In this module, you will learn the principle of work done by a force and how it affects the energy contained in a body. You will also learn the implications of the conservation of momentum in real and simple real-life scenarios.

Physical systems describing periodic motion are possibly the simplest and most precise way to start exploring more complex phenomena in nature. In this module, you will learn the basic dynamics of a single degree of freedom performing a periodic motion. You will also learn how a simple damping effect can make the system more realistic.

Thermodynamics is about how everyday systems such as engines and refrigerators to microscopic systems of atoms work through energy transfer. In this module, you will gain a thorough understanding of how to quantify the transfer of heat and work into or out of such systems. This module will further help you develop a fundamental understanding of the basics of thermodynamics.

The second law of thermodynamics is a universal law that could be observed in the tiniest particles to massive black holes. In this module, you will state and understand the second law of thermodynamics. The module will also discuss the concept of entropy change and its relevance to the second law of thermodynamics.

In this module, the fundamentals of wave propagation will be discussed. The module will highlight different kinds of waves, their properties, and the effect of the medium on wave propagation. The exchange of energy when two waves superimpose with each other and the nature of the resulting waveform will be dealt qualitatively and quantitatively. You will also learn how to reconstruct any waveform by superposition of normal modes (Fourier theorem).

This module deals with a detailed overview of light as an electromagnetic wave. The module will briefly discuss the interesting conundrum of wave–particle duality and the experiments that illustrate this phenomenon. The module will also give you a brief overview of how the transverse nature of the wave leads to interesting physical phenomena and the manner in which the energy of the electromagnetic wave gets redistributed as it propagates in different media.

In this module, you will be introduced to the superposition of waves. The module will also describe how the interference pattern caused by the superposition of coherent waves gives rise to different optical patterns. The conditions for bright and dark fringes due to the interference effect will be discussed in detail. Experiments such as Newton’s ring will be used to illustrate the significance of path difference and phase difference in giving rise to interference patterns.

In this module, you will be introduced to the bending of light around the edges of an obstacle. The module will discuss the superposition of waves undergoing diffraction in detail. The module will further show experiments that produce diffraction patterns and highlight the expression for bright and dark fringes. It also illustrates how the diffraction effects are extensively used to study the structure of materials, which helps in predicting the properties.

In this module, you will study the transverse nature of light using the concept of electric field polarization. The module will dive deep into the changes that an electric field component of electromagnetic waves undergoes after reflection and refraction. The module will further discuss the investigation of polarization effects using polarizers and analyzers.