Trim II

This module aims to introduce basic concepts in Waves and Vibrations. It should also provide students with an understanding of the physics embodied in wave equations. The module prepares the students for future modules in the second, third, and fourth years dealing with wave propagation and electrodynamics.

Having completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

1. Understand more about the concepts of waves and their vibrations;

2. Understand in outline the types of waves and their superposition;

3. Understand the phenomena of interference, diffraction, Doppler effect, and vibrations;

4. Understand the damping oscillations and effect of resonance;

5. Understand the phenomenon of loudness, noise, note, pitch, intensity, intensity level;

6. Explain the phenomenon of electromagnetic waves

7. Understand the significance of all the various quantities which appear in Maxwell's equations

General Physics II: Electricity and magnetism

Introduction: thermodynamic and molecular-kinetic methods for studying thermal properties of matter; definitions and units of thermodynamics (substances, systems–fixed mass and fixed space, pressure, state of a system, process).
•Temperature: the zero law of thermodynamics; the constant-volume gas thermometer, the temperature scales, and thermometers.
•Thermal expansion of solids and liquids
•Heat: the mechanical equivalent of heat; specific heat; calorimetry; heat transfer modes.
•Macroscopic and microscopic descriptions of an ideal gas: mass and size of molecules; bases of molecular-kinetic theory; equation of state of an ideal gas; constant-volume, constant-temperature and constant-pressure processes, a molecular model for the pressure of an ideal gas; mean energy of molecules; the number of degrees of freedom; molecular interpretation of temperature; the mean velocity of the molecules; the root-mean-square (rms) speed; the most probable velocity; the Maxwell distribution.