Program Overview

General Physics 3 Program

Overview

The General Physics 3 program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the basics in physics of oscillations and waves. The program aims to equip students with theoretical and experimental knowledge, as well as operational skills in solving numerical problems in physics of oscillations and waves.

Course Goals

The course goals are to:

• Acquire theoretical and experimental knowledge of the basics in physics of oscillations and waves
• Gain operational knowledge of the methods for solving numerical problems in physics of oscillations and waves
• Achieve skills of reducing real problems in physics of oscillations and waves to a physical model, with setting up the appropriate equations

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the program, students will be able to:

• Develop a simple physical model applicable to solving a given problem in physics of oscillations and waves
• Set mathematical formulation of a given physical model in physics of oscillations and waves
• Solve numerical tasks for known systems in physics of oscillations and waves
• Qualitatively and quantitatively describe damped and forced harmonic oscillations
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts of emergence and spread of waves, including dispersive relation
• Demonstrate knowledge of the phenomena of reflection, transmission, and interference of waves
• Demonstrate knowledge and operational use of the basic concepts of geometric and physical optics

Course Description

The program consists of 15 weeks of lectures, exercises, and seminars. The topics covered include:

• Simple harmonic oscillator
• Free oscillations in a system with two or more bodies
• Forced oscillations of mechanical systems
• Damped harmonic oscillator
• Waves in one dimension
• Reflection and transmission of waves
• Standing waves
• Frequency spectrum
• Wave package
• Oscillations and waves in three dimensions
• Polarization of waves
• Plane waves
• Interference
• Doppler effect
• Electromagnetic waves
• Geometrical optics

Requirements for Students

Students are required to:

• Regularly attend lectures, seminars, and exercises
• Actively participate in solving problems during exercises
• Pass two colloquiums and four tests during the semester
• Achieve at least 33% of the total number of points on the colloquiums and tests

Grading and Assessing the Work of Students

The final exam consists of written and oral examinations, with the final score being the average value of grades obtained on each of them. Additional points can be achieved by successful solving of homework assignments and prize tasks.

Literature

The recommended literature for the program includes:

• H.D. Young and R.A. Freedman: University Physics, Pearson-Addison Wesley, San Francisco, 2004
• F.S. Crawford: Waves (Berkeley Physics Course 3) McGraw-Hill, New York, 1965

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for enrollment in the General Physics 3 program are:

• Passed: General Physics 2
• Passed: Mathematical Analysis 2

Program Structure

The program is a mandatory course in the regular study of Physics, taken in the 3rd semester.