1st Semester (Mechanics) Notes - Physics


Chapter 1 - "What is Physics?"

History of Physics
Areas of Physics - Scientific Method
SI Units (Systeme International) - Metric Prefixes
Why Change to Metric?
Accuracy (what is the likely error?) vs Precision (to what decimal place?)
Significant Figures, Rounding Off, SI Units
Mathematics = Language of Physics
Delta Notation: change in a variable (time or position or velocity or...)

Chapter 2 - Kinematics - Position, Velocity, Acceleration

Quick Notes (no acceleration)
Position vs Displacement vs Distance Traveled vs Distance from A to B
Average Velocity vs Average Speed
Instantaneous Velocity vs Instantaneous Speed
Quick Notes (with acceleration)
(Complete) Kinematics Notes (1-Dimension)
Constant Acceleration Notes
Constant Acceleration - Quick Notes
Law of Falling Bodies - Galileo

Chapter 3 - 2-Dimensional Kinematics & Vectors

Vectors & Right Triangle Trigonometry
Vector - Quick Note
Vectors - Complete Notes
Vectors - Okay, one more page!
Projectile Motion - Quick Notes
Relative Motion(Velocity)

Chapter 4 - Force & Newton's Laws

I. Law of Inertia - II. Force Law (F=ma) - III. Action-Reaction Law
Newton's Laws - Quick Notes Equilibrium (static vs constant velocity)
Weight (w = force of gravity) vs Mass (m = inertia opposes acceleration
Static (at rest) vs Kinetic (sliding object) Friction (parallel to a surface)
Coefficients of Friction
Normal Force (N = contact force - perpendicular to a surface)
Tension (T = rope pull away from the point of attachment)
*Spring Force and Hooke's Law (variable force)
Illustrated Examples 1
Illustrated Examples 2
Inclined Plane Theorem
Air Resistance

Chapter 5 - Work & Energy

Work & Energy - Quick Notes
Work is the transfer of mechanical energy (ME or E) to an object
Work = Force X Distance
K or KE = Kinetic Energy (motional)
Work-Energy Theorem
U or PE = potential energy
Ug or GPE or PEg = gravitational potential energy
Ue or PEe = elastic (*spring) potential energy
Conservation of Energy (including heat)
vs Conservation of Mechanical Energy
P = Power = rate of energy transfer (work rate)

Chapter 6 - Momentum & Collisions

Impulse & Momentum - Quick Notes
J = Impulse = Force X time
p = momentum = mass X velocity
Impulse-Momentum Theorem
Conservation of Momentum
Elastic vs Inelastic Collisions vs Semi-elastic (most all collisions)

Chapter 7 - Rotational Kinematics and Circular Motion

Angles in Degrees vs Radians
Rotational(Angular) Kinematics
Greek letters! theta, omega(lower case), alpha(lower case)
Conservation of Momentum
Linear vs Angular Quantities
Centripetal(radially inward) vs Centrifugal(fake radially outward) Forces
Tangential vs Centripetal Acceleration
Newton's Universal Law of Gravity
Gravity & Kepler's Laws - Quick Notes

Chapter 8 - Rotational Dynamics & Torque

another Greek letter! tau = Torque = Force X lever arm
I = Rotational Inertia (moment of inertia)
Center of Mass (vs center of gravity)
Rotational Equilibrium
L = Angular Momentum (conservation?)
Krot = Rotational Kinetic Energy
Simple Machines


2nd Semester (Electricity & Magnetism) Notes - Physics


Chapter 17 - Electric Forces & Fields

q = Electric Charge in coulombs(C)
e = elementary unit of charge = 1.60 X 10-19C
Conductors vs Insulators
Charging by Induction
Coulomb's (Electric) Force Law (another inverse-square law)
Electric Field (another E) - force per unit charge = E = F/q
Eelctric Field Lines

Chapter 18 - Electric Potential Energy

Uelectric = EPE = PEelectric = Electric Potential Energy
vs V = Electric Potential = potential enegy per unit charge = V = U/q
Potential Difference = delta-V = Vf - Vi
Capacitance (another capital 'C'!) - ability to hold charge

Chapter 19 - Electric Current - Ohm's Law

I = current (flow rate of charge per unit time) in amperes (A)
R = resistance (proportionality constant) in ohms (capital omega)
V = voltage or potential difference in volts (V)
VI = P = electric power in watts(W)
*Electric Shock & Safety Issues (also p.813)

Chapter 20 - Electric Circuits

Schematic Diagrams
Series and Parallel Circuits
Combination Circuits

Chapter 21 - Magnets & Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Materials and Fields
Electromagnetism & Solenoids
Magnetic Force on an electric charge?
Magnetic Force on a current-carrying wire
Speakers & Galvanometers

Chapter 22 - Electromagnetic Induction & AC

Faraday's Law of Induction
Alternating Current
Electric Motors & Generators
Transformers & Inductance
*Thomas Edison vs Nicola Tesla (DC vs AC)


2nd Semester (4th Quarter Topics) Physics Notes


Chapter 9 - Fluid Mechanics

Mass Density = mass/volume Buoyancy Force - Archimedes Principle
Pressure = P = force/area
Fluid Pressure and atmospheric pressure
Bernoulli's Principle
Ideal Gas Law

Chapter 10 - Heat

Temperature - proportional to the average KE of the atoms & molecules
Q = heat with energy units, joules (J)
Specific Heat
Latent Heat and Phase Changes
Heat Transfer - conduction, convection, radiation

Chapter 11 - Thermodynamics

Heat, Work, Internal Energy
Work = pressure X volume change
isovolumetric, isothermal, isobaric
adiabatic process - no transfer of heat to or from the system
Laws of Thermodynamics
Heat Engines & Entropy

Chapter 12 - Vibrations and Waves

Simple Harmonic Motion - Quick Notes
Spring-mass systems & the Simple Pendulum
Wave Properties

Chapter 13 - Sound

wave speed, frequency(pitch), wavelength
Doppler Effect
Resonance & Harmonics
Magnetic Force on a current-carrying wire
Speakers & Galvanometers

Chapter 14 - Reflection of Light & EM Radiation

Geometric Optics - Mirrors
Color & Polarization

Chapter 15 - Refraction of Light

Geometric Optics - Lens
Snell's Law of Refraction
Total Internal Reflection & Fiber Optics

Chapter 16 - Interference & Diffraction of Light

Constructive & Destructive Interference
Diffraction (bending around)
Wave Properties

Chapter 23 - Atomic Physics

Energy of a light quantum + Planck's constant
Einstein's photoelectric effect
Bohr Model of the Hydrogen Atom & spectral lines
Wave-Particle Duality of Light
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Electron Cloud

Chapter 24 - Modern Electronics

semiconductors, diodes, transistors
superconductors

Chapter 25 - Subatomic Physics

A = Z + N
A = mass number (protons + neutrons)
Z = atomic number (protons)
N = neutron number (neutrons)
E = mc2 and binding energy
isotopes and radioactive decay
Fundamental Forces
Quarks and more!