Physics

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF EARLY ASTRONOMY AND CELESTIAL MOTION (SLO 1, PSLO 2).
• Explain the structure of the celestial sphere.
• Differentiate between the geocentric and heliocentric models of the universe proposed by Ptolemy and Copernicus, respectively.
• State contributions made by the Greeks, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo and Newton.
• State Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and how it can be used to explain an orbiting body around another.
• Describe the principal reasons for the daily and annual motion of the stars, Sun and Moon, and state the reason for the seasons.
• Explain why planetary retrograde motion is observed.
• Describe what causes the different types of lunar and solar eclipses.
• Have an understanding of the Scientific Method.
• DISCUSS SOME OF THE TOOLS AND MEASURING METHODS USED IN ASTRONOMY (SLO 2, PSLO 2 AND 3).
• Explain what causes stellar parallax.
• Define the astronomical unit (AU), the light year (ly) and the parsec (pc) and express numbers in scientific notation.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of atomic structure and the origin of light and its properties.
• Explain what takes place in transitions between energy levels and how this is represented in a spectrum.
• State the relationship between wavelength, frequency and the speed of an electromagnetic wave.
• State the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and arrange them in order of increasing energy, wavelength, or frequency.
• Explain the conditions under which the three principal spectra are produced and the effect temperature has on Blackbody radiation spectra and on color.
• Explain the basics of Doppler shift.
• Discuss the importance of telescopes.
• Compare reflecting and refracting telescopes and any limitations they may have.
• Demonstrate an understanding of nonoptical telescopes and how and where they are used.
• Explain some of the techniques that are used to improve resolution.
• DEMOSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPERTIES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM. (SLO 3, PSLO 2).
• List the planets in the Solar System in order and describe a possible reason for the differences between the two major groups of planets and the characteristics that distinguishes planets of each group.
• State the accepted theory for the formation of the Moon and its influence on Earth.
• Demonstrate knowledge of key features of smaller objects in the solar system including dwarf planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.
• Explain how astronomers detect extra-solar planets.
• DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVOLUTION AND PROPERTIES OF STARS, ESPECIALLY OUR SUN, AND GALAXIES (SLO 4, PSLO 2).
• Explain the basic properties of the Sun--hydrostatic equilibrium, source of energy, magnetic activity and its cycles and determination of its composition.
• Identify the regions in the HR diagram and summarize some of the properties of stars in each region.
• Explain what is meant by the interstellar medium.
• Summarize the composition and evolution of stars (protostars, main sequence stars, novae, supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes).
• Explain how astronomers might detect a black hole.
• Develop a basic understanding of the Milky Way galaxy and other galaxies.
• Categorize galaxies according to shape and size.
• Discuss how galactic motion infers the expansion of the universe.
• DEVELOP A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF COSMOLOGY AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE (SLO 5, PSLO 2).
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Big Bang theory and of any experimental data supporting the Big Bang theory.
• Describe what is meant by spacetime.
• Express the current understanding of the fate of universe.
• State what methods astronomers use to search for extra-terrestrial life.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of each factor in the Drake equation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• IDENTIFY AND CLASSIFY COMMON CELESTIAL OBJECTS. (SLO 1)
• identify major constellations and stars.
• classify stars according to constellation and spectrum.
• INCORPORATE PROPER ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES. (SLO 2)
• operate a basic telescope and use the naked eye and binoculars to make astronomical observations.
• ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF MOTIONS OF CELESTIAL OBJECTS ON OBSERVATIONS. (SLO 3)
• explain how the Earth's, moon's and sun's motions cause cycles in the sky.
• predict the night sky on any given evening using star charts.
• ANALYZE LIGHT TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS. (SLO 4)
• measure relative motion of and distance to stars using Doppler shifts and relative intensities.
• research composition of astronomical objects using spectral analysis.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1: Actively engage in intellectual inquiry beyond that required in order to pass a course of study (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 4).
• Discuss and outline a proposal of study (that can be accomplished within one semester term) with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
• Design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
• Use information resources to gather discipline-specific information.
• SLO #2: Utilize modes of analysis and critical thinking to apply theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study to significant problems and/or educational activities (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 3).
• Analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
• Explain the importance of the major discipline of study in the broader picture of society.
• SLO #3: Communicate a complex understanding of content matter of the major discipline of study (College Wide Outcome – Area 3).
• Demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.
• SLO #4: Identify personal goals and pursue these goals effectively (College Wide Outcome – Area 4).
