Course Syllabus
Course: PHYS 2010
Division: Natural Science and Math
Department: Physics
Title: College Physics I
Semester Approved: Fall 2023
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2028
End Semester: Summer 2029
Catalog Description: PHYS 2010 is the first semester of a two-semester sequence in algebra/trigonometry-based general physics. The course is designed for students majoring in pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, and other biological sciences. The topics covered include the study of kinetics, statics, dynamics, momentum, energy, rotational motion, gravitation, solids and fluids, and thermodynamics.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 4; Lecture: 4; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: MATH 1050 and MATH 1060, or equivalent
Corequisites: PHYS 2015
Justification: This course is a necessary component of the curriculum for pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, and other biological science majors. This course is designed to be transferable to other higher education institutions in Utah which offer a similar course with the same course number.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course students will understand be able to apply important scientific laws and principles, such as Newton's Laws. A student's understanding will be assessed withhomework and exams, and possibly with quizzes and projects.
Students will understand and emulate the scientific approach to gaining knowledge. A student's understanding will be assessed withhomework and exams, and possibly with quizzes and projects.
Students will be able to solve physics problems and apply them in scenarios from daily life and other fields of study. A student's understanding will be assessed withhomework and exams, and possibly with quizzes and projects.
Students will recognize and make connections between Physics and other fields such as medicine and Biology. A student's understanding will be assessed withhomework and exams, and possibly with quizzes and projects.
Content:
The course will cover the following topics:- Units and unit conversion- Motion in one dimension- Vectors and two dimensional motion- The Laws of Motion (Kinematics) - Work and Energy - Momentum and Collisions - Circular Motion and the Law of Gravity - Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics - Solids and Fluids- The Laws of ThermodynamicsThe fundamental aspects of physical laws will be a major focus, but the development and history of our understanding of these laws will also be emphasized. Historically, many individuals from diverse and underrepresented groups and demographics made key contributions toward the discovery of physical law. The contributions of these individuals will be highlighted, where applicable, in class discussions.
Key Performance Indicators:
Students will be assessed based on the following criteria.
Homework 10 to 30%
Quizzes 0 to 30%
Exams 20 to 50%
Projects 0 to 15%
Comprehensive Final Exam 15 to 35%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
College Physics, current or recent edition by Raymond S. Serway and Chris Vuille
Pedagogy Statement:
The course content will be delivered through class discussions, interactive demonstrations, and group problem solving. A particular emphasis will be placed on active learning pedagogical techniques which are particularly effective at promoting student engagement and inclusivity.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 24
Optimum Class Size: 18
