Physics 1.3 Toggle navigation

Physics, as one of the natural sciences, aims to discover the fundamental laws of the universe. Using theoretical and experimental methods, physicists study the basic structure of matter, space, and time. Knowledge of these laws allows us to understand the fascinating world of natural phenomena as well as to create new technologies that benefit every aspect of human life. The main branches of classical physics are mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism and optics. In PHYS 1.3/PHYS 1441 we will explore the first two branches. The topics we will discuss in this course include Newton’s laws of motion and universal gravitation, the motions of planets and satellites, the properties of liquids and gases, and the nature of heat. In this course we use tools of calculus such as derivatives and integrals.