GENERAL PHYSICS

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ( PHYSICS 103 , 201 , 207 , 247 , or E M A 201 ) and (MATH 217 or 221 ). Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 208 or 248 . Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Physical Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Calculate electrostatic force vectors between individual electric charges. Predict the resulting position, distribution, and motion of the charges. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Calculate the electric field vectors created by systems of electric charges and the forces resulting from these fields. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Determine how electric potential energy of and work done on an electric charge changes as it moves through an electric field using electric potential (voltage). Audience: Undergraduate 4. Determine voltage changes across components and flow of electric currents through circuits of conducting wires, resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Calculate magnetic field vectors created by moving electric charges. Calculate the effects of magnetic fields on external moving charges. Calculate inductive effects due to the relationship between magnetic fields and electric forces. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Calculate the effects of reflection and refraction, of interference and diffraction, and of mirrors and lenses. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Describe the periodic phenomena of electromagnetic waves using amplitude, frequency, period, and wavelength to predict system behavior. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Perform measurements and analyze results in laboratory experiments using concepts from this course. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Calculate electrostatic force vectors between individual electric charges. Predict the resulting position, distribution, and motion of the charges. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Calculate the electric field vectors created by systems of electric charges and the forces resulting from these fields. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Determine how electric potential energy of and work done on an electric charge changes as it moves through an electric field using electric potential (voltage). Audience: Undergraduate 4. Determine voltage changes across components and flow of electric currents through circuits of conducting wires, resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Calculate magnetic field vectors created by moving electric charges. Calculate the effects of magnetic fields on external moving charges. Calculate inductive effects due to the relationship between magnetic fields and electric forces. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Calculate the effects of reflection and refraction, of interference and diffraction, and of mirrors and lenses. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Describe the periodic phenomena of electromagnetic waves using amplitude, frequency, period, and wavelength to predict system behavior. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Perform measurements and analyze results in laboratory experiments using concepts from this course. Audience: Undergraduate