Course Purpose:
Physics 103 is concerned with mechanics, the study of motion. Mechanics, in turn, consists of two major areas; kinematics and dynamics. Mechanics is basic to the understanding all the other areas of physics. Only three simple laws (Newton's laws of motion) and two fundamental conservation principles (the conservation of energy and the conservation of momentum) are needed to describe almost all the motion that we observe in our everyday world. The purpose of Physics 103 is to gain some understanding of these basic laws and principles and to learn how to apply them to physical happenings that occur in our daily life and work. The basic method of study will be to define the concepts, discuss and demonstrate the principles and laws, and to test and refine understanding by problem solving.
Course Objectives:
This course has several rather broad goals. They include that you:
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Develop a good understanding of a few important concepts in Physics.
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Learn to apply these concepts to familiar and unfamiliar situations.
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Gain the ability to reason qualitatively about physics.
Prerequisites:
None
Find more about the course study plan here.