Perform experiments and interpret the results of observations,including an assessment of experimental uncertainties. Develop rudimentary skills with state of the art measurement techniques. Develop an enlightened awareness of the mathematical and experimental methods of the natural sciences. This course begins the foundation sequence in physics for physical science and engineering majors. Methods of calculus are used wherever appropriate in formulating and applying physical principles.
Strong emphasis is placed on solving a variety of challenging problems.
Basic physical laws are first introduced by use of certain conceptually simple and easily visualized demonstrations and situations. The laws themselves are then abstracted and reformulated in quantitative form. Finally, the important features of the laws and their relation with other laws are brought out and reinforced in the students' mind by applying them to a variety of physical situations. Because of their conceptual importance, both as a starting point in physical reasoning and as a tool for codifying diverse physical phenomena, the various conservation laws receive particularly heavy emphasis. Wherever appropriate, all physical quantities are first introduced by use of operational definitions.