PHY 101: General Physics I

A complete outline of the course syllabus, covering all major topics in introductory mechanics and properties of matter.

Table of Contents

1. Units and Measurements

  • Base Units (Time, Length, Mass)
  • Measurement of Volume
  • Dimensional Analysis

2. Vectors

  • Addition of Vectors (Graphical and Component Methods)
  • Relative Velocity
  • Unit Vectors (i, j, k notation)
  • Vector Multiplication: Scalar (Dot) Product and Vector (Cross) Product

3. Motion in One Dimension

  • Motion with Constant Acceleration (Kinematic Equations)
  • Freely Falling Bodies

4. Motion in a Plane

  • Position, Velocity, and Acceleration Vectors
  • Projectile Motion

5. Newton’s Laws of Motion

  • First, Second, and Third Laws
  • Conservation of Linear Momentum
  • Collisions and Coefficient of Restitution

6. Circular Motion

  • Uniform Circular Motion
  • Centripetal Force and Acceleration
  • Motion Around a Curve (Banked and Unbanked)

7. Work and Energy

  • Work Done by a Constant/Variable Force
  • Kinetic Energy and the Work-Energy Theorem
  • Power

8. Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy

  • Gravitational Potential Energy
  • Conservation of Mechanical Energy
  • Energy Conservation with Friction (Non-conservative forces)
  • Potential Energy of a Spring
  • Simple Machines

9. Rotational Motion

  • Angular Velocity and Acceleration
  • Torque and Moment of Inertia
  • Rotational Kinetic Energy

10. Statics and Elasticity

  • Conditions for Rotational Equilibrium
  • Stress, Strain, and Elastic Moduli

11. Oscillations

  • Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
  • Mass-Spring Systems and Simple Pendulums

12. Gravity

  • Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
  • Gravitational Potential Energy
  • Kepler's Laws (briefly)