PHYS 5AIntroduction to Physics I
Elementary mechanics. Vectors, Newton's laws, inverse square force laws, work and energy, conservation of momentum and energy, and oscillations.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite(s): MATH 19A or MATH 20A. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 5L, and either MATH 19B or MATH 20B, is required.
- Enroll in lecture and associated discussion section.
- Enroll in lecture and associated secondary lab.
- Please refer to the Physics website for frequently asked questions (FAQs) about enrollment and waitlists: <a href="https://physics.ucsc.edu/academic-programs/undergrads/enrollment-waitlist-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> How Enrollment/Waitlists in Physics 5 & 6 Series Works </a>
Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.
When it runs
Winter 2027Open Winter 2027
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 8:00am–9:05am | Earth&Marine B206 | B. Dhar | Open 0/268 |
Fall 2026Open Fall 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 2:40pm–3:45pm | Earth&Marine B206 | E. Shaghoulian | Open 214/264 |
Summer 2026Open Summer 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 3:00pm–4:45pm | Earth&Marine B206 | B. Dhar | Closed 21/0 |
Spring 2026Open Spring 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 12:00pm–1:05pm | Earth&Marine B206 | B. Dhar | Open 262/272 |
Winter 2026Open Winter 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 8:00am–9:05am | Earth&Marine B206 | B. Dhar | Open 259/268 |
Fall 2025Open Fall 2025
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 10:40am–11:45am | Earth&Marine B206 | B. Dhar | Closed 263/250 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barun Dhar | 3.3 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 | 60% | 410 |
| Edgar Shaghoulian | 4.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 | 100% | 1 |
From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.
SlugAtlas is a student project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by UC Santa Cruz. Course data is a snapshot of the public class search; myUCSC is authoritative for enrolment.