PH 2010A - Physics I-Mechanics

• 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
• Use Newton’s Second Law of Motion to solve dynamics problems
• Identify forces related to each other through Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
• Determine the work done on an object
• Use the Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem to solve problems
• Use the Conservation of Energy Principle and Conservation of Linear Momentum
• Determine the location of the center of mass of a system of particles
• Use the Impulse-Momentum Theorem to solve problems
• Use the gravitational force law to solve dynamics problems
• Relate the gravitational potential energy to the idea of a gravitational field
• Evaluate the behavior of simple harmonic motion
• 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 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 (10 classes)
• Work & Energy, Impulse & Momentum (7 classes)
• Simple harmonic motion (2 classes)
• Gravitation (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
• Impulse and change in momentum
• Oscillatory motion
• Experimental design and analysis