Essential Physics

Engineering connections
Design projects
Design project: Solar power
Design an egg drop container
Design a wind turbine power plant
Design a musical instrument
Design a lemon battery
Design a Rube Goldberg machine
Design a pinhole camera
Design an infrared pulse monitor
Chapter 1 - Science of Physics
Additive and subtractive manufacturing processes Careers related to laser cutting Design principles for the solar power installation on a house Electricians and the physics of electricity Engineering Engineering method Fields of engineering Hexadecimal RGB colors for web pages Intersecting science, technology, engineering and mathematics Manufacturing and engineering Solar power installation for a house What is engineering?
Chapter 2 - Physical Quantities and Measurement
Different distance measures in Europe in 1761 Engineering design Graphical relationships between variables Graphing variables Microscopic and macroscopic scales Tolerances in engineering design Using scientific notation in engineering
Chapter 3 - Position and Velocity
Computers and multi-step models for motion Defining axes for position and length coordinate systems Three dimensions used for vehicle navigational systems
Chapter 4 - Acceleration
Terminal velocity and engineering design Testing the physical fitness of astronauts
Chapter 5 - Forces and Newton’s Laws
Drag coefficients for various shapes Elasticity and brittleness Finding the center of mass of an irregularly-shaped object Forces from springs Free-body diagrams and building codes Strength, deformation, and the International Building Code
Chapter 6 - Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
Coordinate measuring machine (CMM) constructs a model of an object using 3-D coordinates DARPA Grand Challenge for engineering design Drawing free body diagrams to represent forces Radians and degrees Reading a compass
Chapter 7 - Circular Motion
Design constraints for human missions to Mars Designing the trajectory of a spacecraft's flight to Saturn How fast do small electric motors turn? Selecting satellite orbits to maximize communications contact time Transfer orbits, or how to send a spacecraft to Mars
Chapter 8 - Static Equilibrium and Torque
Foot-pound and pound-foot in technology Forces transmitted by either rigid or flexible materials Links and trusses Post-and-beam construction Reaction force for contacting surfaces Reaction force for ropes and links Reaction forces for fixed supports Reaction forces for pin supports Reaction forces for rough surfaces Static problems and equilibrium Tension forces Working loads for various ropes and cables
Chapter 9 - Work and Energy
Electric current Electromagnetic spectrum Energy Star program Energy guide labels for appliances Smart-building design Volts, amps, and power
Chapter 10 - Conservation of Energy
Calculating energy production for the Hoover Dam Efficiency How a four-stroke piston engine works How a hydroelectric power plant works Hydroelectric power plants around the world Open and closed systems
Chapter 11 - Momentum and Collisions
Designing crumple zones to reduce forces during a car crash
Chapter 12 - Machines
Compound gear ratios Determining the mechanical advantage of a screw and screwdriver combination Efficiency of a machine Fitting a ramp into a small space Gear ratios How a crane works Mechanical advantage of a block and tackle system of pulleys Mechanical advantage of a lever Mechanical advantage of a ramp Mechanical advantage of a screw Mechanical advantage of a wedge Mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle Mechanical advantage of dual gear drive Mechanical advantage of two gears Six types of simple machines Systems of pulleys Using a lever to lift a heavy boulder Wheels reduce the frictional force when pulling heavy objects
Chapter 13 - Angular Momentum
Maintaining the orientation of a spacecraft Moment of inertia and designing rotating devices Stability and the location of the center of mass
Chapter 14 - Harmonic Motion
Engineering tradeoffs between stability and maneuverability Feedback and stability for aircraft Torsional oscillations and the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Chapter 15 - Waves
Designing buildings to withstand oscillations due to earthquakes Laser metrology to measure distances precisely
Chapter 16 - Sound
Touch-tone frequency encoding on a phone
Chapter 17 - Electricity and Circuits
Circuit breakers in household electrical systems Connections on a circuit breadboard Designing a string of lights Electric circuit elements and their symbols Electrical conductors and insulators Electrical conductors and insulators Electrical resistance Fuses in household circuits Internal resistance of a battery Parallel circuits Parallel circuits and the wiring of a house Power in electrical circuits Practical considerations in circuit design Resistance, temperature, and cooling fans Series circuits Voltage divider circuit Voltage or potential difference Wire gauge and resistance
Chapter 18 - Electric and Magnetic Fields
Capacitors are devices to store electric charge Charging a capacitor with an RC circuit Computer cable shielding
Chapter 19 - Electromagnetism
Brush contacts make electrical connections with a rotor Build an electromagnet Different modes of operation of a hybrid car Magnetically levitating trains Rube Goldberg machines Six phases of the rotation of an electric motor Synchronization and efficiency in the design of electric motors
Chapter 20 - Light and Reflection
Transparency and electromagnetic waves
Chapter 21 - Refraction and Lenses
How to correct for poor eyesight Index of refraction for various materials Large lenses collect more light than small lenses Large telescope diameters increase collecting area to see fainter sources
Chapter 22 - Electromagnetic Radiation
CCD and CMOS detectors in digital cameras Designing a detector of infrared radiation Frequencies for communication and mobile phone technology Frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum How color is detected with digital cameras Light, electrons, and voltage for a charge-coupled device (CCD) Varying the index of refraction in the design of optical fibers
Chapter 23 - Properties of Matter
Gauge pressure read by tire pressure gauges How diodes work How transistors work and are used in electronics devices Semiconductor depletion region as a limit for the speed of computers Specific heat
Chapter 24 - Heat Transfer
Emissivities of several kinds of surfaces Heat sinks transfer heat away from hot electronic components How to boil water in a wicker basket Materials for making cooking utensils Thermal conductivity for some common materials
Chapter 25 - Thermodynamics
Efficiency and steam engines Horsepower, engine displacement, and efficiency for car engines How a steam engine works How refrigerators work
Chapter 26 - Quantum Physics and the Atom
Stereolithography and ultraviolet lasers Using a laser cutting machine in a manufacturing process
Chapter 27 - Nuclear Physics
Control rods and moderators in nuclear reactors Design of a nuclear power plant Nuclear waste storage as an engineering design problem