PHYS 121 Fundamentals of Physics I August 30

PHYS 121: Fundamentals of Physics I August 30, 2006 D. Roberts

Administrative Stuff • Please pick up a copy of the syllabus – Also available on the web • Waitlist Issues – Enrollment in the course is limited by space in the labs – 24 is the MAXIMUM number of students we can accommodate per section – Since labs don’t start until the week of Sept. 11, if you are on the waitlist you are welcome to attend lecture and do homework – BUT, once the labs begin we will have to limit attendance to students enrolled in the course D. Roberts

Themes of this class • Learning to think and reason about the physical world. • Building your intuition – refining and reconciling what you know with careful observation and analysis of the world. • Mathematics – the language of science; We don’t only use math to calculate, we use it to think about relationships between quantities. • Measurement – Feynman said, “Science is about us learning how not to fool ourselves. ” D. Roberts

Making a measurement • We all think we see the world around us, but… • We all live in our own Virtual Reality. – We get info on the world through our senses. – Our brains interpret this sensory information to create a sense of the external world. – Our brains don’t always get it right! D. Roberts

Lab Theme: Understanding Measurement • Although we will be using physics concepts learned in lecture, reading, and tutorial in lab, demonstrating their reality will NOT be the point of the lab. • The goal of the laboratory will be to have you learn to think about measurement and data. – How trustworthy is your data? – Why should someone believe your result? – When are two results “close enough” that we can say they agree? – When two results differ, how can we decide what is the correct answer? D. Roberts

Labs and Tutorials Will Begin Meeting the Week of September 11 D. Roberts

Course Info • Web Page – http: //www. physics. umd. edu/Courses/Phys 121/Roberts/F 06/ – You can find a copy of the handout on the web page under “Syllabus” • Contact Info – – Prof. Doug Roberts roberts@umd. edu PHYS 4308 (or Student Services Office on 1 st floor) X 56067 • Materials – Text Book • Serway/Faughn, College Physics, Volume 1, 7 th Edition – Lab Manual • PHYSICS 121, Tutorials and Laboratories, Fall 2006 Edition – Web. Assign access code • Can purchase on-line from www. webassign. net – “Clicker” • You must register your clicker • http: //www. clickers. umd. edu/ D. Roberts

First Homework Due Sunday, Sept. 10 • This is just an exercise in using Web. Assign • http: //www. webassign. net • Logging in: – Username: University Directory ID name – Institution: “umd” – Password: UID number (NOT SSN number) • Should be something like “ 107 xxxxxx” • You can use Web. Assign for two weeks without an access code – After that, you will need an access code – Can be purchased on-line if you didn’t get one with the text • If you are having problems logging in to Web. Assign, let me know right away: roberts@umd. edu D. Roberts

Pre-Course Survey • Pick up a questionnaire, bubble-scan sheet and No. 2 pencil (if you need one) • Please don’t write on the questionnaire • Please DO put your name and ID number on the bubblescan sheet • YOU WILL NOT BE GRADED ON THE SURVEY • You WILL receive 5 participation points that count toward your final grade – So be sure to include your name and ID • Return both questionnaire and bubble-scan sheet when you are finished • See you on Friday – Please try to get clickers and Web. Assign access ASAP D. Roberts