Physics 1100

The goal of this course is for students to enhance their view of the physical world by allowing them to acquire a basic understanding of the physical concepts involved with motion and forces, momentum and energy, rotation, gravitation, properties of matter, heat and thermodynamics, waves and sound, electricity and magnetism, light, and atomic/nuclear physics.

This course will focus on conceptual understanding rather than mathematical manipulation. However, as mathematics is the language of science, it is expected that you can perform basic algebraic calculations and recognize basic geometric relations throughout the course.

Class Announcements

Welcome to Physics 1100-001 & -002 (Fall 2024)

Please continue to monitor this space for important information and course and updates. This page will be updated on a regular basis.  (Last update: November 18th, 2024.)

  • Tuesday Lab Group (Section 001): Your next laboratory session will take place on Tuesday, November 19th in BIC-3F03 starting promptly at 9:00 AM.  Your entire Investigation 11 packet (pp. 187-201) will be due at the start (9:00 AM) of your session.  Also, Be sure to print the materials for Investigation 12.  Also, be sure to print the materials for Investigatioon 12 and complete Pre-lab 12.  The pre-lab will also be due at the start of your lab session on Tuesday.
  • Your next lecture will take place on Wednesday, November 20th in BIC-3535 starting prompty at 9:00 AM.
  • Be sure to read Chapters 27 AND 28 of the "Conceptual Physics" text for class on Wednesday, November 20th.  Be prepared to "celebrate" Chapter 27 at the start (9:00 AM) and Chapter 28 later during the class on Wednesday.
  • Lecture Summary Notes are now available through Chapter 26.  Scroll down to the "Lecture Notes" section click on the desired chapter. 
  • The MyOpenMath Homework 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction will be due on Wednesday, November 20th by 8:30 AM.  Note that there are two part to this assignment: 1) The Conceptual Questions and 2) the Numeric Exercises and Problems.  After the cut-off time you will no longer be any to make changes to the conceptual questions for credit.  However, you can still get 50% credit for answering any part of any numeric exercise/problem within 24 hours of the cut-off time.

Class Resources

Exam Resources

Lab Resources

Investigation 11: Electric Circuits

Pre-lab 11 Due at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 29th at 9:00 AM (Sec. 001) or Thursday, October 31st (Sec. 002).

Lab 11 Activities

Section 001: Needed at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 29th and due at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, November 6th.

Section 002: Needed at 9:00 AM on Thursday, October 31st and due at 9:00 AM  on Thursday, November 7th.

Lab 11 Homework

Due at 9:00 AM Thursday, November 14th at 9:00 AM (Sec. 002) or Tuesday, November 19th (Sec. 001).

Investigation 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Pre-lab 12 Due at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 14th at 9:00 AM (Sec. 002) or Tuesday, November 19th (Sec. 001).

Lab 12 Activities

Section 001: Needed at 9:00 AM on Tueday, November 19th and due at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, November 26th.

Section 002: Needed at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 14th and due at 9:00 AM  on Thursday, November 21st.

Lab 12 Homework

Due at 9:00 AM Thursday, November 21st at 9:00 AM (Sec. 002) or Tuesday, November 26th (Sec. 001).

Video Questions (Print these questions.  Visit the three URL's below and anwer the questions.)

Video #1: Is Earth's Magnetic Field Reversing? (~14 min)

Video #2: How Solar Storms Could Knock Out Our Power Grid (~7 min)

Video #3: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (~ 1 min video + read article)

Due at 9:00 AM Thursday, November 21st at 9:00 AM (Sec. 002) or Tuesday, November 26th (Sec. 001).

Investigation 13: Optics

Pre-lab 13 Due at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 21st at 9:00 AM (Sec. 002) or Tuesday, November 26th (Sec. 001).

Lab 13 Activities

Section 002: Needed at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, November 26th and due at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, December 3rd.

Section 002: Needed at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 21st and due at 9:00 AM on Thursday, December 5th.

Lab 13 Homework

Due at 9:00 AM Thursday, November 14th at 9:00 AM (Sec. 002) or Tuesday, November 19th (Sec. 001).

Lecure Notes

Chapter 1: About Science

Chapter 2: Inertia and Newton's First Law

Chapter 3: Kinematics & Linear Motion

Chapter 4: Newton's 2nd Law of Motion

Chapter 5: Newton's 3rd Law of Motion

Chapter 6: Momentum & Impulse

Chapter 7: Work & Energy

COD Bed of Nails (Dr. Fazzini gets nailed during a physics demonstration!)

Chapter 8: Rotational Motion

Chapter 9: Gravity

FAQ's about Black Holes

Chapter 10: (Currently unavailable.)

Chapter 11: Atomic Nature of Matter

A Boy and His Atom (Check out the world's smallest movie!)

Chapter 12: Solids

Chapter 13: Liquids

Chapter 14: Gases and Plasmas

Chapter 15: Temperature and Heat

Chapter 16: Heat Transfer

Chapter 17: Phase Changes

Chapter 18: Thermodynamics

Chapter 19: Vibrations and Waves

Acoustics and Vibrations Animations - Dan Russel, Grad.Prog. Acoustics, Penn State University

(Lots of information including a cool MPEG movie of a supersonic jet fighter breaking the "sound barrier."

How to Use the Doppler Formula

Chapter 20 & 21: Sound & Music

Chapter 22: Electrostatics

Chapter 23: Electric Circuits

Series  vs. Parallel Circuits

Chapter 24: Magnetism

Chapter 25: Electromagnetic Induction

Chapter 26: Properties of Light (COMING SOON!)

General Resources