Phys 201 – Introductory Physics

Spring 2021 – 2022

Dr. Rashid Hamdan
Phoenicia University
Phys 201: Syllabus
• Teacher: Dr. Rashid Hamdan
• Email: rashid.hamdan@pu.edu.lb
• Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30 – 11:30

Course Description:
This course introduces students to different areas in classical physics:
mechanics, fluid statics, fluid dynamics, temperature, heat,
thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, heat engines, general
properties of waves, sound waves and resonances, light and optics,
interference, diffraction, and polarization.
Grading Policy
Attendance and participation 10 % of the total grade
Homework/Quizzes 25 % of the total grade
Midterm 25 % of the total grade
Final Exam 40 % of the total grade

Course Policy
• 60 is the minimum passing grade.
• Punctuality is also crucial. If you are late more than 10 minutes to class, you are considered absent
• Students are required to submit all assignments on time.
• Keep a folder for portfolio assessment that includes the course syllabus, handouts, homework
assignments, comments, quizzes, drafts and texts of research and proposal etc.
• Avoid plagiarism, redundancy and basic research errors
• Write effectively and show proficiency in citation of sources
• Behave with academic integrity and maintain a positive attitude
• Students must take all scheduled tests. Make-up tests are given only at the instructor’s discretion if
the student presents a valid excuse for his/her absence from the test within one week of that test
Required Textbooks
• Reference Textbook: Essential college physics / Andrew F. Rex, Richard
Wolfson. 1st ed. Vol.1
Course Schedule
Week Topics Assessment
Introduction + motion in one dimension
1
Chapter 2
Force and Newtown’s laws
2
Chapter 4
Force and Newtown’s laws
3 Homework 1
Chapter 4
Work and Energy
4
Chapter 5
Work and Energy
5 Homework 2
Chapter 5
Solids and Fluids
6
Chapter 10
Solids and Fluids
7 Homework 3
Chapter 10
Review and exam
8 Midterm (date pending)
Tips to Succeed
• Read the book. Do Not relay on the slides to study for the course.
• Solve the homework and as many problems as you can.
• Try to prepare the material before you come to class.
• Review the material in timely manner. Studying a day before the
exam will not help.
• Ask me as many questions as you need to understand everything in
details.
• Practice as many problems as you can.
Phys 201 – Introductory Physics
Dr. Rashid Hamdan
Phoenicia University
Chapter 1: Measurement
Measurements and Physical Quantities
• What is Physics?: Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main
goal is to understand how the universe behaves. The literarily meaning of the word physics
is the “knowledge of nature”.
• Physics is the natural science that studies matter and its motion and its behavior through
space and time.
• Physics is based on observation of nature and measurement.
• The more precise our measurement and observation, the more accurate our
understanding and description of nature.
• What is a physical quantity?: A physical quantity is a quantity which can be measured
directly or indirectly. A physical quantity is a physical property of a material that can be
quantified by measurement.
• For example length of a stick, here length is a physical quantity. Volume of water, here
volume is a physical quantity.
• The job of a physicist is to find universal relations between different physical quantities
and how these quantities would evolve in time in different physical situations.
• These relations are the physics laws that help us predict what will happen in a physical
situation based on initial measurements or calculate certain quantities based on others.
Physical Quantities and Units of Measurement
• Physical quantities are classified into:
• FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES: Those quantities which do not depend on other quantities are the
fundamental quantities. There are seven fundamental quantities. These are Length, Mass, Time, Electric
Current, Temperature, Luminous Intensity and Amount of Matter.
• DERIVED QUANTITIES: Those quantities which are dependent on fundamental quantities are termed as
derived quantities. Examples of derived quantities are Area, Volume, Speed, Force, Work etc.
• Measuring any quantity requires a unit of measurement: A unit of measurement is a
definite magnitude of a quantity, defined and adopted by convention or by law, that is
used as a standard for measurement of the same kind of quantity.
• For example : Time is the physical quantity. An hour is a unit of time that represents a
predetermined duration.
• The physical quantity doesn’t depend on the unit we use to express it. However, we need
to choose a unit that simplify or understanding of the quantity and its real effect.
• For example if we are measuring the duration of a planet take to complete a rotation
around the sun we better express it in years. For measuring the time it take to drive home
from work hours might be more appropriate.
• In science the most commonly used set of units is The International System of Units. (SI).
Which is based on the metric system
International System of Units
Fundamental Quantities has base units that cannot be derived from other units

Derived Quantities: units are derived from base units

Physical quantity measured unit SI abbreviation In base units
Force Newton N Kg.m.s-2
Energy/Work Joules J Kg.m2.s-2
Pressure Pascal Pa Kg.s-2.m-1
Power Watt W Kg.m.s-3
Frequency Hertz Hz s-1
Scientific Notation and Prefixes
• Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too big or too small to be conveniently
written in decimal form. The scientific notation highlights the significant of the value and simplifies
the comparison of different quantities.
• In scientific notation all numbers are written in the form 𝑚 × 10𝑛
• The integer n is called the order of magnitude and the real number m is called the significand
Decimal notation Scientific notation
300 3x102
4,321.768 4.321768x103
0.2 2x10-1
0.00117 1.17x10-3

• Prefixes are added to unit names to produce multiples and sub-multiples of the original unit.
Prefixes simplify our representation of values and can replace order of magnitude.
Kilo k 103 Mega M 106
Giga G 109 Centi c 10-2
Milli m 10-3 Micro μ 10-6
Scientific Notation and Prefixes
• Consider the average radius of Earth. 𝑅𝐸 = 6371000 𝑚
• In scientific notation 𝑅𝐸 = 6.371 × 106 𝑚
• Using prefix 𝑅𝐸 = 6371 𝑘𝑚 = 6.371 𝑀𝑚

• Compare the radius of the Earth with that of the Moon: 𝑅𝑚 = 1700 𝑘𝑚
• 𝑅𝐸 = 6.371 × 106 𝑚 vs 𝑅𝑀 = 1. 7 × 106 𝑚
• The Radii of Earth and Moon has same order of magnitude.

• Compare with the radius of hydrogen atom 𝑅𝐻 = 1.1 × 10−10 𝑚 = 0.11 𝑛𝑚

• The radius of Earth is 1016 times larger than a hydrogen atom.

Unit Conversion
• Scientists still use units other than the SI units.
• Chemists often use “cgs system” (centimeters, grams, seconds) to
measure density and molar masses.
• Astronomers uses “the light year” to measure distance between stars.
• Example : The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm3. Convert this density
to SI units.

mass
ρgold  19.3g cm
113 (Known) ρ
volume
1g  103 kg
1cm  10-2 m 1cm3  (10-2 m)3  10-6 m3

19.3g 19.3x103 kg
ρ gold    19.3x103
kg/m 3
 19300kg/m 3

1cm3 1x10 6 m3