Physics 120 Winter 2026 Notes

Week #1

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Check your email about the diagnostic pre-test and complete it during week #1.

Lab will start in week #1.  Please read Lab#1 Kinematics Graphs for Thursday.

Reflection #1 will be due on Monday, January 12, 2026. Please print out and bring your reflection to class on Monday.

1D Motion problems.

Week #2

1D vertical motion problems.

2D motion problems.

Lab #2 will be on Thursday, January 15, 2026.  Please read Lab#2  Projectile Motion for Thursday.

Reflection #2 will be due on Monday, January 12, 2026. Please print out and bring your reflection to class on Monday.

Week #3

Lab #3 will be on Thursday, January 22, 2026.  Please read Lab#3  Air Resistance for Thursday.

Reflection #3 will be due on Monday, January 26, 2026. Please print out and bring your reflection to class on Monday. Reminder: Reflections are due in class. Late reflections are not accepted.

Exam #1 will be on Friday, January 23, 2026. The exam has 3 worked problems each with 4 parts. The problems will cover the definitions of motion and motion graphs, motion in 1D with constant acceleration, and motion in 2D with constant acceleration.  All of the problems will involve the applications of vectors and units and the problems will consist of a mix of worked problems and short answer questions. The exam will cover Ch. 1 (sections 1.1 - 1.7), Ch. 2 (sections 2.1 - 2.3), Ch. 3 (sections 3.1 - 3.6), Ch. 4 (sections 4.1 - 4.3) and Ch. 5 (sections 5.1 - 5.7).

Week #4

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Week #10

Winter 2026 Final Exam Information:

Date and time: Monday, March 16, 2026 from 8:30^am - 10:30^am, in ISEC120. 

There will be 4 problems on the exam each worth 35 points. Each problem consists of five worked parts with each worked part worth 7 points yielding 35 points for each problem.

The final exam is worth 140 points total.

Topics on the final:

1. Forces, conservation of energy, collisions, conservation of momentum, circular motion, equations of motion for constant acceleration, & vectors.

2. Forces, conservation of energy, work & energy, vectors, conservation of energy, circular motion.

3. Rotational dynamics, equations of motion for constant accleration (both angular and translational), assumptions in problems, measurements and uncertanties in measurements.

4. Rotational statics, forces, torques, equations of motion (for both angular and translational).