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Course Info for PHY100 - Physics for the Liberal Arts

This course covers selected topics in physics.  Major areas considered include Newtonian physics, states of matter, nuclear energy, and atomic theory.  Special consideration is given to areas of physical science of general interest to students enrolled in the course. There are three hours of lecture and one two-hour laboratory per week.

PREREQUISITE: Students receiving credit for PHY111 - General Physics I cannot receive credit for PHY100 - Conceptual Physics.

COREQUISITE: Placement into ENG101, college-level reading, or completion of ENG101S and RDG095

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

Hewett, P Conceptual Physics 12th Edition Addison-Wesley

ISBN: 9780321935786

REQUIRED MATERIALS:  

Safety glasses are required for all on-campus sections.

 As the result of instructional activities, students will be able to:

  1. have an understanding of the fundamental laws of physics, so they may be able to apply them to understand current technology and other real world situations.
  2. have the ability to use and manipulate formulae that relate to physical phenomena, and to understand the role of mathematics in describing nature.
  3. acquire skills so that they may be able to competently carry out simple scientific experiments, and be able to record, present, and perform computations upon the data collected.
  4. prepare a written laboratory report that effectively interprets and communicates their results.
  5. have students be able to perform laboratory measurements and do computations with the correct number of significant figures
  6. make predictions about the motion of objects by applying Newton's first law.
  7. identify situations where equilibrium exists.
  8. define, and apply the definition of velocity and acceleration  to predict displacements and final velocities.
  9. describe the motion of free falling bodies.
  10. distinguish between mass and weight
  11. apply Newton's second law to predict the motion of a body.
  12. apply Newton's third law to describe action and reaction forces on bodies
  13. find the resultant when two vectors are applied to a body.
  14. draw the components of a vector.
  15. apply the concept of impulse and momentum and conservation of momentum to describe the objects.
  16. apply the work energy theorem to explain and predict the motion of bodies.
  17. define power and apply this definition to power ratings of mechanical devices and electronic equipment.
  18. apply the concepts of circular dynamics and gravitation to explain revolution of satellites.
  19. apply the concepts of specific heat and heats of vaporization/fusion to predict and explain temperature changes and phase changes.
  20. describe wave characteristics, and to use those characteristics to explain properties of sound.
  21. describe the basic properties of light and apply the properties of waves to explain various wave phenomena.
  22. explain the results of the photoelectric effect, and the basics of quantum theory.
  23. describe the Michelson-Morley experiment and its results.
  24. state the postulates of special relativity.
  25. describe the meaning of time dilation and length contraction.
  26. state the principle of equivalence
  27. describe the bending of light by gravitational fields.
  28. describe the effects of gravitational fields on time
  29. describe what is meant by the "warping of space time by gravitational fields."

GENERAL TOPICS OUTLINE:

  1. Science and measurement
  2. Newton's First Law
    1. Summing forces
    2. Equilibrium
  3. Linear Motion
    1. Speed and velocity
    2. Accelerated motion
    3. Free falling bodies
  4. Newton's Second Law
    1. Force and acceleration
    2. Weight
    3. Terminal velocity
  5. Newton's third law
    1. Defining the system
    2. Action reaction on different masses
  6. Vectors
    1. Velocity and force as vectors
    2. Finding a resultant
    3. Finding components
  7. Momentum
    1. Impulse and Momentum
    2. Conservation of momentum
  8. Energy and work
    1. Defining work
    2. Kinetic and potential energy
    3. Work energy theorem
    4. Power
  9. Circular motion and Gravity
    1. Centripetal force
    2. Newton's law of gravitation
  10. Heat and Temperature
    1. Temperature scales
    2. Specific heat
    3. Phase changes
  11. Vibrations and waves
    1. Wave characteristics
    2. Interference and standing waves
    3. The Doppler effect
  12. Sound
    1. Pitch and loudness
    2. Resonance
    3. Beats
    4. Musical sounds
  13. Light
    1. Huygens principle
    2. Diffraction and interference
  14. Quantum theory
    1. Photoelectric effect
    2. Wave particle duality
    3. Heisenberg uncertainty principle
  15. Special theory of relativity
    1. Michelson-Morley experiment
    2. Postulates of the special theory of relativity
    3. Time dilation
    4. The twin trip paradox
    5. Length contraction
  16. General theory of relativity
    1. Principle of equivalence
    2. Bending of light by gravity
    3. Gravity and space
Feel free to contact a member of the Science Department or the Science Department Chair.



 

 

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