Schedule

Welcome to Honors Physics

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:27:45 -0400

This is a two semesters introductory physics course intended primarily but not limited to freshmen interested in sciences. During the first semester we will begin by discussing the role of physics in understanding workings of nature; the approach physicists take to achieve this goal and location of physics with respect to other sciences. We will discuss the evolution of the knowledge base, breakthrough discoveries, ideas, and development of mathematics as language of physics. We will illustrate rules of the game for physicists by studying motion. First we will develop tools to describe motion (kinematics) and then ask the question what makes things move (dynamics).
 We want the best, most efficient, most flexible language to describe and communicate our findings (algebra, calculus). Every time we come across new tools to we will have to practice in using them (solve problems). We will discuss how "simple things and relations” (symmetries) may have very profound consequences (relativity, quantum world). We will have to discuss the nature and sources of limitations in our ability to describe things and how we will go about it (statistics, thermodynamics)  Once we have collected the basic rules and mastered the tools we will look at many examples, which we hope you will find exciting (collisions, rotations, oscillations).
Go to the links on the left panned to find out more about the requirements, class schedule and current events.

Administrative

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:30:44 -0400

Enrollment Policy:
To enroll you must obtain permission from the instructor (Prof. Adam Szczepaniak) . Please contact me by phone (812-855-3977, -2955) or e-mail. This is a 5 credit hour course. Please note that there will be no distinction between lecture and discussion meetings. Labs and research projects in the honors section will be carried out in SW135 outside of class hours. You will have access to SW135 - each student will be given a key to the room.

Classroom Participation: Class participation is essential in this course. You will be expected to make frequent presentations including: problem solutions and brief talks. I also encourage students to work together in groups on problem solutions (which will be due almost daily) and lab projects. You are expected to attend all classes.

Software: We make use of software in this course for communication. The Mac G4 computers (with flat panel displays) in SW135 have software for preparing reports, web sites, collecting data and analyzing data. Please make yourself familiar with these packages. Your AI's and I will help with you getting started.

Final Grade: The final grade will be based on
Class Participation (10 %) Problem Sets (20 %) Exam 1 (10 %) Exam 2 (10 %) Exam 3 (10 %) Final Exam (10 %) Quizzes (10 %) Lab & Project (20 %)
We will maintain cumulative grades for labs, homework, quizzes and exams on Oncourse

References

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:26:31 -0400

Some of you may still have the 7th edition. This is fine, the chapters are essentially the same. The homework assignments posted in the schedule pages refers to problems in the 8th edition. You can use the translator to figure out what would be the problem you your 7th edition.

We will also frequently use Feynman's Lectures on Physics. This is an excellent book and I recommend you read it at you leisure.

Other good books are listed below
• Newtonian Mechanics (The M. I. T. Series) by A. P. French W. W. Norton, 1971. ISBN 0-393-09970-9.
• Vibration and Waves (The M. I. T. Series) by A. P. French W. W. Norton, 1971. ISBN 0-393-09936-9.
• Mechanics (Vol 1 of the Berkeley Physics Course) by Kittel, Knight and Ruderman McGraw-Hill, 1968.
• Waves (Vol 3 of the Berkeley Physics Course) by Frank Crawford, Jr. McGraw-Hill, 1968.
• Used Math (2nd ed) by Clifford Swartz American Association of Physics Teachers, 1993. ISBN 0-917853-50-4.
• The Cosmological Milkshake by Robert Ehrlich Rutgers University Press, 1995 (second printing) ISBN 0-8135-2045-2.
• Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations by Robert Ehrlich Princeton Paperbacks, 1990. ISBN 0-691-02395-6.
• Numerical Methods for Physics by Alejandro L. Garcia Prentice Hall, 1994. ISBN 0-13-151986-7.
• A Practical Guide to Data Analysis for Physical Science Students by Louis Lyons Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9-780521-424639.
• Electricity and Magnetism by E. Purcell - Berkeley Course in Physics - Vol 2 2nd ed. MacGraw-Hill ISBN 0-07-004908-4

Software and Tools

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:19:11 -0400