Physics 131

Class Schedule: Eichenlaub

You can find an overview of the text readings for this class (plus readings I am not assigning) at: Working Content I

Notes:

  • This schedule is tentative and subject to change.
  • Reading Assignments are online; you can also read them from the PDF linked on ELMS. Reading questions in WebAssign are due 11 PM the evening before the lecture.
    WebAssign Assignments are due Friday at 5PM. The paper homework is due at the beginning of the last class of the week.
  • Attend recitation and lab during the first week of class to do our survey, download the software for the labs, and meet the prof.
  • The content column links to slides from the PowerPoint presentation used in class. After class, Panopto recordings will be available in ELMS.
Date Class Reading Content Lab

Week 1

 Recitation:
How big is a worm?		 Surveys and Lab 0:
Intro and setup
8/28 1

1 Introduction to the class
1.1 The disciplines: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Math
1.1.1 Science as making models
1.1.4 What Physics can do for Biologists
1.2 Thinking about Thinking and Knowing
1.2.1 The nature of scientific knowledge
1.2.3 Knowing-how-we-know icons

 Estimation  
8/30 2 2. Modeling with mathematics
2.1 Using math in science
2.1.1 How math in science is different from math in math
2.1.2 Measurement
2.1.3 Dimensions and units

Units

 
9/1 3

2.1.3.1 Complex dimensions and dimensional analysis
2.1.3.2 Changing units
2.1.4 Estimation 
2.1.4.1 Useful numbers
2.2.3 The idea of algebra: unknowns and relationships
2.2.3.1 Symbols in science

Estimation and Dimensions

Week 2

 No recitation No lab
9/4   LABOR DAY (no class)

 

  
9/6 4

3.1.1 Coordinates
3.1.2 Vectors
3.1.3 Time 
3.1.4 Kinematics Graphs
2.2.5 Values, change, and rates of change
2.2.5.1 Derivatives

Coordinates, graphs, and vectors

 Quiz 1
9/8 5 2.2.5.1.1 What is a derivative, anyway?
3.2 Kinematic Variables
3.2.1 Velocity
3.2.1.1 Average velocity
3.2.1.2 Instantaneous velocity
3.2.1.3 Calculating with average velocity

Instantaneous and average velocity

 

Week 3

 Recitation:
The cat and the antelope		 Lab 1.1:
Quantifying motion from Images and Videos
9/11 6

3.2.2 Acceleration
3.2.2.1 Average acceleration
3.2.2.2 Instantaneous acceleration
3.2.2.3 Calculating with constant acceleration
3.2.3 Kinematics graphs and consistency
3.2.3.1 Reading the content in the kinematics equations

Graphs & consistency; acceleration

 Quiz 2
9/13 7 4.1 Newton's Laws
4.1.1 Physical content of Newton's Laws

4.1.1.1 Object egotism:
4.1.1.2 Inertia
4.1.1.3 Interactions
4.1.1.4 Superposition:
4.1.1.5 Mass
4.1.1.6 Reciprocity

Physical content of Newton's laws

  
9/15 8

4.1.2 Formulation of Newton's laws as foothold principles
4.1.2.2 Newton 0
4.1.2.2.1 Free-body diagrams
4.1.2.2.2 System Schema Introduction

What's a force?
Newton 0 & 1

Week 4

 Recitation:
Forces for objects & systems
 Lab 1.2:
Quantifying motion from Images and Videos
9/18 9
4.1.2.3 Newton's 1st law
4.1.2.4 Newton's 2nd law 
4.1.2.4.1 Reading the content in Newton's 2nd law 
4.1.2.4.2 Newton 2 as a stepping rule

Newton 2

 Quiz 3
9/20 10

4.1.2.5 Newton's 3rd law 
4.1.2.5.1 Using system schemas for Newton's 3rd law
4.1.2.5.1 Center of mass

Newton 3

  
9/22 11 4.1.2 Formulation of Newton's Laws as foothold principles
4.1.2.1 Quantifying impulse and force

The Impulse-Momentum Theorem

Week 5

 Recitation:
The spring constant of DNA		 Lab 2.1:
Inferring force characteristics from motion analysis
9/25 12 4.2 Kinds of Forces
4.2.1 Springs 
4.2.1.1 Realistic springs
4.2.1.2 Normal forces
4.2.1.2.1 A simple model of solid matter
4.2.1.3 Tension forces 

Forces: Springs, tension, and normal forces

 Quiz 4
9/27 13 4.2.2 Resistive forces
4.2.2.1 Friction

4.2.2.2 Viscosity
4.2.2.3 Drag

Resistive forces: Viscosity & drag

  
9/29 14 4.2.3 Gravitational forces
4.2.3.1 Flat-earth gravity
4.2.3.1.1 Free-fall in flat-earth gravity
4.2.3.3 The gravitational field

Gravity

Week 6

 Recitation:
Propelling a paramecium		 Lab 2.2:
Inferring force characteristics from motion analysis
10/2 15

