penn state phys 250

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Physics 250 Introductory Physics I

Physics 250 Mr. John D. Hopkins Senior Instructor of Physics Course Lecturer - Physics 250 Course Admin.- Physics 213 and 214

office: 123 Osmond Lab hours: Tues and Wed 10:00 - 11:30 AM & By Appt. email: [email protected]

Be Sure! You must be registered in  both PHYS 250L & 250R. You will not receive a grade if you are only enrolled in one. I‟ve sent multiple alerts to those incorrectly enrolled. It‟s now up to you.

Website Review

• All important information about the course can be found at the following location: http://intro.phys.psu.edu/class/p250fa

Course Structure There are five course components: * Recitation(15%): Work in groups of 3 solving a common problem * Laboratory(15%): hands-on application of concepts working in a group of 3. * Homework(15%): Practice problems of the types and difficulty of exam problems * Lecture (0%): Concepts and material presented

All are designed to prepare and provide practice for the ….. *Exams(55%): 2 midterms and final. (final is cumulative)

Academic Integrity As described in The Penn State Principles , academic integrity is the basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Penn State University, allowing the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. We expect that each student will practice integrity in regard to all academic assignments and will not tolerate or engage in acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception. To protect the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and the worth of work completed by others, we will record and report to the office of Judicial Affairs all instances of academic dishonesty. The University and Departmental policy regarding academic integrity can be found on the course web page with links to the faculty senate policy: http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/4700.html#49-20.

This Week  There are no lab or recitations on Mon and Tues of this week. Follow your normal schedule on Wednesday and Thursday.

There two assignments due on WebAssign within the next 7 days One is an introductory (ungraded) assignment (Due Fri @ 11:59PM) The other is a very brief example of common algebraic and trigonometric skills that we will use throughout the course ( is graded) (due Sun @11:59PM) • •

Where do we start? Why do things happen the way that they do? We need to completely understand what is “happening” before we can hope to determine “why” it happens the way that it does. Kinematics – The study of how things move Dynamics – Why things move as they do

Incoming Misconceptions New students come with beliefs based upon their collective life experiences. These experiences and perceptions form your outlook on how your world is and allows you to make predictions on how other things should be. Many have roots in antiquity and have worked their way into the culture They make an expression of your individuality Our goal will be to add to your experiences. We will, of course, examine whether you have understood what we are presenting –  but in the end only you can change your opinions.

Creativity in Science • General Public View of  Scientists  –  Calculator on Belt  –  Pocket Protector  –  Thick Glasses  –  Talking incoherently about incomprehensibly small aspects of  our world  – In short …..

Bad Rap Few people understand the work they do. Often the explanations seem disconnected from the real world. Erastothenes proclaimed the earth to be round (192 BC) …based upon his observations of the shadows cast ( on June 21st) by the obelisk in the center of town and the well in the city of Syene some 500 miles to the south.

Erastothenes Distance to Syene and Alexandria measured Distance from Alexandria to Syene = 5000 stades. Circumference of the Earth = 50 x 5000 = 250,000 stades. The `stade' was a common unit of length in the ancient world which varied from place to place. The Olympic stade is 0.185 kilometers (Olympic games). The Egyptian stade is 0.157 kilometers. This would have given a value for the circumference of 39,300 kilometers, only 2% smaller than the true value.

It took over 1700 years before a successful trip could be made to verify the workings of this ancient mathematician  –  A direct line to the voyage of Columbus can be drawn from this one observation.  –  A somewhat revised (under)estimate was given to Queen Isabella to justify the voyage of Columbus

Creative Genius? Those people that are lucky enough to be alive during these great leaps of discovery marvel at the creativity of the scientists involved. They talk of: • • • •

the shedding of new light, the new interpretation, the unveiling of the previously hidden, the sheer creative genius

Much the same way that the people during the time of  Michelangelo, Wagner, Mozart, and Da Vinci spoke of them. Scientists share in the creative spirit of mankind. We add to the collective consciousness of the human race another description of the order and beauty of the cosmos.

Why Study Physics? • Who?  –  People in premed,  –  engineering,  –  Others who are interested in the cultural implications

• All are surprised by how quickly their technical knowledge goes out of date  –  New techniques not necessarily new knowledge  –  Necessitates that in the four years after college you will need to learn more than what you learned in college  –  Knowing how to: • Analyze problems • Reason logically • Discriminate between critical and irrelevant material are all critical skills

 – Best thing to do is to learn HOW to learn….by yourself 

What To Do • What not to do  – Don‟t simply memorize facts  – Don‟t simply memorize principles

• Do  –  Train your thinking on simple problems • Try new approaches • Try a new perspective  –  Copy other peoples approach to problems  –  Never simply copy solutions

 –  Apply approaches learned to more complex problems  –  Discussion questions, homework, and practice problems are thus very important to any beginning study of physics

Attitude •

Musicians, athletes, and even bridge players all develop methods to improve their skills.

Physics is no different! You must earnestly want to learn the material and not focus on what is needed to just get by.

Let‟s agree on the following… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

As an adult, you have the right to plan when to do your work for class. Part of your planning must include completing your work prior to course deadlines You have the right to question me at anytime. If I am incorrect I will admit it and remedy any mistakes that have been made. You have the right to contact me and expect a timely response. In most cases, messages sent will get a response within one working day (M-F). You will not be required to believe what I believe, only to learn what is being presented. You have the right to learn passively….if you wish a) This is certainly not the best way to learn anything. Learning is an activity in which you are engaged in the material and not simply meeting the bare minimum of the course requirements. If you only do the bare minimum, expect a bare minimum grade. b) Students who are involved and ask questions invariably do better in the course than those who sit passively and do the minimum amount of work.

Do the Homework!

Two of my favorites How we do it:

“Good judgment comes with experience. Experience comes by exercising bad  judgment” - Will Rogers

Be Persistent: The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA.

Without this special attribute, we would still be anaerobic bacteria, and there would be no music." -Lewis Thomas

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