PHYS 1200      UNIVERSITY of DENVER     Autumn 2004

Physics Preparatory

1 credit

Davor Balzar

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Physics Building #105, 303-871-2137, balzar@du.edu

http://www.du.edu/~balzar

Class schedule: Wednesday 3:00-3:50 PM (PHYS 313)

Office hour: Wednesday 2:00-3:00 PM

Course description: Introduction to problems and techniques in physics and astronomy. Strongly recommended to everyone considering a major in physics and astronomy.

Required textbook:

None

Reading:

• Rodney Cole: So You Want to Take Physics, Saunders College Publishing
• Biman Das: Mathematics for College Physics, Pearson Prentice Hall
• Clifford Swartz: Prelude to Physics, Wiley, 1983.
• Larry Gonick and Art Huffman, The Cartoon Guide to Physics, HarperPerennial, 1990 (?).
• Richard Feynman, Robert Leighton, and Matthew Sands, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vols. I and II, Addison-Wesley, any edition.

Prerequisites:

None

Specific mathematical capabilities developed and used:

• Strategies for solving problems
• Symbolic manipulation

Student evaluation:

Based on:

• Homework (25 %) - problems
• Term paper (35 %)
• Mid-term exam (15 %)
• Final exam (25 %)

Late-paper and attendance policy:

2 missing papers  (homework) and 2 unexcused absences allowed. Both exams must be attended or absence documented by a note from a doctor.

Important note:

Students must comply with University Honor Code (http://www.du.edu/honorcode/). Plagiarism is a serious offense and a basis for failing the course.

Schedule

Week	Topic
1	Science, Technology, Society, and the role of Physics.
2	Scientific methods.
3	Matter and Science
4	Building blocks of matter, Crystal structure I.
5	Building blocks of matter, Crystal structure II.
6	Building blocks of matter, Crystal structure III.
7	Fundamental Things about Physics I.
8	Fundamental Things about Physics II.
9	Units and dimensions, Space and Time.
10	Theory and Experiment, Examples.