Dr. Mark I. Liff
Office: Search Hall, R#320, ph. 951-2879
GENERAL PHYSICS Prerequisites: L130, L121
- Catalog description.
The basic laws of mechanics and thermodynamics are covered in this one-semester course for non-science majors. The emphasis will be on understanding the major laws of physics and the ways they manifest themselves in practical applications and in laboratory experiments. The areas of most importance for architecture and interior design, such as statics, heat, sound, illumination will be covered in more details.
- Why do you need to study physics?
Architects and interior designers need to understand basic physical ideas underlying building technology and building materials as well as principles of structural design, acoustics and lighting design. If someone is taking this course as Science II requirement only, one can benefit by getting a better understanding of physical events of daily life.
- Is it difficult?
Physics explains the surrounding physical world and puts this explanation in the form of mathematical equations. To be prepared for this course you have to be good in algebra, trigonometry and high school physics. If you do not have these prerequisites, titanic efforts on your behalf are necessary. On the other hand, we will stay at the non-science major level throughout the entire course. The textbook (see below) is also for non-science majors.
- Homework.
A normal course in physics for non-science majors is a two-semester course.We are allowed only one semester (to save you time and resources). Extensive homework is assumed. In class we will be able to cover only major ideas. After every lecture you are supposed to work with the text. Every class you will be given a detailed assignment. Your tests and final exams will include issues covered in class directly plus issues supposed to be covered as home assignments.
- Solving Problems.
Problems will be the major component of your tests and finals, because they are extremely important in learning how to apply physics to architecture and other fields. In class we can solve only selected most typical problems. You understand that it is impossible to solve all problems in class. The problems for the tests and the final will be different from those already solved--the idea of a test is not to repeat the same problem, but to apply your knowledge and skills to a new situation.
- Attendance.
In the theoretical portion your attendance is expected. You may miss a class if you are positive you are able to get through the textbook on your own. I do not believe this is a wise strategy due to the following reasons. Every class I will present the main ideas in a nutshell. To do it on your own may take many hours working through many pages of the text. The other very important point: you have to make up for a missed class immediately (before the next class) because the following class requires understanding of the previous material. Therefore, the best and the only correct strategy is to visit every lecture and be accurate about every assignment. In the lab portion attendance is mandatory. There will be no individual make ups for the labs, since your safety is involved (high temperatures, electric currents) and I have to keep a close eye on what you are doing in the lab.
- Text:
D. C. Giancoli. Physics. 5th Ed. Prentice Hall.
Please, bring the text every class, we will use this text in class, specially its set of problems. You do not need to buy a lab manual. Instead, in the beginning of every lab I will give you a brief explanation of current experiments and you are supposed to take detailed notes.
Week by week listing of topics.
1. Velocity. Average and instantaneous velocity. Relative velocity. Components of velocity. Acceleration. Acceleration of gravity. Galileo: life and discoveries. Problems.(Chapters 2 & 3.)
2. Newtonian laws of motion. Forces. Net force (polygon of forces). Elasticity. Friction. Weight, weightlessness. Problems.(Ch. 4.)
3. Combined problems: Kinematics and Newtonian Laws.
4. Momentum. Collisions. Conservation of momentum. Work and energy. Kinetic and potential energy. Conservation of energy. Internal energy and heat and friction. Problems.(Ch. 6 & 7).
5. Statics. Forces in equilibrium. Torque. Rotational equilibrium. Point of balance. Center of mass. Simple machines: levers, pulleys, bikes. Stable and unstable equilibrium. Problems. (8-3; 9-1 to 9-5)
6. Introduction to materials. Mechanical properties of materials. Stress - strain diagrams. Elastic and plastic response. Yield. Different types of deformation: tension, compression, shear, bending, twisting. Pressure in solids and fracture. Spanning space. Arches. (9-6 to 9-9)
7. Vibrations. Harmonic oscillations. Waves. Frequency, amplitude, wavelength, speed. Energy in waves. Reflection. Standing waves. Resonance. Waves in water, earthquake waves and tsunami. (11).
