Philbert Tsai

General Information

The Physics 1 series at UC San Diego is a three-quarter sequence of lab and lecture courses designed to introduce physics to life science majors. The lab and lecture courses are taught separately by separate instructors, but are designed to follow the same topic sequence and coordinated in their timing of topics. Although the exact sequence of topics covered will vary slightly from quarter to quarter and from instructor to instructor, the general outline of the Physics 1series is as follows :

Physics 1A Lecture Topics
Units and Significant Figures
One-dimensional Kinematics
Two-dimensional Kinematics
Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion
Work, Energy, Power, and Conservation of Energy
Linear Momentum and Collisions
Uniform Circular Motion
Torque and Rotational Motion
Equilibrium
Fluids Statics and Dynamics

Physics 1B Lecture Topics
Electric Charges
Electric Fields
Electric Flux and Gauss's Law
Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential
Capacitance
Electric Current and Resistance
DC Circuits
Magnetic Forces and Fields
Sources of Magnetic Fields
Electromagnetic Induction and Inductors
Electromagnetic Waves

Physics 1C Lecture Topics
Oscillatory Motion
Waves
Superposition and Standing Waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum, Intensity, and Polarization
Wave Optics
Reflection, Refraction, and Dispersion
Image Formation and Imaging Systems
Quantum Physics
Atomic Physics
Nuclear Physics

1AL Lab Experiments
Measurement and Uncertainty
Position and Velocity
Accelerated Motion and Vectors*
Newton's Third Law
Testing a Model for Friction
Energy and Energy Conservation
Conservation of Momentum*
Rotational Motion*
Torque Equilibrium & Center of Gravity*

1BL Lab Experiments
Charge
Circuits
Electric Potential and Fields*
Current and Capacitors
Current and Resistors
Kirchhoff's Rules*
Magnetism
Magnetic Forces and Moving Charges*
Electromagnetic Induction, Motors, and Generators*

1CL Lab Experiments
Periodic Motion
Introduction to Waves
Standing Waves and Sound*
Wave Optics : Interference and Diffraction
Reflection and Refraction of Light
Rays, Lenses, and the Eye*
Combination of Lenses
Spectroscopy*
Radioactivity*

*Some labs may be reduced or removed during remote learning

For more information, please visit the UCSD Physics Department's official 1-series FAQ

last updated : 01/07/2021


		General Information The Physics 1 series at UC San Diego is a three-quarter sequence of lab and lecture courses designed to introduce physics to life science majors. The lab and lecture courses are taught separately by separate instructors, but are designed to follow the same topic sequence and coordinated in their timing of topics. Although the exact sequence of topics covered will vary slightly from quarter to quarter and from instructor to instructor, the general outline of the Physics 1series is as follows : Physics 1A Lecture Topics Units and Significant Figures One-dimensional Kinematics Two-dimensional Kinematics Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion Work, Energy, Power, and Conservation of Energy Linear Momentum and Collisions Uniform Circular Motion Torque and Rotational Motion Equilibrium Fluids Statics and Dynamics Physics 1B Lecture Topics Electric Charges Electric Fields Electric Flux and Gauss's Law Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential Capacitance Electric Current and Resistance DC Circuits Magnetic Forces and Fields Sources of Magnetic Fields Electromagnetic Induction and Inductors Electromagnetic Waves Physics 1C Lecture Topics Oscillatory Motion Waves Superposition and Standing Waves Electromagnetic Spectrum, Intensity, and Polarization Wave Optics Reflection, Refraction, and Dispersion Image Formation and Imaging Systems Quantum Physics Atomic Physics Nuclear Physics 1AL Lab Experiments Measurement and Uncertainty Position and Velocity Accelerated Motion and Vectors* Newton's Third Law Testing a Model for Friction Energy and Energy Conservation Conservation of Momentum* Rotational Motion* Torque Equilibrium & Center of Gravity* 1BL Lab Experiments Charge Circuits Electric Potential and Fields* Current and Capacitors Current and Resistors Kirchhoff's Rules* Magnetism Magnetic Forces and Moving Charges* Electromagnetic Induction, Motors, and Generators* 1CL Lab Experiments Periodic Motion Introduction to Waves Standing Waves and Sound* Wave Optics : Interference and Diffraction Reflection and Refraction of Light Rays, Lenses, and the Eye* Combination of Lenses Spectroscopy* Radioactivity* *Some labs may be reduced or removed during remote learning For more information, please visit the UCSD Physics Department's official 1-series FAQ last updated : 01/07/2021