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PHYS131

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General Physics I

PhysicsScience, Tech, Engr & Math

Course Goals

The goal of this course is to develop and strengthen critical thinking skills and scientific literacy through the study and application of physical principles.

Core Course Topics

  1. Kinematics in one and two dimensions

  2. Newton’s laws

  3. Circular motion

  4. Work and energy

  5. Impulse and momentum

  6. Torque and equilibrium

  7. Elasticity and simple harmonic motion

  8. Fluids

  9. Waves and sound

  10. Heat and thermodynamics

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Apply kinematic equations in one and two dimensions correctly.

Apply Newton's laws correctly to conceptual and numerical problems.

Determine velocity and acceleration for uniform circular motion.

Describe the motion of an object using work, kinetic energy, and potential energy.

Determine the changes in motion in terms of impulse and momentum.

Determine torque on a body and quantify its effects for a static system.

Describe simple harmonic motion using kinematics, dynamics, and energy.

Explain Pascal's principle, Archimede's principle, and Bernoulli's principle.

Demonstrate how different properties of a medium affect the speed of a wave.

Describe a wave using the terms wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and speed.

Explain heat and its relationship to temperature and phase changes.

Manipulate equipment safely and effectively to collect and analyze data.