Honors General Physics I - 1 : Measurement & Motion and Vectors

周桐 Benjamin | Advanced Materials in Quantum Science

A few theory predictions got experimentally verified

email : tongz@hkust-gz.edu.cn

Office Hour: Tu 14 - 16 | Office: Rm 602, E4

Mr. Tengfei Ying : tying937@connect

Mr. Junjie jlei827@connect

Lab : Mr. Zehao OAn Office E2 231A

Course Info

Physics I: classical mechnics, fluid mechanics, astrophysics, thermodynamics,

Physics II : electromagnetism, optics, modern physics

Only go refer to the textbook

Try to challenge the textbook notion

Description

Calculus-based

Key :

  • Newton’s laws of motion : deduce from calculus
  • Energy & Kinear momentum conservations
  • Rotational motion (Important in quantum major)
  • Oscilaation & waves (Every signals are transformed in waves)
  • Gas laws and kinetic theory of gases
  • First and second laws of thermodynamics

No midterm and final exam

M1 : Mechanic Basics

M2 : Energy and oscillations

M3 : Thermodynamics

3 exams, 3 labs sessions

Exam 1 : Oct. 17 9am - 11am.

Exam 2 : Nov. 14 9am - 11am.

Exam 3 : Arranged by ARS

First Tutorial on Sep.15 on Week 3

There will be a paper form homework, AI will also do the grading.

Final Grade = 35%(M1) + 35%(M2) + 30%(M3)

Modulec Grade :

  • In-class quiz : 10%
  • Written assignment : 20% (10% traditional HW + 10% AI tutor system)
  • Lab reports : 20%
  • End-modulus exam : 50%

will NOT be assigned on curve

5 quizes in total : M1 Week 4 (2 quizzes); M2 Week 8 & Week 9; M3: Week 12; (4 points per each quiz)

Possible flip-classroom exercise in week 13 (thermaldynamics), present for 10 mins per person

How to master

Richard Feynman : Don’t fool yourself

Measurement

SI : International System of Units

Prefixes Table :

image-20260901103707620

Terahertz : 太赫兹

Terahertz gap : a big issue in information

Change Units :

  • Chain-link conversion
  • Scientific notation
  • significant figures (Usauslly the 3 digits) : give the sense to error for presicion

Length:

Definition: north pole to equator -> wavelengths of Kr-86 -> a time interval of light

Time

Mass and density : Atom >> Proton >> Electron

Motion and Vectors

For a move things:

  1. Position
  2. Displacement : vector quantity

State of Motion:

  1. Average velocity : Slope of the whole process
  2. Average speed : no direction

Instantaneous velocity and speed :

v=lim⁡Δt→0ΔxΔt=dxdtv=\lim_{\Delta t\to 0}\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} = \frac{dx}{dt}

It is also a vector :

v⃗=r⃗t⃗\vec{v}=\frac{\vec r}{\vec t}

So it has direction and magnitude (which called speed)

Acceleration

The instantaneous acceleration:

a=dvdt=d2xdt2a=\frac{dv}{dt}={d^2x\over dt^2}

Unit: m/s2m/s^2

Constant acceleration

First basic equation(velocity) :

v(t)=v0+∫t=0t=v0+atv(t)=v_0+\int_{t=0}^t=v_0+at

Second basic equation (position)

Δx=x(t)−x0=∫t=0tv⋅dt=∫t=0t(v0+at)dt=v0t+12at2\Delta x=x(t)-x_0=\int_{t=0}^t v\cdot dt=\int_{t=0}^t(v_0+at)dt=v_0t+\frac 1 2 at^2

Integration :

F(x)=∫f(x)dx+CF(x)=\int f(x)dx + C

F(b)−F(a)=∫abf(x)dxF(b)-F(a)=\int_a^bf(x)dx

So it depends on the interval

where f(x)f(x) is called the integrand

Free-fall acceleration

Graphical Integration

Vector and scalars

Components of vectors

Multiplying vectors

Cross/Outer product : a⃗×b⃗\vec a \times \vec b

c=absin⁡ϕc=ab\sin \phi, Right-hand rule