Physics 171.105: Fall 2011 

Classical Mechanics I

(Introduction to Classical Physics)


  1. Announcements
  2. Professor & TA Contact Information
  3. Class & Section Meeting Times
  4. Lab Section
  5. Course Description
  6. Textbooks
  7. Grading Method
  8. Exams
  9. Syllabus
  10. Homeworks

 

Announcement


Contact Information

 

Instructor
Teaching Assistant #1
 Teaching Assistant #2
N. Peter Armitage
 Liang Wu
 George Bruhn
npa AT jhu.edu
 liangwu AT pha.jhu.edu
 gbruhn AT pha.jhu.edu
410-516-3819 410-516-xxxx 410-516-xxxx
Bloomberg 309
 Bloomberg 125 Bloomberg xxx
Office Hours: Monday 2-3:30 pm.
 Office Hours: TBA

 Office Hours: TBA


Lectures

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 11-12 AM in 361 Bloomberg (third floor, in the corner next to the north stairs, to the right of the couches).

Conference

There will be two conference sections, which will take place concurrently on Thursdays, 10:30-11:20 AM.  One will take place in 361 Bloomberg (the same classroom as the lectures) and the other one in NW Athletic Center 150 on Homewood Campus, 

Syllabus and Homeworks

The syllabus will be updated as the course progresses.  Please check the problem set on this web page before handing in the homework!
 
Week  of Subject Matter Reading    Homework Set 
(Due in class on Fridays
except when noted)
Aug. 29
(#1)		 Measurements.
Motion in 1 dimension. Newton's laws.
No class Friday.  Professor Armitage away		 RHK 1 & 2.
Interesting news bit.		 E 1: 29,32.
Q 2: 1, 2, 3
E 2: 4, 6, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 40, 54.
Due Friday, Sep 9.
Solutions HW1
Sep. 5
(#2) 		Newton's laws.
No class on Monday (Labor day).
No class Friday.  Professor Armitage away		 RHK 2 & 3.
 E 2 32,46,54.
P 2: 18.
E 3: 6,14,28.
Due Friday, Sept. 16th
Solutions HW2
Sep. 12
(#3)
 Newton’s laws,  motion in more than one dimension. RHK 3, 4, & 5.
 E4.11,12,18,22,38;
P4.2,24.
E5.7,8,
P5.2
Due Friday Sept. 23rd.
Solutions HW3
Sep. 19
(#4) 		Application of
Newton's laws.
 RHK 5 E4.20,24,33,36,38
P4,20
E5.2,10,18
P5.6,10
Due Friday Sept. 30th
Solutions HW4
Sep. 26
(#5)
 Momentum.
 RHK 5 & 6.
 E6.4,10,20
P6.2,6,16,20
Due Friday Oct. 7th
Solutions HW5
Oct. 3
(#6)
 Systems of particles.
1st midterm:  Thu Oct 6, 		RHK 6& 7
 Mid Term 1 Solutions
Oct. 10
(#7)
 Rotational kinematic and dynamics.
 RHK 8 & 9. E7.6,22; P7.4,10
P8.2,9
Due Friday Oct. 21st
Solutions HW6
Oct. 17
(#8) 		Rotational dynamics. RHK 9
 E9.2,3,14,24,30,43;
P9.12,22
Due Friday Oct. 28th
Solutions HW7
Oct. 24
(#9)
 Angular momentum.  Kinetic Energy and Work. RHK 9 & 10. E10.2,6,8,18,24,26
P10.3,8
Due Friday November 4th.
Solutions HW8
Oct. 31
(#10)
 Kinetic Energy and Work.  Potential Energy.  General solution in 1D. Gradient. Kinetic energy of rotation. RHK 11, 12 (& 13).
E11.2,10,24,36
P11.8.20
Due Friday Nov. 11th.
Solutions HW9
Nov. 7
(#11) 		Potential Energy,
Kinetic energy in reference frames,
conservation of energy.
 RHK 12 & 13, 14-6,7.
 E12.3,6,16
P12.2,18
Due Friday Nov. 18th
Solutions HW10
Nov. 14
(#12)
 Gravitation.
Second midterm (Thu, Nov 17).
 RHK 14

