PHYS 15AHonors Introduction to Physics I
Covers similar material to PHYS 5A (Mechanics, vectors, Newton’s laws, inverse square force laws, work and energy, conservation of momentum and energy, oscillations, and rotational motion), but in greater depth and with more sophisticated techniques. These include kinematics in polar coordinates, and associated descriptions of motion in rotating coordinate systems; information encoded in potential energy functions; the use and importance of symmetry; handling of complications due to real-world effects; and connections between position and momentum in simple harmonic oscillators. Students are expected to be fluent with precalculus and to be familiar with integration, and are encouraged to contact the instructor if they are uncertain about their preparation.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 19A or MATH 20A. Concurrent enrollment in MATH 19B or MATH 20B, and PHYS 5L is required.
- Enroll in lecture and associated discussion section.
- Enroll in lecture and associated secondary lab.
Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.
When it runs
Fall 2026Open Fall 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 2:40pm–3:45pm | Earth&Marine B210 | S. Ritz | Open 6/28 |
Fall 2025Open Fall 2025
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 10:40am–11:45am | Earth&Marine B210 | S. Ritz | Open 18/30 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Ritz | 4.9 / 5 | 2.7 / 5 | 100% | 43 |
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