Course Description:

An introduction to the fundamental principles of physics with an emphasis in rigid-body mechanics. This course focusses on the classical theory of motion as understood using Newton’s laws and the conservation principles of energy and momentum.


Lesson Schedule
Lesson Date Topic Reading Homework Due
1 05-Mar Course Introduction Syllabus Intro MP
2 07-Mar Trig Review; Vectors: Addition Appendix A-2, Ch 3.1-3.2 Primer
3 10-Mar Vectors: Components Ch 3.2-3.4, 1.3 HW #03
4 12-Mar Introduction to Forces Ch 5.1-5.3 HW #04
5 14-Mar Newton's 1st Law: Inertia, Free-Body Diagrams Ch 5.6-5.7, 6.1 HW #05
6 17-Mar Newton's 1st Law: (Translational) Equilibrium Ch 5.7, 6.1 HW #06
7 19-Mar Motion, Kinematic Variables Ch 1.1-1.6 HW #07
8 21-Mar Instantaneous Values, Constant Acceleration Ch 2.1-2.4 HW #08
9 24-Mar Units and Dimensional Analysis Ch 1.8 HW #09
10 26-Mar Constant Acceleration: Free-Fall Ch 2.5-2.7 HW #10
11 28-Mar Newton's 2nd Law Ch 5.4, 5.5, 6.2 HW #11
12 31-Mar Dynamics: Mass, Weight, Weightlessness Ch 6.3 HW #12
E1 02-Apr Exam #1: Chapters 5, 6.1, 6.2, 1-3
13 04-Apr Newton's 3rd Law: Interactions, Action/Reaction Ch 7.1-7.3 HW #13
14 07-Apr Newton's 2nd & 3rd Laws: Defining Your System Ch 7.4-7.5, 6.6 HW #14
15 09-Apr Dynamics: Friction Ch 6.4-6.5 HW #15
16 11-Apr Motion in 2D: Projectiles Ch 4.1-4.2 HW #16
17 14-Apr Motion in 2D: Projectiles Ch 4.1-4.2 HW #17
18 16-Apr Motion in 2D: Circular Motion (Relative Mot. Optional) Ch 4.3-4.5 HW #18
19 23-Apr Dynamics: Circular Motion, UCM, Misc. Problems Ch 8.1-8.4 HW #19
20 25-Apr Vector (Cross) Product, Torque Ch 12.10, 12.5 HW #20
E2 28-Apr Exam #2: Chapters 4, 6-8
21 30-Apr Torque, Rotational Equilibrium, Center of Mass Ch 12.2, 12.5 HW #21
22 02-May Static Equilibrium Ch 12.8 HW #22
23 05-May Static Equilibrium Ch 12.8 HW #23
24 07-May Rotations and Angular Kinematics Ch 4.5-4.6, 12.1 HW #24
25 09-May Angular Kinematics and Rotational Dynamics Ch 12.4-12.7 HW #25
26 12-May Rotational Dynamics Ch 12.4-12.7 HW #26
27 14-May Intro to Work and Energy, Dot Product Ch 9.2-9.3 HW #27
E3 16-May Exam #3: Chapters 12, 4.5-4.6
28 19-May Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem Ch 9.1-9.5 HW #28
29 21-May Potential Energy, Gravitational Potential Energy Ch 10.1-10.3 HW #29
30 23-May Conservation of Energy Ch 10.4-10.7 HW #30
31 27-May Impulse and Momentum Ch 11.1-11.2 HW #31
32 28-May Conservation of Momentum, Collisions Ch 11.2-11.5 HW #32
33 30-May Misc. Problems with Energy, Momentum Ch 12.11 HW #33
34 02-Jun Angular Momentum Ch 9-11 HW #34
35 04-Jun Power, Last iclicker Problem Ch 9-11 HW #35
E4 06-Jun Exam #4, Chapters 9-11 HW #36
36 09-Jun Review
-- Advanced Topics: Equilibrium in 3D
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