PHYS 111 - Matter and Energy in Physics

Credits: 5
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 44
Lab Hours: 22
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: A hands-on and mostly lab-based exploration of physics designed to foster basic understanding of the relationship between mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic forces and energy. The course explores how is energy fundamental in explaining the changes we observe around us and how this evidence is used to construct scientific understanding. Lab included. This course is open to all students and is part of science sequence recommended for students pursuing a career in elementary education. The suggested sequence is PHYS 111 followed by EASC 111.

Prerequisite: ENGL 099 with a grade of C or higher (or placement into college-level English); and either placement into OR co-enrollment in OR completion of a college-level Math course with a grade of C or higher.
Distribution Requirements:

Natural Sciences Distribution Requirement

Meets FQE Requirement: No
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Describe how scientists gain scientific knowledge by exploring how you, the student, and others (elementary school students & other college students) learn science.
Use evidence to develop, test and modify scientific explanations.
Construct models explaining the components of physical systems and their interactions.
Read and interpret scientific data presented graphically.
Use examples to demonstrate how sufficient data and multiple ideas are needed to explain complex systems and that these ideas evolve.
Use concepts of force and energy to explain changes in real-world mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic systems.
Communicate and collaborate more effectively in groups to solve complex problems.

Course Contents

MOTION: The motion and change in motion of a body can be described in terms of its mass, position, velocity and acceleration.
FORCES: Forces act on masses and unbalanced forces will change the motion of the mass. There are four known forces in nature: gravity, electricity and magnetism (EM), weak nuclear forces and strong nuclear forces.
NEWTON’S LAWS: Newton’s Laws of motion are used to describe and predict the results of most of the gravitational and EM force interactions.
ENERGY and interactions with MATTER. Energy is the ability to do work. It can be related to forces and is a way to view interactions. Energy is a powerful tool for looking at the relationships of systems and their changes over time. Energy exists in many forms and can be transformed from one form to another, but never created nor destroyed. Interactions cause energy transformations that result in changes over time in motion and the physical properties of materials. Energy interactions and the resultant changes over time are fundamental in understanding living organisms, the earth and the universe in its parts and as a whole.

Instructional Units: 5.5