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Phys-109 Unit 1 - Concordia University Nebraska

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<strong>Unit</strong> 1Introduction: NOS andMeasurementBrent Royuk<strong>Phys</strong>-<strong>109</strong><strong>Concordia</strong> <strong>University</strong>


<strong>Phys</strong>-<strong>109</strong> in the Curriculum• <strong>Phys</strong>ics at <strong>Concordia</strong>• The levels of introductory physics.– <strong>109</strong>– 110– 111/112• Lecture notes and reading the text.• Why study physics?


Learning Science in aChristian ContextWhat does it mean that <strong>Concordia</strong> is a Christian school and howdoes that affect us in this class?1. We know that science is not the most important thing in the world.2. We are in a Christian learning community and trust each other as brothers andsisters in Christ.3. We acknowledge scholarship as an important activity for Christians to pursue.• “For a Christian, the mind is important because God is important.” -MarkA. Knoll4. We enjoy and appreciate learning about the natural world because we know whocreated it. We marvel at the scientific order and complexity of the universe andseek knowledge with a worshipful attitude.5. We recognize that God has called us to our current vocation. At this point in ourlives, we have not only chosen to be a student- we have answered God’s call forus to accomplish his work on earth as a student.6. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”1 Cor. 10:31


A Christian Liberal Education• Liberal education: “a philosophy ofeducation that empowers individualswith broad knowledge andtransferable skills, and a strongersense of values, ethics, and civicengagement ... characterized bychallenging encounters with importantissues, and more a way of studyingthan a specific course or field ofstudy.” (AACU)


The Four Processes ofScienceCompare with Hewittt, p. 91. Observe Nature (Facts)2. Find Order (Laws)3. Build Models (Theories)4. Explain & PredictThis is a conceptual model for science, ratherthan a procedural one.


The Four Processes ofScienceExample1. I saw a sunrise today (Fact)2. The sun rises in the east (Law)3. What’s the theory?


Problems with the Scientific Method:The Grade-School Scientific Certainty MythWrong:Better:1. Hypothesis2. Theory3. Law1. Law2. Theory3. HypothesisSo a Law is a proventheory!A theory is neverproven.


• Old scienceWhat is <strong>Phys</strong>ics?– Natural Philosophy– The “Queen of the Sciences”– “<strong>Phys</strong>ics envy”• All science is either physics orstamp collecting. ErnestRutherford


What is <strong>Phys</strong>ics?• Hobson: “<strong>Phys</strong>ics is the study of the study ofphenomena that, like falling, are universal.Geologists study rocks and Earth’s structure,biologists study frogs and other livingorganisms, while physicists study the generalprinciples obeyed by rocks and frogs andeverything else.”• Fundamental– Simple– Reductionism• <strong>Phys</strong>icists are simpleminded people.• Quantitative• I can define that course in ______ words…• Topics


What is <strong>Phys</strong>ics?• <strong>Phys</strong>ics: The branch of science concerned withthe nature and properties of matter andenergy. The subject matter of physics,distinguished from that of chemistry andbiology, includes mechanics, heat, light andother radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism,and the structure of atoms.• Chemistry is physics without thought.Mathematics is physics without purpose.• If it wiggles, it's biology; if it smells, it'schemistry; if it doesn't work, it's physics.• Hewitt’s approach: “To the Student,” pagexvii.


Hewitt on Measurement• Size of the Earth– Size of the Moon• Distance to the Moon– Distance to the Sun» Size of the Sun• Let’s talk about the MetricSystem! (Hewitt: Appendix A)


<strong>Unit</strong>s of Measurement• Standardization is necessary for science (the king’s thumb)• Cubits, Thumb = inch, 12 inches = foot, three feet = yard• The SI• 1793, French Academy of Sciences• 1983: The distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 seconds


<strong>Unit</strong>s of Measurement• The kilogram– One cubic tenth of a meter of water– The gram/milliliter/cc connection– Prototype Pt-Ir cylinder


<strong>Unit</strong>s of Measurement• Where did the second come from?• 1 sec = 9,192,631,770 oscillations of Cs-133 radiation• “The speed of time is one second per second.”• The MKS system vs. cgs, fps• The liter• The seven base units


Prefix Symbol Magnitude Meaning (multiply by)Yotta- Y 10 24 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000Zetta- Z 10 21 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000Exa- E 10 18 1 000 000 000 000 000 000Peta- P 10 15 1 000 000 000 000 000Tera- T 10 12 1 000 000 000 000Giga- G 10 9 1 000 000 000Mega- M 10 6 1 000 000myria- my 10 4 10 000 (this is now obsolete)kilo- k 10 3 1000hecto- h 10 2 100deka- da 10 10- - 10 0 1deci- d 10 -1 0.1centi- c 10 -2 0.01milli- m 10 -3 0.001micro- u (mu) 10 -6 0.000 001nano- n 10 -9 0.000 000 001pico- p 10 -12 0.000 000 000 001femto- f 10 -15 0.000 000 000 000 001atto- a 10 -18 0.000 000 000 000 000 001zepto- z 10 -21 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 001yocto- y 10 -24 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 001


<strong>Unit</strong>s of Measurement• Try these:3.4 cm = ___ m112000 ng = ___ kg340 g = ___ kg3.4 x 10 -11 km = ___ mm


Problem Solving

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