Mechanics and Optics

Classical mechanics is a core topic in all the natural sciences. Not only does it define what common words like "force", "momentum" and "energy" precisely mean in the sciences, it is also the discipline holding the secrets to creating stable constructions, describing the motion of moving objects and predicting where they will go, whether they are very large (stars, planets), a little smaller (bicycles, sail boats) or tiny (a swimming bacterium). It is an ancient discipline, practiced all around the globe, but formalised in Europe on a mathematical basis in the 17th century, where Newton's name ultimately became attached to it (and many others, like Gallilei, Stevin, Huijgens, etc.). Throughout history it has allowed societies to build fantastic structures, make use of wonderful vehicles and devices, including tools to destroy them again, with cannon balls and other projectiles.

While learning the academic approach In this course, you will recognise some topics that were essential to the physics classes in highschool, but now presented in a more formal, abstract way, in a much more rigorous mathematical language, which will ultimately allow you to tackle much more complex questions that you might encounter in the lab, or in everyday life. These topics will be illustrated by exciting, well-designed experiments, demonstrated in class, connecting the abstract equations to beautiful phenomena, and showing their power. The abstract, academic approach will allow you to see that all the topics are intimately connected to each other, and that they follow from only a few principles. This is different from the more conceptual highschool approach, where there seem to be separate laws for each situation. To see these connections, it is required to go through mathematical derivations, going from one law to the next, to draw far reaching conclusions, in the end.

Ultimately, once these connections are understood and integrated, it will give the experience that physics is actually "really easy", and equip that person with an intuition where they can "feel" a solution, or the road towards it. This skill is essential in the lab, where researchers have to work on projects that do not have a solution manual, and where they have to find a road in the dark themselves, using a systematic approach and a good amount of intuition. However, as long as the topics are not mastered, a person may experience the exact opposite, that physics is "very difficult". In that case, know that mastery comes with practice. The course provides ample opportunity for practice, in a whole spectrum of ways.

During the course there will be interactive live lectures that introduce the relevant concepts, and work sessions with a library of practice materials on a Grasple platform. This platform can be used to gradually practice towards mastery with exercise sets for every lecture. Three group assignments will stimulate collaboration and communication skills.