ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
COURSE OUTLINE FORM
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Department of Physics
NEW COURSE: COS-PHYS-111 College Physics I
1.0 Course Designations and Approvals
Required course approvals:
Approval
request date:
5/27/10
Academic Unit Curriculum Committee
College Curriculum Committee
Optional designations:
General Education:
Writing Intensive:
Honors
2.0 Course information:
Course title:
Credit hours:
Prerequisite(s):
Co-requisite(s):
Course proposed by:
Effective date:
Is designation
desired?
Yes
No
No
August 4, 2010
Approval
request date:
Approval granted
date:
College Physics I
4
Competency in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry
None
Department of Physics
August 2013
Contact hours
Classroom
Lab
Studio
Other (workshop)
Approval granted
date:
Maximum students/section
2
126
4
42
2.a Semester(s) offered (check)
Fall
X
Spring X
Summer X
Other
All courses must be offered at least once every 2 years. If course will be offered on a biannual basis, please indicate here:
2.b Student Requirements
Students required to take this course: (by program and year, as appropriate)
GCCIS: Medical informatics (pre-med track)*, Game design and development,
Networking, security, and systems administration
CAST: Engineering technology (civil, electrical, computer, telecommunications,
electrical/mechanical, manufacturing, mechanical), Packaging science,
Environmental sustainability, health and safety
COS: Biology, Biomedical sciences, Biochemistry, Environmental science,
Diagnostic medical sonography
CIAS: Imaging and photographic technology*
* Can choose to take University Physics
Students who might elect to take the course:
Any student seeking to fulfill a general education requirement
In the sections that follow, please use sub-numbering as appropriate (eg. 3.1, 3.2, etc.)
3.0
4.0
Goals of the course (including rationale for the course, when appropriate):
3.1 To provide a conceptual, quantitative and experimental understanding of velocity,
acceleration, force, torque, energy and momentum, oscillations and waves,
geometric optics, physical optics, fluids at rest and in motion, and thermal
phenomena.
3.2 To apply these concepts to a broad range of problems, including other disciplinespecific applications.
3.3 To develop the student’s ability for analytical thought and to apply mathematics
to solve physical problems.
3.4 To develop skills in basic measurement techniques, graphical and analytical
interpretation of data, and estimation of uncertainties and their effect on calculated
quantities.
Course description (as it will appear in the RIT Catalog, including pre- and corequisites, and quarters offered). Please use the following format:
COS-PHYS-111
College Physics I
An introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics, waves,
and optics. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation;
rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse;
conservation laws; fluids; simple harmonic motion; mechanical and
electromagnetic waves; geometrical optics; physical optics and interference; data
2
presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both
traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally
found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings. (Competency in
algebra, geometry and trigonometry.) Class 2, Workshop 4, Credit 4 (F, S, Su)
5.0
Possible resources (texts, references, computer packages, etc.)
5.1 Knight, Jones, Field, College Physics, A Strategic Approach, McGraw-Hill
5.2 Serway and Faughn, College Physics, Saunders
5.3 Cutnell and Johnson, Physics, Wiley
6.0
Topics (outline):
6.1 Introductory concepts (~6 hours)
6.1.1 Estimations, scientific notation
6.1.2 Dimensions, units
6.1.3 Uncertainties, error propagation
6.1.4 Scalars and vector; vector algebra (graphical and components)
6.2 Kinematics (~8 hours)
6.2.1 Displacement; average and instantaneous velocity, and acceleration
6.2.2 One-dimensional motion with constant acceleration
6.2.3 Free-fall
6.2.4 Two-dimensional projectile motion
6.3 Dynamics (~10 hours)
6.3.1 Weight, normal force, tension, frictional forces, spring force
6.3.2 Free body diagrams
6.3.3 Newton’s First Law
6.3.4 Newton’s Second Law
6.3.5 Newton’s Third law
6.3.6 Applications of Newton’s Laws of Motion
6.3.7 Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
6.4 Rotational motion (~10 hours)
6.4.1 Uniform circular motion
6.4.2 Radial and tangential acceleration
6.4.3 Angular position, displacement, velocity and acceleration
6.4.4 Rotational kinematics
6.4.5 Torque and Newton’s Second Law (rotational form)
6.5 Equilibrium (~2 hours)
6.6 Work and energy (~10 hours)
6.6.1 Work done by a constant force
6.6.2 Translational kinetic energy
6.6.3 Work-kinetic energy theorem
6.6.4 Rotational kinetic energy
6.6.5 Potential energy; conservative vs. non-conservative forces
6.6.6 Conservation of mechanical energy
6.6.7 Power
6.7 Momentum (~6 hours)
