PHYS 230 - College Physics I

4 Credit: (3 lecture, 3 lab, 0 clinical) 6 Contact Hours: [MATH 120  or MATH 180  or Instructor Approval]

Goal 1:  Propose and test hypotheses that relate to physical measures. 

1. List objective/independent measures for a phenomenon. 
2. Select a dependent variable (outcome measure) and propose a list of important independent variables. 
3. Devise and test each independent variable for effect. 
4. Hypothesize a model for the mathematical relationship between variables. 
5. Design a precise experiment to test each variable. 
6. Analyze data using averages and linear fits to equations. 
7. Revise model to accommodate discrepancies. 

 Goal 2:  Calculate and convert physical quantities correctly.  

1. Convert between standard and scientific notation. 
2. Convert units of simple and complex dimension. 
3. Determine reasonable values for uncertainties. 
4. Propagate significant digits.  

Goal 3:  Identify and calculate with vector quantities. 

1. Define vector quantities and identify physical examples. 
2. Add/Subtract vectors quantitates graphically. 
3. Resolve vectors into components. 
4. Combine components to determine magnitude and direction angle. 

Goal 4:  Manipulate complex systems of algebraic equations. 

1. Determine if sufficient information is provided. 
2. Eliminate variables using algebraic symbols. 
3. Substitute known or measured quantities into equations to obtain numerical answers. 
4. Use resulting algebraic equations to make physical predictions. 

Goal 5:  Use diagrams and algebraic relations to relate time position, velocity and acceleration. 

1. Construct the motion diagram, position graph, velocity graph, and acceleration graph for a physical example of one-dimensional motion. 
2. Define, compare, and contrast velocity, speed, acceleration, freefall, average and instantaneous quantities, and “g”.  
3. Calculate the position, time, and velocity for uniformly accelerated motion in one-dimension. 
4. Calculate the time, position, and velocity for uniformly accelerated motion in two-dimensions (projectile motion).  

Goal 6:  Use Newton’s laws to relate applied forces and acceleration. 

1. Relate the nature of gravity, friction, drag, tension, and supporting forces to example problems. 
2. Calculate unknown forces in equilibrium situations. 
3. Calculate acceleration and resulting motion quantities from known forces on a single system. 
4. Calculate acceleration and resulting motion quantities from known forces on multiple systems. 

Goal 7:  Understand the principle of energy conservation and relate it to predicting forces and motion. 

1. Calculate work done on a system from multiple forces. 
2. Calculate mechanical energy and use it to make predictions. 
3. Relate changes in mechanical energy to other measurable phenomena (such as heat, sound, etc.). 
4. Understand and calculate with the definition of power. 

Goal 8:  Understand the principle of momentum conservation and relate it to predicting forces and motion. 

1. Calculate impulse done on a system from multiple forces. 
2. Calculate momentum and use it to make predictions. 
3. Relate the principle of energy conservation and momentum conservation in solving problems. 
4. Conceptually predict the magnitude of average force on a system where change in momentum are known. 

Goal 9:  Understand the nature of acceleration for circular motion and use Newton’s laws to relate forces to circular motion. 

1. Relate the centripetal acceleration, to net force, and linear speed for circular motion. 
2. Understand the definition and calculation of tangential and total acceleration. 
3. Use Newton’s laws to make calculations of speed and centripetal force. 
4. Understand the difference between centripetal and centrifugal force.  

Goal 10:  Determine and use the rotational form of Newton’s 2^nd Law for rigid objects. 

1. Calculate the torque on a system with multiple applied forces. 
2. Use Newton’s laws to relate torque to rotational inertia and angular acceleration. 
3. Solve multiple component systems using the linear and rotational forms of Newton’s laws.  
4. Solve problems using the conservation of angular momentum. 

Goal 11:  Relate the law of universal gravitation to two-body orbits and Kepler’s laws.  

1. Use proportional reasoning with the inverse square law. 
2. Calculate the force of gravity from massive objects. 
3. Be able to state and explain Kepler’s three laws. 
4. Use Kepler’s third law to calculate means distance or period of a low mass satellite.  

Goal 12:  Understand and create scientific papers and/or presentations. 

1. Determine the Key Idea from presentation and be able to explain it in their own words. 
2. Be able to perform similar calculations or use formulas that are presented. 
3. Present scientific models to an audience.