11-06 PHYS 1422 Foundations of Physics 4/10/13
MAJOR COURSE PROPOSAL
PHYS 1422: FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS
Presented by Dr. Andrea Ferroglia
Fall, 2012
2/19/13 version 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Curriculum Modification Proposal form
2. Curriculum Modification questions
3. Course Description/Instructional Objectives and Assessment
5. General Education Learning Outcomes
4. Course Outline
5. Justification
6. Academic Integrity Policy
8. Library Resources and Information Literacy
9. Minutes of Department Meeting on 9/29/11
10. Letter of support Dr. Dato
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11-06 PHYS 1422 Foundations of Physics 4/10/13
New York City College of Technology, CUNY
CURRICULUM MODIFICATION PROPOSAL
 Please refer to the Curriculum
Modification Guide before submitting a proposal.
Title of Proposal
Date
PHYS 1422: Foundations of Physics
10/04/11
Department Chairperson / Coordinator
Department/Program
Dr. Roman Kezerashvili
Physics
Brief Description
A study of the basic principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, electromagnetism,
optics, and elements of modern physics, designed for health science students. Laboratory, lecture and
homework assignments will illustrate the applications of physical principles presented in class to
muscles movements, blood flow, hearing, vision and medical applications of radiation technology.
Knowledge of elementary algebra is assumed.
Indicate the specific change or changes desired.
MAJOR:
MINOR:
_X_new course(s)
__change in course number and/or title
__experimental courses
__change in course description
__Continuing Education courses for credit
__change in sequence of courses
__addition or elimination of programs or
certificates
__change in prerequisites or co-requisites for
individual course
__changes in entrance requirements for
matriculation or admission to a specific
degree program
__substitution of one course for another of similar
hours and credits
__a change which would affect the
educational objective of a department and/or
of the college
__substitution of required course(s) for the degree
__course(s) withdrawn or reinstated
Supporting Documents Checklist:
MAJOR:
MINOR:
 Complete description of MAJOR
modifications and rationale
Description
All course proposals (see
Course
Proposal Document Checklist)
Catalog course description specifying hours
and credits for lecture and labs, prerequisites
and/or corequisites
Relevant minutes from department meetings
of MINOR modifications and rationale
Department minutes with record of the approval
Memo or email from the Dean approving the change
Evidence of consultation with all affected
departments
Completed
Curriculum Modification
Questions
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11-06 PHYS 1422 Foundations of Physics 4/10/13
Completed
Curriculum Modification
Questions
Documentation
of needs assessment
Documentation of student views
Documentation of Advisory Commission
views (if applicable).
Evidence of consultation with all affected
departments
Projected headcount (fall/spring and
day/evening) for each new or modified course.
Memo or email from the academic dean to
the Curriculum Committee chairperson with a
recommendation for or against adopting the
proposed change(s) and reasons for the
recommendation.
Completed
Library Resources and
Information Literacy Form
A memorandum
from the VP for Finance and
Administration with written comments
regarding additional and/or new facilities,
renovations or construction (if applicable).
Comparative charts, specifying differences in
class hours, lab hours and credits, including
course titles and codes.
Documentation indicating core curriculum
requirements have been met for New
Programs/Options or Program Changes. (if
applicable)
Plan and process for evaluation of Curricular
Experiments (if applicable)
Established time limit for Curricular
Experiments (if applicable)
Submitted by
Dr. Andrea Ferroglia
Email this form along with all supporting documents to
the Chair of the College Council Curriculum
Committee.
 Prof. Andrew Douglas:
adouglas@citytech.cuny.edu
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CURRICULUM MODIFICATION Questions:
For all Curriculum Modifications
• Has the department approved the modification and recorded the approval in the minutes?
Yes
• Has the department consulted with the academic dean?
Yes
• Has documentation of consultation with affected areas been received?
Yes
• Have potential staff space and budget impacts been addressed?
Yes
• Have all legal issues and/or restrictions been addressed?
N/A
• Is renovation or new construction required?
No
• Does new space need to be made available?
No
• If applicable, has the VP for Finance and Administration submitted written comments regarding additional
and/or new facilities, renovations or construction?
N/A
For New Courses
• Has the Library Resources and Information Literacy form been completed by proposer and library
faculty subject selector?
Yes.
• Is this course unique in that the content does not significantly overlap with other courses?