6.7.1 Linear momentum and impulse
3
6.7.2 Conservation of linear momentum
6.7.3 Collision (elastic and inelastic)
6.7.4 Angular momentum
6.7.5 Conservation of angular momentum
6.8 Fluids (~6 hours)
6.8.1 Pressure
6.8.2 Pressure as a function of depth
6.8.3 Buoyancy and Archimedes’s Principle
6.8.4 Equation of continuity
6.8.5 Bernoulli’s equation
6.9 Simple harmonic motion (~5 hours)
6.9.1 Simple harmonic motion
6.9.2 Energy and simple harmonic motion
6.9.3 Damped harmonic motion
6.9.4 Driven harmonic motion and resonance
6.10 Waves (~3 hours)
6.10.1 Traveling waves
6.10.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves
6.10.3 Frequency, wavelength, and speed of harmonic waves
6.10.4 Interference and the principle of linear superposition
6.11 Sound (~2 hours)
6.11.1 Intensity and the decibel scale
6.11.2 Doppler effect
6.11.3 Shockwaves
6.12 Principle of linear superposition and interference phenomena (~6 hours)
6.12.1 Principle of linear superposition
6.12.2 Constructive and destructive interference
6.12.3 Transverse standing waves
6.12.4 Longitudinal standing waves
6.12.5 Interference and beats
6.13 Electromagnetic waves (~3 hours)
6.13.1 Electromagnetic spectrum
6.13.2 Speed of light and its invariant nature
6.13.3 Polarization of light
6.13.4 Doppler effect for light
6.14 Geometric optics (~4 hours)
6.14.1 Reflection of light
6.14.2 Mirrors
6.14.3 Ray tracing for mirrors
6.14.4 Refraction of light
6.14.5 Snell’s law
6.14.6 Thin lenses
6.14.7 Ray tracing for lenses
6.14.8 Simple optical instruments
6.15 Physical Optics (~6 hours)
6.15.1 Huygens’ principle
4
6.15.2 Young’s double-slit experiment
6.15.3 Thin-film interference
6.15.4 Single-slit diffraction
6.15.5 Diffraction grating
6.15.6 Resolution
6.15.7 Phasors and multi-slit patterns
6.15.8 X-ray diffraction
6.16 Experimental skills
6.16.1 Predict and develop testable hypotheses
6.16.2 Collect and analyze data, apply elementary statistics, make and interpret
graphs; draw conclusion supported by data, and report results
6.16.3 Use computers to acquire, analyze and present experimental data
7.0
Intended course learning outcomes and associated assessment methods of
those outcomes (please include as many Course Learning Outcomes as
appropriate, one outcome and assessment method per row).
Course Learning Outcome
Exams and
Workshop activities and
quizzes
homework assignments
X
X
7.1 Demonstrate skill in solving problems and
presenting solutions
X
X
7.2 Demonstrate proficiency with basic units,
unit conversions, significant figures and
vector notation; define a vector and calculate
its components, perform vector algebra
graphically and in component form
X
X
7.3 Define and apply the concepts of
displacement, average/instantaneous velocity
and acceleration, including graphical
definitions; use the kinematic equations for
uniformly accelerated motion in one and two
dimensions; recognize and describe the
properties of an object in free fall; apply
kinematics equations in two dimensions
(projectile motion, circular motion)
X
X
7.4 Define force; draw free body diagrams;
describe and apply Newton’s three laws;
describe tension, normal, gravitational,
frictional and elastic forces. Apply Newton’s
laws to circular motion
X
X
7.5 Define and calculate angular displacement,
instantaneous/average rotational velocity and
acceleration; apply kinematic equations for
uniform rotational acceleration; describe and
apply the relation between rotational and
translational variables; define and calculate
torque and moment of inertia, apply
5
Newton’s Second Law in rotational form
7.6 Define equilibrium, write and apply the
conditions for rigid body equilibrium
7.7 Define and calculate mechanical work;
define and calculate translational kinetic
energy; apply the work-kinetic energy
theorem. Define conservative forces,
gravitational potential energy and elastic
potential energy. Define and calculate
rotational kinetic energy. Apply the
conservation of mechanical energy. Define
and calculate power
7.8 Define and calculate linear momentum;
define and apply the impulse-momentum
theorem; calculate center of mass. Apply the
conservation of linear momentum. Define
and calculate angular momentum; apply the
conservation of angular momentum
7.9 Describe and calculate pressure in a fluid,
explain and calculate the variation of
pressure with depth; define and apply
Archimedes’ principle; explain and apply the
equation of continuity and Bernoulli’s
equation
7.10 Describe periodic motion; identify
important characteristics of simple harmonic
motion; write and interpret the mathematical
description for the displacement, velocity
and acceleration of a simple harmonic
oscillator; calculate the mechanical energy
of a simple harmonic oscillator, describe the
energy transfers that occur during the
oscillations; describe the effects of damping;
describe the behavior of a damped, forced
oscillator; define resonance
7.11 Describe traveling waves; compare and
