Trigonometry and Geometry
PHYS 110 · Module 2
This module develops the geometric tools needed for vectors, waves, circular motion, and oscillations. Students review angles, triangles, trigonometric functions, identities, inverse trig, and polar coordinates.
Lessons in this module
Angles and triangles
Angles and triangles provide the geometry behind components, slopes, rotations, and waves. This lesson reviews degrees, radians, right triangles, and the Pythagorean theorem.
Trig functions and key identities
Sine, cosine, and tangent connect angles to ratios. This lesson explains their right-triangle meanings, unit-circle meanings, and identities used throughout physics.
Inverse trig functions
Inverse trig functions find angles from ratios. This lesson explains arcsine, arccosine, arctangent, principal values, and quadrant issues.
Polar coordinates
Polar coordinates describe position using distance and angle instead of x and y. This lesson explains conversions and why polar coordinates are natural for circular and radial systems.
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