R. Alexander-Katz, R. M. Velasco, J. I. Jimenez A.,
L. O. Pimentel, M. Lopez V. , J. Garza O., J. Chargoy,
and R. Olayo
Departamento de Física
Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana - Iztapalapa
México, DF
oagr@xanum.uam.mx
Teaching freshman physics in a university with different majors that
have to accomplish a common freshman year is a complex task since most
of the students apply for Engineering and Computer Science majors and
the Science majors are no more than the 15% of the students. Under
these circumstances the physics curriculum has been modified to try to
give to the Engineering majors a view of physics that includes more
than mechanics. The subjects that will be seen are Kinematics and
Dynamics of one particle and Fluid Mechanics in the first Quarter. In
order to do this, the kinematics chapters are reduced to a minimum
since most of the high school programs cover this subject in a
reasonable way. Vectors are integrated and discussed when needed. The
second quarter the subjects are rotational dynamics, angular momentum,
oscillations and waves. Finally the third quarter is a normal course
on electromagnetic theory. We discuss the details in the exposition
and the teaching strategies to be implemented.