Physics 101: Energy and Momentum Course

Lesson 1 • Vector Mathematics for Physics

Introduces vector addition, subtraction, and component decomposition. These operations underpin force and momentum calculations in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Newton's Three Laws of Motion

Presents inertia, net force, and action-reaction pairs with quantitative examples. These laws are the causal engine behind energy and momentum principles.

Lesson 3 • Forces in Equilibrium and Dynamics

Analyzes static and dynamic equilibrium using force balance equations. Prepares students to identify conservative forces relevant to energy storage.

Lesson 4 • Kinematics: Describing Motion

Defines displacement, velocity, and acceleration with calculus-based and algebraic approaches. Builds the motion vocabulary needed before forces are introduced.

Lesson 1 • Defining Mechanical Work

Introduces work as force dotted with displacement, including angle dependence. Distinguishes positive, negative, and zero work with physical examples.

Lesson 2 • Kinetic Energy and Its Sources

Defines kinetic energy and derives its dependence on mass and speed. Links net work directly to kinetic energy change via the theorem.

Lesson 3 • Power: Rate of Doing Work

Defines average and instantaneous power and relates them to force and velocity. Connects power to real-world engine and motor performance metrics.

Lesson 1 • Energy Dissipation and Thermal Energy

Quantifies mechanical energy lost to friction as thermal energy. Extends the conservation framework to include non-conservative work terms.

Lesson 2 • Gravitational Potential Energy

Derives gravitational PE near Earth's surface and at large distances. Establishes reference level conventions used in energy conservation equations.

Lesson 3 • Elastic Potential Energy in Springs

Derives spring PE from Hooke's law and the work integral. Connects spring PE to oscillatory motion introduced in supplementary chapters.

Lesson 4 • Conservative vs. Non-Conservative Forces

Distinguishes path-independent conservative forces from dissipative ones. This classification determines when mechanical energy is conserved.

Lesson 1 • Linear Momentum Defined

Introduces momentum as a vector quantity equal to mass times velocity. Contrasts momentum with kinetic energy to clarify when each concept applies.

Lesson 2 • Impulse and Force-Time Relationships

Defines impulse as the integral of force over time and links it to momentum change. Analyzes variable force scenarios using impulse-momentum theorem.

Lesson 3 • Applying Momentum to Real Scenarios

Applies impulse and momentum conservation to sports, vehicle safety, and ballistics. Reinforces problem-solving strategy before collision types are introduced.

Lesson 1 • Two-Dimensional Collision Analysis

Extends momentum conservation to 2D using vector components. Students solve glancing collision problems with angle and speed unknowns.

Lesson 2 • Inelastic Collisions and Energy Loss

Applies momentum conservation to inelastic collisions and calculates kinetic energy lost. Connects energy loss to deformation and heat generation.

Lesson 3 • Center of Mass in Collision Systems

Uses the center-of-mass frame to simplify collision analysis. Demonstrates how CM velocity remains constant in isolated systems.

Lesson 4 • Elastic Collisions in One Dimension

Solves 1D elastic collisions using simultaneous momentum and energy equations. Derives closed-form velocity expressions for equal and unequal masses.

Lesson 1 • Angular Momentum and Its Conservation

Defines angular momentum and derives its conservation for systems with no net external torque. Applies conservation to spinning skaters and planetary orbits.

Lesson 2 • Rotational Kinetic Energy and Work

Derives rotational KE and the work done by torque. Combines translational and rotational KE for rolling objects.

Lesson 3 • Rotational Kinematics

Defines angular displacement, velocity, and acceleration with their linear analogs. Establishes the rotational equations of motion for constant angular acceleration.

Lesson 4 • Torque and Rotational Dynamics

Defines torque as the rotational analog of force and derives Newton's second law for rotation. Analyzes lever arms and moment arms in physical systems.

Lesson 1 • Second Law and Energy Quality

Introduces entropy and the second law to explain irreversibility and energy degradation. Connects thermodynamic efficiency limits to real engine performance.

Lesson 2 • Specific Heat and Calorimetry

Introduces specific heat capacity and latent heat for phase transitions. Students solve calorimetry problems using heat balance equations.

Lesson 3 • Heat Transfer Mechanisms

Covers conduction, convection, and radiation as energy transfer modes. Quantifies heat flow using thermal conductivity and Stefan-Boltzmann law.

Lesson 4 • First Law of Thermodynamics

States energy conservation for thermodynamic systems as ΔU = Q − W. Applies the first law to isothermal, adiabatic, and isochoric processes.

Lesson 1 • Relativistic Energy and Momentum

Introduces special relativity corrections to energy and momentum at high speeds. Derives E = mc² and the relativistic momentum formula.

Lesson 2 • Energy Methods in Complex Systems

Applies energy conservation and work-energy theorem to systems with multiple interacting components. Emphasizes choosing energy methods over force methods for efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Problem-Solving Strategy and Review

Synthesizes a systematic approach to selecting and applying energy and momentum tools. Students practice timed, exam-style problems across all chapter topics.

Lesson 4 • Momentum in Multi-Body Interactions

Analyzes momentum exchange in systems of three or more bodies. Covers sequential collisions and explosion problems requiring careful bookkeeping.