Classroom time will be divided between the presentation and discussion of concepts on the one hand and the application of these concepts in problem solving on the other, with the majority of time devoted to the latter. The laboratory program will involve weekly, three hour sessions during which students will perform a set number of experiments. This course may involve some group work.
Mechanics:
- Kinematics of a particle: one dimension:
- Velocity and acceleration
- Rectilinear motion with constant acceleration
- Vectors:
- Vector versus scalar
- Vector addition
- Unit vector notation
- Multiplication of vectors
- Kinematics of a particle: two dimensions:
- Projectile motion
- Uniform circular motion
- Relative velocity
- Dynamics of a particle:
- Newton’s laws of motion
- Friction
- Centripetal force
- Work and energy:
- Work done by constant and variable forces
- Kinetic energy
- Gravitational potential energy
- Elastic potential energy
- Conservative and non-conservative forces
- Power
- Work-energy theorem
- Conservation of energy
- Relative mass and energy
- System of Particles:
- Centre of mass determination
- Centre of mass motion
- Conservation of linear momentum
- Impulse
- Collisions
- Rotational motion:
- Kinematics of pure rotation
- Torque and moment of inertia
- Dynamics of pure rotation
- Angular momentum
- Statics:
- Conditions for equilibrium
- Equilibrium of a rigid body
- Oscillatory Motion:
- Simple harmonic motion
- Pendulum motion
- Gravitation:
- Law of gravitation
- Wave motion:
- Mechanical waves
- Wave speed
- Harmonic waves
- Superposition principle
- Interference of waves
- Standing waves
- Resonance in air columns
- Doppler effect
Heat:
- Thermometry
- Thermal expansion of solids and liquids
- Specific heat
- Heat of transformation
- Calorimetry
- First Law of Thermodynamics
Laboratory Experiments:
- One-dimensional motion kinematics
- Projectile motion
- Friction coefficients
- Simple Pendulum
- Collisions
- Rotational motion dynamics
- Orbital motion and centripetal force
- Static equilibrium
- Hooke’s law and simple harmonic motion
- Standing waves / resonance
- Thermal expansion of solids / First Law of Thermodynamics
- Heat capacity / conservation of energy
The student will be able to:
1. Identify the following quantities and their appropriate units and dimensions; displacement; velocity; acceleration; force; mass; work; kinetic energy; potential energy; power; linear momentum; impulse; angular displacement, velocity and acceleration; moment of inertia; rotational kinetic energy; angular momentum; torque; amplitude, period and frequency of motion; wavelength; wave intensity; intensity level; temperature; pressure; heat.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the following concepts, procedures and principles of mechanics and heat through the solution of problems: vector algebra via components and unit vector notation; average velocity and instantaneous velocity; average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration; uniformly accelerated motion; free-fall motion; Newton’s laws of motion; friction and coefficient of friction; conditions for equilibrium; work-energy theorem; conservation of mechanical energy; conservation of energy; centre of mass motion; conservation of linear momentum; centripetal acceleration and force; universal law of gravitation; rotational motion; rolling motion; conservation of angular momentum; statics; Hooke’s law; simple harmonic motion; wave parameters; superposition principle; resonance; intensity level versus intensity of sound; Doppler effect; thermal expansion of solids and liquids; calorimetry; First Law of Thermodynamics.
3. Perform laboratory experiments and analyze the data obtained using appropriate graphing techniques, scientific notation, significant figures and experimental uncertainty consideration.
4. Write a laboratory report in a conventional format required of submissions to scientific journals.
| Final exam | 30-40% |
| Tests (at least two) | 40-50% |
| Laboratory reports | 20% |
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students
Halliday, D., R. Resnick, & Walker, G. Fundamentals of Physics, Sixth Edition, Wiley, 2001.
Douglas College, Physics 1110 Laboratory Experiments.
Physics 12 (C or higher) & B.C. Principles of Math 12 (C or higher)