This is the second semester of a
three-semester,
calculus-based physics sequence. A required prerequisite is PS
150
- Physics
I for Engineers, and the following course is PS 250 - Physics
III for
Engineers. We will cover Simple
harmonic
motion, waves, fluids, heat, kinetic theory, thermodynamics, and
geometrical and physical optics.
Prerequisite:
PS 150, Co-requisite:
MA 242.
Required
Text: University Physics,
12th edition, Volume 2, by Young and Freedman.
Recommended Hypertext: Hyperphysics
Recommended online text: Simple Nature
by
Crowell
(online)
The Physics of
Waves by Howard Georgi (Harvard)
Recommended Print Texts: Physics by
Tipler (ERAU library QC 21.2 .T548),
Lectures on Physics
by
Feynman (ERAU library QC 23 .F47)
Understanding
Physics, by Isaac Asimov - a great science fiction writer
explains
physics.
(ERAU library QC 23 .A8)
Cartoon Guide
to Physics, by Gonick and Huffman - physical principles in a
visual format.
(ERAU library QC 24.5 .G66)
3000 Physics
Problems - lots and lots of practice quantitative problems.
(ERAU library QC 32 .H325 1988b)
See
the
syllabus
for more detailed information.
Suggested problems (for practice).
Instructions for accessing Mastering Physics.
Summer
A
schedule
What is physics?
What is required to succeed in physics?
What should you be able to do after this
course?
Problem:
The catapult of an aircraft carrier accelerates a jet fighter from rest
to takeoff speed of 173 mi/h in a distance of 307 ft. Assume
constant acceleration.
(a) Calculated the acceleration of the fighter in m/s2.
(b) Calculate the time required for the fighter to accelerate to
takeoff speed.
Solution
Note that all work is shown, a description of the work is given, and
the final answer is boxed.
DRAFT version of Physics Dictionary
Tacoma Narrows
bridge collapse
moment
of inertia of sphere
(Hyperphysics)
Stress and Strain:
Elastic
modulus - Young - Shear - Bulk
Ancient
Lake
Bonneville -- study
of rebound
Earth's
crust
Post Glacial
Rebound of the Earth's Crust
Earthquake
effects
Tsunami
observations
wave
demonstrations
Young's
double-slit
experiment
multiple
slit
interference and multiple
slit
diffraction
THERMODYNAMICS
Kelvin, "On
an
absolute
thermometric
scale"
Boyle's
Law (Boyle)
Charles'
Law (Charles)
Avogadro's Law (Avogadro)
Gas
Laws
more Guided
Tours
OPTICS
Lunar
Laser
Ranging
Apache
Point
Bragg scattering
"Near-Earth object" NASA orbital simulations
Your
surface area
Solar images from SOHO
calorie vs
Calorie
Water
boiling in space
Plaskett's Star: here and
here
Binary
Stars
Alexander
Calder
Aristotle's
PHYSICS
(or here)
Philosophy
of
Nature, by Ian Thompson
Thomas Aquinas
(or here)
The Galileo Project
Tutorials
The
Physics Hypertext
Active
Physics
ThinkQuest
Problems are the cutting
edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call
forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and
our wisdom. It is only because of our problems that we grow mentally
and spiritually. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human
spirit, we challenge and encourage the human capacity to solve
problems, just as in school we deliberately set problems for our
children to solve. It is through the pain of confronting problems that
we learn.
- Morgan Scott Peck