PHYS 1111 Syllabus

Subject Code

PHYS

Course Number

1111

Course Title

Introductory Physics I

Prerequisites

ENGL 1101 with a grade of C or higher, and MATH 1112 with a grade of C or higher or MATH 1113 with a grade of C or higher

Corequisites

PHYS 1111L

Terms Offered

Credit Hours

Course Description

This course is the first course of two algebra and trigonometry based courses in the physics sequence. Topics include material from mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum and collisions, rotational motion, static equilibrium, elasticity theory, and simple harmonic motion), mechanical waves, the theory of heat and heat transfer, and thermodynamics.

Course Outcomes

Measurements and Systems of Units

  • Express and manipulate numbers in scientific notation.
  • Explain the various unit systems and conversion of units.
  • Explain dimensional analysis.
  • Explain significant figures and uncertainties.
  • Explain the difference between vector and scalar quantities, and the properties of vectors.
  • Perform vector addition and subtraction.
  • Understand and use coordinate systems.
  • Understand and apply basic trigonometry.

Newton's Laws

  • State Newton's laws for motion.
  • Calculate the gravitational attraction between two bodies.
  • Distinguish between force and mass and define the units of each.
  • Define static and kinetic frictional forces.
  • Solve dynamics problems involving constant forces.

Work, Energy, and Power

  • Define work, potential energy, kinetic energy and power, and identify the units of each.
  • State and apply the law of conservation of energy.
  • Compute the work done by both constant and varying forces.
  • Use the work-energy theorem in solving problems.
  • Compute the translational kinetic energy of a body.
  • Compute the elastic potential energy stored in a spring.
  • Compute the gravitational potential energy of an object.
  • Compute the power given appropriate parameters.

Momentum and Collisions

  • Define momentum and identify its units.
  • Define impulse and identify its units.
  • State the law of conservation of momentum.
  • Solve elastic and inelastic collision problems.

One- and Two- Dimensional Motion

  • Define displacement and identify its units.
  • Define both velocity and speed, and identify their respective units.
  • Define acceleration, and identify its units.
  • Solve problems involving uniformly accelerated motion and free falling objects.

Circular Motion and Law of Gravity

  • Define angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration, and identify their respective units.
  • Solve problems involving circular motion.
  • Define and calculate centripetal force and centripetal acceleration.
  • Understand and calculate the gravitational attraction between two bodies.

Rotational Dynamics and Static Equilibrium

  • Define torque and identify its units.
  • Compute the torque generated by a force about an axis.
  • Determine the moment of inertia of a rigid body about a given axis.
  • State the conditions of mechanical equilibrium.
  • Solve problems involving systems in the state of mechanical equilibrium.
  • State the law of conservation of angular momentum.
  • Solve problems with conservation of angular momentum.

Elasticity Theory; Harmonic Motion

  • Define stress and identify its units.
  • Calculate stress.
  • Define strain and identify its units.
  • Calculate the moduli of elasticity.
  • Solve problems involving simple harmonic motion.

Theory of Heat and Heat Transfer

  • Explain the difference between the terms heat energy and internal energy.
  • Identify the units of heat energy.
  • Explain the concepts of specific heat capacity, heat of fusion, and heat of vaporization.
  • Solve calorimetry problems.
  • Solve problems on thermal expansion with the expansion coefficients.
  • Explain the three basic avenues of heat transfer.

Thermodynamics

  • Explain the concept of a state variable.
  • Solve problems using the first law of thermodynamics.
  • Explain the four basic thermodynamic processes and the concept of a cyclic thermodynamic process.
  • Demonstrate the us of P-V diagrams.
  • Understand the operation of heat engines and the definition of thermal efficiency.
  • Determine the efficiency of a heat engine.
  • Explain the second law of thermodynamics.

Wave Motion

  • Define the terms used to describe the properties of waves.
  • Explain wave reflection and the principle of superposition.
  • Explain standing waves.
  • Compute wavelength, frequency, and speed  of various types of waves.
  • Explain the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.
  • Explain the relationship between amplitude, energy, intensity, and power associated with a mechanical wave.

Sound

  • Explain the nature of sound as a compressional wave.
  • Compute the speed of sound given appropriate data.
  • Explain the concepts of intensity and intensity level.
  • Explain the phenomenon of beats and beat frequency.
  • Compute the resonant frequency of a system given appropriate data.
  • Explain the Doppler effect and compute frequency shift given appropriate data.