Yes, in the sense that it is a new course for Nursing and Health Science students. The goal is to provide
these students with a course which covers Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Electromagnetism in a single
semester. Given the number of elective credits available to these students, at the moment the only option
they have is to take the first part of the algebra based physics sequence (PHYS-1433), but not the second
(PHYS-1434). The proposed course aims to correct this problem. The full sequence PHYS-1433 PHYS1434 will remain available to students in other departments.
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• If the proposed modification affects other departments or curricula, have they been consulted?
Yes
• Are more instructional hours required?
Yes – This course is a 4 credit course (4 lecture hours + 2 laboratory hours).
• How many full-time and part-time faculty members are qualified to teach this course?
All
• Does new equipment need to be acquired?
No
• Is external funding anticipated?
No
• Have you surveyed students to determine their interest in the course and learn why they would be
interested in taking the course? Are these results included?
No
Role of the course in the curriculum
• Is it a stand-alone course or part of a sequence?
It is a stand-alone course, but it does have prerequisites.
• Will this course replace or be an alternative to another course in the curriculum. If a replacement, will
another course be removed from the curriculum?
No
• Does this course have a prerequisite? If so, how often is that course offered?
MAT 1175 or higher.
• For which majors will this be a required course? For which majors will this be an elective?
This will be an elective course for students in health science/nursing programs.
• Will you submit this proposal to the Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum Committee for inclusion in the
core?
No
Enrollment needs assessment
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• When is it expected that this course will be offered – spring, summer, fall, day, evening?
Spring, fall, day, evening.
• Each semester, approximately how many students are enrolled in programs where this course is required
or an elective?
Approximately 350.
• What is your estimate of the number of students that would enroll in this course each semester it is
offered? How many sections do you anticipate offering each semester? How were these values
determined?
10~15 students/semester. 1 section per semester. These values are determined on the basis of enrollment in
the Nursing major. This course can help students of that major to establish a solid foundation in physics, so
that they are better prepared for the required courses of their major.
For New Programs or Program Changes
• Based on the Core Curriculum Checklist, have core curriculum requirements been met?
N/A
For Experimental Courses
• Has a time line for the experiment, not to exceed one year, been established?
N/A
• After consultation with the director of assessment, have plans for evaluation been submitted?
N/A
• Who is responsible for the proposal?
N/A
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PHYS 1422: Foundations of Physics
Course Description:
A study of the basic principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, electromagnetism,
optics, and elements of modern physics, designed for health science students. Laboratory, lecture
and homework assignments will illustrate the applications of physical principles presented in
class to muscle movements, blood flow, hearing, vision and medical applications of radiation
technology. Knowledge of elementary algebra is assumed.
Prerequisites: MAT 1175 or higher.
Course Number of Credits: 4 credits (3 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours)
Required Text and References:
Required text book:
R. A. Serway, C. Vuille, “College Physics”, 2009, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Lab Manual:
R. Kezerashvili, “Laboratory Experiments in College Physics ”, (Volumes I and II), Gurami
Publishing
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES AND ASSESSMENT
For the successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Understand the basis of the scientific method; what fundamental and derived physical
quantities are, how they are measured, and how to convert measured quantities from one set of
units to another.
Evaluation: Students will experimentally measure masses, lengths, and times by employing the
laboratory equipment in the experiments “Measurement and Determination of Density” (week 2)
and “The Simple Pendulum” (week 3). Students will be assigned homework problems on this
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topic, and their understanding of it will be evaluated through questions in class and in the written
exams.
2. Understand the kinematics of objects moving in one dimension with uniform acceleration.
Understand the kinematics of objects moving in two dimensions under the influence of
gravitational acceleration. Understand the effects of acceleration on the human body.
Evaluation: Students will measure the acceleration of objects moving with uniformly accelerated
motion in the experiments “Acceleration Due to Gravity” (week 4) and “Linear Uniform
Accelerated Motion” (week 5). Students will demonstrate their understanding of two dimensional
kinematics and gain hands-on experience by studying the motion of a projectile in the experiment
“Projectile Motion” (week 6). The students' knowledge of the topic will be evaluated by assigning
homework problems and by discussing them in class. Problems on kinematics will be present in
the exams.
3. Understand Newton's laws of motion and the concept of force. Understand the kinematics of
circular motion and the relation between torque and angular acceleration. Understand the relation
between force in a muscle and the torque on a joint.
