Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
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GS 104 General Science: Physics
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 3
Credits: 4
Covers an integrated study of the force, motion, heat, and light phenomena that we observe in the physical world.
Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Compare and contrast Aristotle and Galileo’s theories on motion with today’s accepted motion model.
- Analyze the relationship between mass, acceleration, and force - and evaluate qualitatively (and mathematically) the effect of each object.
- Use physics principles to predict the behavior of falling objects.
- Evaluate the consequences of momentum and various forms of energy transformations.
- Utilize the principles of fluid mechanics to evaluate the behavior of floating and sinking objects (as well as gases).
- Explain how physics is involved and relevant to everyone’s life.
- Explain the difference between temperature, heat, and internal energy.
- Distinguish between conduction, convection and radiation and apply these concepts to evaluate the “Greenhouse Effect.”
- Employing the principles of heat and energy, predict the effects of energy transfer - phase changes.
- Discover (compare and contrast) through laboratory experimentation, the similarity/differences of series and parallel circuits.
- Analyze the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electric circuit.
- Examine and explore the correlation between moving charges, Electric Fields, and Electric Potential.
- Evaluate the similarities/differences between light and sound waves.
- Employ the principles of refraction, dispersion, and reflection to explain why the sky is blue, sunsets are red, clouds are white, and rainbows are multicolored.
- Relate magnetic fields, electric currents and Faraday’s Law to motors and generators.
- Apply the properties of waves to explain resonance, forced vibrations, interference, Doppler Effect, and bow waves.
Statewide General Education Outcomes:
1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.
Content Outline
Required textbooks for college credit: 1) Conceptual Physical Science by Hewitt, 6th Edition; 2) GS104 Lab Manual by Claysmith and Christensen
- Scientific Method
- Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium
- Aristotle and Galileo on motion and inertia
- Mass-A measure of inertia
- Net force
- The equilibrium rules
- Support force
- Dynamic equilibrium
- The force of friction
- Speed and velocity
- Speed
- Instantaneous speed
- Average speed
- Velocity
- Relative motion
- Acceleration
- Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Newton’s first law of motion
- Newton’s second law of motion
- Free fall
- Non-free fall - terminal velocity
- Forces and interactions
- Newton’s third law of motion
- Identifying action/reaction pairs
- Action and reaction on different masses
- Defining your system
- Momentum and Energy
- Momentum and impulse
- Impulse changes momentum
- Increasing momentum
- Decreasing momentum over a long time
- Decreasing momentum over a short time
- Bouncing
- Conservation of momentum/collisions
- Energy and work
- Potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Work-energy theorem
- Conservation of energy
- Power
- Machines
- Efficiency
- Sources of energy
- Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites
- Universal law of gravity, “G” Gravity and distance: the inverse-square law
- Weight and weightlessness
- Universal gravitation
- Projectile motion
- Projectile launched horizontally
- Projectiles launched at an angle
- Satellites
- Fluid Mechanics
- Density
- Liquid pressure Buoyancy
- Archimedes’ principle
- Floatation
- Gas pressure/atmospheric pressure
- Pascal’s principle
- Buoyancy in a gas
- Bernoulli’s principle
- Thermal Energy and Thermal Dynamics
- Temperature
- Temperature scales and absolute zero
- Heat
- Quantity of heat
- Laws of thermodynamics
- Entropy
- Specific heat capacity
- Thermal expansion (including freezing of water)
- Heat Transfer and Change of Phase
- Conduction
- Convection
- Radiation
- Emission of radiant energy
- Absorption of radiant energy
- Reflection of radiant energy
- Newton’s law of cooling
- Global warming and the greenhouse effect
- Heat transfer and change of phase
- Boiling
- Melting and freezing
- Energy and change of phase
- Static and Current Electricity
- Electric charge (conservation of charge)
- Coulomb’s Law
- Electric fields
- Electric potential
- Voltage sources
- Electric current
- Direct current
- Alternating current
- Electric resistance
- Ohm’s law
- Electric circuits
- Series circuits
- Parallel circuits
- Parallel circuits and overloading
- Safety fuses
- Electric power
- Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
- Magnetic poles
- Magnetic fields
- Magnetic domains
- Electric currents and magnetic fields
- Magnetic forces on moving charges
- Magnetic force on current-carrying wires
- Electric meters
- Electric motors
- Electromagnetic induction - Faraday’s Law
- Generators and alternating current
- Power production
- The transformer - boosting or lowering voltage
- Field induction
- Waves and Sound
- Waves and vibrations
- Wave motion and speed
- Transverse and longitudinal waves
- Sound waves and speed of sound
- Reflection, refraction of sound
- Forced vibrations, resonance
- Interference
- Doppler effect
- Bow waves and the sonic boom
- Light
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Transparent and opaque materials
- Transmission of light
- Color
- Selective reflection
- Selective transmission
- Complementary colors
- Whey the sky is blue
- Why sunsets are red
- Why clouds are white
- Dispersion and rainbows
- Polarization lenses
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