PH 2011 - Physics I - Mechanics

• Be able to use calculus to develop kinematics equations for the position, velocity, and acceleration of an object as a function of time, and use these to solve kinematic problems.
• Be able to use Newton’s Second Law of Motion to solve dynamics problems.
• Be able to identify forces related to each other through Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
• Be able to determine the work done on an object.
• Be able to use the Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem to solve problems.
• Be able to use the Conservation of Energy Principle and Conservation of Linear Momentum.
• Be able to use the gravitational force law to solve dynamics problems.
• Be able to relate the gravitational potential energy to the idea of a gravitational field.
• Be able to evaluate the behavior of simple harmonic motion.
• Be able to develop the kinematics equations for the angular velocity and angular acceleration of an object as functions of time, and use these to solve rotational kinematics problems.
• Be able to evaluate the torque on a system and determine the angular acceleration and the moment of inertia of an object.

• Be able to perform arithmetic operations using scientific notation and significant figures.
• Be able to convert from one set of units to another. (SI and British).
• Be able to resolve a vector into its components, and add and subtract vectors.
• Be able to solve one-dimensional kinematics problems with constant acceleration, and to understand the difference between velocity and speed.
• Be able to perform basic laboratory techniques involving measurements, graphing, and error analysis
• Be able to evaluate the derivatives of algebraic and trigonometric functions.
• Be able to interpret the derivatives (and slopes of graphs) in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration of a moving particle.

• One dimensional kinematics with constant acceleration (1 class)
• Kinematics in two dimensions with constant or non-constant acceleration (4 classes)
• Application of Newton’s Laws of Motion, for both static and dynamic problems (9 classes)
• Work & Energy, Impulse & Momentum (6 classes)
• Simple harmonic motion (1 class)
• Gravitation (3 classes)
• Torque and angular motion (3 classes)
• Testing (3 classes)

• An object in free fall.
• Projectile motion.
• Uncertainties in Measurements; graphical analysis.
• Propagation of Uncertainties.
• Friction.
• Free fall with air resistance.
• Conservation of mechanical energy.
• Work and Energy.
• Oscillatory motion.
• Experimental design and analysis.