PHYS 1443 Section 003 Lecture #1 Introduction

Instructor: Nail G. Fazleev

Check roll Lab handouts Textbook: Giancoli Physics Scientific calculator needed Algebra, trig calculus knowledge assumed Class for physics and engineering majors

Tuesday 1/20/09

Reading Assignment #1
Chapter 1 Introduction to Physics Scientific Notation Significant Figures Units of measure and standards Appendix A: Mathematical Review

Tuesday, 1/20/09

Homework
Solving homework problems is the best way to comprehend physics An electronic homework system will be set up for you Home work is best way to make good scores on exams Collaborations strongly encouraged Does not mean you can copy since your questions are not identical Physics clinic is part of tuition for this course: use it! If you do not have computer access at home use UTA computer facilities

Tuesday, 1/20/09

Why do Physics?
To understand nature through experimental Exp. observations and measurements Establish limited number of fundamental laws, usually Theory with mathematical expressions Predict natures course Theory and Experiment work hand-in-hand Theory works generally under restricted conditions Understanding laws enables us to control outcomes of natural processes: applied physics, engineering, biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, etc.

Tuesday, 1/20/09

What do we want from this class?

Physics is everywhere around you. Understand the fundamental principles that surround you in everyday lives Identify what law of physics applies to what phenomena and use it appropriately Understand the impact of physical laws Learn how to research and analyze what you observe. Learn how to express observations and measurements in mathematical terms: the language of science. Learn how to express your research in systematic manner in expositional writing Hint: Dont be scared of PHYSICS, use its power!

Most importantly, have a lot of FUN!!

Tuesday, 1/20/09 5

Brief History of Physics

500-5000 BC :
Babylonians, Egyptians and Mesoamericans predict heavenly motions

0-500 BC
Plato and Aristotle discourage experimentation and rely upon philosophy Archimedes develops quantitative sciences, geometry, mechanics, etc. Aristarchus develops heliocentric theory of planets and measures distance to sun and moon (well, to about one significant figure) Eratosthenes measures circumference of earth Ptolemy proposes geocentric planetary system 0-1500 AD (Dark ages): Platos philosophy, religious and political powers discourage scientific method

1500-1700 AD
Copernicus develops heliocentric planetary system Kepler discovers accurate planetary motion laws Galileo discovers law of gravitationally falling bodies on earth Newton discovers 3 laws of motion, law of gravitational attraction, develops optics

Tuesday, 1/20/09

Brief History of Physics

1800-1900 AD Kelvin, Boltzman, Maxwell, Planck develop thermodynamics and statistics Coulomb, Poisson, Gauss and Maxwell develop electromagnetism 1900-2000 AD Einstein develops theory of relativity Schrdinger, Heisenberg, Dirac develop quantum theory Wigner, Weinberg, Rutherford, etc. develop nuclear and elementary particle physics Wigner, Slater, Townsend, etc. develop solid state and quantum optics 2000- AD Dark matter and dark energy are confirmed but not understood Standard model lacks explanation for masses of particles (still a model, not a theory or law)
7

Tuesday, 1/20/09

Scientific Method
1. Perform impartial experiments with controlled errors 2. Propose mathematical relationships between variables to explain results (develop a theory) 3. Make predictions with theory and test 4. Declare theory a law if it always works 5. If law ever fails search for new, improved law
Tuesday, 1/20/09 8

Fundamental Quantities in Nature

Space (x,y,z) Time (t) Mass (m) Charge (q) Spin (s) Etc (?) Forces in Nature
Gravity Electricity Magnetism Weak force Strong force

Not all (if any) of these forces are independent! Four forces usually cited

Tuesday, 1/20/09

Structure of Matter
Matter Molecule Atom Nucleus Baryon
(Hadron)

Quark

u
10-14m 10-9m 10-10m 10-2m Condensed matter/Nano-Science/Chemistry Atomic Physics Nuclear Physics 10-15m
protons, neutrons, mesons, etc. p,W,L...

<10-19m
top, bottom, charm, strange, up, down

Electron (Lepton) <10-18m High Energy Physics

Tuesday, 1/20/09

10

The Standard Model

Assumes the following fundamental structure:
Discovered in 1995

Directly observed in 2000

Tuesday, 1/20/09 11

Uncertainties
Physical measurements have limited precision, no matter how carefully done, due to:
Stat.{ Syst.

Number of measurements with different results Quality of instruments (meter stick vs micro-meter) Experience of the person doing measurements Etc. In many cases, uncertainties are more important and difficult to estimate than the central (or mean) values

Tuesday, 1/20/09

12

Uncertainties contd
Estimated Uncertainty
Suppose a result of a measurement is expressed as

5.2 0.1cm
The estimated uncertainty is 0.1cm.

Percent Uncertainty: Simply the ratio of the uncertainty to the measured value multiplied by 100: If uncertainties are not specified, it is assumed to be one or two units of the last digit specified:
For length given as 5.2cm, the uncertainty is assumed to be about 0.1cm
Tuesday, 1/20/09 13

0.1 100 2% 5.2

Significant Figures
Significant figures denote the precision of the measured values
Significant figures: non-zero numbers or zeros that are not place-holders
34 has two significant digits, 34.2 has 3, 0.001 has one because the 0s before 1 are place holders, 34.100 has 5, because the 0s after 1 indicates that the numbers in these digits are indeed 0s. When there are many 0s, use scientific notation:
31400000=3.14x107 0.00012=1.2x10-4

Tuesday, 1/20/09

14

Significant Figures
Operational rules:
Addition or subtraction: Keep the smallest number of decimal places in the result, independent of the number of significant digits: 34.001+120.1=154.1 Multiplication or Division: Keep the smallest significant figures in the result: 34.001x120.1 = 4083, because the smallest significant figures is 4.

Tuesday, 1/20/09

15