Doing Physics with Scientific Notebook

A Problem Solving Approach
1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-0-470-66598-5
Verlag: Wiley

Buch, Englisch, 528 Seiten, Format (B × H): 172 mm x 252 mm, Gewicht: 996 g

The goal of this book is to teach undergraduate students how to use Scientific Notebook (SNB) to solve physics problems. SNB software combines word processing and mathematics in standard notation with the power of symbolic computation. As its name implies, SNB can be used as a notebook in which students set up a math or science problem, write and solve equations, and analyze and discuss their results.

Written by a physics teacher with over 20 years experience, this text includes topics that have educational value, fit within the typical physics curriculum, and show the benefits of using SNB.

This easy-to-read text:

- Provides step-by-step instructions for using Scientific Notebook (SNB) to solve physics problems
- Features examples in almost every section to enhance the reader's understanding of the relevant physics and to provide detailed instructions on using SNB
- Follows the traditional physics curriculum, so it can be used to supplement teaching at all levels of undergraduate physics
- Includes many problems taken from the author’s class notes and research

Aimed at undergraduate physics and engineering students, this text teaches readers how to use SNB to solve some everyday physics problems.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gallant, Joseph

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Physik Angewandte Physik
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Theoretische Physik, Mathematische Physik, Computerphysik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface xv

So we’re all on the same page. xvii

What is science? xviii

To the Student xix

To the Teacher xx

Contact Information xx

Acknowledgments xxi

1 Introduction to SNB 1

Why SNB? 1

The Basics 2

Physics à la mode: Math or Text 8

Creating Mathematical Expressions 8

Evaluate and Evaluate Numerically 11

Scientific Notation 13

Substitution and Endpoint Evaluation 14

Solving Equations 17

Solve Exact 18

Solve Numeric 21

Systems of Equations 24

The Compute Menu 25

Simplify and Expand 25

Factor 26

Rewrite and Combine 28

Check Equality 29

Polynomials 31

Power Series 32

Definitions 35

Other Good Stuff 37

Computing In-place 37

Making Assumptions About Variables 37

Limits 40

A Few Words About Calculus 42

Units 46

Converting Units 47

User-Defined Units 51

Plotting 52

Plot 2D Rectangular 54

Other 2-Dimensional Plots 55

Plot 3D Rectangular 58

Cylindrical and Spherical Plots 60

Plotting Data 63

Fitting a Curve to Data 63

Differential Equations 67

Solve ODE Exact and Laplace 68

Solve ODE Numeric 70

Problems 75

2 One-Dimensional Kinematics 83

Constant Acceleration 83

Displacement and Position 83

Velocity and Acceleration 84

Equations of Motion 86

Signs of the Times 88

Free Fall 89

Varying Acceleration 91

Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration 91

Equations of Motion 93

Gravity and Air Resistance 96

Resisting Air Resistance is Futile 97

Long-Distance Free Fall 99

Problems 102

3 Vectors 105

Components of a Vector 107

Magnitude and Direction 108

Adding Vectors 111

The Component Method 112

The SNB Method 113

The Graphing Method 115

Unit Vectors 119

Multiplying Vectors 120

Dot Product 121

Cross Product 122

Problems 125

4 Projectile Motion 127

No Air Resistance 127

Trajectory 132

Time of Flight 134

Maximum Height 135

Linear Air Resistance 137

Trajectory 141

Time of Flight and Range 143

Maximum Height 145

Turn Off the Air! 146

Turn Down the Air! 147

Quadratic Air Resistance 151

Height-Dependent Air Resistance 152

Problems 154

5 Newton’s Laws of Motion 157

Newton’s First Law 157

Newton’s Second Law for Constant Forces 158

Newton’s Second Law for Varying Forces 165

Time-Dependent Forces 165

Velocity-Dependent Forces 167

Position-Dependent Forces 170

Newton’s Third Law 173

Problems 175

6 Conservation Laws 179

Definitions 179

Conservation of Energy 181

Work 181

The Work-Energy Theorem 185

Potential Energy 186

Mechanical Energy is Conserved 188

A Complete Bookkeeping 191

Conservation of Momentum 193

Collisions in 1-Dimension 193

Collisions in 2-Dimensions 196

Rockets 199

Deep Space 199

Launch 202

Air Resistance 207

Varying Gravity and Air Resistance 213

Problems 216

7 Circular Motion 221

Uniform Circular Motion 222

The Rotating Umbrella 224

Rotational Kinematics 227

The Compact Disk 229

Newton’s Second Law and Circular Motion 233

Uniform Circular Motion and the 2nd Law 233

Non-Uniform Circular Motion and the 2nd Law 235

Sliding on a Sphere 236

Über Autor(innen)

Joe Gallant, Kent State University, USA
Joe Gallant is currently a tenured associate professor of physics at Kent State University. He received his Ph.D. in 1996 in theoretical nuclear physics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His primary task is teaching and he taught a number of physics courses at Kent State University from 1993 to 2007 before moving to Hiram College, where his currently responsible for teaching a number of physics courses, including: Principles of Physics I and II; Doing Physics with Scientific Notebook; Modern Physics; Thermal Physics and Electricity and Magnetism. He also carries out original research, and has published three papers where he uses used SNB to do the calculations. His current research involves classical periodic orbits near black holes.