Physics 121, Sections: 1, 2, 3 and 4

z Instructor: Kyungseon Joo, Assistant Professor of Physics

kjoo@phys.uconn.edu, http://www.phys.uconn.edu/~kjoo

z Office Hours: Fridays 10:00am – 12:00 pm (or by

appointment)

z Research Interest: Experimental Particle and Nuclear

physics

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 1

 Course Info
z All information about the course is on the website:
http://www.phys.uconn.edu/~kjoo/p121.html

z Course has several components:

ÍReading Assignments: from our text.

ÍLecture: (me talking, Active learning).
ÍHomework Sets: One problem set every week.
ÍExams: three midterms (drop one with the lowest score) plus
a final.
» Questions on exams will look like those we do in class and
in homework.
» No surprises
ÍLabs: (group exploration of physical phenomena).

z Become familiar with the Physics Learning Resource Center

for help in problem sets. Room P-207C.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 2

 Announcements
z Homeworks posted on WileyPlus
Í You need to register at
http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/class/cls29750
ÍHomework will be posted on Tuesday during the
lecture starting next week.
ÍHomework will be due by 8:00 AM the following
Tuesday.
ÍHomework will be graded automatically.
ÍYou try up to 5 attempts per problem.

z Labs
Í Begin in two week (01/29/2007)

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 3

 Course Evaluation

z Homework 20%

z Lab 20%

z Three Midterm Exams (drop the lowest score one) 30%

z Final Exam 30%

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 4 07

 Background Needed for Course

z High school algebra

Ímanipulation of formulas
Ísolution of simultaneous and multivariable equations
Ísolution of quadratic equation

z Trigonometry
Ísines, cosines, tangents
ÍPythagorean theorem

z Geometry
Ígeometric shape
Íangular meausre

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 5

 Lecture Organization

z Three main components:

ÍLecturer discusses class material
» Topics from text

ÍYou and I will interact with conceptual

“Active Learning” problems. Act
» Usually two or three per lecture

ÍActive Figures
» To illustrate concepts

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 6

 Interactive lecture in a large class?!

Question: Why am I studying Physics?

Answer:
1. It is a degree requirement
2. I will gain analytical abilities
3. I can apply basic physics concepts to figure out
answers to a large body of day-to-day problems
4. All of the above correct

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 7

 Scope of Physics 121

z Classical Mechanics:
ÍClassical:
» Not too fast (v << c)
» Not too small (d >> atom)

z Most everyday situations can be described in these terms.

Í Path of baseball
Í Orbit of planets
Í Vibrations of a piano wire

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 8

 Mechanics

z Motion in One and Two Dimension

z Laws of Motion
z Energy, Momentum and Collisions
z Rotational Motion and the law of Gravity
z Rotational Equilibrium and Dynamics
z Solids and Fluids

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 9

 Thermodynamics

z Thermal Physics
z Energy in Thermal Processes
z The Laws of Thermodynamics

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 10

 Vibrations and Waves

z Vibrations and Waves

z Sound

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 11

 Mathematical Notation

z Mathematical symbols
Í∝ : proportionality i.e. y ∝ x2
Í< : is less than
Í > : is greater than
Í<< : is much less than
Í >> : is much greater than
Í≈ : is approximately equal to
Í≡ : is defined as

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 12

 Scientific Notation

z Large number:
Í100 = 1
Í101 = 10
Í102 = 100
Í … etc

z Small numbers:
Í10-1 = 0.1
Í10-2 = 0.01
Í10-3 = 0.001 … etc

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 13

 Scientific Notation

z The speed of light in vacuum

c ≈ 300 000 000 m/s
c ≈ 3.0 x 108 m/s
z The app. mass of a mosquito
m ≈ 0.00001 kg
m ≈ 10-5 kg

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 14

 Algebra

z Basic Rules
8 x Y=32
8 x Y / 8 = 32 / 8
Y=4

X+2=8
X+2-2=8–2
X=6

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 15

 Basic Rules

z Multiplying: (a/b)(c/d) = (ac)/(bd)

z Dividing: (a/b)/(c/d) = (ad)/(bc)
z Adding: a/b ± c/d = (ad ± bc)/(bd)
z Factoring:
ax + ay + az = a(x + y +z)
a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2
a2 - b2 = (a + b)(a –b)

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 16

 1.2 Units

Physics experiments involve the measurement

of a variety of quantities.

These measurements should be accurate and

reproducible.

The first step in ensuring accuracy and

reproducibility is defining the units in which
the measurements are made.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 17

 SI units
meter (m): unit of length

kilogram (kg): unit of mass

second (s): unit of time

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 18

The units for length, mass, and time (as
well as a few others), are regarded as
base SI units.

These units are used in combination to

define additional units for other important
physical quantities such as force and
energy.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 19

 Units

z SI (Système International) Units:

Ímks: L = meters (m), M = kilograms (kg), T = seconds (s)

z British Units:
ÍL = inches, feet, miles, M = slugs (pounds), T = seconds

z We will use mostly SI units, but you may run across some
problems using British units. You should know how to convert
back & forth.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 20

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 21
 Standards of Length

z Length is measured in Meters (m)

z The Meter is defined as the distance traveled by light in
vacuum in 1/299 792 458 second
z The speed of light is therefore 299 792 458 meters per
second.
z Used to be:
ÍOne ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to
equator
ÍDistance between two marks on a bar of a platinum-
iridium alloy kept at a temperature of 0 C degree.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 22

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 23
 Standards of Time

z Time is measured in Seconds (s)

z The Second in defined as 9 192 631 700 times the period
of radiation from a cesium atom.
z Used to be: (1/24)(1/60)/(1/60) of a average length of solar
day.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 24

