Course Syllabus
Course: PHYS 2015
Division: Natural Science and Math
Department: Physics
Title: College Physics I Lab
Semester Approved: Fall 2023
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2028
End Semester: Summer 2029
Catalog Description: PHYS 2015 is the laboratory experience to accompany PHYS 2010. Students will learn techniques of measurement and data analysis. They will learn to communicate scientific results effectively in writing. Principles from the lecture course (PHYS 2010) will be illustrated and experiments confirming class results will be performed. Lab fee required.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 0; Lab: 2
Prerequisites: MATH 1050 and MATH 1060, or equivalent
Corequisites: PHYS 2010
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:
Students will know and apply scientific laws and principles, such as Newton's Laws. Students' knowledge will be assessed from the lab reports, testing, and possibly from quizzes.
Students will use a scientific approach to gain knowledge. Students' knowledge will be assessed from the lab reports, testing, and possibly from quizzes.
Students will be able to assemble equipment, collect data and perform analysis, and draw conclusions to test scientific principles. Students' knowledge will be assessed from the lab reports, testing, and possibly from quizzes.
Students will recognized and make connections between physics and other fields such as medicine and Biology. Students' knowledge will be assessed from the lab reports, testing, and possibly from quizzes.
Content:
Students perform a series of experiments about measurements, significant figures, resultant forces, Newton s Laws, work and energy, momentum, circular motion, torque, densities, Archimedes Principle, specific heat, heat of fusion, and themechanical equivalent of heat.The measurement and verification of physical laws will be a major focus, but the development and history of our understanding of these laws will also be emphasized - especially in the accompanying classroom section. 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:
Lab reports 50 to 80%
Quizzes 0 to 20%
Comprehensive final exam 10 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Laboratory manual with experiments prepared by the Snow College Physics instructors.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be delivered through interactive experiments and group problem solving. Group work done in a laboratory setting is an especially valuable high-impact practice that encourages student engagement and promotes inclusivity by encouraging and even requiring individual contributions for group success.
Instructional Mediums:
Lab
Maximum Class Size: 24
Optimum Class Size: 18
