PHYSICS 24

Selected Topics in Physics for BSN, BSMT, BSND, and BS Bio students (5 credit units / 6 hrs per week)

Description:

A selection of fundamental principles and experiments in mechanics, heat, vibration and waves, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics.

Course Objectives:

  1. To introduce to the students some basic concepts in mechanics, heat, thermodynamics, electricity, optics and modern physics.
  2. To expose the students to experimental work and to develop in them scientific attitudes and skills in the analysis of experimental data.
  3. To relate physics with the different fields of endeavor, its practicality and its importance in the day to day living.

Course Outline and Proposed Timetable:
(course outlines may vary from instructor to instructor)
 

1. Introduction
Brief History of Science
Nature of Physics
Systems of Measurement
Unit Conversions
Scientific Notations
(1st week: Nov 3 - 7, 2003)

2. Kinematics
Speed and Velocity (instantaneous, constant, average)
Acceleration
Falling Bodies and Gravitation (including projectile motion)
(2nd week: Nov 10 - 14, 2003)

3. Force and Motion
Force
Newton's Laws of Motion
Universal Law of Gravitation
(3rd and 4th week: Nov 17 - 21 and Nov 26 - 28, 2003)
 Intrams: Nov 19 - 22, 2003
DC Fiesta: Nov 24 - 25, 2003 (No Class)
Chapter Exam #1: Nov  28(Fri), 2003

4. Work, Energy and Power
Work (force and displacement)
Potential and Kinetic Energies
Friction (kinetic and static)
Power (work and time)
Mechanical Advantage and Efficiency
(5th and 6th week: Dec 1 - 5 and Dec 8 - 12)

5. Fluids
Density
Pressure and Pascal`s Principle
Buoyancy and Archimedes` Principle

(7th week: Dec 15 - 19)
Prelim Exam: Dec 19(Fri), 2003
Have a Wonderful Christmas Vacation and Happy New Year

6. Temperature and Thermal Expansion
Temperature Scales
Thermal Expansions
Ideal Gas Law
Molecular Theory of Matter
Kinetic Theory of Gases
(8th and 9th week: Jan 5 - 9 and Jan 12 - 16, 2003)

7. Heat Phenomena
Definition of Heat
Specific Heat
Phase Changes and Latent Heat
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
(10th week: Jan 19 - 23, 2003)
Midterm Exam: Jan 23(Fri), 2003

8. Thermodynamics
Concepts of Thermodynamics
First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics
Entropy
Heat Engines and Pumps
(11th and 12th week: Jan 26 - 30 and Feb 2 - 6, 2003)

9. Vibrations and Waves
Waves
Refraction
Sound Waves
Doppler Effect
(13th week: Feb 9 - 13, 2003)
Chapter Exam #2: Feb 13(Fri), 2003

10. Electrostatics
Electric Charges
Electric Forces
Electric Fields
Electric Potential
Electric Energy
Capacitance
(14th week: Feb 16 - 20, 2003)

11. Electric Current and Circuits
Electric Current
Ohm`s Law
Direct Current Circuits (resistors)

(15th week: Feb 23 - 27, 2003)

12. Optics
Light
Refraction and Reflection Laws
Mirrors and Optical Instruments
Interference and Diffraction
(16th week: Mar 1 - 5, 2003)

13. Modern Physics
Relativity
Photoelectric Effect
Quantum Mechanics
The Nucleus
(17th week: Mar 8 - 12, 2003)
Final Exam: Mar 15-19, 2003 (Pls see the University Schedule)

Course Requirements and Evaluation (estimated points):

1. Short Quizzes (50 total points)
2. Assignments (50 total points)
3. Chapter Exam #1 (50 points)
4. Prelim Exam (50 points)
5. Midterm Exam (50 points)
6. Chapter Exam #2 (50 points)
7. Final Exam (50 points)
8. Laboratory Reports (50 points)

Numerical Grading System:

98.387% to 100 % = 4.0
96.774 to 98.387 = 3.9
95.161 to 96.774 = 3.8
93.548 to 95.161 = 3.7
91.935 to 93.548 = 3.6
90.322 to 91.935 = 3.5
88.709 to 90.322 = 3.4
87.096 to 88.709 = 3.3
85.483 to 87.096 = 3.2
83.870 to 85.483 = 3.1
82.257 to 83.870 = 3.0
80.644 to 82.257 = 2.9
79.031 to 80.644 = 2.8
77.418 to 79.031 = 2.7
75.805 to 77.418 = 2.6
74.192 to 75.805 = 2.5
72.579 to 74.192 = 2.4
70.966 to 72.579 = 2.3
69.353 to 70.966 = 2.2
67.740 to 69.353 = 2.1
66.127 to 67.740 = 2.0
64.514 to 66.127 = 1.9
62.901 to 64.514 = 1.8
61.288 to 62.901 = 1.7
59.675 to 61.288 = 1.6
58.062 to 59.675 = 1.5
56.449 to 58.062 = 1.4
54.836 to 56.449 = 1.3
53.223 to 54.836 = 1.2
51.610 to 53.223 = 1.1
50.000 to 51.610 = 1.0
      below 50% =  F
 

Enjoy an electrifying semester and experience a good time with physics.

For comments and suggestions:
[email protected]