• Utilize skills from the “academic tool kit” including time management, study skills, etc., to accomplish the independent study within one semester term.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1: EXPLAIN THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND HOW SCIENTISTS APPLY IT TO UNDERSTANDING NATURE.
• SLO #2: EVALUATE SIMPLE AND COMMON MECHANICAL SYSTEMS USING CLASSICAL MECHANICS INCLUDING ONE- AND /OR TWO-DIMENSIONAL KINEMATICS, NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION, GRAVITATION, MOMENTUM, WORK AND ENERGY.
• determine the forces acting on a familiar system and draw the appropriate free body diagram.
• solve conceptual problems of a mechanical nature using kinematics, the laws of motion, momentum, gravitation, work and energy.
• solve simple numerical problems using kinematics and the laws of motion.
• SLO #3: EXPLAIN BASIC ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND DIFFERENT STATES OF MATTER.
• describe basic atomic theory.
• compare and contrast solids, liquids and gases.
• solve conceptual problems applying the atomic theory of matter and the definitions of solid, liquid, gas and concepts such as density and fluid mechanics.
• SLO #4: EXPLAIN AND DEFINE HEAT, HEAT TRANSFER AND ITS RESULTS.
• compare and contrast heat and temperature.
• recognize the different ways in which heat can be transferred.
• discuss some effects of heat transfer such as temperature or phase change and thermal expansion.
• SLO #5: EXPLAIN THE SOURCES AND BEHAVIORS OF WAVES.
• recognize the different types of waves and discuss the quantities used to describe waves.
• discuss the wave nature of phenomena such as light and sound.
• SLO #6: EXPLAIN THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS RELATED TO CHARGE AND CHARGE INTERACTIONS INCLUDING BASIC ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.
• compare and contrast electrostatic and magnetic forces and the dependence of each on charge, distance, motion, etc.
• explain the terms potential difference and current, their relation to each other and application to basic DC circuits.
• solve conceptual problems applying the basic theories of electricity and magnetism and DC circuit analysis.
• solve simple numerical problems using the basic theories of DC circuit analysis.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• APPLY APPROPRIATELY NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION TO MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE A NEWTONIAN WORLDVIEW (SLO 1; PSLO 2, 4)
• differentiate between terms that describe motion such as displacement, velocity and acceleration.
• compare and contrast vector and scalar quantities.
• analyze a mechanical system to identify all external forces acting on it, and using Newton’s Laws of Motion, predict the resulting motions of the system.
• evaluate mechanical systems for conserved quantities such as momentum or mechanical energy, and use these conserved quantities to predict the motion.
• recognize the forces resulting in oscillations and mechanical waves and correctly apply definitions and mechanical concepts to these systems to make predictions.
• DEVELOP CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE BEHAVIOR OF ATOMS AND MOLECULES AND THE MACROSCOPIC QUANTITIES PHYSICISTS USE TO DESCRIBE SYSTEMS THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF THERMODYNAMIC PRINCIPLES (SLO 2; PSLO 2, 4)
• distinguish between pressure, temperature, heat, internal energy and their relation to the molecules of a system.
• evaluate thermodynamic systems using the Laws of Thermodynamics.
• SOLVE CONCEPTUAL, SYMBOLIC AND NUMERIC PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL USING MATH THROUGH COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEMS, EVALUATE THE GIVEN DATA FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE, FORMULATE A SOLUTION STRATEGY, AND EVALUATE THE RESULTS. (SLO 3; PSLO 3)
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric problems in one- and two-dimensional motion, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric dynamics, statics, circular motion and gravitation problems using Newton's Laws, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• graphically and mathematically add and subtract vectors.
• identify mechanical systems appropriate to the application of the work-energy theorem, apply this theorem to conceptual, symbolic and quantitative problems and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the conservation of mechanical energy and/or linear momentum, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles or rotational motion, including rotational kinematics, torque, rotational inertia, mechanical energy, and angular momentum, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles or simple harmonic motion and mechanical waves, including pendulums and spring oscillators, waves on a string and sound, and wave interference, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles of thermodynamics, including temperature, thermal expansion, heat transfer and calorimetry, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and quantitative problems of thermodynamic systems using the Laws of Thermodynamics, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• MODEL BASIC LAB SKILLS AND APPLY AND EVALUATE METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING EXPERIMENTAL DATA. (SLO 4; PSLO 5, 6)
• design, conduct, analyze and interpret scientific experiments in the fields of mechanics and thermodynamics.
• demonstrate skilled laboratory techniques, including use of metersticks, timing devices, thermometers, computer-aided data acquisition devices, etc.
