12/26/2024 10:31:20 PM	PHYS 1 Course Outline as of Fall 2010	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PHYS 1	Title:  INTRO PBLM SOLVING
Full Title:  Introduction to Physics Problem Solving
Last Reviewed:8/26/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

An introduction to basic concepts in physics with an emphasis on the development of problem solving skills.  This course helps prepare students for success in Physics 20 or Physics 40.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of MATH 155 or higher. Credit for PHYS 1 will NOT be granted to students who have completed PHYS 20, PHYS 40 or equivalents.

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to basic concepts in physics with an emphasis on the development of problem solving skills.  This course helps prepare students for success in Physics 20 or Physics 40.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of MATH 155 or higher. Credit for PHYS 1 will NOT be granted to students who have completed PHYS 20, PHYS 40 or equivalents.
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1994	Inactive:
Area:	B	Communication and Analytical Thinking
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B1	Physical Science		Fall 1996
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1994	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1994	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Define the physics quantities used in mechanics including:  displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, energy, work, power, momentum, and impulse.

2. Identify the major unit systems and convert between them.

3. Organize and interpret written problem statements.

4. Describe basic concepts in mechanics and selected additional physics topics.

5. Generate and/or interpret graphs of physics quantities related to mechanics.

6. Generate free body diagrams and use them in the correct application of Newton's Laws.

7. Apply the equations of mechanics to the solution of selected simple physics problems.

8. Apply interpersonal skills to work in teams to solve physics problems.

Topics and Scope

1.  Problem solving tools, strategies, and algorithms

    a.  Interpretation of written problem statements

    b.  Written description or analysis of applicable physics concepts

    c.  Choice of appropriate mathematical models and equations

    d.  Organization of information and assignment of variables

    e.  Interpretation and generation of diagrams and graphs

2.  Units and dimensional analysis

    a.  The international system (SI)

    b.  The centimeter, gram, second system (CGS)

    c.  The British engineering system (BE)

    d.  Common metric prefixes

    e.  Conversion of units

    f.  Unit consistency in equations

3.  One dimensional kinematics

   a.  Concepts, definitions, and units of displacement, velocity and acceleration

   b.  Graphs of displacement, velocity and acceleration versus time

   c.  Slopes of displacement and velocity versus time graphs and areas

        under velocity and acceleration versus time graphs

   d.  Equations for uniformly accelerated motion in one dimension

   e.  Freefall body problem analysis

4.  Vectors and trigonometry

    a.  Scalar and vector quantities

    b.  Components of vectors and right triangle trigonometry

    c.  Sums of vectors

5.  Two dimensional kinematics

    a.  Separation of coordinate directions

    b.  Equations of two dimensional kinematics

    c.  Projectile motion

6.   Forces and Newton's laws of motion

    a.  Concepts. definitions, and units of mass, force and weight

     b.  Newton's third law and force interactions between objects

    c.  Newton's first law and the construction of free body diagrams

    d.  One and two dimensional statics

    e.  Newton's second law and free body diagrams with acceleration

    f.  One and two dimensional linear dynamics

7.   Work, energy, and power

    a.  Concepts, definitions, and units of work, energy, and power

    b.  Calculation of work done using force and displacement data and graphs

    c.  Kinetic and potential energy

    d.  Conservative and non-conservative forces

    e.  Conservation of energy

    f.  Computation of power

 

Optional Physics Topics:

Faculty should choose 2-6 additional topics of interest to broaden exposure and encourage further investigations, such as:

8.   Impulse and momentum

9.  Newton's universal law of gravity

10.  Rotational kinematics and dynamics

11.  Simple harmonic motion

12.  Fluids, statics and dynamics

13.  Temperature, heat, thermodynamics

14.  Waves and sound

15.  Electricity and magnetism

16.  Optics

17.  Superconductivity

18.  Radioactivity

19.  Fusion and Fission

20.  Special relativity

21.  Subatomic particles

Assignments:

1.  No less than 12 homework assignments

2.  No less than 2 mid-term exams

3.  In-class student problem solving and writing exercises

4.  Final exam

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 15 - 30%
Homework problems, including short written components
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 50 - 80%
Multiple choice, short answer, physics problems to solve
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 20%
In-class participation, problem solving and writing exercises

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Serway/Vuille, Essentials of College Physics, Thompson/Brooks/Cole, 2007

Instructor prepared materials

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