8. Nature of sound. Speed, diffraction, interference. Sounds from different sources: trees, wires, etc. Acoustics. Reflection and absorption. Sound and ear. Intensity, loudness, timbre. Decibels. Doppler effect. (chapter 12).
9. Introduction to the kinetic theory of matter. Gases, liquids, solids. Melting, freezing, vaporization, condensation, evaporation. Temperature scales, absolute zero. Plasma. Heat and energy. Joule: life and discoveries. (13-1 to 13-6)
10. Heat conduction, convection and radiation. The first law of thermodynamics. The second law of thermodynamics. More about heat transfer: keeping cool and keeping warm. Problems. (14, 15-1, 15-4 to 15-8)
11.* Charges. Insulators, conductors. Grounding. Electric potential. Lightning. Current. Battery. Resistance. Ohm's law. DC and AC currents. (Chapters 16,17 & 18)
12.* Electromagnetic spectrum. Radiowaves. Microwave oven. Properties of light: reflection, refraction. Mirages. Light fibers. Lenses. Polarization and diffraction. (23 & 24).
13. * Colors and vision. Spectrum, dispersion. Rainbows. Blue sky, red sunset. Eye, seeing colors. Introduction to photometry, illuminance, flux, luminous intensity.
* - covered as a survey; no details, no problem solving in these topics.
Laboratory text (not required to purchase):
M.W. White & K.V. Manning. Experimental College Physics. MacGrow Hill.
Laboratory schedule.
1. ^Free fall. Testing of one dimensional kinematics. (Ch. 5.3.)
2. Density determination for different metals, based on measurements using vernier and micrometer calipers. (Ch. 3.1, 3.2.)
3. ^Atwood's machine. Newton's second law. (Ch. 6.1.)
4. ^Torque. Rotational equilibrium. (Ch. 9.1.)
5. ^Simple crane. (Ch. 9.2.)
6. ^Thermal linear expansion. Measurement of thermal coefficients for several materials. (Ch. 17.1.)
7. ^Specific heat of solids by use of calorimeter. (Ch. 19.1)
8. Thermal conductivity of different fabrics (wool, cotton). (Instructor's hand-outs)
9. ^Ohm's law. (Ch. 26.2.)
10. ^Series and parallel connection of resistors. (Ch. 27.2.)
11. ^Simple harmonic motion: spiral spring and simple pendulum. (Ch. 14.1, 14.2)
12. Resonance of sound waves. (Ch. 22.)
13. Lenses, mirrors and optical instruments. (Ch. 40.2, 41.1, 41.3.)
^ written reports might be needed
Grading
All labs............................................................................ 15 % of the grade
All tests and quizzes ......................................................... 45 %
Comprehensive final.......................................................... 40 %
You will have at least three tests (more, if necessary). Time for the tests will be announced one week in advance.
Points Grade
85-100 A
83-84 A-
81-82 B+
71-80 B
69-70 B-
67-68 C+
61-66 C
59-60 C-
57-58 D+
51-56 D
Special bonus for a successful final exam.
If you get A , A-, B+ or B for your final all your other grades that are lower than the grade for the final will be disregarded and substituted by this higher grade. To qualify for this bonus your lab attendance has to be no less than 90% (you can not miss more than 1 lab.) and you have to submit all required reports, and participate in all tests.
Make-ups. The percentage of the missed test automatically goes into the final. The final exam is mandatory. There will be no individualized make-ups.
Labs are graded either "done" or "undone".
Academic honesty. It is normal to discuss results of the labs with the members of your crew and other folks. Sometimes you can use the results obtained by others in your discussion, but in this case you must give a reference which shows the name of the provider of the information. It is self-evident that attempts to obtain information from the sources other than those specified by the instructor during tests and finals will not be tolerated
.