveys and Lab 0: Intro and setup
9/9	6	Values, change, and rates of change Kinematics Graphs Velocity Acceleration	Quiz 2
9/11	7	Kinematic Variables (RQ) Average velocity Instantaneous velocity Calculating with average velocity
9/13	8	How can I actually use integrals? Average acceleration Instantaneous acceleration Calculating with constant acceleration (RQ)	WAWA: Position and velocity graphs	HW 2
Week 4			Recitation: The cat and the antelope	Lab 1.1: Quantifying motion from Images and Videos
9/16	9	Reading the physics in a graph Kinematics graphs and consistency Reading the content in the kinematics equations Overview - Newton's Laws Physical content of Newton's Laws (and the links from the bullet points)	Quiz 3
9/18	10	Anchor equations Formulation of Newton's laws as foothold principles Newton 0 System Schema Introduction Free-body diagrams (RQ)	WAWA: Graph consistency
9/20	11	Newton's 1st law Newton's 2nd law (RQ) Example: Applying Newton's 2nd law - simple case Newton 2 as a stepping rule		HW 3
Week 5			Recitation: Forces for objects & systems	Lab 1.2: Quantifying motion from Images and Videos
9/23	12	Reading the content in Newton's 2nd law Newton's 3rd law Using system schemas for Newton's 3rd law Reading the content in Newton's 3rd law	Quiz 4
9/25	13	Quantifying impulse and force Overview: Modeling Forces Toy models Springs (RQ) Normal forces A simple model of solid matter Tension forces	WAWA: Reasoning from principle (Finding invisible forces)
9/27	14	Resistive forces Friction (RQ) Viscosity Drag Reynolds' number		HW 4
Week 6			Recitation: The spring constant of DNA	Lab 2.1: Inferring force characteristics from motion analysis
9/30 (*)	15	Weight: Gravitational forces Flat-earth gravity Free-fall in flat-earth gravity The gravitational field	Quiz 5
10/2	16	No new reading. Catch up and review
10/4	17		MIDTERM 1
Week 7			Recitation: Propelling a paramecium	Lab 2.2: Inferring force characteristics from motion analysis
10/7	18	Vectors Adding vectors Example: Vector addition Example: Vector subtraction Electric forces Charge and the structure of matter
10/9 (*)	19	Polarization (RQ) Coulomb's law Coulomb's law -- vector character	Go over Exam 1
10/11	20	Reading the content in Coulomb's law (RQ) The Electric field	WAWA: Electric forces (functional dependence)	HW 5
Week 8			Recitation: Electric force and Hydrogen bonding	Lab 3.1: Brownian vs. directed motion
10/14	21	Overview: Coherent vs. random motion Linear momentum Restating Newton's 2nd law: momentum Example: The impulse-momentum theorem	Quiz 6
10/16	22	Momentum conservation (RQ) Reductionism and emergence The role of randomness: Biological implications
10/18	23	Diffusion and random walks (RQ) Fick's law Reading the content in Fick's law	WAWA: Random walk	HW 6
Week 9			Recitation: Electrophoresis	Lab 3.2: Brownian vs. directed motion
10/21	24	Macro models of matter Density-solids Young's modulus Soft matter Mechanical properties of cells	Quiz 7
10/23	25	Overview: Fluids Pressure (RQ) The micro-macro connection Kinetic theory: the ideal gas law
10/25	26	Partial pressure - gases Partial pressure - liquids Archimedes' Principle (RQ) Buoyancy	WAWA: Buoyancy	HW 7
Week 10			Recitation: Cell polarization and activation	Lab 4.1: Observing Brownian motion and diffusion in depth
10/28	27	Internal cohesion Surface tension Example: The Laplace Bubble Law	Quiz 8
10/30	28	Fluid f low Quantifying fluid flow The continuity equation (RQ)
11/1	29	Internal flow -- the HP equation External flow -- lift and drag	WAWA: Functional dependence	HW 8
Week 11			Recitation: Gas properties and pressure	Lab 4.2: Observing Brownian motion and diffusion in depth
11/4	30	Energy: The Quantity of Motion and its Distribution Kinetic energy and the work-energy theorem Reading the content in the Work-Energy theorem Comparing the Impulse-Momentum and Work-Energy theorems	Quiz 9
11/6	31	No new reading. Catch up and review
11/8	32		MIDTERM 2
Week 12			Recitation: Fluid flow	Lab 4.3: Observing Brownian motion and diffusion in depth
11/11	33	Energy of place -- potential energy Gravitational potential energy	Quiz 10
11/13	34	Spring potential energy (RQ) Electric potential energy	Go over exam 2
11/15	35	The conservation of mechanical energy (RQ) Interpreting mechanical energy graphs		HW 9
Week 13			Recitation: Energy skate park	Lab 5.1: Motion and work in living systems
11/18	36	Mechanical energy loss -- thermal energy Forces from potential energy Example: Getting forces from PE -1D The gradient: a vector derivative	Quiz 11 WAWA: Reading energy graphs (short)
11/20	37	Overview: Chemical energy Atomic and Molecular forces Interatomic forces (RQ) The Lennard-Jones potential Chemical bonding
11/22	38	Energy in fluid flow The work-energy theorem in fluids Bernoulli's principle Reading the content in Bernoulli's principle (RQ) The work-energy theorem and the H-P equation	WAWA: Chemical energy	HW 10
Week 14			No recitation	No lab
11/25	39	No new reading
Week 15			Recitation: Protein stability	Lab 5.2: Motion and Work in living systems
12/2	40	Overview: Heat and temperature Measuring temperature Thermal energy and specific heat The Micro to Macro Connection	Quiz 12
12/4	41	Heat capacity (RQ) Overview: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics Thermodynamic equilibrium and equipartition The 1st law of thermodynamics
12/6	42	Heat transfer (RQ) Conduction -- Fourier's law Example: Heat transfer - radiation The 2nd Law of thermodynamics The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: A Probabilistic Law		HW 11
Week 16				Makeup labs and surveys
12/9	43	No new reading. Catch up and review
Exam Week
12/13		6:30-8:30pm	FINAL EXAM Toolbelt	Location: ESJ 0202

Physics 131 Physics for Biologists I

Schedule - Redish

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Exam Week

Contact: Joe (E. F.) Redish (redish@umd.edu)