Physics for Life Sciences I

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
PHYS 1108
Discontinued
No
Course Code
PHYS 1108
Descriptive
Physics for Life Sciences I
Department
Physics
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
201930
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
36
Contact Hours
2 lectures of 2 hours per week for a total of 4 hours per week.
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Hybrid
Learning Activities

Lecture

Emphasis on small group work and in-class assignments.  

Some assignments may be done on-line. 

Course Description
This is a physics course for life sciences students. All the topics covered will be illustrated with applications takes from the life sciences. Topics will include force and motion, conservation of energy, conservation of momentum, conservation of angular momentum, fluids, waves, properties of soft matter and thermal physics.
Course Content

Course Content

  1. Review of linear kinematics and dynamics
  2. Friction and viscous drag; drag forces in cells
  3. Work and energy; mechanical work in the cell
  4. Rotational dynamics; flagellar torques
  5. Problem-solving in statics
  6. Oscillations; standing and traveling waves
  7. Wave power; human hearing
  8. Introduction to fluids; buoyancy
  9. Fluid flow and viscosity
  10. Random walks; diffusion; macromolecular sizes
  11. Kinetic theory of gases
  12. Properties of materials, including cell components
  13. Introductory thermodynamics
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course the student will demonstrate their ability to solve problems involving life science applications in 

  1. force and motion
  2. conservation of energy
  3. conservation of momentum
  4. conservation of angular momentum
  5. fluids
  6. waves
  7. properties of soft matter
  8. thermal physics
Means of Assessment

Assignments        10 - 20%

     On-line assignments are an option

Midterm              15 - 25%
Quizzes               10 - 30%
Final Exam          30 - 40%

Textbook Materials

Exact course materials will be selected by the instructor at the time of the course, but will be similar to

Urone and Hinrichs, Open Stax, College Physics (current edition)

 

Prerequisites

BC Physics 12 with a grade of C or better or Douglas PHYS 1104 or equivalent

 

Corequisites

MATH 1120 and

BIOL 1103 or BIOL 1109 or BIOL 1110 or BIOL 1210 or equivalent 

Equivalencies

None

Which Prerequisite

PHYS 1208 and PHYS 1308