Space, Time and Motion

PHY 151/201: General Physics 1

Week 14 (Apr. 13 - 17)

Read: Planetary motion (ASGv2 Chap. 26), Universal Gravitation (ASGv2 Chap. 27)

Key topics: Kepler's laws of motion, Newton's universal law of gravitation

PHY 201 lecture: Kepler's second law from conservation of angular momentum

Homework:

Phases of the moon (Ex. 26.1)
Phases of Venus (Ex. 26.2)
Force of gravity and Modified Kepler's law: Suppose that it was discovered that the planets obey a modified form of Kepler's law: (T_1/T_2) = (a_1/a_2)^(2), instead of Kepler's law, that (T_1/T_2) = (a_1/a_2)^(3/2). What would you infer about the force holding the planets in orbit from this? Would it still be a 1/r^2 force? (Hint: think about Corollary 6 of Theorem 4 in Book 1 of Newton's Principia.).

Centripetal Force Laboratory: (Ex. 24.4). See the videos here:

Chapter 26: Four videos on planetary motion

Chapter 27: Six videos explaining how Newton arrived at his universal law of gravitation.

Physics 1

Return to course website.

Course Syllabus

The world around us is in a state of constant change: the sun and moon rise and set, waves crash, rain falls, fires burn, and mountains crumble. Amidst all of these changes, there are certain patterns; there is a discernible order. In other words: the stars, the seas, the clouds, and the earth itself each seem to have a particular nature. Physics is the careful study of the natures of things. In fact, the word physics literally means "natures" in the Greek language.

In this course, we will study physics using some famous scientific works written by Galileo Galilei, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. The required textbook is A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts, Volume 2: Space, Time and Motion. You should purchase a hard-copy for use in the classroom, since there are no electronic devices permitted in the classroom.

Specific topics we will study include falling bodies and projectile motion, buoyancy and drag, hydrostatic pressure, the strength of materials, acoustics, Newton’s laws of motion, conservation of momentum and energy, gravitation, and special relativity.

This course website is designed to lead you, week-by-week, through Volume 2 of A Student's Guide using short videos and homework assignments. Each video has a code (in parentheses) that indicates the book volume, chapter, and lecture number. Click is the link for Week 1 to get you started! And here are some course details:

PHY 151: General Physics 1 (Algebra-based) meets in Generac Hall on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 - 8:50 (Dr. Ebeling) or from 10:30 - 11:20 a.m. (Dr. Brown)

PHY 201: Physics 1 (Calculus-based) In will also meet on Thursday from 11:30 - 12:20 (Dr. Brown).

Laboratory sections meet in Room S115 from 12:30 - 3:20 pm on the following days: Monday (Dr. Wagie), Tuesday (Dr. Ebeling), Wednesday (Dr. Wagie), Thursday (Dr. Wagie).

Course Instructor Contact Info:
kerry.kuehn[at]wlc.edu
dan.ebeling[at]wlc.edu
jeffrey.brown[at]wlc.edu
hannah.wagie[at]wlc.edu

Laboratory Presentation Grading Sheet

Weekly Homework assignments are due by midnight on Saturday. Upload a scanned copy of your homework to the PHY 151/201 canvass portal. Late HW will be penalized 15% per day (max deduction 60%).

Weekly Lab Reports are typically due by 12:30 on the day before your lab section. Upload a scanned copy of the relevant lab book pages—assembled into a single file!—to the PHY 151/201 canvass portal. Late work will be penalized at the discretion of the lab instructor.

Weekly Quizzes are typically on Monday during the class period.

Final Exam: A comprehensive final examination be held at the end of the semester.

Laboratory Notebook

Uncertainty propagation notes

Example laboratory notebook (just in case you've never kept a laboratory notebook before)

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