PH 111 - Physics of Everyday Life

Description
This is a survey of a Conceptual Physics lecture and lab course designed for non-science majors and covers the topics and methods for teaching K-6 Science. The course covers everyday topics such as motion, forces, simple machines, electric circuits, weather, sound, light, and the night sky. Recommended Skills: Basic high school algebra skills, similar to MA 98, are strongly recommended for those enrolling in this course.

Credit Hours: 5
Contact Hours: 6
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Course Fees: $5.00
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Pre-Early Childhood General and Special Education & Lower Elementary Education: Birth through Grade 3, A.A. (Western Michigan University); Pre-Elementary Education, A.A. (Ferris State University); Pre-Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching + Educational Studies, A.A. (Grand Valley State Univ)

Other Courses Where This Course is a Prerequisite: None
Other Courses Where this Course is a Corequisite: None
Other Courses Where This course is included in within the Description: None

General Education Requirement:
Natural Sciences
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
3. Critical Thinking: Gather and synthesize relevant information, evaluate alternative perspectives, or understand inquiry as a means of creating knowledge, 7. Problem-Solving: Apply theory, calculation, or experimentation to demonstrate effective problem-solving
Course Learning Outcomes:

Define key physics quantities from everyday life including standard units.
Develop frameworks to identify given information, relevant concepts, and problem solving goals for everyday life situations.
Solve quantitative problems using mathematical and scientific principles. (GELO 7)
Complete work accurately and with attention to detail.
Predict outcomes from a variety of experiments and compare laboratory results with physics theory. (GELO 3)
Analyze data by constructing graphs and identifying sources of experimental uncertainty.

Course Outline:

Scientific Reasoning
1. Scientific Method
2. Measurement
  1. Units
  2. Uncertainty
3. Experimental Design
  1. Graphing
Newton’s Laws
1. Motion
  1. Velocity
  2. Acceleration
  3. Projectile Motion
  4. Rotational Motion
2. Forces
  1. Inertia
  2. Support Forces
  3. Friction
3. Momentum
  1. Impulse
  2. Conservation of Momentum
Mechanical Energy
1. Energy
  1. Work
  2. Kinetic Energy
  3. Potential Energy
  4. Conservation of Energy
  5. Sources of Energy
2. Power
  1. Simple Machines
Electricity & Magnetism
1. Electric Charges
  1. Coulomb’s Law
  2. Conservation of Charge
2. Conductivity
3. Electrical Circuits
  1. Voltage
  2. Current
  3. Resistance
  4. Electrical Power
4. Magnetic Fields
  1. Magnetic Induction
Matter
1. Material Properties
  1. States of Matter
  2. Fluids
2. Thermodynamics
  1. Heat
  2. Phase Transitions
  3. Heat Transfers
3. Climate & Weather
Waves
1. Oscillations & Vibrations
  1. Pendulums
  2. Springs
2. Mechanical Waves
  1. Wave Motion
  2. Wave Properties
3. Sound
  1. Speed of Sound
  2. Resonance
  3. Doppler Effect
4. Light
  1. Electromagnetic Spectrum
  2. Reflection
  3. Refraction
  4. Diffraction
  5. Interference
  6. Color
Astronomy
1. Gravity
  1. Universal Gravitation
  2. Orbits
2. Solar System
  1. Sun
  2. Planets
  3. Moons
3. Universe
  1. Stars
  2. Galaxies

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
No
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 20-50%

Lab group work and hands-on activities: 30-60%

Questions and discussion: 10-30%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: IRW 99

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
General Education- Offering designed to meet the specific criteria for a GRCC Distribution Requirement. The course should be designated by the requirement it fulfills.
Course Format:
Lecture/Lab - Must meet Lecture & Lab Ratios
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 4
Total Lab Hours Per Week: 2
People Soft Course ID Number: 101098
Course CIP Code: 40.08
Maximum Course Enrollment: 24
General Room Request: Lecture Room on Science 4th Floor (ideally RM 402 or 405). Lab Room either RM 441 or 444 (444 is first choice)

School: School of STEM
Department: Physical Sciences
Discipline: PH
Faculty Credential Requirements:
18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
In addition to the qualifications to teach college physics, a MS or Ph.D. in physics or a related area, an instructor in PH 111 should have a specific understanding of the equipment and facilities available for use in the PH 111 laboratory. Instructors teaching laboratory sections only may possess only a bachelor’s degree in physics or a related field; this is consistent with the use of physics graduate students to teach laboratory sections which is common practice for 4 year colleges and universities.

Major Course Revisions: General Education Review
Last Revision Date Effective: 20250225T14:28:07
Course Review & Revision Year: 2029-2030