PHYS 110/110L General Physics I (Calculus)
Students will develop an understanding of vectors and Newton’s laws of motion as well as conservation of energy and momentum and apply these concepts to develop explanatory and predictive models for various mechanical systems. Students will also investigate dimensional analysis, rotational motion, summation of forces and torques, principles of equilibrium, and oscillations (including resonance). Students will refine their understanding through small group and whole class discussions, class demonstrations, laboratory experiments, computer simulations, practice problems and online tutorials (involving calculus as needed), and self-reflection. In the laboratory portion of the class, students learn to use common physics equipment (including microcomputer-based sensors), design experiments, analyze data and uncertainty, develop empirical models of phenomena, and communicate their results through written and oral lab reports. Credit will only be granted for one of the following: PHYS 103 or PHYS 110.
Hours Weekly
3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
Course Objectives
- Recognize one’s intuitive ideas about the behavior of the physical world and refine those
ideas through class discussions and by comparing and contrasting them with results from
experiments and computer simulations. - Identify the vector or scalar nature of common kinematic and dynamic quantities, and
demonstrate mathematical and graphical operations on vector quantities. - Interpret and communicate physics concepts through written descriptions, equations,
graphs, and diagrams using appropriate symbols, notation, and vocabulary. - Develop and demonstrate explanatory and predictive models by analyzing the forces and
torques acting on an object or system of objects and applying Newton’s laws of motion. - Develop and demonstrate explanatory and predictive models by applying conservation of
energy and/or conservation of momentum to a system of objects. - Identify and operate common laboratory equipment and data gathering tools such as motion
and force sensors, spring scales, graphical analysis programs, and computer simulations to
gather information about a system or phenomenon.
- Design experiments, analyze uncertainty, and use experimental results to develop and
assess models and/or to develop empirical equations and communicate these findings
through oral and written reports. - Solve problems accurately by: identifying or estimating essential information and questions,
formulating a solution strategy, applying appropriate analytical and computational
techniques (e.g. spreadsheets, simulations), interpreting the solution physically, and
assessing the reasonableness of the solution (e.g. sign, order of magnitude).
Course Objectives
- Recognize one’s intuitive ideas about the behavior of the physical world and refine those
ideas through class discussions and by comparing and contrasting them with results from
experiments and computer simulations. - Identify the vector or scalar nature of common kinematic and dynamic quantities, and
demonstrate mathematical and graphical operations on vector quantities. - Interpret and communicate physics concepts through written descriptions, equations,
graphs, and diagrams using appropriate symbols, notation, and vocabulary. - Develop and demonstrate explanatory and predictive models by analyzing the forces and
torques acting on an object or system of objects and applying Newton’s laws of motion. - Develop and demonstrate explanatory and predictive models by applying conservation of
energy and/or conservation of momentum to a system of objects. - Identify and operate common laboratory equipment and data gathering tools such as motion
and force sensors, spring scales, graphical analysis programs, and computer simulations to
gather information about a system or phenomenon.
- Design experiments, analyze uncertainty, and use experimental results to develop and
assess models and/or to develop empirical equations and communicate these findings
through oral and written reports. - Solve problems accurately by: identifying or estimating essential information and questions,
formulating a solution strategy, applying appropriate analytical and computational
techniques (e.g. spreadsheets, simulations), interpreting the solution physically, and
assessing the reasonableness of the solution (e.g. sign, order of magnitude).