• create graphical representations of experimental data to clearly demonstrate trends, and use those representations to formulate conclusions relevant to mechanical and thermodynamic systems.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1 – EVALUATE A PHYSICAL SYSTEM FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS, PROPERLY APPLY THE LAWS OF ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM TO PHYSICAL SYSTEMS, AND INTEGRATE THIS INTO A NEWTONIAN VISION OF THE UNIVERSE.
• Evaluate motions of charges in electric and magnetic systems using Newtonian mechanics including forces, work and energy.
• Generate appropriate shapes and relative magnitudes of electric and magnetic fields based on different charge and/or current distributions.
• Predict the behavior of simple DC electrical circuits using power sources, resistors and capacitors.
• Compare and contrast the different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum based on frequency and/or wavelength.
• SLO #2 – DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE BRANCHES OF MODERN PHYSICS INCLUDING SPECIAL RELATIVITY AND QUANTUM PHYSICS.
• Critique classical physics and assess its limitations. More specifically, the student will evaluate physical phenomena that classical physics does not adequately explain.
• Discuss the quantum mechanical model of the atom.
• SLO #3 – SOLVE CONCEPTUAL, SYMBOLIC AND NUMERIC PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL USING MATH THROUGH TRIGONOMETRY AND COLLEGE ALGEBRA.BY RECOGNIZING DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEMS, EVALUATING THE GIVEN INFORMATION FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE, FORMULATING A SOLUTION STRATEGY, AND EVALUATING THE RESULTS.
• Identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric problems of the electric and magnetic fields and forces, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• Identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric electrostatic energy problems including electric potential, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• Identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and numeric problems of DC circuits, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• Identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of electromagnetic induction, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• Identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of the ray and wave natures of light including reflection, refraction, mirrors and thin lenses, interference and polarization, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• Identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of the modern physics including special relativity and introductory quantum physics. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• SLO #4 – DEVELOP BASIC LAB SKILLS AND APPLY AND EVALUATE METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING EXPERIMENTAL DATA.
• Design, conduct, analyze and interpret scientific experiments in the fields of electricity and magnetism, light and modern physics.
• Design and build simple DC circuits using basic circuit elements such as power sources, resistors and capacitors.
• Demonstrate skilled laboratory techniques, including use of multimeters.
• Create graphical representations of experimental data to clearly demonstrate trends, and use those representations to formulate conclusions relevant to electromagnetic systems, light and modern physics.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1 – The student will appropriately apply Newton’s Laws of motion to mechanical systems, will recognize prior misconceptions about the mechanical universe and replace them with correct concepts.
• differentiate between terms that describe motion such as displacement, velocity and acceleration.
• compare and contrast vector and scalar quantities.
• analyze a system to identify all external forces acting on it.
• evaluate a mechanical system using Newton's Laws of Motion, apply these laws to the system, predict the resulting motions.
• evaluate mechanical systems for conserved quantities, determine the quantities that are conserved, and defend these conclusions.
• SLO #2 – Develop connections between the behavior of atoms and molecules and the macroscopic quantities physicists use to describe systems through the application of thermodynamic principles
• distinguish between pressure, temperature, heat, internal energy and their relation to the molecules of a system.
• evaluate thermodynamic systems using the Laws of Thermodynamics.
• SLO #3 – Differentiate between different types of problems, evaluate the given data for its significance, formulate a solution strategy, and evaluate the results using trigonometry and/or basic calculus.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric problems in one- and two-dimensional motion, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric dynamics, statics, circular motion and gravitation problems using Newton's Laws, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• graphically and mathematically add and subtract vectors.
• identify mechanical systems appropriate to the application of the work-energy theorem, apply this theorem to conceptual, symbolic and quantitative problems and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the conservation of mechanical energy and/or linear momentum, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles or rotational motion, including rotational kinematics, torque, rotational inertia, mechanical energy, and angular momentum. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles or simple harmonic motion and mechanical waves, including pendulums and spring oscillators, waves on a string and sound, and wave interference. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles or thermodynamics, including temperature, thermal expansion, heat transfer and calorimetry. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and quantitative problems of thermodynamic systems using the Laws of Thermodynamics laws, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• SLO #4 – Develop basic lab skills and apply and evaluate methods for displaying and interpreting experimental data.
• design, conduct, analyze and interpret scientific experiments in the fields of mechanics and thermodynamics.
• demonstrate skilled laboratory techniques, including use of metersticks, timing devices, thermometers, etc.
