Academic Catalog

PHYS 6: INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 5
Hours: 5 lecture per week (60 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: MATH 48C or equivalent.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Examine new, previously un-encountered problems by critically analyzing and evaluating their constituent parts, to construct and explain a logical solution utilizing, and based upon, the fundamental laws of electricity and magnetism.
  • Examine new, previously un-encountered problems by critically analyzing and evaluating their constituent parts, to construct and explain a logical solution utilizing, and based upon, the fundamental laws of mechanics.

Description

Lectures, demonstrations, and problems in mechanics, electricity, and magnetism.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Make deductions from the laws of physics
  2. Analyze problem situations mathematically
  3. Derive special formulas from general principles
  4. Identify a problem in a new situation and apply their knowledge to unfamiliar situations
  5. Assess the limitations of physics laws
  6. Understand how different cultures have contributed to physics

Course Content

  1. Fundamental ideas
    1. Dimensional analysis (units)
    2. Scientific notation
    3. Algebra
    4. Trigonometry
    5. Analytic geometry
    6. Limits
    7. Elementary calculus
  2. Kinematics
    1. Speed, velocity
    2. Acceleration
    3. Free fall
    4. Vector addition of velocities
    5. Trajectories
    6. Circular motion
  3. Forces
    1. Mass, weight
    2. Newton's laws of motion
    3. Vector addition of forces
    4. Friction
    5. Newton's law of gravitation
    6. Free body diagrams
    7. Torque
    8. Solution of statics and dynamic problems
  4. Energy and momentum
    1. Work
    2. Potential energy
    3. Kinetic energy
    4. Power
    5. Conservation of power
    6. Linear momentum
    7. Collisions
    8. Conservation of momentum
  5. Rotational kinematics and dynamics
    1. Speed acceleration
    2. Rotational inertia
    3. Rotational kinetic energy
    4. Angular momentum
  6. Electrostatics
    1. Coulomb's law
    2. Electric fields
    3. Electric potential
    4. Capacitance
    5. Dielectrics
  7. Circuit properties
    1. Current, resistance, Ohm's law
    2. Electrical power
    3. Resistivity
    4. Series and parallel circuits
    5. Meters
  8. Magnetism
    1. Magnetic field
    2. Sources of magnetic fields
    3. Earth's magnetism
    4. Induced emf
    5. Inductance
  9. Contributions made to physics
    1. Individuals and barriers
    2. Cultures

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. When taught on campus: none.
2. When taught as a virtual section: on-going access to computer with email software and capabilities; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Assignments
In-term tests
Final comprehensive examination

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Urone and Hinrichs. OpenStax College Physics, 2nd ed.. 2022.

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

  1. Students will be expected to complete weekly problem sets as homework.
  2. Students will be expected to read the material in the text prior to the lectures.

Discipline(s)

Physics/Astronomy