Physics

The course is divided into two modules, plus an in-depth unit on modern physics.

Module 1: Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, and Thermodynamics

Basic mathematical tools: Vector calculus, trigonometry, scientific notation, units of measurement, fundamental derivatives.
Kinematics: Uniform and uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion, uniform and uniformly accelerated circular motion, projectile motion, simple harmonic motion.
Statics and Dynamics: Principles of dynamics, mechanical equilibrium, Galilean relativity, apparent forces and non-inertial systems.
Work and Energy: Work and power, kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy, non-conservative forces, momentum and impulse, collisions and conservation of momentum.
Rigid Body Motion: Center of mass, angular momentum and moment of inertia, conservation of angular momentum, torque and rotational dynamics, rolling motion.
Fluid Mechanics: Density and pressure, Stevin's law, Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle, steady flow and flow rate, Bernoulli's equation, applications of Bernoulli's equation, fluid friction and laminar flow, Stokes' law and terminal velocity.
Temperature and Gases: Temperature, volume, and pressure, thermal expansion, Gay-Lussac's first and second laws, Boyle's law, moles, molar mass, and Avogadro's number, the ideal gas law, the kinetic theory.
Principles of Thermodynamics (in-depth): Zeroth principle and heat, First Principle and thermodynamic transformations (isobaric, isochoric, isothermal, adiabatic), Clapeyron diagram, Second Principle, heat engines and efficiency, Carnot cycle and reversible machines, entropy, Third Principle.
Module 2: Waves and Electromagnetism

Mechanical Waves: Transverse and longitudinal waves, wave function, wave on a string, sound, interference, standing waves, beats.
Light: Geometric optics, reflection and refraction, visible spectrum and dispersion, radiation intensity, interference and Young's experiment, single-slit diffraction, diffraction grating.
Electric Force: Electric charge, conservation of charge, electrification of insulators and conductors, Coulomb's law, polarization.
Electric Field and Potential: Electric field and field lines, electric flux and Gauss's law, electric field of particular symmetric charge distributions (straight wire, infinite plane, sphere, capacitor), electric potential energy, electric potential, equipotential surfaces, circulation of the electric field, capacitors, capacitors in series and in parallel.
Direct Current Circuits: Electric current, current intensity, Ohm's laws, resistors in series and in parallel, electromotive force and real generators, Kirchhoff's laws, Joule effect and power, RC circuits (charging and discharging a capacitor).
Magnetic Field: Magnetic field and field lines, Earth's magnetic field, experiments on the interaction between currents and magnets (Faraday, Ampere, Oersted), magnetic force on a charge, magnetic field generated by a current-carrying wire, magnetic force on a current-carrying wire, magnetic force between two current-carrying wires, motion of a charge in a uniform magnetic field, applications (synchrotron, cyclotron, mass spectrometer, velocity selector), magnetic flux, circulation of the magnetic field, magnetic field of a loop and a solenoid, torque of magnetic forces on a loop.
Electromagnetic Induction: Induced current and Faraday's experiments, induced emf, Faraday-Neumann-Lenz law, eddy currents, self-induction and mutual induction, RL circuit.
Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves: Induced electric field, induced magnetic field, Maxwell's equations, Hertz's experiment and electromagnetic waves, radiation pressure, polarization, the electromagnetic spectrum.
In-depth Study: Modern Physics. Relativity and quantum physics from a historical and conceptual perspective.