4.2.4 Electric forces
4.2.4.1 Charge and the structure of matter
4.2.4.2 Polarization
4.2.4.3 Coulomb's law 

Electric force and polarization


 Quiz 5
10/4 16

3.1.2.1 Adding vectors
3.1.2.1.1 Vector addition
3.1.2.1.2 Vector subtraction

Vectors
10/6 17 4.2.4.3 Coulomb's law 
4.2.4.3.1 Coulomb's law -- vector character
4.2.4.3.2 Reading the content in Coulomb's law
4.2.4.4 The Electric field

Coulomb's law

Week 7

 Recitation:
Electric force and Hydrogen bonding
 Lab 3.1:
Observing Brownian motion
10/9 18

MIDTERM 1

  
10/11 19  

Polarization and Electric Fields

  
10/13 20 4.3 Coherent vs. random motion
4.3.1 Linear momentum
4.3.1.1 Restating Newton's 2nd law: momentum

Coherent motion: Momentum

  

Week 8

 Recitation:
Electrophoresis		 Lab 3.2:
Observing Brownian motion
10/16 21 4.3.1.2 Momentum conservation

Momentum conservation

 Quiz 6
10/18 22

1.1.3 Reductionism and emergence
4.3.2 The role of randomness: Biological implications
4.3.3 Diffusion and random walks

Random motion and emergence

  
10/20 23


4.3.3.1 Fick's law
4.3.3.1.1 Reading the content in Fick's fist law

Diffusion and Fick's law

Week 9

 Recitation:
Cell polarization and activation 		Lab 3.3:
Observing Brownian motion
10/23 24

5. Macro models of matter
5.1.1 Density-solids
5.1.2 Young's modulus
5.1.6 Soft matter
5.1.6.1 Mechanical properties of cells

Solids and soft matter

 Quiz 7
10/25 25

5.2 Fluids
5.2.1 Pressure
I-2 The micro-macro connection
7.1 Kinetic theory: the ideal gas law

Basics of fluids: Pressure

  
10/27 26 5.2.2 Archimedes' Principle
5.2.3 Buoyancy


Fluid statics: The gas law

Week 10

 Recitation:
Gas properties and pressure		 Lab 4.1:
The competition between Brownian motion and directed forces
10/30 27

5.2.5.2.1 Surface tension
5.2.5.2.1.1 Example:
The Laplace Bubble Law

Fluid statics: buoyancy

 Quiz 8
11/1 28

5.2.6 Fluid flow
5.2.6.1 Quantifying fluid flow
5.2.6.2 The continuity equation

Fluid flow

  
11/3 29
5.2.6.3 Internal flow -- the HP equation

Fluid flow with resistance

Week 11

 Recitation:
Fluid flow 		Lab 4.2:
The competition between Brownian motion and directed forces
11/6 30 6. Energy: The Quantity of Motion
6.1 Kinetic energy and the work-energy theorem
6.1.1 Reading the content in the Work-Energy theorem

Work and kinetic energy: Gravity

 Quiz 9
11/8 31 6.2 Energy of place -- potential energy
6.2.1 Gravitational potential energy

Potential energy: Gravity
11/10 32 6.2.2 Spring potential energy
6.2.3 Electric potential energy

Potential energy:
Spring and electric

  

Week 12

 Recitation:
Energy skate park		 Lab 5.1:
Motion and Work in living systems
11/13 33

 

MIDTERM 2
11/15 34  

energy catch up

  
11/17 35

6.3 The conservation of mechanical energy
6.3.1 Interpreting mechanical energy graphs

Mechanical energy: Conservation

  

Week 13

 No recitation
 No lab
11/20 36 6.3.2 Mechanical energy loss -- thermal energy
6.3.3 Forces from potential energy
3.1.2.3 The gradient: a vector derivative

Loss of mechanical energy

  

Week 14

 Recitation:
Protein folding
 Lab 5.2:
Motion and Work in living systems
11/27 37

6.4.1 Energy at the sub-molecular level
6.4.2 Atomic and Molecular forces
6.4.2.1 Interatomic forces
6.4.2.1.1 The Lennard-Jones potential
6.4.2.2 Chemical bonding

Electric PE

 Quiz 10
11/29 38 5.3 Heat and temperature
5.3.2 Thermal properties of matter
5.3.2.1 Thermal energy and specific heat

Electric PE and Atomic forces

 
12/1 39
5.3.2.2 Heat capacity
5.3.2.3 Heat transfer

Atomic and molecular forces

 

Week 15

 Recitation:
The Laplace Bubble Law 		Makeup labs and surveys
12/4 40 I-2: Interlude 2: The Micro to Macro Connection

Thermal Energy and heat
12/6 41

7. Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
7.2.3 Thermodynamic equilibrium and equipartition
7.3 The 1st law of thermodynamics

Heat flow
12/8 42 7.3 The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
7.3.1 The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics: A Probabilistic Law
7.3.2 Implications of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

First law of thermodynamics

 Quiz 11

Week 16
12/11 43 No reading for the last day

Review for exam

Exam Week
12/15 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM FINAL EXAM TBD
University of Maryland