PHYS0050
Foundations of Mechanics [ Course Website ] [ Lab Website ]
The course is the first semester of a two-semester sequence in introductory physics. It is intended for freshmen and sophomores who are considering a concentration in physics or other sciences and who want a rigorous, calculus based introduction but have not yet completed a calculus course. Most students who have taken high school physics and wish further physics should find these courses (PHYS 0050 and PHYS 0060) the appropriate ones.
The text is Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4th edition) by Giancoli. Lectures will be three periods a week; there is one conference/recitation period per week and there is a project-based laboratory each week--projects lasting about two weeks each.
PHYS 0050 begins with an introduction to vectors and their use in mechanics. There follows a treatment of mechanics in which are discussed equilibrium, motion in one and two dimensions, Newton's laws, gravitation, ideas relating work-energy-power, conservation laws for momentum and energy, and angular momentum. A brief introduction to Einstein’s theory of special relativity will be given at the end of the course.
As for mathematics preparation, it is assumed that the students have thoroughly understood trigonometry and that they are taking calculus concurrently. Calculus ideas will be introduced and developed as needed in relation to the physics if not yet covered in math courses. The ideas of series and simple differential equations will be developed in this course as limited need arises.
