Physics 171.105: Fall 2005

Introduction to Classical Physics

Page Contents:

  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

 

Announcements:


[19 Dec 2005]: Here is the solution set for our final exam.

 

[12 Dec 2005]: Final exams from previous years have been posted.

 

[7 Dec 2005]: A review session will be held on Wednesday, Dec 14, from 11 to 12 in 361 Bloomberg.


[7 Dec 2005]: New homework has been posted.

Previous announcements are archived here.

 

Contact Information
 

Professor

Teaching Assistant

Oleg Tchernyshyov

Hyun Youk

olegt@jhu.edu

hyun.youk@jhu.edu

410-516-8586

410-516-6694

Bloomberg 323

Bloomberg 346

Office Hours: M 3-4, W 4-5

Office Hours: Fri. 12-1, M 4-5

Class:
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 11-12 AM in 361 Bloomberg.

Section:
Thursday, 11-12 AM in 274 Bloomberg.

Lab section (173.115):
Monday 6-9 PM.  An effort will be made to synchronize the experiments with material covered in the lecture.

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.

Textbooks:
  Required:  Physics 5th Ed., Vol. 1  by Resnick, Halliday, and Krane will be the main text for the course.
  Strongly Recommended: Used Math by Clifford Swartz is a useful reminder of relevant math and a handy reference.

Grading:

Grades will be based on homework (1/3), two mid-term exams (1/6  each) and a final exam (1/3).

 

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. 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:

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 on the Tuesday the week after they were assigned. Homework will be graded and returned with solutions by Wednesday of the same week so that it can be discussed in section on Thursday. No credit will be given for homework submitted after the solutions are distributed.

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.

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.

Syllabus: The syllabus will be updated as the course progresses.
 

Week of

Subject Matter

Reading

Homework Set

Sept. 12

Measurements. Motion in 1 dimension.

RHK 1 & 2.
S 1, 2, 10.

E1.30,32; E2.8,10,24,32,46,54; P2.18. Due Tue, Sep 20, in class.

 

 

Sept. 19

Newton’s laws

RHK 3 & 4.

E3.6,14,28; P3.2,10; E4.18,22,38; P4.2,24. Due Tue, Sep 27, in class.

Sept. 26

Application of Newton's laws.

RHK 5

E5.7,8,18,22,27,34; P5.2,18.  You may do P5.11 for extra credit.  Due Tue, Oct 4, in class.

Oct. 3

Momentum. Systems of particles.

RHK 6 & 7.

S 13.

E6.10,18,34; P6.4,10; E7.6,22; P7.4,10.  Due Tue, Oct 11, in class.

Oct. 10

Rotational kinematics and dynamics.

RHK8.

S 9.3.

No homework is assigned.

Oct. 17

Rotational dynamics. First midterm (Tue, Oct 18).

RHK 9.

P8.2,9; E9.2,3,14,24,30,43; P9.12,22; Extra credit: P9.2.  Due Tue, Oct 25, in class.

Oct. 24

Angular momentum.

RHK 10.

E10.2,3,11,12,18,24,26;P10.2,5.  Due Tue, Nov 1, at noon in TA's mailbox.

Oct. 31

Energy and work.

RHK 11&12.

E11.6,38,40; P11.20; E12.8,15,23; P12.5.  Due Tue, Nov 8, in class.

Nov. 7

Conservation of energy. Gravitation

RHK 13&14.

S 16.

E13.2,14,20; P13.6; E14.7,10,12,16,36; P14.16.  Extra credit: P14.11.  Due Tue, Nov 15, in class.

Nov. 14

Fluid statics.

RHK 15.

S 9.2, 9.3.

No homework is assigned.

Nov. 21

Fluid dynamics. Second midterm (Tue, Nov 22).

RHK 16.

E15.10,20,28; P15.2,12;E16.2,14,23; P16.4.  Due Tue, Nov 29, in class.

Nov. 28

Oscillations.

RHK 17.

S 11.

E17.20,32,44; P17.3,4,12,13. Due Tue, Dec 6, in class.

Dec. 5

Waves.

RHK 18.

S 14.

  E18.2,4,8,14,22,30; P18.3,20. Due Wed, Dec 14, in the review session.

Dec. 12

Sound.

RHK 19

 

Dec. 19

Final exam.