This course helps develop an understanding of the basic principles of physics and how they govern real-world situations. The course will include at least three of the following at the instructor’s discretion: the scientific method, describing motion, forces and Newton’s laws, rotations, energy, oscillations and waves, optics, electricity, nuclear physics, and thermodynamics. Conceptual reasoning is stressed, and math is kept to the level of intermediate algebra. This is a non-lab science course. Credit not granted for both PHYS&100 and PHYS&110.
Prerequisites
MATH 098, placement into a higher-level mathematics course, or instructor’s permission
Upon successfully completing the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Identify the fundamental laws of physics in the areas we study.
- Describe how these laws apply in real-world situations.
- Use mathematics at the level of intermediate algebra to describe and analyze physical situations.
- Use conceptual arguments to predict the qualitative behavior of physical systems.
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.
IO2 Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to reason mathematically.
This course will cover at least 3 of the listed topics at the discretion of the instructor.
The Scientific Method
History of Science
Hypotheses and Experiments
Motion
Position, Velocity, and Acceleration
Kinematics
Forces
Newton’s Laws
Types of Forces
Rotations
Rotation Kinematics
Torque
Energy
Types of Energy
Energy Conservation
Waves
Oscillations
Interference
Optics
Refraction and Reflection
Mirrors, Lenses, and Images
Electricity
Electric Potential
Circuits
Nuclear Physics
Nuclear Energy
Fission and Fusion
Thermodynamics
Ideal Gases
Work and Heat