Gregorios Itskos

The purpose of this course is to provide the Chemistry students with fundamental concepts of General Physics closely related to their basic work in Chemistry, emphasizing on deeper understanding, interconnection and application, without extensive use of Mathematics. Special attention is given in linking such concepts with familiar chemical concepts and applications, developing and practicing at the same time the scientific methodology to enable students develop the appropriate skills in formulating and solving related problems. Key concepts and applications are taken from Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Waves, and Atomic physics and Spectroscopy and they are selected on the basis of generality and affinity to Chemistry. Special emphasis is given in conservation laws including energy, momentum, angular momentum, and electric charge. This course is prerequisite for Physical Chemistry I (CHE141), which builds on pre-existing knowledge of Physics.

After successful completion of this course, students will be expected to: (1) Demonstrate understanding of the fundamental concepts and laws of Physics, included in the course content. (2) Know the definition, the significance, and the use of basic concepts such as energy momentum, angular momentum, electric charge, electric dipole, electric current, electromagnetic radiation, wave and oscillatory motion, etc. (as described in the content). (3) Be familiar with the scientific methodology, acquiring working knowledge in scientific reasoning in Physics, so that they would be able to analyze and solve physical problems especially the ones related directly or indirectly with their particular field of interest. (4) Be able to distinguish the important and general concepts with wide applicability, from the trivial or specific ones with limited range of applicability; and should be able to mention and describe at least one example for each category and physics field included in this course.

Mechanics: Work, energy, momentum, torque, angular momentum, oscillations, fluid mechanics. Electricity and Magnetism: Electric fields, potential, dipoles, polarization, dielectrics, electric oscillations, magnetism in matter, diamagnetism, paramagnetism, alternating current circuits, electromagnetic radiation, semiconductors. Wave Motion Optics: Interference and diffraction of light waves, polarization of light, chemical applications of polarization and of light scattering, Bragg’s Law, absorption and emission spectra.

Lectures, demonstrations are given in an interactive fashion encouraging and/or demanding student’s participation. The lectures which always start with a summary of the main points of the previous lecture, are delivered on the blackboard in parallel with power point illustrations and summaries which are also uploaded on the course's web page. An extra hour of tutorials for demonstration of problem-solving methodologies and clarifying and alleviating problems and misconceptions is given each week with the active participation of students, while another hour of recitation session is devoted to the solution of problems which apply to the content of lectures to gradually more realistic physical systems. These problems are uploaded on the course web page in advance, to facilitate the students’ preparation and participation.

The final grade mark is based on a midterm exam (40%) and the final exam (60%).