Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to the respective Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Teamwork. Specific competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of science to pseudoscience by
1. defining physics;
2. explaining what physicists do;
3. explaining scientific method steps;
4. explaining what is science and what is not science;
5. explaining the difference between science and pseudoscience.
Demonstrate appropriate basic math skills by
1. defining displacement;
2. defining velocity;
3. describing the four fundamental forces;
4. explaining acceleration;
5. explaining Newton’s three laws;
6. classifying vector and scalar quantities;
7. solving vector addition and subtraction problems;
8. solving kinematics problems;
9. solving free fall problems;
10. solving problems using Newton’s laws.
Demonstrate the ability to explain concepts and solve problems relating to motion by
1. describing the four fundamental forces;
2. describing velocity;
3. explaining acceleration;
4. explaining Newton’s three laws;
5. explaining action at a distance in relation to forces;
6. solving kinematics problems;
7. solving free fall problems;
8. solving problems relating to Newton’s second law.
Demonstrate the ability to explain concepts and solve problems relating to work and power and to energy by
1. defining kinetic energy and potential energy;
2. defining pressure;
3. defining density;
4. explaining the difference between weight and mass;
5. explaining the relationship between work and energy;
6. explaining weightlessness in orbit;
7. explaining Archimedes’ principle;
8. explaining Bernoulli’s principle;
9. solving work and power problems;
10. using energy conservation to solve problems;
11. determining the gravitational force one object exerts on another object;
12. determining acceleration due to gravity for all planets.
Demonstrate the ability to explain concepts and solve problems relating to heat and temperature by
1. describing temperature during phase change;
2. describing three types of heat transfer;
3. explaining Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin temperature scales;
4. distinguishing between heat and temperature;
5. relating temperature, kinetic energy of molecules, and thermal expansion;
6. solving problems using specific heat;
7. using conservation of energy to solve heat transfer problems.
Demonstrate the ability to explain concepts and solve problems relating to the laws of thermodynamics by
1. describing applications of the second law of thermodynamics;
2. defining absolute zero;
3. describing molecular structure and temperature of four phases;
4. explaining laws of thermodynamics;
5. explaining examples of entropy;
6. explaining why ice floats;
7. solving problems relating heat to temperature and phase change.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts relating to sound waves and electromagnetic waves by
1. describing two wave types;
2. describing movement of matter for sound waves;
3. explaining the cause of sound waves;
4. explaining relationship among wave velocity, wavelength, and frequency;
5. explaining relationship between wave amplitude and wave energy;
6. explaining how a sonic boom occurs;
7. explaining Doppler effect;
8. explaining the cause of electromagnetic waves;
9. relating electromagnetic wavelength to color;
10. arranging all types of electromagnetic waves in order by wavelength and frequency.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts relating to reflection and refraction by
1. defining wave polarization;
2. describing total internal reflection;
3. describing converging, diverging, concave, and convex mirrors and lenses;
4. describing a spherical mirror;
5. explaining and using law of reflection;
6. explaining refraction;
7. explaining how a prism separates colors;
8. explaining cause of nearsightedness and farsightedness;
9. explaining diffraction.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts relating to electricity, electrical circuits, capacitors, and resistors by
1. identifying circuit diagrams in which bulbs will light;
2. identifying capacitor parts;
3. identifying places in circuit where moving charge originates;
4. describing internal resistance of battery;
5. describing how series and parallel resistors affect circuits;
6. explaining how capacitor works;
7. explaining function of resistors in circuits;
8. explaining relationship among current, bulb brightness, and resistance;
9. explaining relationship between electric potential difference and current;
10. explaining voltage division for series resistors;
11. explaining power in circuits;
12. explaining the cause of magnetic fields;
13. explaining how to use magnets to cause current in wires;
14. stating evidence supporting one way current direction in a closed loop;
15. citing evidence that an ideal battery maintains constant voltage;
16. citing evidence that current is determined by all circuit components;
17. citing evidence that current for a series is the same everywhere;
18. determining cost of using an electrical device;
19. comparing electric charge on electron, proton, and neutron.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts relative to the solar system and solar bodies by
1. defining equinoxes and solstices;
2. giving dates of equinoxes and solstices;
3. identifying zodiacal constellations;
4. stating the principle of mediocrity;
5. explaining the lunar cycle;
6. describing characteristics of terrestrial planets and gaseous planets;
7. describing the origin and development of the solar system;
8. describing asteroids and comets and giving locations in the solar system;
9. describing the origin and development of earth;
10. describing the effect on the moon of being gravitationally locked in to earth;
11. listing unique characteristics of earth which make it hospitable to living organisms;
12. explaining solar and lunar eclipses;
13. explaining the most widely accepted theory of the formation of the moon;
14. explaining why the sun is theorized to be a third generation star;
15. explaining the relationship between the sun and the seasons;
16. identifying reasons for little or no atmosphere on Mercury, Mars, and the moon;
17. explaining the purpose of a telescope;
18. outlining the life cycle of a star.
Critical Thinking Skills : Demonstrate critical thinking by
1. using critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions in the laboratory;
2. applying content learned in lecture to activities performed in the laboratory;
3. applying scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific tools and laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data;
4. demonstrating the ability to research, analyze, and evaluate scientific information.
Communication Skills: Demonstrate communication skills by
1. recording experimental work completely and accurately in laboratory notebooks, and communicating experimental results clearly in written reports;
2. demonstrating an understanding of physics terms relating to the topics covered in written, oral, and/or visual form.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Demonstrate empirical and quantitative skills by
1. developing techniques to set up and perform experiments, collect data from those experiments, and formulate conclusions from an experiment.
Teamwork: Demonstrate teamwork by
1. demonstrating an understanding of teamwork by collaborating in problem solving sessions, or open discussion on the same, to include but not limited to setting up the problems, data collection, data analysis, and drawing conclusions.

PHYS 1415

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PHYS 1415 - Physical Science I (Lecture Lab)