Lecture 1 Physics

Lecture Information

• Course: PH101 (Physics 101)

• Lecturer: Dr. Niamh Fitzgerald

• Contact: niamh.fitzgerald@universityofgalway.ie

• Date: 16/09/2024

Lecture Schedule

• Group 1 Lecture Times:

  • Monday: CSB-1005, 12-1 PM

  • Wednesday: CSB-G005, 12-1 PM

  • Friday: CSB-1005, 12-1 PM

Groups

• Group 1: Dr. Niamh Fitzgerald, includes all Physics (GY320) and Science students with leaving cert physics.

• Group 2: Mark Lang, Science students without leaving cert physics.

• Group 3: Alan Ryder, biomedical, biopharmaceutical science and medical students.

• Note: Some students only study physics in Semester 2 (Computer Science, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering and IT).

Tutorial Times

• Week 2 Start: Tutorials begin on Tuesday, 24th September, 2-3 PM in CSB-1005.

• Additional Tutorial Slots: To be announced.

• Format: Optional tutorial sessions.

Online Course Overview

• Platform: All PH101 notes accessible via Canvas.

• Course Information: Keep an eye on announcements and refer to the syllabus for resources, homework links, textbook information, and past exam papers.

Physics Lab Sessions

• Access: Lab details will be posted on Canvas; timetable circulating by the College office.

• Lab Importance: Essential for developing experimental skills; first-year physics lab open for informal drop-ins from 2-4 PM on 19th September.

• Lab Schedule: Online labs start on week 2 (23rd September), on-campus labs begin in week 3 (30th September).

Recommended Textbook

• Title: "College Physics", 2nd edition by Urone & Hinrichs (OpenStax).

• Links: Available for free online or €4 in bookshop.

• URL: OpenStax College Physics

Homework Details

• Structure: Each lecture accompanied by homework.

• Platform: Posted on WeBWorK, generally includes 2 numerical questions based on lecture material.

• Deadline: 2-week completion window; marks reduce by 5% daily after 2 weeks until reaching 40%.

• Weight: Homework marks contribute to overall end-of-year grade (10%).

Participation and Polling

• Participation: Worth 5% of course marks.

• App: Use of Vevox App; each session will have a unique code for participation.

Upcoming Lecture Topics

• Week 1 Topics:

  • Introduction to Physics 101

  • Units

  • Scientific notation and significant figures

  • Trigonometric functions, vectors, and scalars.

Physics Course Objectives

• Core Aim: Understand fundamental principles of physics through lectures, assignments, labs, and exams.

• Skills Developed: Problem-solving, analytical skills, logical thinking, scientific reporting and ethics.

Important Physics Figures

• Key Contributors to Physics: Max Planck, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and others.

Units of Measurement

• Importance: Understanding and using proper units is essential in physics.

• SI Base Units:

  • Length: Meter (m)

  • Time: Second (s)

  • Mass: Kilogram (kg)

  • Electric Current: Ampere (A)

  • Temperature: Kelvin (K)

  • Amount of Substance: Mole (mol)

  • Luminous Intensity: Candela (Cd)

• Imperial Units: Still used in the US (inches, pounds, etc.).

• Example Error: NASA's Mars orbiter loss in 1999 due to unit conversion error.

Exponent Rules

• Basic Exponent Operations:

  1. ( x^m \cdot x^n = x^{m+n} )

  2. ( x^m/x^n = x^{m-n} )

  3. ( (xy)^m = x^m y^m )

  4. ( (x^m)^n = x^{mn} )

  5. ( x^0 = 1 )

  6. ( x^{-m} = 1/x^m )

SI Prefixes

• Scaling SI Units:

  • Tera (T): 10^12

  • Giga (G): 10^9

  • Kilo (k): 10^3

  • Milli (m): 10^-3

  • Micro (μ): 10^-6

  • Nano (n): 10^-9

  • Atto (f): 10^-18

• Note: Correct usage of capitalization in prefixes is important.