Physics 0600-S1-O-FIZ

Physical knowledge is fundamental to natural sciences. The course aims to extend and systematize this knowledge that students acquire in the earlier stages of education and extend it significantly. The problems presented in the class will allow you to familiarize yourself with the fundamental interactions occurring in nature and the laws governing physical phenomena.
We will show that many of the phenomena we can observe around us have relatively simple physical explanations, and understanding their essence can provide personal satisfaction. We will draw students' attention to the fact that many measurement techniques now used routinely in various fields of chemistry have their source in basic research in physics.
By discussing physical problems, we will show the importance of mathematics in describing physical phenomena, including tools such as differential and integral calculus, which students will learn in math classes.
We will pay attention to how abstract mathematical models can be related to actual physical processes.

Lecture program:
1. Elements of vector calculus, the scalar and vector products.
2. Coordinate systems (Cartesian, cylindrical, spherical), symmetry and the choice of coordinates.
3. SI units and traditional units (e.g., used in spectroscopy or astronomy), the range of values of different quantities.
4. Description of translational and rotational motion of a material point.
5. Newton's laws of dynamics, momentum, angular momentum, harmonic force, frictional forces, gravitational force, conservation of momentum and angular momentum.
6. Inertial and non-inertial frames of reference, Coriolis force.
7. Work, energy, potential energy (in the gravitational field, in harmonic motion), principle of conservation of energy, simple machines.
8. Statics and dynamics of fluids.
9. Kinetic theory of gases and elements of thermodynamics.
10. Electricity and magnetism.
11. Waves: wave equation, wave interference, Doppler effect.
12. Phenomena and experiments that prove the wave-particle duality.
13. Electromagnetic waves.
14. Wave and geometric optics.

Tutorials will be closely correlated with the lecture. Problems to be solved during classes will illustrate the content of the lecture, and the use of math to solve physical problems will be practiced. At the same time, we will turn attention to the fact that not every solution appearing in the mathematical model makes physical sense, and this aspect should always be considered.

During the laboratory classes, physical experiments will be carried out, which, like the tutorials, will illustrate the issues discussed at the lecture. Students will have to carry out all measurements on their own, process the results, and find the physical quantities we are interested in. Much emphasis will be placed on the diligence of the execution of experiments, the control and limitation of factors that may disturb the measurement, and the analysis of emerging measurement errors.

The proposed laboratory exercises will cover the following topics:
- introductory classes: how to carry out measurements and error calculus
- Archimedes' principle - determination of density
- mathematical and physical pendulum - determination of the gravity constant
- inclined plane: forces of friction and gravity
- Hook's law
- thermal conductivity of insulators
- electricity: Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's law
- optics: diffraction and interference