PHYS 109: Newtonian Physics (Middlebury College)

This calculus-based course examines motion as it occurs throughout the universe. Topics covered include inertia, force, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy, linear momentum, collisions, gravitation, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, and oscillatory motion. Emphasis is on practical applications in physics, engineering, the life sciences, and everyday life. Laboratory work and lecture demonstrations illustrate basic physical principles.

Prerequisites: MATH 0121 or MATH 0122 concurrent or prior; students who have taken high school calculus or other college calculus courses should consult with the instructor prior to registration.


Fall 2021, Spring 2022

PHYS 125: Physics for Engineers II (University of Vermont)

In this course, we will explore the fascinating subjects of electricity, magnetism, and optics. In the first half of the course, we'll investigate the fundamentals of electrostatics including topics such as electric charge, electrostatic forces, and electric fields. We’ll learn how to derive expressions for the electric field, electric potential energy, and electric potential for various charge distributions. Then, we’ll use our knowledge of electrostatics to characterize the properties of basic circuit elements and analyze electronic circuits. In the second half of the course, we’ll learn about sources of magnetic fields, magnetic forces, and electromagnetic induction. Then, we’ll combine our knowledge of electricity and magnetism to investigate electromagnetic waves, which is light! In the last week of the course, we’ll study various topics in optics including diffraction, reflection, refraction, and images formed by lenses and mirrors.

Prerequisites: PHYS 031; MATH 022 or MATH 023; & concurrent enrollment in MATH 121.


Summer 2021

CSCI/PHYS 1015: Introduction to Rocket Propulsion (Middlebury College)

In this course we will investigate the following questions: What is rocket propulsion? How do we send humans and robots to space? How do chemical and electrical rockets work and what applications are they suitable for? How do spacecraft travel to other planets? How can we use computers to design rockets and their trajectories? We will dive into topics including chemical combustion, energy conversion, ionized gases, launch vehicle design and trajectories, Kepler’s Laws, orbit transfers, and much more. We will also read Hidden Figures, have weekly discussions about the text, and investigate what it means to belong in STEM. Assignments will consist of readings, handwritten problem sets, programming assignments, and a short reflection paper on Hidden Figures.

Prerequisites: CSCI 101, CSCI 150, or equivalent; PHYS 109 or equivalent; MATH 0121 or equivalent


January 2021 Course Syllabus

Lecture 0: Space Exploration and Society
Lecture 1: Working Principles of Rocket Propulsion
Lecture 2: Rocket Performance
Lecture 3: Gravity and Orbits
Lecture 4: Orbit Transfers and Solar System Exploration
Lecture 5: Launch Trajectory Analysis
Lecture 6: Introduction to Chemical Rockets
Lecture 7: Chemical Rocket Performance
Lecture 8: Chemical Rocket Nozzles
Lecture 9: Introduction to Electric Propulsion
Lecture 10: Introduction to Plasma Physics
Lecture 11: Gridded Ion Thrusters