Course Description: APEX Algebra-based Physics -- Introductory (APEX P01) is an algebra-based, introduction college-level physics course that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics; work, energy, and power.
This course is designed for students who are new to physics or those looking to review fundamental concepts in mechanics. It is ideal for students who have completed high school-level mathematics, including Algebra I, Geometry, and especially Trigonometry. The course content is roughly equivalent to the mechanics portion of junior and senior high school physics in China.
With minimal mathematical prerequisites, this course serves as an excellent introduction to the world of physics. It emphasizes the development of foundational mechanical concepts and helps students begin to cultivate the analytical thinking skills characteristic of physics.
The course consists of 30 hours of online instruction, with an additional 10–20 hours expected for homework and practice. Upon completion, students are encouraged to continue with APEX Algebra-based Physics – Advanced (APEX P02) to deepen their understanding.
Reference book: "College Physics: A Strategic Approach," by Knight, Jones, and Field, or an equivalent textbook.
*We do not require students to use the book for our course. Instead, we strongly recommend students to take notes and take advantage of lesson slides, lesson recordings, homework assignments, homework solutions, exams and office hours to enhance their learning outcome.
Contents:
1. Kinematics (6 hours)
How do we represent motion? The concepts of position, velocity, and acceleration in 1D and higher dimensions.
2. Newton's Laws Mechanics (6 hours)
Identify a system for force analysis, such as gravity, supporting, and friction forces. Construct free-body diagrams and apply Newton's laws.
3. Work and energy (5 hours)
Analyze the work and energy flow of a system. Identify situations with conserved energy to solve mechanical problems.
4. Momentum Momentum (3 hours)
Analyze the relationship between force, momentum, and impulse. Identify situations with conserved momentum to solve mechanical problems such as collision.
5. Rotation and rigid body Rotation and rigid body motion (3 hours)
Analyze the kinetics such as angular velocity and angular acceleration of rotating rigid body. Apply torque analysis to static and rotating objects.
6. Rotational Dynamics (3 hours)
Analyze momentum of inertia, angular momentum, angular momentum conservation.
7. Harmonic motion (3 hours)
Identify and characterize harmonic motions with periods, frequency, amplitude. Analyze the kinematics, dynamics and energy of harmonic oscillators.