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General Physics I

PHY250 | 3 Credits

General Physics I explores topics like kinematics and the study of energy, power, and momentum. Get a deep understanding of these topics that you can go on to apply to the rest of your science coursework!

Professor: Dr. Santosh Chakraborty

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$79 + membership
98% Average Pass Rate
29 Day Average Completion
$1.6 Million Saved on Tuition
ACE-RECOMMENDED 2022

About General Physics I

What You’ll Learn

This General Physics course will introduce students to topics such as kinematics, dynamics, energy, momentum, gravity, fluids, and thermodynamics.

  • Understand the basic principles pertaining to Newtonian mechanics.
  • Apply these principles to solve practical problems in these areas of study.

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Course Details

PHY250
General Physics I
3 Credits

This course will start with a descriptive approach. You will first learn about the branch of mechanics that describes motion. From mechanics, you’ll move to the study of energy, power, and momentum. These concepts will be defined rigorously. You’ll learn how Newton’s laws need to be modified to avoid limitations: a few new and simple ideas introduced by Einstein. To conclude, you’ll learn about Heat and Thermodynamics, including the 1st and 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.

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ACE Code:

OOSL-0023

Flexible Schedule

29-day Average Course Completion

Science Courses Have Transferred 10,900 times

$1,600,000 Saved on Tuition

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course. However, it is suggested that students complete Calculus I (MAT250) prior to enrolling in this course.

Course Text 

A textbook is not required for this course.

Course Checkpoints

Preliminaries

  • Welcome to Physics
  • Measuring the World Around Us
  • Vectors
  • Scalar Products
  • Vector Products

Kinematics

  • Investigating One-Dimensional Motion
  • One-Dimensional Motion With Constant Acceleration
  • Describing Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
  • Investigating Motion in Two Dimensions
  • Uniform Circular Motion
  • Relative Motion and Reference Frames

Dynamics

  • Newton's Three Laws
  • Applications of Newton's Three Laws
  • The Forces of Friction
  • The Dynamics of Circular Motion

Energy

  • Work
  • Work, Kinetic Energy, and Power
  • Potential Energy
  • Conservation of Energy

Momentum

  • Momentum and Its Conservation
  • Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

The Physics of Extended Objects

  • Systems of Particles and the Center of Mass
  • Describing Angular Motion
  • Rotational Inertia and Kinetic Energy
  • The Dynamics of Rotational Motion
  • Rolling
  • Angular Momentum
  • Conservation of Angular Momentum
  • Precession
  • Statics

Force of Gravity

  • Gravity
  • Orbital Motion

Fluids

  • Fluid Statics
  • Fluid Dynamics

Relativity

  • Understanding Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity
  • The Lorentz Transformations
  • Relativistic Dynamics

Oscillatory Motion

  • Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Pendulums
  • Damped and Driven Oscillations

Waves

  • The Basics of Waves
  • Waves on Top of Waves
  • Standing Waves
  • Sound
  • Interference and the Doppler Effect

Heat and Temperature

  • Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
  • Specific and Latent Heat
  • Heat Transfer and Thermal Expansion

Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics

  • Ideal Gases
  • Laws of Thermodynamics

Assignments & Grading 

Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.

Assignments for this course include:

  • 4 Graded Exams
  • 1 Graded Midterm
  • 1 Graded Final

What You’ll Need 

  • A reliable computer or laptop
  • Stable internet connection
  • Web browser
  • Basic computer skills
  • Any required course materials

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Course Professor

Dr. Santosh Chakraborty

PhD

Dr. Santosh Chakraborty is an experienced Physics educator with a PhD, dedicated to fostering curiosity and deep understanding in learners across high school and college levels.

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A Strong Start to Your Stem Career

Engineering applies the principles of physics to solve problems. General Physics I lays the groundwork by teaching the fundamental laws of motion, energy, and forces that engineers use every day. A solid understanding of these concepts enables engineers to design safer and more efficient solutions.

Why it matters:

  • There’s strong consistent demand for architects and engineers with 195,000 job openings projected per year between 2023–2032.
  • Learning physics will give you the tools to push innovation in fields like aerospace, robotics, and renewable energy.

In-demand careers in this field include:

Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Paramedic/EMT

How this course sets you up for success:

Physics opens up a range of STEM fields and careers. Build technical skills that employers value and start your journey towards your degree in engineering or another STEM field.

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