10-806-137Comprehensive Tech Physics
Course Information
Description
The areas of mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism and optics are covered through lecture, demonstration, and laboratory work. Empirical relationships are emphasized, incorporating mathematical prerequisites.
Total Credits
4
Course Competencies
  1. Analyze data (measurement devices)
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner collects, organizes and presents data
    learner draws conclusions based on data
    learner compares experimental results against theoretical predictions
    learner interprets graphs

  2. Perform dimensional analysis
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner relates physical quantity to its mathematical symbol and units (same system and different system) of measure
    learner manipulates given units to desired units
    learner checks for dimensional consistency on both sides of the equation

  3. Solve vector problems
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner distinguishes between a vectory quantity and scalar quantity
    learner composes vectors
    learner decomposes vectors
    learner adds vectors, both graphically and analytically

  4. Evaluate linear motion
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner discriminates between the descriptors of linear motion
    learner selects and sets up appropriate linear motions equation(s)
    learner solves linear motion equations

  5. Analyze force as it relates to linear motion
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner draws a free body diagram
    learner selects and sets up appropriate Newton's law equation for linear motion problem
    learner solves Newton's law equation

  6. Analyze rotational motion
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner discriminates between the descriptors of rotational motion
    learner selects and sets up appropriate rotational motion equation(s)
    learner solves rotational motion equation(s)
    learner applies centripetal force to circular motion problems

  7. Analyze torque as it relates to rotational motion
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner draws a free body diagram
    learner selects and sets up appropriate Newton's law equation for rotational motion problem
    learner solves Newton's law equation

  8. Evaluate momentum in a mechanical system
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner relates impulse and change in momentum to Newton's second law
    learner applies the law of conservation of momentum to collisions

  9. Evaluate energy in a mechanical system
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner relates energy and power to work
    learner applies the law of conservation of energy
    learner identifies examples of various forms of energy
    learner classifies simple machines
    learner calculates mechanical advantage and efficiency
    learner relates power to efficiency

  10. Analyze solids
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner identifies hardness, brittleness, ductility, and malleability
    learner calculates stress
    learner calculates strain
    learner interprets stress/strain or elasticity diagram -- identifying ultimate strength of material, identifying breaking strength, and identifying elastic limit
    learner calculates elasticity

  11. Analyze fluids
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner identifies density, viscosity, surface tension, and capillary action
    learner calculates static pressure at a location
    learner determinates absolute, gauge, and atmospheric pressure in a fluid system
    learner calculates buoyancy
    learner calculates pressure difference in a closed system
    learner calculates flow rate
    learner calculates pressure head, velocity head, and elevation head
    learner measures friction loss (i.e. pipes)
    learner applies Bernoulli's equation to a system

  12. Assess thermal properties of matter
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner calculates linear, area, and volume expansion in liquids and solids
    learner calculates the thermal force with the expansion of solids
    learner converts between Celsius and Fahrenheid and within absolute and relative temperature scales
    learner calculates temperature, pressure, and volume from the ideal gas law

  13. Assess heat
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner calculates heat transfer
    learner sets up an equation of heat-gain or heat-loss which includes changes of heat quantity in matter going from the solid form below the freezing point to the gaseous form above the boiling point
    learner calculates heat gain
    learner calculates heat loss which includes phase changes within a phase and across phases

  14. Analyze thermodynamic changes in a system
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner generates pressure/volume diagram
    learner calculates the efficiency of a heat engine when the input and exhaust temperatures are known

  15. Evaluate heat properties
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner calculates frequency, wave speed, and wavelength
    learner calculates the wavelength or frequency of an electromagnetic wave
    learner calculates the intensity of a sound wave
    learner calculates the frequencies for sound waves in open and closed pipes
    learner interprets constructive and destructive interference using the principle of superposition
    learner calculates resonant frequencies

  16. Analyze electricity
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner identifies type of electrostatic charge
    learner calculates the force between two charged bodies
    learner calculates capacitance based on circuit and physical parameters
    learner calculates values of an electric field
    learner interprets and calculates voltage values
    learner calculates resistance based on circuit and physical paramters
    learner verifies circuit using Kirchhoff's laws
    learner calculates power

  17. Analyze magnetism
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner analyzes magnetic fields
    learner predicts the movement of a charged body in a magnetic field
    learner calculates magnetic forces on moving charges
    learner calculates magnetic field for current-carrying conductor for various geometries
    learner calculates magnetic flux
    learner calculates inductance based on physical and circuit parameters
    learner describes the operation of AC/DC motor/generators
    learner includes a vectoral representation of the circuit
    learner includes RMS, effective, and peak voltage calculations

  18. Evaluate light
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner identifies characteristics of the light (rectilinear propagation, reflection, refraction)
    learner classifies light energy on the basis of frequency and wavelength
    learner solves speed of light, frequency, and wavelength problems
    learner calculates surface illumination
    learner calculates the intensity of a light source
    learner calculates luminous flux

  19. Assess geometric optics
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner locates refracted images using ray diagrams
    learner calculates refraction of light
    learner calculates focal length using mirror equations
    learner calculates focal length using lens equations
    learner calculates magnification of mirrors and lenses
    learner calculates the critical angle
    learner calculates apparent depth

  20. Evaluate the properties of the atom
    Assessment Strategies
    in laboratory reports, in recitations, in oral quizzing, and in correct responses to examination items
    Criteria
    learner includes a model drawing of an atomic structure
    learner classifies atoms as metals or non-metals and as insulators, conductors, and semi-conductors
    learner calculates emission wavelength based on energy level transitions
    learner calculates half-life
    learner describes the photoelectric effect and the reverse photoelectric effect
    learner classifies reaction as a fission or fusion reaction