Fundamentals of Physics with Professor Ramamurti Shankar

This course provides a thorough introduction to the principles and methods of physics for students who have good preparation in physics and mathematics. Emphasis is placed on problem solving and quantitative reasoning. This course covers Newtonian mechanics, special relativity, gravitation, thermodynamics, and waves.

  1. Course Introduction and Newtonian Mechanics

  2. Vectors in Multiple Dimensions

  3. Newton's Laws of Motion

  4. Newton's Laws (cont.) and Inclined Planes

  5. Work-Energy Theorem and Law of Conservation of Energy

  6. Law of Conservation of Energy in Higher Dimensions

  7. Kepler's Laws

  8. Dynamics of a Multiple-Body System and Law of Conservation of Momentum

  9. Rotations, Part I: Dynamics of Rigid Bodies

  10. Rotations, Part II: Parallel Axis Theorem

  11. Torque

  12. Introduction to Relativity

  13. Lorentz Transformation

  14. Introduction to the Four-Vector

  15. Four-Vector in Relativity

  16. The Taylor Series and Other Mathematical Concepts

  17. Simple Harmonic Motion

  18. Simple Harmonic Motion (cont.) and Introduction to Waves

  19. Waves

  20. Fluid Dynamics and Statics and Bernoulli's Equation

  21. Thermodynamics

  22. The Boltzmann Constant and First Law of Thermodynamics

  23. The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Carnot's Engine

  24. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (cont.) and Entropy