Introductory Physics Courses
General Description
The Department of Physics offers three introductory course
sequences that help develop your knowledge of the physical world and your
quantitative reasoning and logic skills. The first course in each sequence focuses
on the behavior of mechanical objects and oscillations (often referred to
simply as `Classical Mechancis'). The second course in each sequence
focuses on the electrical and magnetic properties of objects and devices and
optics (often referred to simply as `Electricity and Magnetism'). All
course sequences are calculus based and have a required
laboratory.
The main topic coverage in all sequences is similar but each is
designed for a particular student audience (
see below).
Any of the sequences will fulfill ALL requirements for a science
career and professional or graduate schools. In addition, any sequence
satisfies the prerequisite requirements for any upper level course
offered
in Trinity College.
For Majors: Fundamentals of Physics
The sequence primarily intended for students interested in becoming a
physics major consists of PHY 41L (`Classical Mechanics') and PHY 42L
(`Electricity and Magnetism'). The advantage of this course sequence is that the
class size is typically smaller (about 30 students) and the group of students
all have a strong interest in physics. PHY 41 is only offered in the
fall semester and PHY 42 is only offered in the spring.
For Engineers: Introductory Technical Physics
The introductory physics course primarily
intended for engineering majors is a three-semester sequence
consisting of PHY 61L ("Classical Mechanics") , PHY 62L ("Electricity,
Magnetism and Optics") and PHY 63L ("Themodynamics, Waves and Modern
Physics"). Normally students without AP credits take PHY 61L and 62L. Students with
full AP credits take 63L.
NOTE: Students who intend to apply to medical school
are advised to take all three semesters of the PHY6x
sequence. Because the PHY6x course is a three-semester course sequence, taking
only two semesters of it will not provide a student with the breadth of
physics topics that is recommended by the Association of American
Medical Colleges. That is, all three semesters are needed to cover
the topics on the physics section of the MCAT. Consult an engineering undergraduate program dean.
For the Biological Sciences: General Physics
The sequence primarily intended for students interested in the
biological sciences consists of PHY 53L (`Classical Mechanics') and PHY 54L
(`Electricity and Magnetism'). All topics included in the MCAT exam are covered in this
sequence.
Course Numbering Scheme
| Audience |
`Mechanics' Focus |
`Electricity and Magnetism' Focus |
''Thermodynamics, Waves and Modern Physics
Focus"
|
| Majors |
PHY 41L |
PHY 42L |
|
| Engineers |
PHY 61L |
PHY 62L |
PHY 63L |
| Bio. Sciences |
PHY 53L |
PHY 54L |
|
Topics typically covered in the courses:
There are very slight year-to-year variations, and some very slight
course-to-course
difference, but this list is a good guide to the material typically
covered.
PHY 41L/53L
- Vectors
- Units
- Motion in One Dimension
- Motion in Two Dimensions
- Newton's Laws
- Work and Energy
- Systems of Particles
- Conservation of Momentum
- Rotation
- Static Equilibrium
- Gravity
- Elastic Properties of Solids
- Mechanics of Fluids
- Ideal Gas Law
- First Law of Thermodynamics
- Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Oscillations
- Waves on a String
- Sound
PHY 42L/54L
- Charge
- Conductors
- Electrostatic Fields
- Gauss's Law
- Electric Field
- Potential
- Capacitance
- Current
- Resistance
- dc Circuits
- Magnetic Fields
- Magnetic Forces and Torques
- Ampere's Law
- Magnetic Induction
- Electric Fields Induced by Magnetic Fields
- Faraday's Law
- ac Circuits
- Maxwell's Equations
- Electromagnetic Waves
- Relativity
- Optics
PHY 61L
- Vectors
- Forces and Torques
- Pressure and Static Fluids
- Static Equilibrium
- Newton's Laws
- Equations of Motion
- Linear Motion and Momentum
- Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum
- Work, Energy and Power
- Solving Equations of Motion with Matlab
- Gravity
- Oscillations
- Forcing and Resonance
- Transients, Bistability, and Hysteresis
PHY 62L
- Charge
- Conductors and Insulators
- Electric Field
- Gauss's Law
- Potential
- Capacitance
- Dielectric Materials
- Current
- Resistance
- dc Circuits
- Magnetic Field
- Magnetic Forces and Torques
- Magnetic Materials
- Ampere's Law
- Magnetic Induction
- Faraday's Law
- ac Circuits
- Displacement Current
- Maxwell's Equations
- Electromagnetic Waves
- Geometric Optics
PHY 63L
- Mechanics from a Microscopic Perspective
- the Atomic Nature of Matter
- Mechanical Waves and Sound
- Energy
- Energy Quantization
- Entropy
- the Kinetic Theory of Gases
- the Efficiency of Engines
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- the Photon Nature of Light
- Physical Optics and Interference
- Waves and Particles
- Applications of Wave Mechanics
Tutors for Introductory Physics
The Department of Physics encourages you to visit your Instructor and
Teaching Assistant during their office hourse to receive individualized
attention concerning the course material. The department also operates help sessions
during the evenings. Please check the schedule.
You should also check with
the
Duke Peer
Tutoring
where you might be able to find a free tutor (1 hour per week max), on
a first come, first serve basis.
If you feel that you could benefit from additional help,
private tutors listed below are available.
They are graduate or undergraduate students and the fee
is set by the individual tutor. Any interested students
should contact them directly. If there are any questions or problems, please contact
the Physics Director of Undergraduate Studies (dus@phy.duke.edu).
- Johannes Norrell - Graduate student - jan3@phy.duke.edu
- Yang Yang - Graduate student - yy45@phy.duke.edu
- Mary Kid - Graduate Student - kidd@tunl.duke.edu
- Rena Zhu - Graduate Student - yz65@phy.duke.edu
- Arya Roy - Graduate student - ar54@phy.duke.edu