contrast mechanical, electromagnetic, and
matter waves; define transverse and
longitudinal waves; define and calculate
wavelength, wave speed and intensity
7.12 Describe the principle of linear
superposition, apply superposition to
harmonic waves; define constructive and
destructible interference
7.13 Describe sound wave; define and calculate
intensity, use the decibel scale; apply linear
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
superposition to explain and calculate beat
frequency; describe and apply the Doppler
shift formulas; describe shockwaves
7.14 Describe electromagnetic waves and the
electromagnetic spectrum; apply the law of
reflection; write the speed of light in vacuum
and describe its invariant nature; define and
calculate the index of refraction, describe
dispersion; apply Snell’s law, describe total
internal reflection; describe polarization;
apply the Doppler shift formula for light
7.15 Define and describe real and virtual
images; compare and contrast specular and
diffuse reflection; apply ray tracing
techniques, calculate the properties of
images formed using mirrors or lenses;
describe polarization by reflection
7.16 Describe Huygens’ principle and apply it to
interference and diffraction of light; explain
and apply thin-film interference effects;
define and calculate resolution; describe
properties of a multi-slit pattern and a
diffraction grating
7.17 Explain wave-particle duality, describe and
compare X-ray, electron and neutron
diffraction patterns; calculate the de Broglie
wavelength, describe the similarities and
differences between the diffraction pattern of
electrons and baseballs
7.18 Demonstrate proficiency in using proper
units and significant figures; identify and
record the uncertainty inherent in all
measurements; estimate the effect of
measurement uncertainties on calculated
quantities; collect and organize experimental
data; use physically appropriate graphical
and mathematical analysis of experimental
data; draw and report conclusions supported
by experimental data; use computer-based
tools for data acquisition and analysis; use
basic measurement devices safely and
accurately
8.0
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Program outcomes and/or goals supported by this course
8.1 To develop a basic understanding of the physical world and mathematical
descriptions of it.
7
8.2 To practice the scientific process.
8.3 To develop basic laboratory skills, including the ability to analyze and report
experimental results.
8.4 To develop skill in applying mathematics to different physical situations.
8.5 To provide an introductory physics course with appropriate depth for engineering
technology, life science and other appropriate majors.
8.6 To develop a capacity for critical thinking and analysis, problem solving, and
group-based learning.
9.0
General Education Learning Outcome Supported by the
Course, if appropriate
Assessment
Method
Communication
Express themselves effectively in common college-level
written forms using standard American English
Revise and improve written and visual content
Express themselves effectively in presentations, either in
spoken standard American English or sign language (American
Sign Language or English-based Signing)
Comprehend information accessed through reading and
discussion
Intellectual Inquiry
Review, assess, and draw conclusions about hypotheses and
theories
Analyze arguments, in relation to their premises, assumptions,
contexts, and conclusions
Construct logical and reasonable arguments that include
anticipation of counterarguments
Use relevant evidence gathered through accepted scholarly
methods and properly acknowledge sources of information
Ethical, Social and Global Awareness
Analyze similarities and differences in human experiences and
consequent perspectives
Examine connections among the world’s populations
Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant
stakeholder positions
Scientific, Mathematical and Technological Literacy
X
X
X
Explain basic principles and concepts of one of the natural
sciences
Apply methods of scientific inquiry and problem solving to
contemporary issues
Comprehend and evaluate mathematical and statistical
information
Perform college-level mathematical operations on quantitative
data
Homework,
workshop
activities, exams
Homework,
workshop
activities, exams
Homework,
workshop
activities, exams
Describe the potential and the limitations of technology
8
Use appropriate technology to achieve desired outcomes
Creativity, Innovation and Artistic Literacy
Demonstrate creative/innovative approaches to course-based
assignments or projects
Interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering the
cultural context in which it was created
10.0
Other relevant information (such as special classroom, studio, or lab needs,
special scheduling, media requirements, etc.)
10.1 Smart classroom
10.2 Access to a dedicated physics workshop room in the Gosnell Hall
9