Department of Physics/Science

Physics 2101:  Physics I Homepage

Instructor E-mail:  Dr. David Bahr  [Office hours]
Phone:     (218)755-2916

Note to students:  Physics Club problem-solving clinic schedule in Sattgast 334, or check with a Physics Club member.
Preliminary Course Syllabus
Textbook Interactive Website       
Student Study Guide -- selected homework problems with solutions
PHGradeAssist2

Course Agenda (revised 11/5/2009):
Week 1:  Tools; Straight-Line Motion
    8/24/2009:  Course introductions; fundamental quantities, accuracy and significant figures.
    8/25/2009:  Lab 1:  Intro to lab; PHGradeAssist2 registration
    8/26/2009:  Scientific notation, unit conversion; scalars and vectors
    8/27/2009:  Displacement, velocity, acceleration in one dimension
    8/28/2009:  Kinematics of constant acceleration; free-fall
Week 2:  Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
    8/31/2009:  Free-fall kinematics; more on vectors
    9/1/2009:  Lab 2:  Picket fence free fall
    9/2/2009:  Kinematics in two and three dimensions
    9/3/2009:  Projectile motion
    9/4/2009:  Uniform circular motion
Week 3:  Newton's Laws
    9/7/2009:  Labor Day - no classes
    9/8/2009:  Lab 3:  Atwood's machine
    9/9/2009:  Homework review
    9/10/2009:  Newton's three laws; free-body analysis
    9/11/2009:  Quiz 1 (in class)
Week 4:  Work and Energy
    9/14/2009:  Work and kinetic energy of unbalanced forces
    9/15/2009:  Lab 4:  Uniform circular motion - centripetal acceleration; HW1 due (online)
    9/16/2009:  Work and potential energy of balanced forces
    9/17/2009:  Conservation of mechanical energy
    9/18/2009:  Homework review
Week 5:  Linear Momentum
    9/21/2009:  Linear momentum, conservation of momentum
    9/22/2009:  Lab 5:  Kinetic and potential energy
    9/23/2009:  Elastic and inelastic collisions
    9/24/2009:  Center of mass
    9/25/2009:  Homework review
Week 6:  Rigid Rotational Motion
    9/28/2009:  Definition of rotational kinematics; torque and rotational inertia
    9/29/2009:  Lab 6: Conservation of Linear Momentum & Energy
    9/30/2009:  Rotational kinetic energy and its conservation
    10/1/2009:  Rotational momentum and its conservation
    10/2/2009:  No class; faculty in-service day
Week 7:  Generalized Torque and Angular Momentum
    10/5/2009:  Generalized torque and angular momentum
    10/6/2009:  Lab 7:  Torque and Moment of Inertia; HW2 due (online)
    10/7/2009:  Quiz 2 (in class)
    10/8/2009:  Conservation of angular momentum
    10/9/2009:  Rotational work and energy
Week 8:  Statics
    10/12/2009:  Conditions for static equilibrium
    10/13/2009:  Lab 8:  Statics
    10/14/2009:  Elasticity, deformation and fracture
    10/15/2009:  Homework review; Newton's Law of Gravitation
    10/16/2009:  Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
Week 9:  Gravitation
    10/19/2009:  Hooke's Law; simple harmonic motion; the simple pendulum
    10/20/2009:  Lab 9:  Pendulum Periods; HW3 due (online)
    10/21/2009:  Quiz 3 (in class); mid-course evaluations
    10/22/2009:  Damped harmonic motion
    10/23/2009:  Forced harmonic motion; resonance
Week 10:  Simple Harmonic Motion
    10/26/2009:  Definition of waves; wave types and characteristics
    10/27/2009:  Lab 10:  Harmonic Oscillations
    10/28/2009:  Standing waves
    10/29/2009:  The wave equation; energy transport
    10/30/2009:  Homework review
Week 11:  Wave Motion
    11/2/2009:   The superposition principle
    11/3/2009:  Lab 11:  Standing Waves in a Cord (Meldes' Experiment) photos
    11/4/2009:  Spatial interference - constructive and destructive
    11/5/2009:  Temporal interference (beats); HW4 due (online)
    11/6/2009:  Quiz 4 (in class)
Week 12:  Superposition; Spatial and Temporal Interference
    11/9/2009:  Sound
    11/10/2009:  Lab 12:  Standing Waves of Sound
    11/11/2009:  The Doppler effect
    11/12/2009:  States of matter; density and pressure
    11/13/2009:  Pascal's and Archimedes' principles
Week 13:  Fluid Mechanics
    11/16/2009:  Bernoulli's principle and applications; Torricelli's principle
    11/17/2009:  Lab 13:  Newton's Law of Cooling
    11/18/2009:  Temperature and heat; heat transfer and calorimetry
    11/19/2009:  States, processes, reversibility; cycles; the First Law of Thermodynamics
    11/20/2009:  The kinetic theory of gases; statistical mechanics
Week 14:  Thermal Physics
    11/23/2009:  The Second Law of Thermodynamics
    11/24/2009:  Lab 14:  Calorimetry
    11/25-27/2009:  Thanksgiving Break - no classes
Week 15:  Thermodynamics
    11/30/2009:  Heat engines, efficiency and the Carnot cycle
    12/1/2009:  Lab 15:  TBA
    12/2/2009:  Second Law in terms of entropy
    12/3/2009:  Homework review; HW5 due (online)
    12/4/2009:  Quiz 5 (in class)
Week 16:  Finals Week
    12/7/2009:  Homework review; course evaluations; assessment post-test (online)
    12/8/2009:  Lab make-up day; final exam study help available during lab periods
    12/11/2009:  Final Exam  8:00 - 10:00 in room S201  click here for crib sheet
                Note:  The final exam generally will not be available to students arriving late.

Last modified:  11/5/2009
Comments to:  dbahr@bemidjistate.edu