Unit 2938: Fundamentals of Physics

1. Introduction to Physics

• Overview of Physics
  • Definition and scope
  • Role in understanding the natural world
• The Scientific Method
  • Observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and theory
• Units of Measurement
  • SI units and derived units
  • Precision, accuracy, and significant figures
• Fundamental Physical Quantities
  • Length, mass, time, electric current, temperature, amount of substance, luminous intensity

2. Kinematics

• Motion Description
  • Scalars and vectors
  • Position and displacement
• Speed and Velocity
  • Average and instantaneous speed
  • Average and instantaneous velocity
• Acceleration
  • Definition and calculation
• Graphical Analysis of Motion
  • Position-time, velocity-time graphs
• Equations of Motion for Uniform Acceleration

3. Dynamics

• Newton's Laws of Motion
  • First Law: Inertia
  • Second Law: F=ma
  • Third Law: Action and reaction
• Force and Mass
  • Types of forces: gravitational, normal, frictional, tension, applied
• Inertia and Mass
• Free Body Diagrams
• Applications of Newton’s Laws

4. Energy and Work

• Work
  • Definition and calculation (W = F · d · cosθ)
• Energy
  • Types: kinetic, potential, mechanical, thermal, chemical, nuclear
• Power
  • Definition and calculation (Power = Work/time)
• Conservation of Energy
  • Law of conservation of mechanical energy
• Energy Transformations and Efficiency

5. Momentum and Collisions

• Momentum
  • Definition (p = mv)
  • Impulse and change in momentum
• Conservation of Momentum
  • Principle and mathematical formulation
• Collisions
  • Elastic and inelastic collisions
  • Calculation of velocities post-collision

6. Circular Motion and Gravitation

• Circular Motion
  • Uniform circular motion
  • Centripetal acceleration and force
• Gravitation
  • Newton’s law of universal gravitation
  • Gravitational field and force
• Orbits and Satellite Motion

7. Oscillations and Waves

• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
  • Definition and characteristics
  • Equations describing SHM
• Wave Properties
  • Types of waves: transverse and longitudinal
  • Wave parameters: wavelength, frequency, period, amplitude, speed
• Interference and Superposition
  • Constructive and destructive interference
• Standing Waves
  • Formation and nodes/antinodes

8. Thermodynamics

• Heat and Temperature
  • Definitions and units
  • Heat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection, radiation
• Laws of Thermodynamics
  • Zeroth, First, Second laws
• Thermal Expansion
• Entropy and Thermal Equilibrium

9. Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric Fields and Forces
  • Coulomb’s law
• Electric Circuits
  • Current, voltage, resistance, Ohm’s law
  • Series and parallel circuits
• Magnetic Fields
  • Sources and field lines
• Electromagnetic Induction
  • Faraday’s law
  • Applications
• Relationship between Electricity and Magnetism

10. Optics

• Nature of Light
  • Wave and particle duality
• Reflection and Refraction
  • Laws of reflection and Snell’s law
• Lenses and Optical Instruments
  • Convex and concave lenses
  • Magnification and image formation
• Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum
  • Properties and applications