URI Homepage
PHY 203: Elementary Physics I
Course Information
Please note that exact details of the course can vary
An honors version of this course is also offered by the Physics Department (PHY 203H).
Professors:
Dr. David R. Heskett, Dr. Miquel Dorca, Dr Michael Antosh
want to know who is teaching this semester? check the course schedule page
Semester: Fall/Spring
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: credit or concurrent enrollment in MTH 141 and concurrent enrollment in PHY 273 (Recitation and Laboratory).
Catalog Description: Introduction to Newtonian mechanics. Kinematics and dynamics of particles and systems of particles. Motion of rigid bodies and oscillatory motion. Conservation principles.
Course Goals & Outcomes
Upon completion successful students will be able to:
- Understand important topics of elementary physics
- Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Solve calculus based problems pertaining to the course
- Apply concepts learned in lecture to experiments conducted in lab
General Education Areas
This course satisfies URI’s general education areas: “Scientific, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical Disciplines” (Full); and “Mathematical, Statistical, or Computational Strategies” (Partial).
Course Description
This course meets 3 times per week for lecture. As well, this course requires an additional 2 hours of lab and 1 hour of recitation. Separate enrollment in each is required.
Topics covered in this course include:
- Measurement and Vectors
- Motion in One, Two, and Three Dimension
- Newton’s Laws
- Additional Applications of Newton’s Laws
- Work and Kinetic Energy
- Conservation of Energy
- Conservations of Linear Momentum
- Rotation
- Angular Momentum
- Gravity
- Static Equilibrium and Elasticity
- Oscillations
Contact Information
Dr. David R. Heskett( contact Dr. Heskett )
Dr. Miquel Dorca, ( contact Dr. Dorca )
Grades are based on the following criteria:
- Unit Exams
- Final Exam
- Homework (WebAssign)
- Recitation (PHY 273R)
- Lecture quizzes
Laboratory meets once a week for two hours. Grades are based on experiments conducted during this weekly meeting.
Recitation is run as an intensive problem-solving workshop that meets once a week. Students are given 6 problems in each recitation session and are expected to correctly solve at least 3. Teaching assistants are present during recitation to give guidance as needed.
LEC: (3 crs.) Introduction to Newtonian mechanics. Kinematics and dynamics of particles and systems of particles. Motion of rigid bodies and oscillatory motion. Conservation principles. (Lec. 3 ) Pre: credit or concurrent enrollment in MTH 141 and concurrent enrollment in PHY 273. Intended for science or engineering majors. (N)