Evaluation: Students will measure the elastic constant of springs in the experiment “Hooke's Law
and Spring Constant” (week 7). Students will study the condition of rotational equilibrium in the
experiment “Rotational Equilibrium and Center of Gravity” (week 8). Several homework
problems on Newton's laws of motion will be assigned, and their solutions will be discussed in
class. Problems on Newton's laws will be present in all of the written exams.
4. Understand the concepts of work and energy and the principle of conservation of energy.
Understand the relation between energy in physics and dietary calories. Understand the difference
between the concept of work in physics and in physiology.
Evaluation: Students will experimentally check the conservation of mechanical energy for free
falling objects in the experiment “Conservation of Mechanical Energy” (week 9). Homework
problems on energy and work will be assigned and discussed in class. Questions concerning work
and energy will be present in the second and final written exams.
5. Understand the basic physical properties of fluids, the concepts of temperature and heat, and
the first and second laws of thermodynamics at an elementary level, with particular attention to
their applications to ideal gases. Understand the applications of fluid dynamics to blood flow and
blood pressure measurement.
Evaluation: Students will demonstrate their understanding by measuring the specific heat of
several substances in the Experiment “Measurement of Specific Heat of Substances” (week 10).
The students' comprehension of the topic will be evaluated by assigning homework problems and
by discussing them in class. Problems on thermodynamics will be present in the second exam and
in the final exam.
6. Understand Coulomb's law and the concept of the electric field and electric potential.
Understand the concept of magnetic field and the effect of a magnetic field on the motion of
charged particles. Understand the mechanism of electromagnetic induction at an elementary
level. Understand the role of electric charge in the transmission of signals in nerves and the nature
of the electric shocks affecting the human body. Understand the basic principles of Magnetic
Resonance Imaging.
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Evaluation: Students will experimentally test Ohm's law in the laboratory (week 11). Problems
on electrostatics and direct current circuits will be assigned as homework and discussed in class.
Students will measure the ratio of the electron's charge over the electron's mass in the laboratory
(week 12). The students' understanding of magnetism will be evaluated by assigning homework
problems and by discussing them in class. Questions on these topics will be present in the second
exam and in the final exam.
7. Understand the basic properties of electromagnetic waves, with particular attention to the
propagation of light. Understand the mechanisms of reflection and refraction of light. Understand
the role of waves in hearing and vision, as well as the optics of the eye. Understand the use of
laser radiation in medicine.
Evaluation: The students will experiment with the behavior of light as it passes through a prism
(week 13), and they will apply the laws of geometrical optics in the experiment “Mirror and
Lenses” (week 14).
Problems on electromagnetic waves and optics will be part of the homework assignments, and
their solutions will be discussed in class. The students' comprehension of the topic will be tested
by questions on this topic in final written exam.
8. Understand the postulates and implications of Special Relativity at a very elementary level.
Understand the basic structure of atoms at a very elementary level. Understand the basics of X
rays diagnostics as well as of alpha, beta and gamma radiation therapy.
Evaluation: The students will discuss the implications of what they learned in class, and they will
be assigned homework problems which aim to test their understanding of the principles of Special
Relativity and of the basic implications of the atomic structure. Problems on special relativity and
atomic structure will be assigned as homework and solved in class. Questions on these topics will
be part of the final examination.
9. Students will develop and improve their technical writing skills by preparing laboratory reports
which record a summary of theory, procedure, results, and observations. Furthermore, students
will develop their skills in teamwork by working as a group to carry out an experiment.
Evaluation: The laboratory reports will be assessed to verify that procedures are followed and
documented accurately, and that observations and reflections are technically correct. Teamwork
skills will be evaluated based on the camaraderie observed, evidence of delegation of
responsibilities, and the completeness of the project, given the time restraints of the experiment.
Grading Procedures:
Two class examinations: 50%
Final examination: 25%
Laboratory work: 25%
General Education Learning Outcomes:
Outcomes
For successful completion of the course,
students should be able to:
Method of assessment
Instructional Activity, Evaluation
Methods and Criteria
Apply the scientific method to explore natural
Laboratory reports and exams
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phenomena, including hypothesis
development,
observation, experimentation, measurement,
data analysis, and data presentation
Use the tools of a scientific discipline to carry
out collaborative laboratory investigations
Gather, analyze, and interpret data and present
it in an effective written laboratory or
fieldwork
report.
