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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PHYSD010.
Course Title (CB02)
Concepts of Physics
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course explores the fundamental concepts of physics as applied to everyday phenomena from a limited mathematical perspective emphasizing verbal logic, critical analysis, and rational thought. The history of the scientific procedure as an interplay between theory and experimentation will be analyzed. Students will critically evaluate the role of scientific discovery in the success and development of technology.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course serves as a conceptual introduction to physics for any student, making fundamental concepts accessible to those pursuing any discipline as well as a Liberal Arts A.A. Degree. This course is CSU and UC transferable.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GBX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area B - Natural SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGB1CSU GE Area B1 - Physical ScienceApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG5AIGETC Area 5A - Physical ScienceApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
5.0
Maximum Credit Units
5.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours5.010.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
60.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
60.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
120.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
120.0

Prerequisite(s)

Intermediate algebra or equivalent (or higher), or appropriate placement beyond intermediate algebra

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Carry out daily and weekly readings as assigned by the instructor from the text and periodicals.
  2. Weekly written assignments
    1. Write essay style answers individually and also working as a group, that represents collaborative efforts to arrive at the solution to physical problems emphasizing logical analysis and synthesis in verbal, including oral, and conceptual terms utilizing physical concepts.
    2. Give verbal, which should include oral presentations as appropriate, and elementary mathematical solutions to numerical problems stressing fundamental physical law as a starting point.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. The required readings will be evaluated through homework, quizzes, group discussions as a result of organized collaborative efforts, projects (including group projects), and exams. Oral class presentations individually or as a group representing collaborative learning are appropriate. These evaluation methods will be examined for completeness, understanding, and accuracy to determine the student's level of understanding.
  2. The exams and quizzes are objective written tests to demonstrate the student's understanding of the course material. They will be evaluated for completeness, understanding, and accuracy to determine the student's level of understanding.
  3. A two-hour comprehensive lecture final that includes the testing of verbal and conceptual understanding of the class. The comprehensive final will test the overall understanding of the learning outcome listed in the learning outcome section by evaluating the problem-solving process and the accuracy of the responses to the problems.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Scientific calculator
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Hewitt, P. "Conceptual Physics". 13th ed. Pearson and Addison/Wesley, 2022

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Cajori, F. "A History of Physics". Dover Publications, 1962.
Ehrlich, R. "Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations". Princeton.
Einstein, A. and L. Infeld. "The Evolution of Physics". New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Feynman Leighton Sands. "The Feynman Lectures on Physics". Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Feynman, R.P. "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman". New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1987.
Kuhn, T. "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions". University of Chicago Press, 1962.
"The History of Science." The New Encyclopedia Britannica (1990), 15th ed., Vol. 27, pp. 32-41.
"Women in Science - Antiquity through the Nineteenth Century. A Biographical Dictionary with Annotated Bibliography". 3rd ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1991.
"Physics Today", (Journal/Periodicals)
"The Physics Teacher", (Journals/Periodicals)
"Scientific American", (Journals/Periodicals)
"American Journal of Physics", (Journals/Periodicals)
"The Economist", science section (Journals/Periodicals)
"Powers of Ten," produced and narrated by physicist A. Wayne. (Films and videos)
"Frames of Reference," produced by physicists Dr. Hume and Dr. Ivy of Toronto University. (Films and videos)
"Zero G," produced by NASA and part of a series on space exploration, explores the basic laws of mechanics as seen in space. (Films and videos)
Demonstration film loops available from the physics stockroom.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Appraise the role of science in modern culture and its impact on world society
  • Examine and interpret the goal of physics as a science
  • Classify and compare the fields of physics and describe what a professional physicist would do in her or his research
  • Inspect and evaluate the history and development of physics in terms of the men and women who have contributed to the field
  • Analyze the historical impact of cultures on the development of physics
  • Critically examine the crucial role that the "model" and "paradigm" play in modern science
  • Examine and interpret everyday natural phenomenon with the rational style and critical thinking methods commonly used in physics and thereby be able to read and understand the science and physics writings typically found in newspaper articles
  • Assimilate the intellectual tools of physics and together with the logical skills and critical thinking germane to the subject, solve with systematic methods basic physics problems as applications to everyday life experiences.

