📐 Trigonometry Refresher

Essential Trig Skills for Physics — Vectors, Waves, Oscillations

Master the triangle tools that unlock 2D physics, vector components, wave superposition, and simple harmonic motion.

🚀 Start Trigonometry Review

Course Description

Target: Students preparing for introductory physics who need trigonometry for vectors, waves, and oscillations.

Pace: Self-paced — focus on the topics you need for physics.

Prerequisites: Algebra refresher (especially formula manipulation and solving equations).

💡 Why Trig Matters in Physics: Physics lives in multiple dimensions. Forces, velocities, fields — they all have direction. Trigonometry is how we break vectors into components, add them up, and describe waves and oscillations. You cannot do 2D physics without it.

📅 Trigonometry Syllabus (8 Lessons)

Lesson Topic Physics Application
1Right Triangle TrigonometrySOH-CAH-TOA, vector components, force on incline
2The Unit Circle & RadiansAngular measure, periodic functions, SHM phase
3Trig Functions: sin, cos, tanGraphs, amplitude, period, phase shift — waves!
4Trig IdentitiesPythagorean, double-angle, sum/difference — simplifying physics equations
5Law of Sines & CosinesNon-right triangles, vector addition, relative velocity
6Vector Components & AdditionBreaking vectors, adding forces, projectile motion
7Wave Superposition & InterferenceAdding sine waves, beats, standing waves
8SHM & PhasorsSimple harmonic motion, rotating vectors, energy in oscillations

🎯 How to Use This Review

  1. Start with Lesson 1 & 6: Right triangles and vector components are the immediate prerequisites for 2D kinematics and forces.
  2. Then Lesson 2 & 3: Unit circle and trig graphs for waves and oscillations.
  3. Lessons 4 & 5: Identities and oblique triangles for advanced problems.
  4. Lessons 7 & 8: Wave superposition and phasors for the waves/optics portion of the course.
🚀 Begin Lesson 1: Right Triangle Trigonometry