Identify and apply research ethics and unbiased
assessment in gathering and reporting scientific
data.
Laboratory reports
Laboratory reports
Laboratory reports
Discipline Specific Outcomes:
Outcomes
For successful completion of the course,
students should be able to:
Method of assessment
Instructional Activity, Evaluation
Methods and Criteria
Understand the kinematics of objects moving
in one dimension with uniform acceleration.
Understand the kinematics of objects moving
in two dimensions under the influence of
gravitational acceleration. Understand the
effects of acceleration on the human body.
Understand Newton's laws of motion and the
concept of force. Understand the kinematics of
circular motion and the relation between torque
and angular acceleration. Understand the
relation between force in a muscle and the
torque on a joint.
Understand the concepts of work and energy
and the principle of conservation of energy.
Understand the relation between energy in
physics and dietary calories. Understand the
difference between the concept of work in
physics and in physiology.
Understand the basic physical properties of
fluids, the concepts of temperature and heat,
and the first and second laws of
thermodynamics at an elementary level, with
particular attention to their applications to ideal
gases. Understand the applications of fluid
dynamics to blood flow and blood pressure
Laboratory experiments “Acceleration Due to
Gravity and Measurement of Human Reaction
Time” (week 4) , “Linear Uniform Accelerated
Motion” (week 5) and “Projectile Motion”
(week 6); problems solved in class, homework
assignments and exams.
Laboratory experiments “Hooke's Law and
Spring Constant” (week 7) and “Rotational
Equilibrium and Center of Gravity” (week 8);
problems solved in class, homework
assignments and exams.
Laboratory experiment “Conservation of
Mechanical Energy” (week 9); problems solved
in class, homework assignments and exams.
Laboratory experiment “Measurement of
Specific Heat of Substances” (week 10);
problems solved in class, homework
assignments and exams.
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measurement.
Understand Coulomb's law and the concept of
the electric field and electric potential.
Understand the concept of magnetic field and
the effect of a magnetic field on the motion of
charged particles. Understand the mechanism
of electromagnetic induction at an elementary
level. Understand the role of electric charge in
the transmission of signals in nerves and the
nature of the electric shocks affecting the
human body. Understand the basic principles of
Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Understand the basic properties of
electromagnetic waves, with particular
attention to the propagation of light.
Understand the mechanisms of reflection and
refraction of light. Understand the role of
waves in hearing and vision, as well as the
optics of the eye. Understand the use of laser
radiation in medicine.
Understand the postulates and implications of
Special Relativity at a very elementary level.
Understand the basic structure of atoms at a
very elementary level. Understand the basics of
X rays diagnostics as well as of alpha, beta and
gamma radiation therapy.
Week
1
Laboratory experiments “Ohm's law” (week 11)
and “Measurement of e/m_e” (week 12);
problems solved in class, homework
assignments and exams.
Laboratory experiments “Measurement of the
Thickness of Human Air” (week 12) and
“Lenses and the Human Eye” (week 14);
problems solved in class, homework
assignments and exams.
Problems solved in class, homework
assignments and exams.
Topics
Introduction to the Course,
Measurements, Unit Conversions,
Vectors
Motion Along a Straight Line and
Motion in a Plane
Newton's Laws of Motion
Circular Motion and Torque
Chapter*
1, 3.1-3.3
Lab
Introduction to Equipment and
Software
2, 3.4-3.5
5
6
7
Work, Energy and Power; Exam I
Fluid Mechanics
Temperature and Heat,
Thermodynamics
8
Electrostatics: Coulomb's Law,
Electric Field, Electric Potential
Capacitance, Current, and Resistance
5
9.1,9.3-9.7
10.1-10.4,
11.1-11.3,
12.1-12.4
15.1-15.7,
16.1-16.4
16.6-16.10,
17.1-17.5,
18.1-18.3
19.1-19.8
Measurement and Determination of
Density
The Simple Pendulum
Acceleration due to Gravity and
Measurement of Human Reaction
Time
Linear Uniform Accelerated Motion
Projectile Motion
Hooke's Law and Spring Constant
2
3
4
9
10
Magnetic Field, Magnetic Forces;
Exam 2
4
7.1-7.4, 8.18.5
Rotational Equilibrium and Center
of Gravity
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Measurement of Specific Heat of
Substances
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Week
11
12
13
14
15
Topics
Electromagnetic Induction
E.M. Waves, Reflection and
Refraction
Geometric Optics, Interference and
Diffraction
Elements of Modern Physics:
Relativity and Atomic Structure
Review and Final Exam
Chapter*
20.1-20.5
21.11-21.12,
22.1-22.4,22.7
23.1-23.6,
24.124.2,24.6-24.7
26.1-26.4,
28.1-28.3
Lab
Ohm's Law
Measurement of e/m_e
Measurement of the Thickness of
Human Air
Lenses and the Human Eye
Laboratory Examination
*The Chapter and Section numbers refer to the textbook by Serway et al. Problems will be assigned
by the instructor.
