Differential Calculus
PHYS 110 · Module 4
This module introduces derivatives as rates of change and slopes of curves. Students learn limits, differentiation rules, chain and product rules, and how derivatives describe velocity, acceleration, forces, and changing systems.
Lessons in this module
Limits and the definition of the derivative
A derivative measures instantaneous rate of change. This lesson builds the derivative from average rates, limits, secant lines, and tangent lines.
Basic differentiation rules
Differentiation rules make derivatives efficient to compute. This lesson covers constants, powers, sums, exponentials, logarithms, and basic trig derivatives.
Chain and product rules
Many physics functions are built from other functions or products of changing quantities. This lesson explains the chain rule and product rule with physical examples.
Derivatives in physics
Derivatives describe rates of change throughout physics. This lesson connects derivatives to motion, force, energy, fields, and approximation.
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