Academic Catalog

APPT 144A: SF 202A SCIENCE; ELECTRICITY & AIR CONDITIONING

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2023
Units: 3
Hours: 36 lecture, 12 laboratory per quarter (48 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Steamfitting & Pipefitting Technology Apprenticeship Program.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in APPR 126.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A student will be able to describe principles of hydraulics and pneumatics.
  • A student will be able to differentiate between metals, alloys and synthetics.
  • A student will be able to define states of matter and units of measurement.

Description

Foundation for subsequent courses through instruction in the fundamentals of science, electrical theory and circuitry, and the principles of refrigeration and air conditioning.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe the properties and characteristics of water and steam
  2. Describe hydraulic and mechanical principles
  3. Describe metals, alloys, and synthetics
  4. Describe electrical principles and electrical components
  5. Interpret wiring diagrams
  6. Describe the basic refrigeration cycle
  7. Identify and explain function of basic refrigeration cycle and systems components

Course Content

  1. Describe properties and characteristics of water and steam
    1. States of matter
    2. Pressure-temperature relationships
    3. Steam saturation and condensation
  2. Describe hydraulic and mechanical principals
    1. Density and specific weights
    2. Capillary action
    3. Siphon action
    4. Fluid flow
    5. Definitions (force, power, work)
  3. Describe metals, alloys, and synthetics
    1. Expansion and contraction
    2. Methods of joining synthetic materials
    3. Hazards and types of corrosion
  4. Describe electrical principals and electrical components
    1. Electrical circuit
    2. Current, voltage, amps
    3. Ohm's Law
  5. Interpret wiring diagrams
    1. Components and symbols
    2. Schematic and ladder diagrams
    3. Electrical trouble shooting safety
  6. Describe the basic refrigeration cycle
    1. The British thermal unit, BTU
    2. Sensible and latent heat
    3. Vapor compression cycle
  7. Identify and explain function of basic refrigeration cycle and system components
    1. Compressor, condenser, evaporator, and metering device
    2. Refrigerant piping and accessories

Lab Content

Students will work individually and in teams on safe practices for measuring weights and pressures, electrical voltage and amperage. Students will practice proper techniques for assembling refrigerant piping.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Personal protective equipment
2. Laboratory with refrigeration and air conditioning equipment
3. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with software and hardware capable of accessing email, learning management system, and video conferencing; email address

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of written exercises and final examination
Satisfactory completion of hands-on projects
Maintenance of a student's workbook with questions drawn from text
Group and classroom participation

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Lab assignment
Group discussion
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

International Pipe Trades Joint Training Committee, Inc.. Related Science. 2014.

Carrier Corporation. General Training Air Conditioning (Fundamentals) GTAC-I, Modules 1-4. 1993.

Carrier Corporation. General Training Electricity (Fundamentals) GTE-II, Modules 1-3. 1993.

Although these textbooks are older than 5 years, they conform to national training standards and are considered seminal works in the discipline. We will adopt the next edition of each text, as it is published.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Readings from assigned textbook General Training Air Conditioning (Fundamentals)
    1. GTAC Lesson 3: Basic Refrigeration Cycle
  2. Writing assignments given in the laboratory
    1. Make a schematic of a basic refrigeration system with required components
    2. Essay describing the refrigeration cycle and the properties of each point in the system

Discipline(s)

Steamfitting