Class time: MWF 9:05 – 9:55 Class location: Clough 102
Notes:
- This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Reading Assignments are online; commentary in WebAssign is due at midnight the evening before the lecture.
| Date | Class | Reading | Lectures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
|||||
| 8/22 | 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 |
Why is this class different? | ||
| 8/24 | 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 |
Modeling, estimation and dimensional analysis | ||
| 8/26 | 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 3.1.2.1 Adding vectors 3.1.2.1.1 Vector addition 3.1.2.1.2 Vector subtraction |
Coordinates, vectors | ||
Week 2 |
Recitation: How big is a worm? |
||||
| 8/29 | 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 |
Rate of change and velocity | ||
| 8/31 | 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 | ||
| 9/2 | 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 |
Acceleration | ||
Week 3 |
Recitation: The cat and the antelope |
||||
| 9/5 | LABOR DAY (no class) | ||||
| 9/7 | 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 |
Intro to Newton’s laws; systems and their surroundings | ||
| 9/9 | 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 |
Physical content of Newton’s laws | ||
Week 4: TEST 1 Mon. 9/12 |
Recitation: Forces for objects & systems |
||||
| 9/12 | 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’s first and second laws | ||
| 9/14 | 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’s third law | ||
| 9/16 | 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 |
||||
| 9/19 | 12 | 4.2 Kinds of Forces 4.2.1 Springs 4.2.1.1 Realistic springs |
Go over test 1; Forces: springs, tension, and normal forces | ||
| 9/21 | 13 |
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 | ||
| 9/23 | 14 | 4.2.2 Resistive forces 4.2.2.1 Friction 4.2.2.2 Viscosity 4.2.2.3 Drag |
Resistive forces: drag and viscosity | ||
Week 6 |
Recitation: Propelling a paramecium |
||||
| 9/26 | 15 | 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 |
Gravitational force | ||
| 9/28 | 16 | 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 | ||
| 9/30 | 17 | No reading | review for test | ||
Week 7: TEST 2 Mon. 10/3 |
Recitation: Electric force and Hydrogen bonding |
||||
| 10/3 | 18 | 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 |
Coulomb’s law | ||
| 10/5 | 19 | 4.2.4.4 The Electric field | The electric field | 10/7 | 20 | Polarization | No reading |
Week 8 |
Recitation: Electrophoresis |
||||
| 10/10 | FALL BREAK (no class) | ||||
| 10/12 | 21 | 4.3 Coherent vs. random motion 4.3.1 Linear momentum 4.3.1.1 Restating Newton’s 2nd law: momentum |
Coherent motion: momentum | ||
| 10/14 | 22 | 4.3.1.2 Momentum conservation | Momentum conservation | ||
Week 9 |
Recitation: Gas properties and pressure |
10/17 | 23 | Fields; Emergence | No reading |
| 10/19 | 24 | 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 | ||
| 10/21 | 25 | 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 10: TEST 3 Mon. 10/24 |
Recitation: Cell polarization and activation |
||||
| 10/24 | 26 | 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 gels | ||
| 10/26 | 27 | 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 | 10/28 | 28 | 5.2.2 Archimedes’ Principle 5.2.3 Buoyancy 5.2.5.2.1 Surface tension |
Fluid statics: buoyancy |
Week 11 |
Recitation: Fluid flow • Estimating capillaries • Hold the mayo |
||||
| 10/31 | 29 | No reading | catch up | ||
| 11/2 | 30 | 5.2.6 Fluid flow 5.2.6.1 Quantifying fluid flow 5.2.6.2 The continuity equation |
Fluid flow | ||
| 11/4 | 31 | 5.2.6.3 Internal flow — the HP equation | Fluid flow with resistance | ||
Week 12 |
Recitation: Energy skate park |
||||
| 11/7 | 32 | 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 | ||
| 11/9 | 33 | 6.2 Energy of place — potential energy 6.2.1 Gravitational potential energy |
Potential energy: gravity | ||
| 11/11 | 34 | 6.2.2 Spring potential energy 6.2.3 Electric potential energy |
Potential energy: spring and electric | ||
Week 13 |
No recitation | ||||
| 11/14 | 35 | No reading | Practice with energy | ||
| 11/16 | 36 | 6.3 The conservation of mechanical energy 6.3.1 Interpreting mechanical energy graphs |
Mechanical energy: conservation | ||
| 11/18 | 37 | 6.3.2 Mechanical energy loss — thermal energy 6.3.3 Forces from potential energy |
Loss of mechanical energy | ||
Week 14: TEST 4 Mon. 11/21 |
Recitation: Protein folding |
||||
| 11/21 | 38 | No reading | review | ||
| 11/23 | No reading | Thanksgiving break | |||
| 11/25 | no reading | Thanksgiving break | |||
Week 15 |
Recitation: Temperature regulation |
||||
| 11/28 | 39 | 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 potential energy and molecular forces | ||
| 11/30 | 40 | (PDF on webassign) | more on collisions | ||
| 12/2 | 41 | (PDF on webassign) | more on collisions, conservation of energy | ||
Exam Week |
|||||
| 12/5 | 42 | No reading | Review | ||
| 12/14 | FINAL EXAM | Time: 6:00-8:50 PM | Location: TBD | ||