CSLOs

  • Examine critically new, previously un-encountered problems, analyzing and evaluating their constituent parts, to construct and explain a logical solution utilizing, and based upon, the fundamental laws of physics in general.

Outline

  1. Appraise the role of science in modern culture and its impact on world society
    1. Examine the extent to which science dominates modern thought.
    2. Discuss science and belief.
    3. Discuss science and knowledge.
    4. Discuss science and reality.
  2. Examine and interpret the goal of physics as a science
    1. Analyze what science is trying to do.
    2. Discuss what authority the scientific community should assume.
    3. Examine the ethics of science in conflict with its own evolution.
    4. Discuss science as a cultural expression.
    5. Relate the interdependence of science to technology.
  3. Classify and compare the fields of physics and describe what a professional physicist would do in her or his research
    1. Discuss astrophysics.
    2. Discuss particle physics.
    3. Discuss solid state physics.
  4. Inspect and evaluate the history and development of physics in terms of the men and women who have contributed to the field
    1. Discuss Cidenas of Egypt and his contributions to astronomy.
    2. Discuss Al Hazen of Iraq and his contributions to optics.
    3. Discuss Aristotle's role in early physics including Aristotelian mechanics.
    4. Discuss the contributions of Galileo.
      1. Examine Galileo's struggle against accepted dogma.
      2. Discuss Galilean kinematics.
    5. Discuss the contributions and impact of Issac Newton.
      1. Examine Newtonian mechanics.
      2. Discuss Newtonian cosmology.
    6. Discuss Madame Curie.
      1. Discuss Radioactive decay.
      2. Examine Atomic theory.
    7. Dicuss the contributions from Albert Einstein.
      1. Examine special relativity.
      2. Discuss general relativity.
      3. Discuss Einsteinian cosmology.
  5. Analyze the historical impact of cultures on the development of physics
    1. Discuss Grecian concepts of science and philosophy.
    2. Discuss Arabic contributions to science.
    3. Evaluate Egyptian contributions to science.
    4. Discuss European concepts of science.
      1. Evaluate the scientific method and experimental science.
      2. Analyze the deterministic and mechanical models of the universe.
  6. Critically examine the crucial role that the "model" and "paradigm" play in modern science
    1. Discuss the "scientific method" as a general procedure in science.
    2. Examine the notion of "reduction" and "synthesis" in the development of science.
    3. Analyze the Newtonian paradigm and determinism.
    4. Discuss the rise and fall of the Ptolemaic model of the heavens.
  7. Examine and interpret everyday natural phenomenon with the rational style and critical thinking methods commonly used in physics and thereby be able to read and understand the science and physics writings typically found in newspaper articles
    1. Introduce and analyze topics into the lecture from timely news stories.
    2. Discuss and examine demonstrations in class
  8. Assimilate the intellectual tools of physics and together with the logical skills and critical thinking germane to the subject, solve with systematic methods basic physics problems as applications to everyday life experiences.
    1. Analyze the laws of Mechanics.
      1. Discuss the characteristics of the rational relationships in kinematics involving velocity and acceleration.
      2. Discuss dynamics.
      3. Examine energy.
      4. Examine momentum.
      5. Angular momentum
    2. Analyze the structure of matter.
      1. Discuss atomic and subatomic structures.
      2. Discuss the macroscopic (human scale) behavior of matter.
    3. Analyze electricity.
      1. Examine the properties of charge including its inverse square relationship to gravity.
      2. Discuss DC circuits.
    4. Analyze the behavior of light.
      1. Study the nature of light.
      2. Examine the physical properties of light.
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