 Standards of Mass

z Mass is measured in Kilograms (Kg)

z The Kilogram is defined as the mass of a specific platinum-
iridium alloy cylinder kept at the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures at Sevres, France
z We are still using the “old” definition

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 25

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 26
 Length:
Distance Length (m)
Radius of Visible Universe 1 x 1026
To Andromeda Galaxy 2 x 1022
To nearest star 4 x 1016
Earth to Sun 1.5 x 1011
Radius of Earth 6.4 x 106
Sears Tower 4.5 x 102
Football Field 1.0 x 102
Tall person 2 x 100
Thickness of paper 1 x 10-4
Wavelength of blue light 4 x 10-7
Diameter of hydrogen atom 1 x 10-10
Diameter of proton 1 x 10-15

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 27

 Order of Magnitude Calculations / Estimates
Earth’s radius ?

z Need to know something from your experience:

ÍFlying from NYC to SF one accumulates ~ 3,500 miles
ÍNYC to SF spans about 1/6 of the Earth’s circumference
ÍSo, the Earth’s circumference L = 3,500 x 6 ~ 20,000 mi
ÍSince circumference of a circle is : L = 2 π r
ÍEstimate of Earth radius :

L 20,000mi
r= ≈ ≈ 3,000mi
2π 6

3x103 mi = 3x103 x 1.61 km ~ 5x103 km = 5x106 m

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 28

 Time:

Interval Time (s)

Age of Universe 5 x 1017
Age of Grand Canyon 3 x 1014
Avg age of college student 6.3 x 108
One year 3.2 x 107
One hour 3.6 x 103
Light travel from Earth to Moon 1.3 x 100
One cycle of guitar A string 2 x 10-3
One cycle of FM radio wave 6 x 10-8
One cycle of visible light 1 x 10-15
Time for light to cross a proton 1 x 10-24

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 29

 Mass:

Object Mass (kg)

visible universe ~ 1052
Milky Way galaxy 7 x 1041
Sun 2 x 1030
Earth 6 x 1024
Boeing 747 4 x 105
Car 1 x 103
Student 7 x 101
Dust particle 1 x 10-9
Bacterium 1 x 10-15
Proton 2 x 10-27
Electron 9 x 10-31

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 30

1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 31

1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

THE CONVERSION OF UNITS

1 ft = 0.3048 m

1 mi = 1.609 km

1 hp = 746 W

1 liter = 10-3 m3

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 32

Example 1 The World’s Highest Waterfall

The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in

Venezuela, with a total drop of 979.0 m.
Express this drop in feet.

Since 3.281 feet = 1 meter, it follows that

(3.281 feet)/(1 meter) = 1

⎛ 3.281 feet ⎞
Length = (979.0 meters)⎜ ⎟ = 3212 feet
⎝ 1 meter ⎠

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 33

Reasoning Strategy: Converting Between Units

1. In all calculations, write down the units explicitly.

2. Treat all units as algebraic quantities. When

identical units are divided, they are eliminated
algebraically.

3. Use the conversion factors located on the page

facing the inside cover. Be guided by the fact that
multiplying or dividing an equation by a factor of 1
does not alter the equation.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 34

Example 2 Interstate Speed Limit

Express the speed limit of 65 miles/hour in terms of meters/second.

Use 5280 feet = 1 mile and 3600 seconds = 1 hour and

3.281 feet = 1 meter.

⎛ miles ⎞ ⎛ miles ⎞⎛ 5280 feet ⎞⎛ 1 hour ⎞

⎟(1)(1) = ⎜ 65
feet
Speed = ⎜ 65 ⎟⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟= 95
⎝ hour ⎠ ⎝ hour ⎠⎝ mile ⎠⎝ 3600 s ⎠ second

⎛ feet ⎞ ⎛ feet ⎞⎛ 1 meter ⎞

Speed = ⎜ 95 ⎟ (1) = ⎜ 95 ⎟⎜ ⎟ = 29
meters
⎝ second ⎠ ⎝ second ⎠⎝ 3.281 feet ⎠ second

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 35

 Dimensional Analysis
z The word dimension has a special meaning in
Physics. It is the physical nature of a quantity.
z The dimension of a length is [L], whether we
measure it in yards or meters.
z The dimension of time is [T]
z The dimension of mass is [M]
z The dimension of Area A is [A] = [L]2
z The dimension of velocity v is written
[v] = [L]/[T]

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 36

 DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

[L] = length [M] = mass [T] = time

Is the following equation dimensionally correct?

x = vt
1
2
2

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 37

 See text : 1-4

Dimensional Analysis
z This is a very important tool to check your work
ÍIt’s also very easy!

z Example:
( distance = velocity x time2 )

x = vt
1
2
2

Dimension on left side = [L]

Dimension on right side = [L] / [T] x [T]2 = [L] x [T]

z Left units and right units don’t match, so answer must be

wrong !!

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 38

 Dimensional Analysis
z Dimensions can be treated as algebraic
quantities
z They can be added or subtracted only if they
have the same dimensions.
z Both sides of equation must have the same
dimensions.
z Dimensional analysis helps to determine whether
or not an expression has the correct form.

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 39

 ACT 1

z There is a famous Einstein's equation connecting energy

and mass (relativistic). Using dimensional analysis find
which is the correct form of this equation :

(a) E = mc (b) E = mc 2
(c) E = mc 3

z Note :
Í c is speed of light ([L]/[T])
ÍE is energy ([M][L]2/[T]2)

Solution -> (b)

Physics 121: Lecture 1, Pg 40