UCT Physics PHY121F
Aims of this course
The aims of any course in higher education
should be clearly expressed by the course organizer, and understood by the students.
The pillars on which an understanding of physics is based are:
- mechanics .......(PHY121F and PHY206H)
- electromagnetism (PHY122S and PHY205H)
- quantum mechanics (PHY122S and PHY206H)
- statistical mechanics and thermodynamics (PHY121F and PHY321F)
With an understanding of these, one can go on to study
- atomic and molecular physics (PHY322S)
- optics and laser physics (PHY321F)
- solid state physics (PHY322S), semiconductor device physics and electronics
- materials physics (PHY207H, PHY208H, PHY323H)
- nuclear and particle physics (PHY322S)
- particle physics (PHY400W)
- astrophysics
- general relativity, gravitation and cosmology
The aims of the UCT PHY121F course on Principles of Physics are to:
- provide a solid understanding of the basic principles of physics at
an introductory level, using calculus.
- develop and appreciation of the way in which mathematical
physics provides a clear and concise description of the
physical world - using mechanics as the area of study
- provide a working knowledge of the simpler concepts in
mechanics using vectors, and calculus
- develop early scientific writing skills
- develop simple skills in using computer programmes to illustrate
physics concepts
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