Public Courses

16 Sep 2011

Fundamentals of Physics I

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,...
02 May 2011

Modelling displacements and velocities

In this unit you will see first how to convert vectors from geometric form, in terms of a magnitude and direction, to component form, and then how conversion in the opposite sense is accomplished. The ability to convert between these different forms of a vector is useful in certain problems...

Using vectors to model

This unit introduces the topic of vectors. The subject is developed without assuming you have come across it before, but the unit assumes that you have previously had a basic grounding in algebra and trigonometry, and how to use Cartesian coordinates for specifying a point in a plane.

Modelling static problems

This unit lays the foundation of the subject of mechanics. Mechanics is concerned with how and why objects stay put, and how and why they move. In particular, this unit - Modelling Static Problems - considers why objects stay put. And it assumes that you have a good working knowledge of vectors.

Modelling with first order differential equations

This unit lays the foundation of Newtonian mechanics and in particular the procedure for solving dynamics problems. The preresquisite skills needed for this unit are the ability to solve first and second-order differential equations, a knowledge of vectors, and an understanding of the concept of a...

Vectors and conics

Attempts to answer problems in areas as diverse as science, technology and economics involve solving simultaneous linear equations. In this unit we look at some of the equations that represent points, lines and planes in mathematics. We explore concepts such as Euclidean space, vectors, dot...