Heartland Community College
Master Course Syllabus
Division: Math and Science
Course Prefix and number: PHYS 161
Course Title: College Physics I
DATE PREPARED:
February 7, 1996
DATE REVISED: September 2011
PCS/CIP/ID NO.: 11-400801
IAI NO. (if available): P1 900L
EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST CLASS: August 2012
CREDIT HOURS: 5
CONTACT HOURS: 6
LECTURE HOURS: 4
LABORATORY HOURS: 2
CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Include specific prerequisites):
Prerequisite: MATH 109 with a grade of C or better or assessment with MATH 128 or
equivalent recommended. The first semester of a year-long general physics course, based on
mathematics through algebra and trigonometry, but not including calculus. Topics include
mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, wave motion, and sound. Laboratory activities stress
development of measurement, observational, and analytical skills, and are based on lecture
topics.
TEXTBOOK(S):
Cutnell, John D. and Kenneth W. Johnson. Physics. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2009.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
PHYS 161 fulfills 5 of the semester hours of credit in Life and Physical Science required for the
A.A. or A.S. degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core
Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and
universities participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for
transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information
as well at www.itransfer.org.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be
able to:
COURSE OUTCOMES
1. Add and subtract vectors.
2. Solve kinematics problems involving constant acceleration.
3. State and apply Newton’s laws of motion to problems involving linear motion, circular
motion, and friction.
4. State and apply the law of conservation of energy.
5. State and apply the law of conservation of linear momentum.
6. Solve problems using concepts of rotational kinematics and dynamics.
7. State the important characteristics of simple harmonic motion.
8. State and apply the basic principles of fluid statics and dynamics.
9. State and apply the laws of thermodynamics.
10. State the methods of heat transfer and solve heat transfer problems.
11. State and apply the ideal gas law.
12. Demonstrate knowledge of relationships between physics concepts.
13. Apply inductive and deductive reasoning to solve problems.
GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
PS3, CT3, CO1
RANGE OF ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Exams, Quizzes, Labs, Homework, Group Work Exercises
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. Introduction to the science of physics
a. Scientific measurement; errors
b. Coordinate systems; trigonometry review
2. Motion in one dimension; speed, acceleration, and freely falling objects
3. Vectors and two dimensional motion
a. Velocity and acceleration as vector quantities
b. Projectile motion
4. Newton’s Laws of Motion
5. Work and energy
6. Momentum and collisions
7. Circular motion; gravitation
8. Rotational motion
a. Angular velocity, angular acceleration, and torque
b. Angular momentum
9. Solids and fluids; pressure
10. Sound; wave motion
a. Interference, reflection, and diffraction of waves
11. Hooke’s Law
a. Simple harmonic motion
12. Thermal physics
a. Heat and temperature
13. Thermodynamics
LAB OUTLINE:
1. Graph Matching
2. Ball Toss
3. Force Table and the Vector Addition of Forces
4. Projectile Motion
5. Newton’s 2nd Law
6. Determining g on an Incline
7. Newton’s Third Law
8. Static and Kinetic Friction
9. Momentum, Energy, and Collisions
10. Work and Energy
11. Energy of a Tossed Ball
12. Ballistic Pendulum
13. Centripetal Acceleration
14. Ideal Gas Law
15. Simple Harmonic Motion
16. Sound Waves and Beats
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Evaluation Method
Final Exam
Exams
Labs
Quizzes
Homework
% of Final Grade
20-30%
40-60%
15-25%
0-10%
0-10%
Total
100%
Grading Policy:
90% will guarantee a grade of at least A
80% will guarantee a grade of at least B
70% will guarantee a grade of at least C
60% will guarantee a grade of at least D
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
Students are expected to read the material in the textbook for each section studied. Required
writings will be part of most assignments and exams as students explain how they found the
solution, describe their solution graphically, and interpret their answer in the context of the
problem.