assignments
Homework assignments are due at the beginning of each Friday's class.
Late work will NOT be accepted without prior arrangement.
due Mon Feb 2
Homework 1
From Chapter 1 of Project Physics II
- Problem 1.2
- Either Project 1.6 or 1.7
- Problem 1.8 (I'll assign planets on Monday)
Make sure you write a few paragraphs (complete sentences!!!) describing what you have done, how/why you decided to do that, and then summarize your results. If it asks for a graph, don't just show the graph without any interpretation! For problem 1.8 make sure you write down all of your parameters and bring them to class on Friday -- we will compile the results and discuss whatever you find.
All three of these projects refer to a data file that you can access here:
Chapter 1 Datafile
due Fri Feb 6
Homework 2
From Chapter 2 of Project Physics II
- Problem 2.1 -- here is the data from class on Monday.
- Problem 2.7 done in polar coordinates
- Problem 2.8
- Problem 2.10 -- if cross products are unfamiliar to you check out problem 2.6 as well.
- Problem 2.14
- Here is the data file that the book refers to: Chapter 2 Datafile
I know this is a lot. But let's really try to push through it all and get back on track with the syllabus.
due Fri Feb 13
Homework 3
Note that this time I want you to bring a copy of your work and final results to class on Friday. Please type up the assignment or else write VERY neatly, and be sure to explain your reasoning behind every step of your calculations. I'm FAR more interested in knowing that you understand the process than I am in the actual answer. I will describe in more detail what I am looking for on Monday.
From Chapter 3 of Project Physics II
- Projects 1,2,4,8,10,11,12.
- We are going to attempt the Cavendish experiment in class on Wednesday, and if it works then I would also like you to "weight the earth" as is suggested in project 3.6
due Fri Feb 20
Homework 4
Note that this time I want you to bring a copy of your work and final results to class on Friday. Please type up the assignment or else write VERY neatly, and be sure to explain your reasoning behind every step of your calculations. I'm FAR more interested in knowing that you understand the process than I am in the actual answer. I will describe in more detail what I am looking for on Monday.
From Chapter 4 of Project Physics II
- Projects 3,4,5,6,7,13.
- Two Extra Credit problems:
due Fri Feb 27
Homework 5
Again, please bring your work to class so we can discuss your results. Either type up your results or write VERY neatly. Do NOT turn in your scrap paper. Instead, you should rewrite your solutions into a neat, orderly, non-squished, and well explained final product.
From Chapters 11 and 12 of Understanding Physics
- Chapter 11
- Problem 23 -- Astronaut in Centrifuge
- Problem 53 -- Lawrence Livermore Door
- Problem 66 -- Uniform Spherical Shell
- Chapter 12
- Problem 51 -- Earth's Polar Ice Caps
- Problem 54 -- A Child Stands
- And one additional explanation of a simple lab activity we will perform sometime during the week. More on this later.
due Fri Feb 27
Quiz #1
due Fri Mar 6
Homework 6
From Chapter 5 of Project Physics II
due Fri Mar 13
Homework 7
From Chapter 5 of Project Physics II
- Projects 15,16,17,18,19,23
- Project 23 is worth 10 points -- the rest are worth 5.
- Here is the DATA for Project 23.
due Fri Mar 13
Quiz #2
due Fri Apr 3
Homework 8
From Chapter 6 of Project Physics II
- Projects 6.1 and 6.2 neatly formatted in Excel (or in another programming language of your choosing) with explanations. (If you use another language be sure to have it output a table of all the time steps, k values, and calculated positions)
- Pendulum worksheet -- here
- Project 6.4 & 6.5 after we discuss the pendulum in class on Wednesday.
due Fri Apr 10
Homework 9
From Chapter 6 of Project Physics II
- Build up a working program to solve for the trajectory of a planet in the gravitational field of the sun. Start with Euler's method (project 6.6), then move up to the midpoint (6.7), and then code the entire 4th order R-K algoritm (6.8). I would like to see all of them as separate worksheets.
- Compare the three methods using the parameters listed in project 6.9
- Play with your 4th-order R-K planet program to come up with something interesting you can share with the class on Friday. I suggest trying one or two of the other projects (projects 6.10 -> 6.16) or you can come up with your own fun tidbit. This one is super open ended, but I would like you to come prepared to show off what you have found on Friday the 10th.
due Fri Apr 24
Homework 10
From Chapters 19 and 20 of Understanding Physics
- Problem 19.55 -- 'Copper Rod'
- Problem 19.65 -- 'Emperor Penguins'
- Problem 20.16 -- 'Pipe of Length L'
- Problem 20.27 -- 'Evaporating Water'
- Problem 20.46 -- 'Added as Heat'
- Problem 20.61 -- 'The Cycle'
Book Feedback
Email Travis and I your feedback on his Gravity Book that we used for the first 2/3rds of the semester. Please include your thoughts on both the book itself as well as on how I used the book in the class. This is worth 25 points as a quiz.
due Fri May 1
Homework 11
Chapter 21 of Understanding Physics
- Problem 17 -- 'Water and Ice'
- Problem 37 -- 'Heat Pump to Heat Building'
- Problem 44 -- 'A box of N gas molecules'
due Fri May 1
Quiz #3