• create graphical representations of experimental data to clearly demonstrate trends, and use those representations to formulate conclusions relevant to mechanical and thermodynamic systems.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1 – evaluate a physical system for electromagnetic interactions, properly apply the laws of electricity and magnetism to physical systems, and integrate this into a Newtonian vision of the universe.
• evaluate motions of charges in electric and magnetic systems using Newtonian mechanics including forces, work and energy.
• generate appropriate shapes and relative magnitudes of electric fields based on different charge and/or current distributions.
• predict the behavior of simple DC electrical circuits using power sources, resistors and capacitors.
• compare and contrast the different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum based on frequency and/or wavelength.
• SLO #2 – develop a basic understanding of the branches of modern physics including Special Relativity and Quantum Physics.
• critique classical physics and assess its limitations. More specifically, the student will evaluate physical phenomena that classical physics can not adequately explain.
• design a working quantum mechanical model of the atom.
• SLO #3 – solve conceptual, symbolic and numeric physical problems at an appropriate level using math through trigonometry and basic calculus. More specifically, students will be able to differentiate between different types of problems, evaluate the given data for its significance, formulate a solution strategy, and evaluate the results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric problems of the electric field and force, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric electrostatic energy problems including electric potential, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and numeric problems of DC circuits, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and numeric problems of magnetic fields and forces, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of electromagnetic induction.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of the ray nature of light including reflection, refraction, mirrors and thin lenses. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of the wave nature of light including interference and polarization. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of the modern physics including special relativity and introductory quantum physics. Formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• SLO #4 – develop basic lab skills and apply and evaluate methods for displaying and interpreting experimental data.
• design, conduct, analyze and interpret scientific experiments in the fields of electricity and magnetism, light and modern physics.
• design and build simple DC circuits using power sources, resistors and capacitors.
• demonstrate skilled laboratory techniques, including use of multimeters.
• create graphical representations of experimental data to clearly demonstrate trends, and use those representations to formulate conclusions relevant to electromagnetic systems and light.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE A NEWTONIAN WORLDVIEW AND APPROPRIATELY APPLY NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION TO MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. (SLO 1, PSLO 2)
• differentiate between terms that describe motion such as displacement, velocity and acceleration.
• compare and contrast vector and scalar quantities.
• analyze a mechanical system to identify all external forces acting on it, and using Newton’s Laws of Motion, predict the resulting motions of the system.
• evaluate mechanical systems for conserved quantities such as momentum or mechanical energy, and use these conserved quantities to predict the motion.
• recognize the forces that produce oscillatory motion and correctly apply definitions and mechanical concepts to these systems to predict the motion.
• SOLVE CONCEPTUAL, SYMBOLIC AND NUMERIC PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL USING MATH THROUGH CALCULUS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEMS, EVALUATE THE GIVEN DATA FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE, FORMULATE A SOLUTION STRATEGY, AND EVALUATE THE RESULTS. (SLO 2, PSLO 3)
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric problems in one- and two-dimensional motion, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• analyze conceptual, symbolic and numeric dynamics, statics, circular motion and gravitation problems using Newton's Laws, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• graphically and mathematically add and subtract vectors, and calculate the vector and scalar products.
• identify mechanical systems appropriate to the application of the work-energy theorem, apply this theorem to conceptual, symbolic and quantitative problems and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the conservation of mechanical energy and/or linear momentum, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles or rotational motion, including rotational kinematics, torque, rotational inertia, mechanical energy, and angular momentum, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems applying the concepts, definitions and principles of simple harmonic motion, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• identify and analyze conceptual, symbolic, and quantitative problems of fluid statics and dynamics, formulate solution strategies and evaluate results.
• DEVELOP BASIC LAB SKILLS AND APPLY AND EVALUATE METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING EXPERIMENTAL DATA. (SLO 3, PSLO 5 & 6)
• design, conduct, analyze and interpret scientific experiments in the field of mechanics.
• demonstrate skilled laboratory techniques, including use of metersticks, timing devices, and computer-aided data acquisition devices.
• create graphical representations of experimental data to clearly demonstrate trends, and use those representations to formulate conclusions relevant to mechanical systems.
• evaluate experimental procedures, data and results in writing.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO#1--DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SYSTEMS AND IN SOME CASES HOW THEY INTEGRATE INTO A NEWTONIAN WORLDVIEW.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of electric and magnetic fields and the forces associated with them.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of electric potential and potential energy.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of induction and how it relates to mechanical motion.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of electric current, resistance, capacitance, electromagnetic force (emf) and dielectrics.
