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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).
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
Please check eCampus for the professor in charge for the current semester
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)
