Lecture Notes: Introduction to Physics by Professor Ramamurti Shankar

Course Overview

• Year-long course covering major ideas in physics from Galileo and Newton to modern revolutions in relativity and quantum mechanics.
• Broad target audience; topics chosen for fascination and interest in physics.
• Examples of relevance for non-physics majors (e.g., doctors and quantum mechanics).

Course Format

• Lectures will be recorded as part of a pilot program by the Hewlett Foundation.
• Classes held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM.
• Homework assigned on Wednesdays, due the following Wednesday before class.
  • Solutions will be posted in the afternoon.

Course Structure

• Grading: 20% Homework, 30% Midterm (around mid-October), 50% Final Exam.
• "Amnesty Plan" allows for the final exam score to replace the midterm score if it’s higher.
• Head TA: Mara Daniel (Baraban) for homework submissions and grading queries.
• Discussion sections led by Mark Caprio and Steve Furlanetto on Tuesdays.

Office Hours

• Professor's office hours TBD based on student feedback.
• For procedural issues, contact the TAs directly.

Tips for Success

• Attend lectures for essential content not fully covered in the textbook.
• Homework is crucial for understanding; collaboration is encouraged.
• Use the Undergraduate Lounge for group study and support from TAs.
• Avoid talking to neighbors during lectures to minimize distractions.
• Sleeping in class is acceptable, but please avoid causing disruption.

Course Content: Newtonian Mechanics

• Introduction to Newtonian mechanics as the foundation of physics.
• Kinematics: describes the present state of motion (position and velocity).
• Dynamics: explains why motion occurs (forces and cause).

Key Concepts in Kinematics and Dynamics

• Predicting the future state of an object based on present conditions.
• Importance of initial conditions in motion prediction (e.g., initial position and velocity).
• Average velocity and instantaneous velocity defined through calculus (derivatives).

Equations of Motion

1. Position equation for constant acceleration: [ x(t) = x_0 + v_0 t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2 ]

   • Where:
     • ( x_0 ): initial position
     • ( v_0 ): initial velocity
     • ( a ): constant acceleration

2. Velocity equation relating final velocity, initial velocity, and distance: [ v^2 = v_0^2 + 2a(x - x_0) ]

Example Problem: Free Fall under Gravity

• Object thrown from a height (e.g., 15 meters) with an initial speed (10 m/s):
  • Calculate maximum height and time to hit the ground using derived equations.
• The importance of correctly interpreting mathematical solutions (e.g., negative time in the quadratic equation).

Conclusion

• Expectation for students to engage actively during lectures, following the logic of physics concepts.
• Homework assignments posted on the course website for practice.
• Next week will involve more complex problems in motion across two or three dimensions.