PHYS 2211 -
Principles of Physics I
Lesson 1 - Physics and Measurement
Study Assignment:
Chapter 1, Appendix B.1 - B.3
Lesson notes:
Since this is the first lesson of the course and you are receiving your syllabus on the first day of the course, the study assignment should be completed after class. A number of the assigned homework questions will be used as examples during the class period.
Objectives:
1. Understand the overall objectives for the course.
2. Be familiar with the topics included in the discipline of physics and the relationship between physics, and the other natural sciences and engineering.
3. Know the fundamental units of the International System (SI) used in mechanics: length, mass and time.
4. Be able to perform dimensional analysis to check final answers for correct units.
5. Be able to write and manipulate numbers using scientific notation.
6. Be able to perform arithmetic operations with numbers, retaining an appropriate number of significant figures in the result. (Note: In this course we will always use three significant figures on a homework, quizzes and examinations. The only exception to this rule is for work performed in the laboratory portion of the course.)
Vocabulary:
order of magnitude
significant figures
Homework:
Additional sources of information:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology maintains a Web site devoted to describing the International System of Units (SI system).
Last update: August 20, 2007