Dimensions and estimates
Introduces students to the idea of making estimates, a
ubiquitous skill in physics. Also fits well with a
discussion of dimensions, handling large numbers and,
possibly, dimensional analysis. |
Dimensions and estimates |
Dimensions and estimates:
solutions |
Displacement and velocity
Lets students explore the concept of average velocity.
(Requires no knowledge of acceleration.) |
Displacement
and velocity |
Displacement
and velocity: solutions |
Velocity and acceleration
Conceptually tests the students' understanding of graphing
velocity and acceleration. |
Velocity
and acceleration |
Velocity
and acceleration: solutions |
Traveling to the moon
Students use the basic kinematics equations to figure out
flight times to the moon and Alpha Centauri. |
Traveling
to the moon |
Traveling
to the moon: solutions |
Firefighting planes
Using
kinematics equations, students explore the independence of
directions of motion. (Can be linked to a class demo
for better clarity.) |
Firefighting
planes |
Firefighting
planes: solutions |
A two-car race
Further
practice with kinematics. Uses an online Java applet
created by BU physics professor Andrew Duffy. |
A
two-car race |
A
two-car race: solutions |
The stressed-out swimmer
An exploration of both kinematics, vector addition, and the
independence of directions of motion. |
The
stressed-out swimmer |
The
stressed-out swimmer: solutions |
|
Forces
and Newton's
Laws |
Tractor pulling
Involves
Newton's second law and vector addition. A slightly
advanced problem for students in their early encounters with
Newton's laws. |
Tractor
pulling |
Tractor
pulling: solutions |
The vertical jump
A bit
more comprehensive problem, drawing both on the students'
knowledge of Newton's laws and kinematics. |
The
vertical jump |
The
vertical jump: solutions |
An accelerometer
Using
Newton's second law, students explore how to measure
acceleration. Requires a fairly good grasp of Newton's
laws, as well as sine and cosine. |
An
accelerometer |
An
accelerometer: solutions |
|
Energy and Work |
Levers
Teaches students
how levers function. Students are guided through a
mathematical derivation using a bit of geometry and the
concept of work. |
Levers |
Levers:
solutions |
Escape velocity
Using
energy conservation, the students find the escape velocity
of Earth and estimate the radius of a black hole. |
Escape
velocity
|
Escape
velocity: solutions
|
| Momentum
Conservation |
Stranded on a lake
Students use momentum conservation and simple
kinematics to figure out how to get off a lake when all they
have with them is their physics book! |
Stranded
on a lake
|
Stranded
on a lake: solutions
|
Mid-air explosion
Another momentum conservation problem, this time
dealing with a grenade breaking into smaller pieces in
mid-air. Also briefly explores momentum conservation
in two dimensions. |
Mid-air explosion
|
Mid-air
explosion: solutions
|
|
The Universal law of
Gravity |
Weighing the Sun
Using the universal law of gravity, students
determine the mass of our Sun. This same technique is
also used to determine the mass of other stars in our
galaxy. |
Weighing the Sun
|
Weighing
the Sun: solutions
|
Gravity on Earth
Students show that the universal law of gravity
reduces to well-known mg at the Earth's
surface. They also calculate g on Earth, on the
top of Mt. Everest, and on the Moon. |
Gravity on Earth
|
Gravity
on Earth: solutions
|
|
Heat |
Mystery Substance
An example of how simple calorimetry to determined
unknown materials. |
Mystery Substance
|
Mystery Substance: solutions
|
Water and Climate
This problem connects the concepts learned in
physics to the geographical terms coastal climate and inland
climate. Students also estimate a worst-case global
warming scenario. |
Water and Climate
|
Water and Climate: solutions
|
| Electricity
and circuits |
Electric vs. Gravitational Forces
Students compare the electrostatic attraction
between a proton and an electron to their gravitational
attraction and consider why gravity dominates the universe
on long length scales. |
Electricity vs. Gravity
|
Electricity vs. Gravity: solutions
|
Three Charges on a Line
More advanced Coulomb's law problem involving three
charges. Students investigate how to place a third
charge near two others so that the third charge in in
equilibrium. |
Three Charges on a Line
|
Three Charges on a Line: solutions
|
Resistors
Challenging circuitry problem that tests the
students' understanding of series and parallel resistor
circuits. Also explores limiting cases of connecting
infinitely many resistors in either parallel or series. |
Resistors
|
Resistors: solutions
|
Power and Electricity
Knowing P = IV and Ohm's law, students derive two
other expressions of power and apply them to find the power
dissipated in both a series and parallel circuit. |
Power
and Electricity
|
Power
and Electricity: solutions
|
| Waves, Sound, and Light |
Sound in Air and Water
Students learn the expression for the bulk modulus
and learn how the speed of sound depends on this modulus and
the density of the medium. They then find the speed of
sound in water, and use it to solve a simple sonar problem. |
Sound
in Air and Water
|
Sound
in Air and Water: solutions
|
Amazing Bats
This problem centers on how bats use sound to
navigate. It investigates both how sonar can be used
to determine the range of an object, and has a more
challenging part on the Doppler effect. |
Amazing
Bats
|
Amazing
Bats: solutions
|
Interference of Light
Introduction to spectroscopy. Students
research how light diffracts from a grating, use a known
wavelength of light to characterize their grating, and use
this grating to determine the wavelength of an unknown light
source. |
Interference
of Light
|
Interference
of Light: solutions
|
