Course Description
This course is an introductory algebra-based physics course intended for students who have not taken high-school physics or want a review of physics. Topics covered in this course include kinematics, dynamics, energy, momentum, fluids, heat, electrostatics, and DC circuits with a focus on practical applications of these concepts. This course includes a weekly lab.
Course Content
Math Tools
- SI units
- vectors and scalars
- significant figures
- vector addition and subtraction
Kinematics
- position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration
- motion plots
- 1D motion under constant acceleration
- free fall motion
- projectile motion
Dynamics
- Newton’s laws
- Hooke’s law
- friction
- gravitation, weight, and apparent weight
- centripetal force and uniform circular motion
- torque
- conditions for equilibrium
Energy
- work, energy, and power
- work-energy theorem
- kinetic and potential energies
- conservation of energy
Momentum
- impulse and momentum
- conservation of momentum
- collisions in 1D
Fluids
- pressure and density
- buoyancy and Archimedes’ principle
- Pascal’s principle
Heat
- temperature, thermal energy, and thermal equilibrium
- thermal expansion
- specific heat, latent heat, phase changes
- heat transfer mechanisms
Electrostatics
- electric charge
- Coulomb’s law
- electric fields
- electric potential and electric potential energy
DC Circuits
- voltage and current
- resistance and Ohm’s law
- electric power
- Kirchhoff’s laws
- simple circuit analysis
Lab Experiments (may include)
- measurement skills
- graphing straight line motion
- accelerated motion in 1D
- projectile motion
- first condition for static equilibrium (forces)
- circular motion and the second condition for static equilibrium (torques)
- conservation of energy
- collisions and conservation of momentum
- buoyancy
- heat and thermal expansion
- static electricity
- DC circuits
Learning Activities
Classroom time will be used for lectures, demonstrations, discussions, problem solving practice, and/or in-class assignments (which may include work in groups). The lab part of this course involves a weekly three-hour session during which students will perform experiments related to the course content to build practical experimental skills. Work outside of class time may include online homework assignments.
Means of Assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
| Quizzes and Assignments |
10-30% |
| Tests (minimum of two) |
20-40% |
| Lab Reports and Quizzes |
20% |
| Final Exam |
25-40% |
| Total |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:
- state the correct SI units for physical quantities.
- express the result of a calculation to the correct number of significant figures.
- distinguish between vectors and scalars.
- apply vector addition and/or subtraction to determine the direction of vector quantities associated with motion (for example, displacement, velocity, and acceleration).
- interpret graphs of position, velocity, and acceleration as functions of time.
- solve 1D kinematics problems with a constant acceleration.
- solve projectile motion problems by applying the principle of independence of motion along two perpendicular directions.
- define normal force, static friction force, kinetic friction force, tension force, spring force, and gravitational force.
- describe examples of motion which illustrate Newton’s three laws.
- summarize the forces acting on an object by drawing a free body diagram.
- apply Newton’s laws to solve problems that involve forces acting on objects.
- define centripetal force and determine which forces acting on an object moving along a curved path contribute to the centripetal force on that object.
- solve problems that involve objects undergoing uniform circular motion.
- distinguish between work, energy, and power.
- apply the law of conservation of energy and/or the work-energy theorem to solve problems that involve forces acting on objects.
- apply the law of conservation of momentum to solve problems that involve inelastic collisions or explosions in 1D.
- define and calculate the torque on an object due to a force.
- solve problems that involve Archimedes’ principle, buoyancy, and apparent weight.
- distinguish between thermal energy, heat, and temperature.
- calculate the linear thermal expansion of an object.
- determine the final temperature of objects that are allowed to reach thermal equilibrium.
- determine the magnitude and direction of the electric force between two charges.
- solve problems that involve electric fields and forces.
- define and distinguish between electric potential and electric potential energy.
- analyze circuits that contain one voltage source and multiple resistors.
- state and discuss the precision and accuracy of measurements.
- present data using computer generated plots and determine physical quantities using a linear regression.
- discuss and analyze the results of an experiment to provide appropriate context for the outcome.
- communicate details of an experiment (for example, the objective, data, calculations, discussion, and conclusion) in a written report.
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
Urone and Hinrichs, Open Stax, College Physics (custom edition)
Douglas College, PHYS 1104 Laboratory Experiments Manual (current edition)