INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS I
MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS

Preface: Welcome to physics! You are about to begin the study of the most fundamental of the sciences. In this three-semester sequence we present it all: mechanics and thermodynamics in 114 and 116, electromagnetism, waves, and light in 214 and 216, and relativity, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, atomic, molecular, and nuclear physics in 314. Those of you majoring in physics will study the same subjects again at a deeper level in upper division physics courses and yet a third time, in graduate school, if you go on in physics. Most of you will settle for the first go-around and use your knowledge of physics in engineering, geology, chemistry, biology, computer science, mathematics, or some other field. In any case I hope you find it satisfying to learn to understand and apply the laws that govern nature at the deepest level. This semester we will endeavor to have you gain some understanding of and ability to solve problems in mechanics and thermodynamics. You will also learn how physical scientists think and work.

Prerequisite: You should have satisfactorily completed one semester of calculus, such as Math 161 at SSU. We will use derivatives and integrals throughout the course, as that is the way that physics is most effectively expressed. It is no accident that mechanics and calculus were developed simultaneously; they are inseparable.

Laboratory: I encourage you to take the accompanying laboratory course, Physics 116, whether or not your major requires it.

General Education: Physics 114 meets 4 units of your General Education requirements in areas B1 and B3. Physics 116, if you take it, meets an additional unit and your laboratory requirement. Learning Objectives

Text: Fundamentals of Physics, 8th ed., Volume 1 with WileyPlus, by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker (Wiley, 2008). We will cover most of Volume 1, which I have ordered in the one volume hardcover edition (ISBN 9780470044735). You may prefer to pay a little more for two paperbacks, (ISBN 9780470044759 and 9780470044766) which will reduce the weight of your backpack since you will only need one at a time. Note that you will need the "WileyPlus" feature, as it will grant you access to many essential resources on the Wiley website. If you buy a used book you will need to buy the WileyPlus feature from the publisher for $63.95. An alternative is to buy just WileyPlus, as this includes an electronic version of the complete text, which you can browse on your computer. You can print out some pages, but if you want to print very many it is more economical to buy the book with WileyPlus.

Note: The version of the text posted online by Wiley contains errors, especially in the Review and Summary of Chapter 4. The wrong equations were pasted in. Here is a scan of the section in the text.

Many people find it useful, when learning new and difficult subjects, to have them presented in different ways. You will find one way in the text and a second in my lectures. One place you can get a third is from a different text. Prof. Jeffrey Schnick has written a complete text for a course such as this one and made it available free on the web. You are welcome to download it.

Assignments and Grading: Two midterm exams will each determine 20% of your grade, the final exam will be 30%, homework will count 15%, and weekly quizzes (samples from the past in MS Word or pdf) 15%. Check your current standing. How to Get Higher Scores on Quizzes and Exams

Other lectures: Each Monday of the semester, from Aug 27 through Nov 26, the Department of Physics and Astronomy will present a free public lecture in its renowned "What Physicists Do" series at 4:00 p.m. in Darwin 103. You will find these lectures a valuable supplement to your course work, as they will help you to know what is currently happening in physics and related fields. The lectures will become increasingly easy to understand as you progress in your studies.

Office hours: My office is Darwin 300I, phone 664-2594. Official office hours are Mondays 10:00 - 10:50, and Wednesdays 1:00-1:50, but feel free to drop in any time you see me there. (I am usually on campus Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.) E-mail to joe.tenn@sonoma.edu is an excellent way to contact me. Messages may also be left in my mailbox in Darwin 300. If you have any problems which affect your performance in this course, please contact me. Do not stop attending classes.

Tutoring: You can get help for this course at the SSU Tutorial Center.

Policies: It is your responsibility to be aware of University policies, such as the add/drop policy; cheating and plagiarism policy, grade appeal procedures; accommodations for students with disabilities and the diversity vision statement.

Courtesy: Please silence all cell phones, pagers, etc. when entering class. If your device rings during the class you will be asked to leave and not return during that class period. This will be especially disadvantageous if we are taking a quiz or exam.