Physics 21, Winter 2011 - Prof. Nelson

Practice Final. Solutions.

Problem Set 3 solution (link had been broken).

Problem Set 5 solution (link had been broken).

Problem Set #10, due at the final.

The table at bottom is updated with lecture notes linked.

Practice Midterm - solutions

Times and People

Welcome to Physics 21 for Winter, 2011. Our lectures are MWF 10-10:50 am in Broida 1640. Attendance is required also at one of two sections; attend the one you are enrolled in. The two sections are both on Friday afternoons: 12-12:50pm in Phelps 3505; 1-1:50pm in Phelps 1508. Both are taught by Madison Haynie.

Material

Required Items

The text is Kleppner and Kolenkow, An Introduction to Mechanics, which we call `KK'. Five copies of KK are on reserve for Physics 21 in the Libary. I've made available:

1. Table of Contents, Preface, etc.
2. Chapter 1.
3. Chapter 2.
4. Chapter 3.
5. Chapter 4.
6. Chapter 5.

An `iClicker' is required as well; these are available at the UCSB Bookstore. Please register your iClicker... use your Perm # as your Student ID.

Calculations must be done, so a scientific calculator (must have trig, exponential, etc) is essential.

Recommended Items

Kleppner and Kolenkow is a challenging textbook, and assumes that you have or are rapidly developing good ability in calculus. For those who want to turbocharge or refresh their calculus, Kleppner and Ramsey, Quick Calculus is a good resource... this book is on reserve for Physics 21 in the library.

A second essential resource is the `old' (4th) edition of Physics by Resnick, Halliday and Krane (RHK4). You can obtain used copies of RHK4 for only a few dollars over the internet. This is the `auxiliary' text. Some of the problems that are assigned will originate from RHK4. A lot of copies of RHK4 are on reserve for Physics 20 in the library.

A laptop is very useful for a variety of reasons, among them... it is really nice to do calculations in Excel.

Problems

The heart of this course is the working of problems. Much of the discussion sections will consist of doing problems. Weekly problem sets will be due Mondays, to be turned in to the Physics 21 boxes in the lobby of Broida Hall, by 5pm. The problems are generally not the type of problems that you can get done in a few minutes... some may take a few hours, so start early, and utilize our office hours. You are also encouraged to work together to figure out how to do problems, but, you must write up your own solutions independently.

Write up your solutions carefully and neatly. Generally, make a clear diagram, introduce algebraic variables for unknowns, and solve for answers symbolically. Plug in numbers at the end, and, do some cross checking as well as consideration of limiting cases (like, what if each mass in the problem becomes very large or very small?).

If homework is late by more than two days from the due date, you will get no credit. If you turn it in up to two days late, you will receive 50\% credit.

Grading and Tests

The plans for grading are: Class Participation (measured with the iClickers), 10%; Problem sets, 25%; Midterm (currently planned on Monday, Feb. 7 in class), 25%; Final (currently Tuesday, March 15, 8am, 1640 Broida), 40%.

Office Hours

Madison Haynie's office hours in the PLC (1019 Broida, on the first floor behind the elevator) are 12:30-2pm on Monday and 3:30-5:00pm on Wednesday. Prof. Nelson's office hours will be on Friday, 11:05-noon and 2:00-3:00pm in room 2712 in Physical Sciences South. PSR Fellows (advanced Physics Majors who can help you) are available Wednesday and Thursday in the PSR from 6-8pm, and Sunday in 1640 Broida 6-8pm.

Treat Everyone with Respect

The first column shows the week number.
The second column has the lecture number, and a link to the course lecture notes, when available... don't count on these!
The third column has the date.
The fourth column has the textbook sections in KK to read.
The fifth column has the corresponding KK textbook pages.
The sixth column has a partial list of topics.
The seventh column has the problems due for the week.
The last column has links to some pertinent web pages, and comments about corresponding material in RHK4.

Web Sylabus