GS 104 General Science: Physics

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 3
Credits: 4

Covers a broad array of topics in physics including motion, forces, energy, sound, electricity, and light.

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.
Differential Fee Yes
Student Learning Outcomes:

Distinguish among science, pseudoscience, and other fields
Gather relevant and accurate lab data
Use lab data to generate calculations, graphs, and testable predictions
Predict the motion of falling objects
Calculate a force or acceleration using Newton’s second law
Identify and describe Newton’s third law action-reaction pairs
Apply conservation of momentum and conservation of energy
Quantify period, frequency, and amplitude of oscillations and waves
Describe how light interacts with matter
Predict the behavior of a simple electric circuit

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 textbook for college credit: Conceptual Physical Science by Hewitt, 4th, 5th, or 6th Edition

Scientific methods
- Demarcation
- Lab techniques
- Graphs
Motion in one or two dimensions
- Velocity and speed
- Acceleration
- Little g (free-fall)
Newton’s laws
- Newton’s first law
- Newton’s second law
- Newton’s third law
- Properties of various specific forces
Momentum and Energy
- Momentum and impulse
- Conservation of momentum
- Energy
  - Potential energy
  - Kinetic energy
- Conservation of energy
- Power
- Efficiency
Fluids
- Density
- Pressure
- Archimedes’ principle
- Bernoulli’s principle
Electricity
- Electric charge
- Conservation of charge
- Coulomb’s law
- Voltage sources
- Electric current
- Electric resistance
- Ohm’s law
- Electric power
Oscillations, waves, and sound
- Period, frequency, and amplitude
- Wave speed
- Sound waves
  - Speed of sound
  - Sonic boom
- Doppler effect
Light
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Transmission of light
  - Reflection
  - Refraction
- Color
- Dispersion and rainbows