Course Number: 2010 (4)
Course Title: General Physics I
- REPRESENTATIVE TEXTBOOK
- Physics, 4th edition, Cutnell & Johnson
- COURSE DESCRIPTION
- This is the first semester of a two semester series designed primarily for people majoring in the health sciences (PreMeds, PreDent, PrePhysical Therapy, etc) or Architecture. It is algebra and trigonometry based although some illustrations include calculus for the enrichment of those who have had it. Calculus is NOT required and is NEVER needed for homework or exams, however it is often useful in aiding the understanding of the concepts. The topics covered include: kinematics in one and two dimensions, Newton's Laws of Motion, uniform circular motion, work and energy, impulse and momentum, rotational kinematics, rotational dynamics (torques and angular momentum), elasticity and simple harmonic motion, fluids, trmperature and hear, heat transfer, kinetic theory (ideal gas law), thermodynamics (the first and second laws and their application to cycles in engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps), introduction to waves (wavelength, frequency, velocity, doppler effect).
- As in any course one takes it is important to ask the fundamental purpose of the endeavor. In this case the answer is: to learn analytic thinking skills, cause and effect, deductive logic, and to attain a sufficient grasp of fundamental physical concepts to do well on professional exams such as the MCAT. The basic point is that the contribution of the study of Physics to the health and architecture fields is not so much the mastery of a variety of physical concepts (although this important and will be acheived in this course) as the development of analytic thinking skills. While many of the concepts learned will be quickly forgotten and seldom - if ever - used, the thinking skills will benefit the student for his or her entire life regardless of the field ultimately chosen. The graduates of this course do entremely well on their professional exams, not because they learned more physics than their competitors but because they acquired better thinking skills.
- CO-REQUISITE
- College Algebra and Trigonometry
- OTHER COMMENTS
- None
- Physics, 4th edition, Cutnell & Johnson
- MANDATORY TOPICS
- Topic 1:
- Kinematics in one dimension (1week)
- Topic 2:
- Kinematics in two dimension (2/3 weeks)
- Topic 3:
- Newton's Laws (1 week)
- Topic 4:
- Uniform circular motion (2/3 weeks)
- Topic 5:
- Work and Energy (2/3 weeks)
- Topic 6:
- Impulse and Momentum (1/3 weeks)
- Topic 7:
- Rotational Kinematics (2/3 weeks)
- Topic 8:
- Rotational Dynamics (1 week)
- Topic 9:
- Elasticity and Simple Harmonic Motion (1 week)
- Topic 10:
- Fluids (2/3 weeks)
- Topic 11:
- Temperature and Heat (2/3 weeks)
- Topic 12:
- Heat Transfer (1/3 weeks)
- Topic 13:
- Kinetic Theory and Ideal Gas Law (1/3 weeks)
- Topic 14:
- Thermodynamics (1 week)
- Topic 15:
- Waves (1 week)
Prepared by John DeFord, February 25, 1999