Course Syllabus

PHYS 1010 Elementary Physics

Course Description

PHYS 1010 is a one-semester introductory physics course with a co-requisite lab (PHYS 1015), designed for non-science majors. The course emphasizes fundamental physics principles and problem-solving strategies. Topics may include the scientific method, Newton’s laws, gravity, momentum, energy, thermodynamics, waves, electricity, optics, nuclear physics, and relativity. Students develop skills in measurement, data analysis, and applying mathematical and scientific reasoning to real-world phenomena and everyday experiences.

Justification

PHYS 1010 satisfies general education requirements in Physical Science and transfers across Utah colleges. It introduces students to core physics concepts and the scientific method, emphasizing everyday applications. Through labs, discussions, and real-world examples, students build scientific literacy, critical thinking, and the ability to evaluate evidence. The course also explores how scientific understanding evolves through testing, revision, and open inquiry—skills essential for lifelong learning and informed decision-making.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate a practical understanding of physics. Students will also be able to show how physical scientists apply the scientific method and the scientific attitude to increase their knowledge about the natural world.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. By the end of this course, students will be able to locate, interpret, and evaluate scientific information from textbooks and other appropriate sources to deepen their understanding of physical phenomena. Students will develop research skills through designing and carrying out a scientific investigation, including proposing a testable hypothesis, collecting and analyzing experimental data, and synthesizing their findings. Students will leave the course with increased confidence in conducting basic scientific research and communicating their results clearly and effectively in written form.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to form hypotheses, calculate experimental results, and compare experimental results with theoretical results to analyze and draw conclusions about problems they encounter. In order to propose outcomes, conduct experiments, calculate experimental results, and report their findings, students must draw from multiple disciplines including math, a variety of disciplines within the study of physics, and writing.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to predict outcomes for hypotheses, conduct experiments, calculate experimental results, and compare experimental results with theoretical results as part of the course. In order to best predict, measure and explain the results, students will be able to reason analytically using measurements and data. Students will also be able to reason critically by learning to take precise measurements and understand how their results differ from theoretical results. Students will be able to reason creatively by deciding how to approach problem solving using the concepts they have learned, data they have gathered and other supporting resources presented in the course.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to use their newfound understanding of science in general and the principles of the specific scientific disciplines surveyed in the course to explain phenomena that they observe in the physical world. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to use their newfound understanding of science in general and the principles of the specific scientific disciplines surveyed in the course to explain phenomena that they observe in the physical world.
2. UNDERSTAND: Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on physical systems. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to analyze and describe the flow of energy in a system. Students will also be able to describe the relationship between energy and matter.
3. EVALUATE: Evaluate the credibility of various sources of information about science-related issues. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to examine recent publications to generate appropriate conclusions based on scientific evidence as related to topics discussed in the course.
4. APPLY: Describe how the Physical Sciences utilize their foundational principles to confront and solve pressing local and global challenges, shaping historical, ethical, or social landscapes in the process.  Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the historical development of significant theories/models of physics and how the scientific method was applied to gradually advance the scientific understanding of the physics world around us. Students will also be able to use physics to analyze recent global events and challenges.

Course Content

PHYS 1010 is a general education course exploring physics in everyday life. Students learn the scientific method, key physics concepts, and how to apply equations and data to real-world scenarios. Topics may include motion, energy, forces, waves, electricity, light, atoms, and relativity. The course emphasizes critical thinking, graphing, and real-world applications through classwork, hands-on labs, and homework.