An introductory, algebra-based physics course with an emphasis on applications. Topics include electrostatics, current electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, quantum mechanics, and nuclear physics. Concurrently, students will be introduced to the basics of programming in Python and will be expected to apply their programming skills to the physics applications discussed.
Prerequisites: This course requires basic knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry (functions and their graphs, linear and quadratic equations, exponents and logarithms, areas of planar shapes, Pythagorean theorem, right angle trigonometry, basic trigonometric functions), scientific notation, and unit conversions. Students must complete PHYL 2300 and any of its prerequisites (at least one Quantitative Reasoning course) before taking PHYL 2400. PHYL 1600 is strongly recommended.
Course Objectives
- Define fundamental laws and principles which govern and give meaning to our physical world.
- Describe and explain physical phenomenon using discipline-specific vocabulary.
- Apply basic physical principles to solve problems and demonstrate the procedural knowledge necessary to arrive at a solution for some desired ‘to finds’ from the ‘givens’.
- Develop basic programming skills and techniques necessary to model or simulate a physical situation, analyze results, and make predictions.
*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.
Instructor
- Instructor
As a lecturer at Penn, Dr. Basu is responsible for teaching the general physics sequence (PHYS 1010/1020) to postbaccalaureate students in the Pre-Health Programs and undergraduates in the College. She earned her PhD in physics (theoretical condensed matter) from Temple University under the guidance of Professor… Read more
