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Physics (PHYS) 274
Introductory Physics

Registrations in Physics 274 were permitted until a September 2000 start date. PHYS 200/( 201 or 202) will be the new route for students needing 6 credits of introductory physics after that point.

Overview

PHYS 274 is a junior, non-calculus course that provides a general overview of physics as a description and explanation of the physical world.

Method of Delivery: Individualized study with home lab. PC-compatible, Windows-based computer required.

Credit Weight/Area of Study: 6 credits - Science

Prerequisite: Permission of the course professor.

Precluded Course: PHYS 200 or PHYS 201 (PHYS 274 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PHYS 200 or PHYS 201).

Outline

• Theory Section
  • Unit 1 Kinematics of Linear Motion
  • Unit 2 Motion in Two Dimensions
  • Unit 3 Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Unit 4 Gravitation
  • Unit 5 Conservation of Mechanical Energy
  • Unit 6 Conservation of Linear Momentum
  • Unit 7 Rotational Motion
  • Unit 8 Equilibrium
  • Unit 9 Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Unit 10 Temperature, Heat, and Ideal Gases
  • Unit 11 Thermodynamics
  • Unit 12 Electrostatics
  • Unit 13 Electric Current and Circuit Theory

• Experimental Section
  • Lab 1 Graphical Analysis Techniques
  • Lab 2 Kinematic Measurement and Acceleration
  • Lab 3 Dropping and Bouncing
  • Lab 4 Acceleration due to Gravity
  • Lab 5 Inertial Navigation
  • Lab 6 Acceleration and Force
  • Lab 7 The Pendulum and Mechanical Energy
  • Lab 8 Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Lab 9 Newton's Law of Cooling
  • Lab 10 Specific Heat and Heat of Fusion
  • Lab 11 Specific Heat of Solids
  • Lab 12 Resistors and Resistance
  • Lab 13 Capacitors

Evaluation

To receive credit for PHYS 274, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least 50 per cent and a grade of at least 50 per cent on each examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Exercise 1	Exercise 2	Exercise 3	Exam 1	Exam 2	Exam 3	Lab work	Total
6.66%	6.66%	6.66%	15%	15%	30.02%	20%	100%

Course Materials

Textbooks

Giancoli, Douglas C., 1998. Physics, 5th. ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Connors, M. 1997. PHYS 200/201 and PHYS 274 Lab Guide. Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB.

Other material

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, workbooks, a lab manual, and a lab computer disk.

The laboratory package is borrowed at no cost to students and uses Texas Instruments Calculator Based Laboratory (CBL) technology, incorporating a TI-83 graphing calculator to control a CBL unit and sensors. A Graph-Link cable is used to transfer data to a computer for analysis. In some labs, circuit construction and use of a (supplied) digital multimeter also play a role.

In this way students get practical laboratory experience measuring and relating to the following basic physical parameters:

• distance, time, acceleration, voltage, current, temperature.

And derived quantities including:

• velocity, acceleration from distance/time, frequency and period, specific heat, heat of fusion, resistance, and capacitance.

Special Course Features

A compulsory lab component requires that students perform labs in a place of their choice using some household items and materials borrowed from Athabasca University Library. Lab evaluation is based on written reports about the experiments performed.

Please go to the physics home lab schedule for more information regarding a potential Physics Lab Tutorial Week.

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Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

 
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
(780) 675-6111, (800) 788-9041
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Open in Rev. 2 March 27/00

This page was updated by E. Comrie

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