Projects & Practices in Physics - Mechanics

Notes

Week 1: Modeling Motion with No Net Force

  1. Scalars and Vectors
  2. Constant Velocity Motion
  3. Modeling Motion with VPython
  4. Relative Motion
  5. Graphing Motion

Week 2: Modeling Motion with a Net Force

  1. Momentum
  2. The Momentum Principle
  3. Acceleration & The Change in Momentum
  4. Applying the Momentum Principle
  5. Constant Force Motion
  6. Constant Force: Gravitational Force near Earth
  7. Predicting Motion Iteratively
  8. Drag

Week 3: Modeling Motion with Non-Constant Forces — Newtonian Gravitation

  1. Non-constant Force: Newtonian Gravitation
  2. Gravitational Acceleration
  3. Uniform Circular Motion

Weeks 4–5: Springs and Contact Interactions

  1. Impulse Graphs
  2. Non-constant Force: Springs & Spring-like Interactions
  3. Free-body Diagrams
  4. Contact Interactions: The Normal Force & Friction
  5. The Momentum Principle in Multi-Particle Systems
  6. Colliding Objects

Week 6: Solids and Curved Motion

  1. Matter & Models of Solids
  2. Modeling a Solid Wire with Springs
  3. Young's Modulus
  4. Modeling Curved Motion
  5. The Motion of the Center of Mass

Week 7: Energy Transfer in Single and Multi-Particle Systems

  1. What is Energy?
  2. The Simplest System: A Single Particle
  3. Work: Mechanical Energy Transfer
  4. Work Done by Non-Constant Forces
  5. Potential Energy
  6. Types of Potential Energy
  7. Change of Rest Mass Energy

Week 8: Potential Energy Applications

  1. Spring Potential Energy
  2. Force and Potential Energy
  3. Gravitational Potential Energy
  4. Graphing Energy for Gravitationally Interacting Systems
  5. Escape Speed
  6. Collisions

Week 10: Internal Energy and Heat

  1. Internal Energy
  2. Heat Exchange: Energy Transfer due to a Temperature Difference
  3. Power: The Rate of Energy Change
  4. Choosing a System Matters
  5. Dissipation of Energy

Week 11: Multi-Particle Energy Systems

  1. Separating Energy in Multi-Particle Systems
  2. Rotational Kinetic Energy
  3. Point Particle and Real Systems
  4. Proof of the Point Particle Energy Principle

Weeks 12–14: Collisions and Rotational Motion

  1. Discovery of the Nucleus
  2. Why Angular Momentum?
  3. Torques Cause Changes in Rotation
  4. Static Equilibrium
  5. Torque Diagrams
  6. Angular Momentum
  7. Net Torque & The Angular Momentum Principle
  8. Conservation of Angular Momentum

Week 15: Core Principles

  1. The Three Fundamental Principles of Mechanics