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Justification – This course provides education and training for students majoring in health
sciences. These students can attend a one semester (elective) class in physics. Traditionally,
physics classes are organized in a one-year sequence, in which mechanics is the central topic of
the first semester class and electromagnetism is the central topic of the second semester class.
Students attending only one semester of physics are currently not exposed to the study of
electromagnetism, which not only represents the most important achievement of 19th century
physics, but which is also the physical foundation of the vast majority of the technological
instruments employed in everyday life. The purpose of this new course is to close this gap and to
offer the students a class which covers mechanics and electromagnetism, as well as elements of
modern physics in one semester, so that they can have a more comprehensive understanding of
the principles of classical physics and a complete general education requirement. References to
the application of physical principles in the health science will be made in class and through
homework assignments, particularly in relation to muscle and joint movements, blood flow,
hearing, vision, and medical applications of radiation.
Academic Integrity Policy:
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and
other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using,
crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the
College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and
academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately
to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City
University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by
penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College
policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog.
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CURRICULUM PROPOSAL – NEW COURSES AND PROGRAMS
LIBRARY RESOURCES & INFORMATION LITERACY
Please complete this form for new courses/programs and major changes to existing
courses/programs. Library resources will be assessed to see if adequate for the
course(s) and if additional materials should be acquired. Consult with library
faculty subject selectors early in the planning of course proposals. This will ensure
enough time for collection assessment/selection, and budget allocations/requests if
materials need to be purchased. Library faculty subject selectors are listed at:
http://library.citytech.cuny.edu/research/subjectguides/subjectSpecialists/index.html
Course proposer: please complete boxes 1-5.
Library faculty subject selector: please complete box 6.
#1
Title of proposal
PHYS 1422/1422L: FOUNDATIONS OF
PHYSICS
Department Chairperson/Coordinator
Roman R. Kezerashvili
Proposed by
Andrea Ferroglia
Department/Program
Physics
Expected date course will be offered
# of students
Spring 12, 10 students
Date
10/04/11
Email & Phone
AFerroglia@citytech.cuny.edu
718-254-8584
#2
Brief description of course
This course offers a study of the basic principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics,
electromagnetism, optics, and elements of modern physics. The course is designed for health science students
who can enroll in a single four credit course in physics. Knowledge of elementary algebra is assumed.
Laboratory work illustrates some applications of the principles presented in class and supplements the lecture
material.
#3
Are City Tech library resources sufficient for this course/program? Please explain.
Yes. Additional reference books and journals are not necessary to support this course.
#4
Are additional resources needed?
Specific books / journals / indexes in print
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R. A. Serway, C. Vuille, “College Physics”, 2009, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learining.
Databases and other electronic resources
Multi-media (dvds, cds, cd-roms, etc.)
Other
Optional resources
Please include author, title, publisher, edition, date and price.
#5
Library faculty members are available to confer with instructors regarding
development and enrichment of assignments, papers and projects that foster research
and information seeking, critical thinking about sources, and integration of research
into student work. Do you plan to consult with the library faculty subject specialist for
your area? Please give details.
Yes. I will consult with the library faculty member on books, new publications, etc., that
are available in this area in the library database and resource. If certain books are not
available in the library, I will make a recommendation to the library faculty member. In
addition, by keeping close communication with the subject specialist, we will work together
to make sure the library resource is sufficient and appropriate for students who take this
course.
#6
Library Faculty Subject Selector____________Songqian Lu_____________
Comments and Recommendations
The proposal of PHYS 1422/1422l: Foundations of Physics and the related library
collections have been reviewed.
