Syllabus for Physics 311

The table below shows the sequence of topics we will cover in this course. The dates are slightly tentative -- we may occasionally move ahead or fall behind. As you can see, we are skipping some chapters in the text. We may also skip sections within chapters.

Dec 3 Introduction, Assessment I

Dec 4 Vector arithmetic 3-1 to 3-6

Dec 6 Units, Order of magnitude estimates 1-1 to 1-6

Dec 7 Review, Problem Set 1

Dec 10 Position, displacement, velocity, acceleration 2-1 to 2-5

Dec 11 Acceleration, the 1-D kinematic equations 2-5 to 2-7

Dec 13 Free-fall, examples of 1-D motion 2-8

Dec 14 Review, Problem Set 2

Dec 17 Motion in 2-D and 3-D 4-1 to 4-4

Dec 18 Projectile Motion 4-5 to 4-6

Dec 20 Uniform circular motion, relative motion 4-7 to 4-9

Dec 21 Test 1 (and Problem Set 3)

Jan 7 Forces, Newton's First and Second Laws 5-1 to 5-6

Jan 8 Examples of forces, Newton's Third Law 5-6 to 5-8

Jan 10 Forces in action: Atwood's machine 6-1 to 6-2

Jan 11 Review, Problem Set 4

Jan 14 Complications -- friction 6-1 to 6-2

Jan 15 Complications -- drag forces 6-3

Jan 17 Centripetal acceleration and force 6-4

Jan 18 Dot Product, Problem Set 5 3.7

Jan 21 Mid-course review, Kinetic Energy 7-2

Jan 22 Work and the Dot Product 3.7, 7-2 to 7-4

Jan 24 Springs and variable forces 7-5 to 7-6

Jan 25 Review, Problem Set 6 7.7

Last day to withdraw

Jan 28 Potential energy 8-1 to 8-3, and 14.6

Jan 29 Conservative forces and potential energy 8.1 to 8.3, 8.5

Jan 31 Potential energy and equilibria 8-5

Feb 1 Review, Problem Set 7

Feb 4 Test 2

Feb 5 Center of Mass 9-1 to 9-2

Feb 7 Linear momentum, conservation of momentum 9-3 to 9-6

Feb 8 Discuss Test 2, Problem Set 8

Feb 11 Impulse and collisions 10-1 to 10-2

Feb 12 Collisions and momentum in 1-D 10-3 to 10-5

Feb 14 Collisions and Momentum in 2-D 10-6

Feb 15 Review, Problem Set 9

Feb 18 Rockets 9-7, 14-6

Feb 19 Torque and the cross product 3-7, 11-8

Feb 21 Static Equilibrium 13-1 to 13-4

Feb 22 Assessment II, Review

Feb 23 review session 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Feb 24 review session 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Monday, Feb 25 Final Exam 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 08-2300

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Feb 15, 2002.

Dec 3	Introduction, Assessment I
Dec 4	Vector arithmetic	3-1 to 3-6
Dec 6	Units, Order of magnitude estimates	1-1 to 1-6
Dec 7	Review, Problem Set 1

Dec 10	Position, displacement, velocity, acceleration	2-1 to 2-5
Dec 11	Acceleration, the 1-D kinematic equations	2-5 to 2-7
Dec 13	Free-fall, examples of 1-D motion	2-8
Dec 14	Review, Problem Set 2

Dec 17	Motion in 2-D and 3-D	4-1 to 4-4
Dec 18	Projectile Motion	4-5 to 4-6
Dec 20	Uniform circular motion, relative motion	4-7 to 4-9
Dec 21	Test 1 (and Problem Set 3)

Jan 7	Forces, Newton's First and Second Laws	5-1 to 5-6
Jan 8	Examples of forces, Newton's Third Law	5-6 to 5-8
Jan 10	Forces in action: Atwood's machine	6-1 to 6-2
Jan 11	Review, Problem Set 4

Jan 14	Complications -- friction	6-1 to 6-2
Jan 15	Complications -- drag forces	6-3
Jan 17	Centripetal acceleration and force	6-4
Jan 18	Dot Product, Problem Set 5	3.7

Jan 21	Mid-course review, Kinetic Energy	7-2
Jan 22	Work and the Dot Product	3.7, 7-2 to 7-4
Jan 24	Springs and variable forces	7-5 to 7-6
Jan 25	Review, Problem Set 6	7.7
		Last day to withdraw

Jan 28	Potential energy	8-1 to 8-3, and 14.6
Jan 29	Conservative forces and potential energy	8.1 to 8.3, 8.5
Jan 31	Potential energy and equilibria	8-5
Feb 1	Review, Problem Set 7

Feb 4	Test 2

Feb 5	Center of Mass	9-1 to 9-2
Feb 7	Linear momentum, conservation of momentum	9-3 to 9-6
Feb 8	Discuss Test 2, Problem Set 8

Feb 11	Impulse and collisions	10-1 to 10-2
Feb 12	Collisions and momentum in 1-D	10-3 to 10-5
Feb 14	Collisions and Momentum in 2-D	10-6
Feb 15	Review, Problem Set 9

Feb 18	Rockets	9-7, 14-6
Feb 19	Torque and the cross product	3-7, 11-8
Feb 21	Static Equilibrium	13-1 to 13-4
Feb 22	Assessment II, Review

Feb 23	review session	2:00 - 3:00 PM
Feb 24	review session	2:00 - 3:00 PM

Monday, Feb 25	Final Exam	11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 08-2300