Physics Foundations Course Overview

Course Description:

This course provides a foundational understanding of physics, bridging the gap between high school and university level requirements. It's designed primarily for prospective engineering students and covers essential physics topics necessary for engineering disciplines such as Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Waves. The course presents these subjects in the style of university-level teaching to facilitate a smooth transition to higher education.

What Students Will Learn:

• Basic concepts in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and waves.
• Application of physics knowledge in various engineering contexts.
• Techniques for solving physics problems algebraically and making order-of-magnitude estimations.
• Familiarity with basic differential and integral calculus applications in physics.
• Conceptual understanding of vectors.

Prerequisites or Skills Necessary:

• High school level calculus, including derivatives and integrals.
• Basic knowledge of high school physics.

Course Will Cover:

• Fundamentals of Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism, and Waves
• Algebraic problem solving in physics.
• Physical concept estimations without computational aids.
• Applying calculus in physical equations.
• Understanding and using vectors conceptually.

Who This Course Is For:

• Prospective engineering students preparing for university.
• High school students seeking advanced challenges in physics.
• University students looking to fill gaps in their physics knowledge.
• Individuals interested in learning university-level physics.

Real-World Application:

Skills acquired in this course can be directly applied in various engineering fields, enhancing problem-solving capabilities, supporting academic pursuits in technology, science, and engineering, and preparing for challenging roles in industries that rely on physical principles like aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

Syllabus:

Module 1: Mechanics

• Force and Motion
• Multiple Forces
• Work
• Energy
• Circular Motion

Module 2: Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric Force and Field
• Electric Potential and Electric Energy
• Electrical Circuits
• Magnetic Fields
• Capacitors

Module 3: Waves

• Introduction to waves
• Harmonic motion
• Coupled oscillations
• Travelling waves
• Standing waves