Physics may generally be described as the study of matter and energy and the relationship between the two. A more detailed outline of the course exists on the Physics Syllabus or Outcomes web pages.
Essential Learnings for 1st Semester
Demonstrate an understanding of the SI system of measurement and perform conversions between SI units.
Distinguish between a quantity and a unit. Identify appropriate symbols for physical quantities and their SI unit of measure.
Perform dimensional analysis calculations.
Perform calculations with scientific notation.
Solve an equation for an unknown variable.
Identify the relationship between two variables, the general equation representing that relationship and the type of graph line produced.
Using appropriate variables, write an equation for the graph line produced from a given set of data.
Solve problems involving formula equations and properly communicate the solution to the problem.
Identify the meaning of the graph line, slope, and area under the curve for distance-time, speed-time, and acceleration-time graphs.
Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities.
Distinguish between speed, velocity, and acceleration and perform calculations for each.
Tutorial on Significant Digits, etc.
http://science.widener.edu/svb/tutorial/sigfigures.html
An excellent on-line tutorial is the Physics Classroom
Motion Graphs:
http://physics.ius.edu/~kyle/physlets/motiongraph/motiongraph.html
http://webphysics.davidson.edu/physlet_resources/bu_semester1/c2_twocars_graphs.html
Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
http://home.cvc.org/science/kepler.htm
Date last modified: 09/18/08