• demonstrate proper usage of measuring devices such as ammeters, voltmeters, ohmmeters and oscilloscopes.
• SLO#2--SOLVE CONCEPTUAL, SYMBOLIC AND NUMERICAL PHYSICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL USING MATH UP TO AND INCLUDING CALCULUS.
• apply definitions and physical laws to solve conceptual and analytic problems of an electric and/or magnetic nature.
• identify, analyze and solve quantitative problems of an electric and/or magnetic nature requiring the application of vector components and vector sums and products.
• construct and evaluate integrals in problems involving Gauss' Law, electric fields and potentials of charge distributions, Ampere's Law, and the Biot-Savart Law.
• calculate the resistance of materials given their shape and resistivity.
• solve problems that include resistors or capacitors in series or in parallel.
• discuss the theory and applications of resistors, capacitors and inductors (e.g. in RC, LC and RLC circuits).
• demonstrate a basic understanding of electric field, potential, current, magnetic field and induction.
• identify and solve problems involving electromagnetic induction by using Faraday's and Lenz's Laws.
• use Kirchhoff's Rules to solve DC and AC circuits.
• analyze and solve quantitative AC circuit problems using reactance, impedance and phasor diagrams.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of the propagation of electromagnetic radiation and Maxwell's equations.
• SLO#3--DEVELOP BASIC LAB SKILLS AND APPLY AND EVALUATE METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING EXPERIMENTAL DATA.
• design, build, analyze and quantitatively solve basic AC and DC circuits that include electric sources, resistors, capacitors and/or inductors.
• operate basic electric measuring devices including multimeters and oscilloscopes.
• create and analyze graphical representations of experimental data.
• clearly communicate experimental procedures, data and results in writing.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO#1--DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEMS, WAVE PROPERTIES, SOUND, REFLECTION AND REFRACTION OF LIGHT, GEOMETRICAL OPTICS AND MODERN PHYSICS THAT INCLUDES RELATIVITY, QUANTUM PHYSICS, AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS.
• apply the concepts of basic thermodynamics and elementary statistical mechanics.
• construct a conceptual understanding and intuition for the fundamental principles of mechanical waves including standing waves, normal modes and sound.
• apply the concepts of mechanical waves and basic electromagnetic theory to describe light (electromagnetic radiation) and its properties including reflection, refraction, polarization, geometric and wave optics.
• construct a conceptual understanding and intuition for the fundamental principles of special relativity.
• construct a conceptual understanding and intuition for the fundamental principles of quantum, nuclear and particle physics.
• SLO#2--SOLVE CONCEPTUAL, SYMBOLIC AND NUMERIC PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL USING MATH UP TO CALCULUS.
• identify and solve problems of thermodynamics systems that include heat capacities, heat transfer, calorimetry, heat engines, entropy and PV diagrams.
• solve problems dealing with mechanical waves, sound, standing waves, and normal modes.
• identify and solve problems dealing with the laws of reflection and refraction (Snell's Law) and polarization.
• solve problems dealing with lenses and/or mirrors and create ray-tracing diagrams to identify the location of images.
• prove the laws of reflection and refraction using Huygen's and/or Fermat's principles.
• solve basic problems dealing with special relativity.
• solve basic problems in the areas of elementary quantum, nuclear and particle physics.
• SLO#3--DEVELOP BASIC LAB SKILLS AND APPLY AND EVALUATE METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING EXPERIMENTAL DATA.
• design, build, conduct and analyze experiments in the field of thermodynamics, mechanical waves, sound, geometrical optics, and modern physics.
• create and analyze graphical representations of experimental data and compare them to theoretical predictions.
• clearly communicate experimental procedures, data and results in writing.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1: Actively engage in intellectual inquiry beyond that required in order to pass a course of study (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 4).
• Discuss and outline a proposal of study (that can be accomplished within one semester term) with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
• Design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
• Use information resources to gather discipline-specific information.
• SLO #2: Utilize modes of analysis and critical thinking to apply theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study to significant problems and/or educational activities (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 3).
• Analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
• Explain the importance of the major discipline of study in the broader picture of society.
• SLO #3: Communicate a complex understanding of content matter of the major discipline of study (College Wide Outcome – Area 3).
• Demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.
• SLO #4: Identify personal goals and pursue these goals effectively (College Wide Outcome – Area 4).
• Utilize skills from the “academic tool kit” including time management, study skills, etc., to accomplish the independent study within one semester term.