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:  Design scientific experiments.

1. List objective/independent measures for a phenomenon. 
2. Propose a dependent variable (outcome measure) and a list of important independent variables. 
3. Describe a test of each independent variable for qualitative effect on the dependent variable.
4. Hypothesize a model for the mathematical relationship between variables. 
5. Perform precise experiments to test the quantitative relationship between variables.
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:  Evaluate vector quantities. 

1. Distinguish vector and scalar physical quantities.
2. Sum vectors quantities graphically and via components.
3. Calculate components of vectors from magnitude and direction angle.
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. Determine physical predictions using resulting equations.

Goal 5:  Relate time, position, velocity and acceleration for one- and two-dimensional motion.

1. Construct the motion diagram, position graph, velocity graph, and acceleration graph for a physical example of one-dimensional motion. 
2. 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:  Relate applied forces with acceleration. 

1. Apply the nature of gravitational, friction, drag, tension, elastic, and supporting forces to equilibrium and dynamics problems. 
2. Calculate the unknown force vector 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:  Integrate the work-energy principle in problem solving.

1. Calculate work done on a system from multiple forces. 
2. Compute speed or position of the state of a system from changes in mechanical energy.
3. Relate changes in mechanical energy to other measurable phenomena (such as heat, sound, etc.). 
4. Calculate with the definition of power. 

Goal 8:  Relate the impulse momentum theorem to solving problems involving force, time and motion. 

1. Calculate impulse done on a system from multiple forces. 
2. Calculate momentum of an object or system.
3. Determine the initial or final velocity for collisions in one and two dimensions.
4. Determine the average force on a system from a representation of the motion of a system.

Goal 9:  Relate the forces and motion for circular motion.

1. Relate the centripetal acceleration, to net force, and linear speed for circular motion. 
2. Apply the definition of tangential and total acceleration. 
3. Calculate speed, centripetal acceleration, and centripetal force.
4. Differentiate centripetal and centrifugal force.  

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

1. Calculate the torque on a system with multiple applied forces. 
2. 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. Calculate using proportional reasoning and the inverse square law. 
2. Calculate the force of gravity from massive objects. 
3. Explain Kepler’s three laws. 
4. Compute circular and escape velocity for a satellite.

Goal 12:  Relate the kinematics of oscillating motion to its physical causes.  

1. Describe the necessary conditions for a simple harmonic oscillator. 
2. Relate the physical constants of an oscillating system to its amplitude, period, and frequency.
3. Compute the kinematic state of an oscillating system for any moment in time.
4. Determine the fundamental measures of an oscillating system from a graph of its motion.

Goal 13:  Relate the kinematics of wave motion to its physical causes.  

1. Describe the necessary conditions for mechanical waves to propagate. 
2. Differentiate wave types.
3. Relate the physical constants of a medium to a wave’s speed, amplitude, period, and frequency.
4. Relate the physical properties of a medium to a graph of wave motion.
5. Relate the sound intensity level in decibels to the intensity of the wave. 
6. Compute the resonant standing wave frequencies from physical parameters of the system.

Goal 14:  Prepare a scientific presentation.

1. Present scientific models to an audience. 
2. Construct a logical argument for the veracity of a model.
3. Cite supporting evidence properly.
4. Simplify complex concepts for a general audience.