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GE253
Physics
[Onsite]
Course Description:
Students in this course study the concepts of general physics. Practical applications
demonstrate the theory.
Prerequisite(s) and/or Corequisite(s):
Prerequisites: GE192 College Mathematics II or equivalent
Credit hours: 4
Contact hours: 50 (30 Theory Hours, 20 Lab Hours)
Physics
Syllabus
Syllabus: Physics
Instructor:
________________________________________
Office hours: ________________________________________
Class hours: ________________________________________
Major Instructional Areas
1. Scientific measurements and units
2. Scientific methods
3. Kinematics: Description of motion
4. Dynamics: Description of force and motion
5. Work and energy
6. Linear momentum and collisions
7. Angular momentum and torque
8. Gravity
9. Fluids
10. Temperature and kinetic theory
11. Electricity and magnetism
12. Vibrations and waves
13. Physical optics
14. Atomic and nuclear physics
Course Objectives
1. Apply scientific methods to analyze graphical data and predictions.
2. Use units and measurements to solve conversion problems.
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Syllabus
3. Apply concepts of kinematics and dynamics to solve problems involving motion.
4. Apply Newton’s three laws to real-world problems.
5. Use energy and momentum concepts to solve motion problems.
6. Apply Newton’s law of gravitation.
7. Apply pressure, density, buoyancy, and Pascal’s principle to real-world problems.
8. Apply the concepts of density, pressure, temperature, and heat to different phases of matter.
9. Use the concepts of electric and magnetic fields to solve problems in electrostatics and
electrodynamics.
10. Apply properties of waves to sound and light.
11. Use the principles of quantum theory to explain the structure of atoms and radioactivity.
SCANS Objectives
SCANS is an acronym for Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills. The
committee, created by the National Secretary of Labor in the early 1990s, created a list of skills
and competencies that the committee feels are necessary for employees to function in a hightech job market.
1. Utilize a systematic problem-solving process to analyze and solve a problem.
2. Apply and adapt new knowledge and skills in both familiar and changing situations.
3. Recognize a discrepancy between what is and what should or could be, identify possible
reasons for the discrepancy, and devise and implement a plan of action to resolve it.
Evaluate and monitors progress, and revise plan as indicated by findings.
4. Discover a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects and
apply it in solving a problem.
5. Use imagination freely, combine ideas or information in new ways, make connections
between seemingly unrelated ideas, and reshape goals in ways that reveal new possibilities.
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Syllabus
Course Outline
Note: All graded activities except the final exam are listed below in the pattern of <Unit
Number>.<Assignment Number>. For example, Labs: 2.1 refers to the 1st lab activity in Unit 2.
Unit
Activities
1—

Introduction to
Physics
Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
2—
Content Covered:
o
Appendix A, “On Measurement and Unit
Conversion”
Assignments: 1.1

Labs: 1.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
o
Chapter 3, “ Equilibrium and Linear Motion”

Assignments: 2.1

Labs: 2.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
Newton’s Laws
4—
Chapter 1, “About Science”

Motion
3—
o
o
Chapter 4, “Newton’s Laws of Motion”
o
Appendix B, “Linear and Rotational Motion”
o
Appendix C, “Vectors”

Assignments: 3.1

Labs: 3.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
Momentum and
Energy

o
Chapter 5, “Momentum and Energy”
o
Appendix B, “Linear and Rotational Motion”
Assignments: 4.1
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Unit
5—
Syllabus
Activities

Labs: 4.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
Gravity
6—
o

Assignments: 5.1

Labs: 5.1

Exams: 5.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
Fluids
7—
o
Assignments: 6.1

Labs: 6.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
o
Chapter 2, “Atoms”
o
Chapter 8, “Temperature, Heat, and
Thermodynamics”
o
Chapter 9, “Heat Transfer and Change of Phase”

Assignments: 7.1

Labs: 7.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
Electricity and
Magnetism
9—
Chapter 7, “Fluid Mechanics”

Temperature and
Heat
8—
Chapter 6, “Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites”
o
Chapter 10, “Static and Current Electricity”
o
Chapter 11, “Magnetism and Electromagnetic
Induction”

Assignments: 8.1

Labs: 8.1

Exams: 8.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Unit
Syllabus
Activities
Sound and Light
10—
o
Chapter 12, “Waves and Sound”
o
Chapter 13, “Light Waves”
o
Chapter 14, “Properties of Light”

