This course gives an introduction to mechanics, thermal physics and waves, and to the techniques of analysis and problem solving in the physical world. With its companion subject (Physics 1B, Higher Physics 1B or (Special) Higher Physics 1B), this constitutes a broad introduction to physics. This background supports higher level study in physics and engineering. By the end of this course students should be able to: • Analyse motion in two dimensions using vectors. Apply Newton’s laws of motion to objects undergoing uniform translational or rotational acceleration. • Analyse problems involving friction and the forces and deformations described by Hooke's law • Explain the difference between kinetic and potential energy and use the law of conservation of energy and the work -energy theorem to solve mechanics problems. • Apply the conservation laws of momentum and energy to solve mechanics problems, including problems involving collisions, extended objects and their centres of mass. • Apply the law of universal gravitation and Kepler ’s laws in combination with other laws covered in this course to describe, predict and explain the motion of satellites, planets, stars and galaxies. • Explain how energy conservation is related to the first law of thermodynamics. Apply the first law to solve problems. • Recognise and solve problems relating to different thermodynamic processes, including adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric and isovolumetric processes. For cyclic processes, calculate changes in internal energy, work done and heat transferred in cycles. • Describe different heat transfer mechanisms and calculate the amount of heat transferred in different processes. • Identify physical systems that can be understood using models of simple harmonic oscillation and write down equations to describe this motion. • Write down and solve equations describing wave motion, and use these equations to explain physical phenomena such as (but not limited to) standing waves and interference. • Recognise that physics is an experimental science, plan and conduct experiments and analyse the outcomes, and include reliable estimates of uncertainties in measurements.