— General Physics III

Catalog description

This course is a continuation of General Physics II. Therefore, we recommend that the student enroll in this course only after the successful completion of General Physics II or similar sophomore level General Physics course which includes the physics of vibrations, waves, thermodynamics, electricity & magnetism, electric circuits, geometrical optics, and physical optics. The calculation of the derivatives of simple functions and the solutions of linear differential equations for various physical systems will be studied. We begin by discussing the concerns of the physical scientist, the scientific method of investigation, discussion of essential differences of the physical sciences from other fields of study. We initially gain insight as we study the motion of familiar systems. Our guiding principle is to consider the universe as our laboratory. Therefore our studies will also encompass the very large (astronomical, the macrocosm) and the very small microcosm (atomic structre, electrons, protons, neutrons, and their constituent quarks). However, the various methods energy production, nuclear, fossil fuel, solar, hydro-electric, and geothermal, will be studied.