Assignments: 9.1

Labs: 9.1

Read from Conceptual Physics Fundamentals:
Quantum Theory and
Atomic Theory
o
Chapter 15, “Quantum Theory”
o
Chapter 16, “The Atomic Nucleus and
Radioactivity”

Assignments: 10.1

Labs: 10.1

Exams: 10.1
11—

Course Review
Course review and
Final Exam

Final Exam
Instructional Methods
The Physics course incorporates various learning strategies such as assignments, labs, exams,
and a final exam. Every unit includes a homework assignment and a lab. Each homework
assignment is based on the course objectives for that unit and is due in the unit after it is
assigned. You will use simulations during lab to explore and apply conceptual physics presented
during class. Three exams and a final exam will evaluate your understanding of the concepts
covered in this course.
Instructional Materials and References
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Syllabus
Student Textbook Package

Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics Fundamentals. Boston: Pearson Addison-Wesley,
2008.

Physics Lab Manual

PhET Interactive Simulations for Physics
Other Required Resources
Equipment and Tools
Scientific calculator
References
ITT Tech Virtual Library
Log on to the ITT Tech Virtual Library at http://library.itt-tech.edu/ to access online books,
journals, and other reference resources selected to support ITT Tech curricula.
Reference Resources
You may click “Reference Resources” or use the “Search” function on the home
page to find the following reference resources.
o
Access Science
o
Mathematics
School of General Education
o
Tutorial Links> Physics Tutorials
o
Database> ProQuest Science Journals
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Syllabus
Other References
The following resources may be found outside of the ITT Tech Virtual Library, whether
online or in hard copy.
Books
o
Benenson, Walter, John W. Harris, Horst Stöcker, and Holger Lutz. Handbook
of Physics. New York: Springer Publishing Co., 2006.
o
Feynman, Richard. Character of Physical Law. New York: Random House,
Inc., 1994.
o
Feynman, Richard, Robert Leighton, and Matthew Sands. The Feynman
Lectures on Physics. 3 vols. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 1964.
o
French, A.P. Vibrations and Waves. New York: W.W. Norton, 1971.
o
Peierls, R.E. The Laws of Nature. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1956.
o
Schrödinger, Erwin, and Roger Penrose. What is Life? with Mind and Matter
and Autobiographical Sketches. New York: Cambridge University Press,
1992.
Web sites
o
PhET Free Online Physics Simulations
http://phet.colorado.edu/index.php (accessed 12/15/09)
Interactive physics simulations from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
o
Physics Forums
http://www.physicsforums.com/ (accessed 12/15/09)
A discussion forum for questions and answers, guidance, and links to tutorials.
o
Physics Today
http://www.physicstoday.org/ (accessed 12/15/09)
The Web site of Physics Today magazine, a publication of the American Institute of Physics,
with news about related science, politics, and policy.
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Syllabus
o
Scientific American Magazine
http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammag/ (accessed 12/15/09)
Web site of the 150-year-old magazine covering science and technology issues
o
Free Online MIT Course Materials
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/index.htm (accessed 12/15/09)
Portal page for course materials such as videos, lecture notes, assignments and solutions,
images, and online textbooks for various physics courses taught at MIT
Related sites:
o
Professor Walter Lewin's Webpage at MIT
o
o
o
o
Lewin’s MIT Physics 8.01 video: Classical Mechanics
Lewin’s MIT Physics 8.02 video: Electricity and Magnetism
Lewin’s MIT Physics 8.03 video: Vibrations and Waves
A New Physics Superstar (usnews.com)
All links to Web references outside of the ITT Tech Virtual Library are always subject to
change without prior notice.
Course Evaluation and Grading
Evaluation Criteria Table
The final grades will be based on the following categories:
CATEGORY
WEIGHT
Assignments
20%
Exams
30%
Labs
25%
Final Exam
25%
Total
100%
Note: Students are responsible for abiding by the Plagiarism Policy.
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010
Physics
Syllabus
Grade Conversion Table
The final grades will be calculated from the percentages earned in the course, as follows:
A
90–100%
4.0
B+
85–89%
3.5
B
80–84%
3.0
C+
75–79%
2.5
C
70–74%
2.0
D+
65–69%
1.5
D
60–64%
1.0
F
<60%
0.0
(End of Syllabus)
©ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: 5/25/2010