Syllabus for Workshop Physics 311

The table below shows the sequence of topics we will cover in this course and the corresponding chapters from the text book.

The textbook is Halliday, Resnick and Walker Fundamentals of Physics, 7th Ed.

Week Topics Covered Text Book Chapters
1 Units and Conversions, Estimations, Measurements, Uncertainties, Propagation of Uncertainties, Position, Velocity, Acceleration, Graphs of 1-D Motion 1, 2 and uncertainties
2 LoggerPro Software, Motion Sensors, Vertical Motion of a Ball, Solving 1-D Kinematics Problems, Introduction to Vectors 2,3
3 Motion in 2-D, Motion on Curves, Uniform Circular Motion, Projectile Motion 4
4 Introduction to Forces, Free-Body Diagrams, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, Newton's Second Law Problems, Variable Forces - The Force Exerted by a Spring 5, 6
5 Newton's Second Law Problems, Variable Forces 6
6 Contact Friction, Newton's Second Law Problems, Kepler's Laws and Gravitation, Problems Involving Gravitation 6, 13
7 Work and Kinetic Energy, Work Done by Variable Forces, Work in Lifting a Backpack, Work Problems 7
8 Conservative vs Non-conservative Forces, Energy and the Simple Pendulum, Conservation of Mechanical Energy Lab, Energy Problems 8, 13
9 Impulse and Momentum, Collisions, Impulse and Momentum Problems, Center of Mass Problems, Center of Mass Simulations 9
10 Energy and Momentum, Ballistic Pendulum, Energy and Momentum Problems, Review 9

Intended Learning Outcomes

  1. Use significant figures, units, and vector notation properly.
  2. Demonstrate skill in solving and presenting problem solutions.
  3. Use appropriate verbal, graphical and mathematical descriptions of physical phenomena.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of kinematics variables and be able to use them in analyzing physical situations.
  5. Use Newton's Laws to analyze physical situations.
  6. Use work, energy, power and the Conservation of Mechanical Energy in analyzing physical situations.
  7. Use impulse, momentum and the Conservation of Linear Momentum in analyzing physical situations.
  8. Choose the appropriate combination of approaches (kinematics, Newton's Laws, energy, momentum) to analyze physical situations.
  9. Practice the scientific process: identify a problem; make predictions and develop a testable hypothesis; design an experimental investigation; collect, organize and analyze experimental data, recognizing the inherent uncertainty in all measurements and their effect on calculated quantities; draw conclusions supported by the data; present results.

Student success at achieving the learning outcomes will be assessed through a combination of tests, homework assignments and lab reports.

This page maintained by Dr. Christopher O'Dea. Last modified March 7, 2007.