PHY 101 Outline

Course Description and Purpose

This is the first part of the two-semester Introduction to Physics I taught at NOVA.

Surveys general principles of physics. Includes topics such as force and motion, energy, heat, sound, light, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. Part I of II.
Lecture 3 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 6 hours per week.
4 credits.

A college level course intended for students with non-technical majors who need a lab science. Students will gain an understanding of the physical principles involved in their everyday environment. The course will serve as an alternative physics course for those students having little or no algebra math skills.

Prerequisites

Satisfactory placement score for ENG 111.

Note: Students are expected to have some basic algebra and arithmetic skills at the level of Developmental Math MTT 3.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

  • Course Content Summary and Objectives as published on the NVCC web site.
  • Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
    • Discuss and analyze qualitatively a variety of problems and situations they encounter in their professional, personal, and educational activities.
    • Apply critical thinking to their respective occupational field and day-to-day life.
    • Use and manipulate formulae that relate to physical phenomena.
    • Collect and record experimental data and obtain meaningful results.
    • Communicate effectively on course related issues.

Textbooks

Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt, 12 Ed.

General Course Policies