Princeton PHY 103: General Physics I
PHY 103 is Princeton's calculus-based introductory mechanics course: kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum, and rotation. It's required for science and engineering tracks, with labs and problem sets alongside the exam-driven lecture core.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with Princeton University. This is an unofficial study guide.
What makes it hard
Physics exams test modeling, not formula recall: drawing the right free-body diagram and choosing the right principle for an unfamiliar scenario. Students who pattern-match problem sets hit exam problems designed to break patterns. Rotation late in the course stacks every earlier concept, punishing anyone with kinematics or force gaps.
What you'll cover
- • Kinematics in one and two dimensions
- • Newton's laws and free-body diagrams
- • Work and energy
- • Momentum and collisions
- • Rotational motion and torque
- • Angular momentum
The PHY 103 study guide
How to study for Princeton PHY 103, step by step.
- 1
Train the setup phase deliberately
PHY 103 exams test modeling: draw the free-body diagram, name the applicable principle, and justify it before computing. Practice that sequence on every problem, because that's where the points live.
- 2
Seek out unfamiliar problems on purpose
Exams are designed to break problem-set patterns, so practice from past exams and other textbooks. If every problem you've solved resembles the homework, you've trained for the wrong test.
- 3
Keep your calculus frictionless
Derivatives need to be fluent and integrals conceptually comfortable. Calculus friction on top of physics reasoning is a common reason students fall behind early.
- 4
Bank extra time for rotation
The rotational unit stacks kinematics, forces, and energy at once late in the course. Going in with gaps turns strong starts into weak finishes, so review earlier units before it begins.
Today
Today's PHY 103 plan
What a Fennie Daily Plan looks like for PHY 103. Yours is built from your own syllabus and adapts every day to your deadlines and progress.
First plan free, no card required. Fennie is independent and unaffiliated with your school.
FAQ
Is PHY 103 at Princeton hard?
It's a rigorous calculus-based mechanics course. Exams test physical reasoning on unfamiliar problems, so problem-set pattern-matching isn't enough. Students who practice setting up varied problems from scratch handle it; formula memorizers don't.
How do I study for PHY 103 exams?
Practice the setup phase deliberately: for each problem, draw the diagram, name the applicable principle, and justify it before computing. Then do unfamiliar problems (old exams, different textbooks), since the exams' whole design is breaking your homework patterns.
What math do I need for PHY 103?
Calculus-level working knowledge, meaning fluent derivatives and conceptual comfort with integrals, alongside or before the course. The physics reasoning is the hard part, but calculus friction on top of it is a common cause of falling behind early.