PHY-101 Introduction to Physics

An introductory course in physics for students who have not had high school physics, designed for non-science majors as well as those who plan to take College Physics or General Physics. Emphasizes measurement, mechanics, and thermodynamics; includes selected topics from sound and light as they relate to our daily lives. Provides prerequisite for PHY 118, PHY 119, and PHY 151 and fulfills laboratory science requirements for non-science degrees. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.

Credits

4

Department

• Science & Technology

For more detailed course information view the Course Outline

PHY 101: Introduction to Physics

Department

Science and Technology

Course Description

An introductory course in physics for students who have not had high school physics, designed for non-science majors as well as those who plan to take College Physics or General Physics. Emphasizes measurement, mechanics, and thermodynamics; includes selected topics from sound and light as they relate to our daily lives. Provides prerequisite for PHY 118, PHY 119, and PHY 151 and fulfills laboratory science requirements for non-science degrees. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.

Credit Hours

4

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	2
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

SUNY General Education Course

• Natural Science and Scientific Reasoning

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Apply Newton's laws of motion and the conservation laws in the study of mechanical systems.
2. Make, analyze, and report measurements of physical phenomena, applying the proper use of units, dimensions, statistics, uncertainty, graphing, and calculation.
3. Apply arithmetic, algebraic, and geometric principles to the analysis of mechanical physical systems.
4. Connect physics to other sciences, the arts, and everyday life.

Topic Outline

1. 1. Units, conversions, and dimensional analysis
2. 2. Precision, accuracy, and uncertainty analysis
3. 3. Graphing
4. 4. Problem solving
5. 5. Kinematics in one dimension
6. 6. Force and motion
7. 7. Newton's laws and applications
8. 8. Conservation laws
9. 9. Impulse and momentum
10. 10. Work and energy
11. 11. Torque and rotational motion
12. 12. Static equilibrium
13. 13. Gravitation
14. 14. Introduction to vectors and components
15. 15. Kinematics in two dimensions
16. 16. Heat, temperature, and thermal expansion
17. 17. Vibrations and waves
18. 18. Sound
19. 19. Light