The first course in a three-quarter algebra-based sequence for students pursuing degrees in biology, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-veterinary medicine, engineering technology, zoology, and other fields. This course is also strongly recommended for students who will be taking Engineering Physics but who have not had a prior physics class. Students should check with the requirements of their intended baccalaureate institution when considering this sequence. A balance of conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability is emphasized; This first course will begin with an introduction to units and unit conversion, scalars and vectors, and using right-angle trigonometry for analyzing two-dimensional motion, then continue to the study of mechanics: describing motion, with speed, velocity, and acceleration; application of Newtons laws in one and two dimensions; impulse and momentum conservation; work and energy conservation; rotational motion and torque.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of MATH 099, placement in a higher-level mathematics course, or instructor permission.
Quarters Offered
Spring
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Convert between different units of all types and correctly use significant figures.
- Perform calculations with scalars and vectors, and use right-angle trigonometry for determining components of vectors.
- Apply algebra and right-angle trigonometry to the solution of problems involving constant velocity, constant acceleration, projectile motion, Newton’s laws, momentum and impulse, energy and work, and rotational motion.
- Apply conceptual reasoning to analyze situations involving the material studied in this course.
- Present well-reasoned solutions of problems at a level appropriate for the course.
- Present experimental results in clearly written laboratory reports.
- Use technology such as calculators and computer spreadsheets to perform calculations, analyze data, and present data in graphical form at levels appropriate for the course.
Institutional Outcomes
IO2 Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to reason mathematically.
Course Content Outline
- Mathematical Preliminaries
Units and unit conversion
Scientific notation and its use on calculators
Significant figures
Right angle trigonometry
Introduction to scalars and vectors - Studying Motion in One and Two Dimensions
Displacement, average and instantaneous velocity
Average and instantaneous acceleration
Motion with constant acceleration
Free fall
Velocity and acceleration in a plane
Projectile motion - Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion
Forces and Newton’s first law
Mass, weight, and Newton’s second law
Free-body diagrams
Newton’s third law
Equilibrium of a particle
Contact forces and friction
Elastic forces - Circular Motion, Orbits, and Gravity
Forces in circular motion
Uniform circular motion
Forces, velocity, and acceleration in uniform circular motion
Apparent forces in circular motion
Circular orbits and weightlessness
Newton’s law of gravitation and orbital motion - Momentum
Impulse and momentum
Conservation of momentum
Inelastic collisions
Two dimensional collisions
Angular momentum - Energy and Work
Work, energy, and the work-kinetic energy theorem
Potential energy
Conservation of mechanical energy
Energy in collisions
Power - Rotational Motion
Describing rotational motion: angular velocity and acceleration
Relations between linear and rotational motion
Moment of inertia and rotational kinetic energy
Rolling motion
Torque and angular acceleration
Department Guidelines
Exams and Quizzes 50-60% Homework 20-30% Laboratory Work 20% Lecture, In-class active learning, Small group work, Laboratory observation, measurement, and experimentation
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.