Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of physics, covering core topics such as mechanics, properties of matter, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, light, and atomic and nuclear physics. Students will explore foundational concepts, including Newton’s laws of motion, energy, rotational dynamics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. The course emphasizes the application of physics principles in real-world scenarios through problem-solving, hands-on laboratory experiments, and interactive simulations. It is designed to build critical thinking, analytical skills, and a solid foundation for advanced studies in science and engineering.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand and apply fundamental physical quantities, units, and measurement techniques.
- Analyze motion and forces using Newtonian mechanics and apply them to real-world contexts.
- Evaluate energy, momentum, and their conservation laws in various systems.
- Explain the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, and understand their behavior under different conditions.
- Describe the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer.
- Discuss the nature of waves, sound, and vibrations, and their applications in physics.
- Understand foundational concepts of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic induction.
- Explore the behavior of light through reflection, refraction, and wave-particle duality.
- Gain insight into atomic and nuclear physics, including the structure of atoms and radioactive processes.
- Apply theoretical knowledge in hands-on laboratory experiments and problem-solving exercises.
Required Materials
- Textbooks:
- Hewitt, P. G. (2020). Conceptual Physics (12th ed.). Pearson.
- Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2018). Fundamentals of Physics (11th ed.). Wiley.
- Scientific calculator (capable of handling trigonometric and logarithmic functions).
- Laboratory notebook with graph paper for recording experiments and data.
- Access to simulation tools and software for physics modeling (e.g., PhET Interactive Simulations).
