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PHYS 111 Syllabus

Basic Physics I [4 credits]
Textbook: College Physics (7th ed)
R.A. Serway & J.S. Faughn
(Thomson- Brooks/Cole)

Topics Covered:

MECHANICS: Introduction (Standards of Length, Mass, and Time; The Building Blocks of Matter; Dimensional Analysis; Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures; Conversion of Units; Estimates and Order-of-Magnitude Calculations; Coordinate Systems: Trigonometry; Problem-Solving Strategy) , Motion in One Dimension (Displacement. Velocity; Acceleration. Motion Diagrams; One-Dimensional Motion with Constant Acceleration; Freely-Falling Objects) , Vectors and Two-Dimensional Motion (Vectors and Their Properties; Components of a Vector; Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration in Two Dimensions; Motion in Two Dimensions; Relative Velocity) , The Laws of Motion (Forces; Newton's Laws; Applications of Newton's Laws; Forces of Friction) , Energy Work; Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem; Gravitational Potential Energy; Spring Potential Energy; Systems and Energy Conservation; Power; Work Done by a Varying Force) , Momentum and Collisions (Momentum and Impulse; Conservation of Momentum; Collisions; Glancing Collisions; Rocket Propulsion) , Rotational Motion and the Law of Gravity (Angular Speed and Angular Acceleration; Rotational Motion Under Constant Angular Acceleration; Relations Between Angular and Linear Quantities; Centripetal Acceleration; Newtonian Gravitation; Kepler's Laws) , Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics (Torque; Torque and the Two Conditions for Equilibrium; The Center of Gravity; Examples of Objects in Equilibrium; Relationship Between Torque and Angular Acceleration; Rotational Kinetic Energy; Angular Momentum) , Solids and Fluids (States of Matter; The Deformation of Solids; Density and Pressure; Variation of Pressure with Depth; Pressure Measurements; Buoyant Forces and Archimedes's Principle; Fluids in Motion; Other Applications of Fluid Dynamics; Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscous Fluid Flow; Transport Phenomena) ,
THERMODYNAMICS: Thermal Physics (Temperature and the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics; Thermometers and Temperature Scales; Thermal Expansion of Solids and Liquids; Macroscopic Description of an Ideal Gas; The Kinetic Theory of Gases) , Energy in Thermal Processes (Heat and Internal Energy; Specific Heat; Calorimetry; Latent Heat and Phase Change; Energy Transfer; Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases) , The Laws of Thermodynamics (Work in Thermodynamic Processes; The First Law of Thermodynamics; Heat Engines and the Second Law of Thermodynamics; Entropy; Human Metabolism) ,
VIBRATIONS AND WAVES: Vibrations and Waves (Hooke's Law; Elastic Potential Energy; Comparing Simple Harmonic Motion with Uniform Circular Motion; Position, Velocity, and Acceleration as a Function of Time; Motion of a Pendulum; Damped Oscillations; Waves. Frequency, Amplitude, and Wavelength; The Speed of Waves on Strings; Interference of Waves; Reflection of Waves) , Sound (Producing a Sound Wave; Characteristics of Sound Waves; The Speed of Sound; Energy and Intensity of Sound Waves; Spherical and Plane Waves; The Doppler Effect; Interference of Sound Waves; Standing Waves; Forced Vibrations and Resonance; Standing Waves in Air Columns; Beats; Quality of Sound; The Ear)

 

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