Fundamentals of Physics I

PHYS 200: Fundamentals of Physics I

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About the Course

This course provides a thorough introduction to the principles and methods of physics for students who have good preparation in physics and mathematics. Emphasis is placed on problem solving and quantitative reasoning. This course covers Newtonian mechanics, special relativity, gravitation, thermodynamics, and waves.

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Course Structure

This Yale College course, taught on campus twice per week for 75 minutes, was recorded for Open Yale Courses in Fall 2006.

Course Materials

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About Professor Ramamurti Shankar

Ramamurti Shankar is John Randolph Huffman Professor of Physics at Yale. He received his B. Tech in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras and his Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the Yale faculty in 1977 after three years at the Harvard Society of Fellows. He is dedicated to teaching and has published two texts: Principles of Quantum Mechanics and Basic Training in Mathematics: A Fitness Program for Science Students. His website has further details and a link to jokes collected by his students from Physics 200-201.

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Syllabus

Professor

Ramamurti Shankar, John Randolph Huffman Professor of Physics

Description

Texts

Wolfson, Richard and Jay Pasachoff. 1998. Physics with Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 3d ed. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley Publishing Company.

Recommended: Shankar, Ramamurti. 2003. Basic Training in Mathematics: A Fitness Program for Science Students. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Requirements

Homework will be given every Wednesday and is due the following Wednesday before class. Solutions will be posted on Wednesdays, so problem sets must be turned in on time. There will be one in-class midterm halfway through the semester.

Grading

Homework: 20%
Midterm examination: 30%
Final examination: 50%
Letter grades will be assigned by taking the highest score of either the total final average or the final exam.

Sessions


Lecture 1	Course Introduction and Newtonian Mechanics
Lecture 2	Vectors in Multiple Dimensions
Lecture 3	Newton's Laws of Motion
Lecture 4	Newton's Laws (cont.) and Inclined Planes
Lecture 5	Work-Energy Theorem and Law of Conservation of Energy
Lecture 6	Law of Conservation of Energy in Higher Dimensions
Lecture 7	Kepler's Laws
Lecture 8	Dynamics of a Multiple-Body System and Law of Conservation of Momentum
Lecture 9	Rotations, Part I: Dynamics of Rigid Bodies
Lecture 10	Rotations, Part II: Parallel Axis Theorem
Lecture 11	Torque
Exam 1	Midterm Exam
Lecture 12	Introduction to Relativity
Lecture 13	Lorentz Transformation
Lecture 14	Introduction to the Four-Vector
Lecture 15	Four-Vector in Relativity
Lecture 16	The Taylor Series and Other Mathematical Concepts
Lecture 17	Simple Harmonic Motion
Lecture 18	Simple Harmonic Motion (cont.) and Introduction to Waves
Lecture 19	Waves
Lecture 20	Fluid Dynamics and Statics and Bernoulli's Equation
Lecture 21	Thermodynamics
Lecture 22	The Boltzmann Constant and First Law of Thermodynamics
Lecture 23	The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Carnot's Engine
Lecture 24	The Second Law of Thermodynamics (cont.) and Entropy
Exam 2	Final Exam

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Course Books and Other Related Titles

Yale University Press offers a 10% discount on the books used in PHYS 200 that it publishes, as well as on other related titles. A portion of the proceeds from your purchases will be donated for the ongoing support and development of the Open Yale Courses program.

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