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Course Syllabus

PHYS 2210 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I

  • Division: Natural Science and Math
  • Department: Physics
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 4; Lecture: 4; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: MATH 1220
  • Corequisites: PHYS 2215
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2022
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2026
  • End Semester: Fall 2027
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 24

Course Description

PHYS 2210 is the first semester of a two-semester sequence in calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers. It is a necessary preparation for continuing studies in upper division STEM courses. It includes an introduction to Newton's laws of motion, momentum and energy conservation, rotations, oscillations, waves, and gravitation. The methods of calculus are applied to develop theories and to solve problems.

Justification

This course is a necessary component of the curriculum for geology, chemistry, computer science, physics, math, and engineering majors. It is fully transferable to higher education institutions across the state of Utah (same course number).

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will know the important scientific laws and principles in classical mechanics.
  2. Students will be able to use sound problem-solving strategies to solve paper-and-pencil physics problems and apply them to real life.

Course Content

1. Physical quantities, measurement standards, math tools a. Systems of units b. Reference frames c. Vectors and vector algebra 2. Kinematics (motion) in one dimension a. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration b. Freely-falling bodies c. Relative motion 3. Kinematics (motion) in two and three dimensions a. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration b. Projectile motion c. Circular motion, centripetal acceleration 4. Dynamics (causes of motion) a. Forces (including frictional and resistive forces) b. Newton's Laws of Motion c. Weight versus mass 5. Work and energy a. Kinetic energy and potential energy b. Work-energy principle c. Conservation of energy d. Power 6. Momentum and collisions a. Center of mass b. Impulse and momentum c. Conservation of linear momentum d. Elastic and inelastic collisions 7. Rotation and rotational dynamics a. Angular displacement, velocity, acceleration b. Kinetic energy of rotation c. Rotational inertia and torque d. Angular momentum 8. Equilibrium and elasticity a. Conditions for equilibrium b. Center of gravity c. Elastic properties of solids 9. Gravitation a. Newton's law of universal gravitation b. Kepler's laws c. Gravitational field and gravitational potential energy d. Satellite motion 10. Fluid Dynamics a. Pressure b. Buoyant forces and Archimedes' principle c. Bernoulli's Principle11. Periodic and oscillatory motion a. Simple harmonic motion b. Hooke's Law c. Mass on spring and the simple pendulum12. Mechanical waves a. Traveling waves b. Superposition and interference c. Reflection and transmission d. Standing waves13. Sound waves a. Speed of sound b. Intensity c. Resonance, beats d. Doppler effect