Mid Term 2 Solutions
Nov. 21
(#13) 		Gravitation.
Central force-field motion.
No class on Wed. Fri (Thanksgiving).
 RHK 14.
 E14.2,10,14,24
P14.2,14
E15.5
P15.10
E17.2,25,44
E17.6,10
Due Friday Dec. 2nd
Solutions HW11
Nov. 28
(#14)
 Fluid statics,
Simple Harmonic Motion
 RHK 15,17
Dec. 5
 (Several problem-solving practice sessions, dates TBA.)
 
Dec. 14 Final exam
9-12 in discussion section classroom 		   

           

 


A note on homework:

Solving problems is not only the best way to learn physics, it is the only way. For this reason, the problem sets are probably the most important part of the course. You may work together on the problem sets; however the final write-up must be your own. To get the greatest benefit from the problem sets you should attempt to think through every problem yourself before discussing it with others. Problem sets are due by the end of the day Wednesday (either in class or in NPA's mailbox) the week after they were assigned. Homework will be graded and returned with solutions by Monday of the next week so that it can be discussed in section on Thursday. No credit will be given for homework submitted after the day they are due.   The problems in the book are divided into Questions, Exercises and Problems. They are referred to in the syllabus by Q, E or P followed by the chapter number and the problem number.  For example E2.8,20; P2.6,14 means ``Exercises 8 and 20 in Chapter 2 and Problems 6 and 14 in Chapter 2.''
Your homework should clearly indicate what steps you have taken in reaching your answer and why. Simply stating the answer is not sufficient.


Course Description

This course is a one semester introduction to classical mechanics.  It is the first course in a four semester introductory sequence that continues with Physics 106 and Physics 201-202 or 319-320. As such, it is primarily intended for students who are planning to take at least two years of physics courses.  Students planning to take a single year of physics should consider the introductory 101-102 or 103-104 sequences.
The goal of this course is to give a solid grounding in the core topics of classical mechanics, and to prepare students for further study in physics.  Anyone planning to take one or more year of additional physics is encouraged to consider the 105-106 sequence instead of the 101-102 or 103-104 sequence. Calculus will be used in keeping with the students’ level of math preparation, and additional mathematical techniques will be introduced as needed.
Corequisites – Introductory Physics Laboratory 173.115 and Calculus 110.108-109.4


Textbooks

  Required:  Physics 5th Ed., Vol. 1  by Resnick, Halliday, and Krane will be the main text for the course.  (ISBN 978-0-471-32057-9)
  Strongly Recommended: Used Math by Clifford Swartz is a useful reminder of relevant math and a handy reference. (All editions are OK.) (ISBN 0-917853-50-4)
Haliday and Resnick

Grading

Grades will be based on homework (20%), two mid-term exams (15% for the one with the lower score, and 25% for the other) and a final exam (40%).

Exams

Students will be allowed to bring one 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of notes into exams.  No calculators will be needed or allowed.  As in your homework, you should explain the reasoning behind your solutions.  The midterms will be held during normal class time (lectures or sections). The final exam will be held during the examination week.  The final exam will weigh the last third of the course slightly more heavily since this material will not be covered on a midterm.

Samples of exams from previous years:


Homewood-wide statement on Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability or believe you might have a disability that requires accommodations, please contact Dr. Richard Sanders, Homewood Undergraduate Disability Services Coordinator, in the Office of Academic Advising, Garland Suite 3A, (410) 516-8216, sanders@jhu.edu, to discuss reasonable and appropriate accommodations...

 

University-wide statement on Academic Ethics

The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity.  In this course, you must be honest and truthful.  Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition.  Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You may consult the associate dean of students and/or the chairman of the Ethics Board beforehand. See the guide on "Academic Ethics for Undergraduates" and the Ethics Board web site (http://ethics.jhu.edu )  or http://www.advising.jhu.edu/ethics.html for more information.