University Physics

General Physics (often referred to as University Physics, and broken into Physics I and II) is the foundation of what I like to call “General Physics” — the first stage of understanding what physics truly is at the highest level.

The Physics of Motion, Forces, Light, Electromagnetism, and many more. This is a course that almost every science and engineering student must take. These are typically calculus-based and follow a standard progression from the macroscopic world to the microscopic.

University Physics Contents

University Physics I — Classical Mechanics

University Physics 1: Classical Mechanics focuses on Mechanics—the study of how and why things move. It is essentially “The Physics of Large Objects.”

  1. Kinematics
    • 1D & 2D Motion: Studying displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
    • Projectile Motion: Analyzing objects moving through the air under gravity.
    • Vectors: Learning the math needed to describe directions and magnitudes in 3D space.
  2. Dynamics (The “Why” of Motion)
    • Newton’s Laws: The foundation of mechanics (F = ma, action-reaction).
    • Friction and Drag: How surfaces and air resistance oppose motion.
    • Circular Motion: The physics of orbits, car turns, and spinning objects.
  3. Energy and Momentum (The “Currency” of Physics)
    • Work & Kinetic Energy: How force applied over a distance transfers energy.
    • Conservation of Energy: Potential energy (gravity, springs) vs. Kinetic energy.
    • Linear Momentum & Collisions: Analyzing “smash-ups” (elastic vs. inelastic) using p = mv.
  4. Rotational & Rigid Body Motion
    • Rotational Kinematics: Degrees, radians, and angular velocity.
    • Torque & Moment of Inertia: The rotational equivalent of force and mass.
    • Angular Momentum: Why ice skaters spin faster when they pull their arms in.
  5. Fluids and Oscillations
    • Fluid Mechanics: Buoyancy (Archimedes’ Principle) and fluid flow (Bernoulli’s Equation).
    • Simple Harmonic Motion: The physics of springs and pendulums.

University Physics II — Electromagnetism & Waves

This course is often considered “The Physics of Invisible Fields.” It is more abstract and mathematically intense.

  1. Electrostatics (Charges at Rest)
    • Electric Charge & Coulomb’s Law: The fundamental force between protons and electrons.
    • Electric Fields: How a charge “warps” the space around it.
    • Gauss’s Law: A powerful way to calculate fields using symmetry and flux.
  2. Electric Potential & Capacitance
    • Electric Potential (Voltage): The “pressure” that pushes charges.
    • Capacitance: How we store energy in electric fields (essential for electronics).
  3. DC Circuits
    • Current, Resistance, & Ohm’s Law: The basics of how electricity flows through wires (V = IR).
    • Kirchhoff’s Rules: Solving complex circuit loops and junctions.
  4. Magnetism
    • Magnetic Fields & Forces: How magnets affect moving charges and wires.
    • Ampere’s Law: How electric currents actually create magnetic fields.
  5. Electrodynamics (Fields in Motion)
    • Faraday’s Law & Induction: How a moving magnet can create electricity (how generators work).
    • Inductance & AC Circuits: How alternating current (like in your wall outlet) behaves.
    • Maxwell’s Equations: The four equations that unify all of electricity and magnetism.
  6. Waves and Optics
    • Mechanical Waves: Sound waves and waves on a string.
    • Electromagnetic Waves: Understanding light as a wave.
    • Geometric Optics: Lenses, mirrors, and how light bends (refraction).
  7. Modern Physics — We end our initial study of General Physics with a brief foray into Modern Physics.

Key Differences Summary

| Feature | Physics 1 (Mechanics) | Physics 2 (E&M) |

|—|—|—|

| Visible? | Mostly visible (blocks, balls, cars) | Mostly invisible (fields, electrons) |

| Main Math | Derivatives & Basic Integrals | Surface Integrals & Vector Calculus |

| Concept | Tangible “Push and Pull” | Abstract “Fields and Flux” |

Would you like a list of the most important equations from either of these semesters to help you prepare?

Notes

—— A brief intro from the old Physics I page. —–

“This is my first textbook on physics, which covers mainly mechanics, and also the requisite math which we will cover contextually as we go along. Nothing extraneous, and only ever through its direct application in physics, which is where these mathematics arose from in the first place – as part of the language to describe forces and interactions of nature and reality.”

—

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