While the current library collections on physics subject in general are adequate to support
the new course, the library will need to acquire a 2009 version of the proposed text book.
City Tech library in recent years has expanded its electronic collections dramatically. The
library encourages students and instructors take advantage of the rich databases and e-book
collections for their learning and teaching needs.
As the Library Faculty Subject Selector on physics, I will be happy to work with the
instructor of this new course and to ensure continuous development of the library collection
to meet student needs.
Date: October 9, 2011
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Physics Department's Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Present (Voting Members): Professors Kezerashvili (chair), Berman, Blake, Boyko,
Ferroglia, Gelman, Leng, Maller, Ossola, Vazquez-Poritz
Present (non-Voting Members): Chaves-OFlynn, Delgado, Kolmakov
Excused: Bouadana, Mongroo, Matloff, Karol, Wise
Call to Order
Prof. Kezerashvili called the meeting to order at 11:40 AM.
Purpose of Meeting
1.Prof. Kezerashvili explained that by October 12, 2011 curriculum changes must be
submitted to the college's curriculum committee, and the Physics Department has a new
course that needs to be approved by the department before it can be submitted to the
committee in a timely fashion, hence the meeting.
Proposed New Course – PHYS 1422
2.The new course was presented to the Physics department by Prof. Ferroglia. The course
is intended for students who are enrolled in the Nursing Program for the Bachelor of
Science degree. This will be a 4 credit elective course that nursing students will be
encouraged to take. The course is actually a merged course that covers topics from PHYS
1433 and PHYS 1434. It will cover topics that include: mechanics, thermodynamics,
electromagnetism, and elements of modern physics. All the labs for this course have
already been designed, and the lab manual has already been completed.
3.The Physics Department's Curriculum Committee has already approved the course.
4.The ten voting members of the department who attended this meeting unanimously (10
– 0) voted in favor of this new course.
Adjournment
Prof. Kezerashvili adjourned the meeting at 12:00 noon
Minutes were prepared and submitted by Prof. Blake
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Nov 30th 2011
Dr. C. Dato, PhD
To The Curriculum Committee:
This letter is to support Dr. Roman Kershervelli and Dr. Andrea’s Ferroglia’s proposal to
change the Introductory Physics course from 1433 to 1422 a 4 credit one (1) semester
self- contained course especially for Nursing or Health Sciences majors. The existing
course is meant to be taken over two (2) semesters and is given to Engineers who
typically have a higher level of Math.
The new 1422 course is designed for the Nurses and will be tailored to meet their needs.
In addition to the BSN nurses this class may be appropriate for the new nurses coming in
to our 1+2+1 Program which will begin in Fall 2012 and take students directly from High
School. These students will need two sciences courses in order to graduate with a BS
degree and a one semester Introductory Physics course which is given in other CUNY
RN to BS Programs (College of Staten Island, Hunter) will be of value.
Sincerely
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Section AIV: New Courses
AIV.1. Physics Department
Course Number: PHYS 1422
Title: FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS
Hours: 3 Class Hours, 2 Lab Hours
Credits: 4 Credits
Prerequisite: MAT 1175 or higher.
Corequisites: none
Course Description:
A study of the basic principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, electromagnetism,
optics, and elements of modern physics, designed for health science students. Laboratory, lecture
and homework assignments will illustrate the applications of physical principles presented in
class to muscle movements, blood flow, hearing, vision and medical applications of radiation
technology. Knowledge of elementary algebra is assumed.
Rationale: This course provides education and training for students majoring in health
sciences. These students can attend a one semester (elective) class in physics.
Traditionally, physics classes are organized in a one-year sequence, in which mechanics
is the central topic of the first semester class and electromagnetism is the central topic of
the second semester class. Students attending only one semester of physics are currently
not exposed to the study of electromagnetism, which not only represents the most
important achievement of 19th century physics, but which is also the physical foundation
of the vast majority of the technological instruments employed in everyday life. The
purpose of this new course is to close this gap and to offer the students a class which
covers mechanics and electromagnetism, as well as elements of modern physics in one
semester, so that they can have a more comprehensive understanding of the principles of
classical physics and a complete general education requirement. References to the
application of physical principles in the health science will be made in class and through
homework assignments, particularly in relation to muscle and joint movements, blood
flow, hearing, vision, and medical applications of radiation.
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