PHYS1002 General Physics
 Course information  |  Notice board  |  Download area  | Discussion Forum PHY Home Course Pages

PHYS1002 General Physics

This introductory physics course covers selected topics in mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, and modern physics. This is a non-calculus-based course, but some algebra and trigonometry will be used. This course is designed for students with HKDSE Physics. It is suitable for students in the physical sciences, biological and medical sciences, earth science, and for those in other majors who want to learn some basic concepts of physics for their later courses. Students with HKDSE Physics, or a good preparation in HKDSE Combined Science with a physics component and HKDSE Mathematics, who want to major in Physics, may benefit more from taking PHYS1111 or PHYS1113.

Potential Physics majors are encouraged to start with the calculus-based course PHYS1111 or PHYS1113, unless a course on more basic physics is deemed necessary. Students without any physics training in secondary school are recommended to take PHYS 1001 (Essential Physics), which will be offered in term 2.

Blackboard

This course webpage only provides basic information. The Notice board and Download area will NOT be used.
Announcement, lecture notes, assignments and materials for tutorial classes will be distributed via Blackboard (https://blackboard.cuhk.edu.hk).

Lecturer

Prof. CHENG Hok Chuen (Tom)
Office: Room 217, Science Centre North
Email: hccheng@cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hours: Monday 1:30pm - 3:15pm, or by email appointment

Teaching Assistant(s)

Mr. CHEN Haoxuan (Daniel)
Office: Room 313 (seat 18T), Science Centre North
Email: 1155168086@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hours: Wednesday 2:30pm - 4:15pm

Mr. YE Junchen (Eric)
Office: Room LG202, Run Run Shaw Science Building
Email: jcye@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hours: Tuesday 1:30pm - 3:15pm

Ms. ZHU Guoli
Office: Room LG202, Run Run Shaw Science Building
Email: glzhu@phy.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hours: Thursday 4:30pm - 6:15pm

Lecture Class

Tuesday 4:30 pm - 6:15 pm (Yasumoto International Academic Park LT2)
Thursday 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm (Yasumoto International Academic Park LT7)

Tutorial Class

Thursday 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm (Yasumoto International Academic Park LT7)

  • In the first week, the tutorial will be used as lecture. On 27th October, it will be used for mid-term examination.

  • Reference Books

    To advance your knowledge in any subject, it is important to read and to spend time on working out examples.

    While we do not have a textbook, a lot of good books about Physics can be used for reference. Examples (with e-version accessible through the library website) are

  • R. A. Serway, C. Vuille, College Physics, https://julac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1fusua3/CUHK_IZ511077547910003407
  • D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, https://julac-cuhk.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/852JULAC_CUHK/1sqis6k/alma9910016324503406

    A lot of the books can be found in UL on the fourth floor (look for library code QC 21.2 to QC 23). Some of them are reserved in UL Library.

    Micro-modules in Mathematics for Introductory Undergraduate Physics: http://www.phy.cuhk.edu.hk/elearning/maths.html


  • Assessment Scheme

    Homework 20%
    Mid-term Exam 30%
    Final Exam 50%

    Course Outline

  • Chapter 1 Particle Kinematics and Dynamics
  • Chapter 2 Rotational Motion
  • Chapter 3 Fluids
  • Chapter 4 Temperature, Ideal Gas, Energy in Thermal Processes
  • Chapter 5 Laws of Thermodynamics
  • Chapter 6 Oscillations
  • Chapter 7 Electric Potential
  • Chapter 8 Current and Circuits
  • Chapter 9 Electromagnetic Waves
  • Chapter 10 Early Quantum Theory
  • Chapter 11 Nuclear Physics

  • Academic Honesty and Plagiarism

    Attention is drawn to University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and to the disciplinary guidelines and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations. Details can be found at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/