Introductory Physics Courses Designed for

Engineering and Science Students


Three different introductory sequences for people
with differing preparations, interests, and goals
 1400 sequence: emphasizes basics, connections in the
world, and college level physics problem solving
 1600 sequence: + more abstract and theoretical; approach
more mathematical; order of topics slightly different
 2800 sequence: the three semesters of the 1600 sequence
in two semesters; specifically for students with advanced
placement in mathematics and strong background in
physics

All courses incorporate calculus at early stage

You are now in Physics 1401(1) … if you are well
prepared in Physics, you are probably in the wrong
course

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 1

 Science/Engineering
Sequences

Recommen Separate
Point
Sequence ded Median Lab
s
Grade Course
1493 or
Physics 1401-2-3 3.0 B/B +
1494
Physics 1601-2,
1493 or
3.5 mid B+
2699
and 2601
Physics 2801,
4.5 B+/A- 3081
2802

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 2

 1400 Sequence

Three semester sequence (no labs included)
 1401-Mechanics and Thermodynamics
 1402-Electricity/Magnetism and Optics
 1403-Wave motion and Quantum Mechanics

Each is worth 3.0 points

Recommended median grade at B-B+
interface

Separate Lab courses (when appropriate)
 If 1401-02 only, take 1493 in 3rd semester
 If all 3 semesters, take 1494 in 4th semester

Emphasizes basics, connections in the world,
and college level physics problem solving

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 3

 Text and Topics

Text is Halliday, Resnick, Walker;
"Fundamentals of Physics", 6th ed.
(with metromedia CD)
Chapters 1-15, 19-21
 Mechanics: includes linear motion,
forces, energy, rotations,
thermodynamics

Note that chapters 16 – 18 are not
covered this semester.
 These include topics on harmonic motion,
waves, …
 These topics are part of the third
semester (1403) in the sequence
Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 4
 Mechanics of this Course
sorry for the pun!

No handouts
 All information transmitted on the web!

Grades (I hate them, but …responsibility to be
FAIR!) … detailed policy at website
 you MUST be able to do problems in exams
 homework, though only a small component of the final
grade in itself, is an ESSENTIAL tool to assure yourself
you know the concepts and how to do problems.
 College course: assume all are mature adults

Check out the home page and links – all
information that I thought useful is written there
…
 http://www.nevis.columbia.edu/~sciulli
/Physics1401/Ph1401.html

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 5

 History (Big
Picture)

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 6

 Physics – Matter and
Forces
Physics
1401

This course is meant to begin the study!!

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 7
 Predictive Nature of Physics
Useful

And deadly if neglected !!!!

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 8

 History (people
oriented)
13 109 BCE Universe started
5 109 BCE Solar system & Earth formed
2 - 1 106 BCE Man precursors with small brains
105 BCE Homo Sapiens with BI G brains
104 BCE Writing (for business)
1000 BCE Bible written down
400 BCE - 400 Greeks, Romans … ideas … many wrong
1400- 1650 DaVinci, Brahe, Copernicus, Galileo
1650- 1900 Newton, … - - Classical Mechanics
1750- 1900 Franklin,…Maxwell - - Electricity&Mag
1900- "Modern" Physics
Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 9
 Mathematics

x=x0+vt
Every
formula
carries a
concept!
Read them
that way
The math (algebra,
trigonometry,
calculus) are tools to
ends!

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 10

 Immediate Future

I assume you know (reviewed in text)
 algebra and trigonometry well!!
 vector familiarity (review elementals as we go.)
 calculus simultaneously (know fundamentals!.)

All assignments and due dates are posted.
See website.

Chapter 1 (Measurement, numbers, ...)
should be a review of what you know.
Read it and make sure.

Chapters 2 (1D motion) and 3 (vectors)
also should be largely review.

I will go quickly through first few chapters
(so we have time to get through the topics
programmed for the semester).

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 11

 Simple problem (like sample 1 –
4)
Eratosthenes (300 BCE)
measured radius of the Earth
to 5% using geometry, angle
between Aswan and 
Alexandria.
See NY Times, Sept 24,2002
Science’s 10 most beautiful
Earth spherical? Measure expts.
radius!
1. Mark lake level at location of
ship and place meter stick on
ship side
2. Go to lake shore (d = 4.4km)
and sight along lake; find that
sighting is on ship side at h =
2.0m.
3. What is the radius, R, of the
earth?
Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 12
 Definitions of velocity and
acceleration

Average velocity
x
v 
t
Average acceleration
v
a 
t

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 13

 Velocity

Average velocity
 Interval dependent

Instantaneous
velocity
 Limit of interval = 0
x
vavg v 
t
6m
Case shown v  2 m/ s
3s
 x  dx
vinst v  lim   
t  0  t  dt

Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 14

 In the Beginning

Chapter 1: Units, Dimensions, powers of ten,
idea of mass. Should be mostly a review. Make
sure you can do the problems in the text.
(None assigned.)

Chapter 2: Position, velocity, acceleration in
one-dimension (1D). Should also be largely a
review. Some discussion here. Problems
assigned.

Chapter 3: Vectors -- essential for discussion of
more than 1D. We will discuss.

Next lecture, review chapters 2 & 3. Read them
and start on assigned homework problems
soon.
Finish the day with a pretty description
of
Physics 1401 - L 1 Frank Sciulli slide 15