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Home Academics Programs and Majors Physics

Physics

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Physics (PHYS) Courses

PHYS 310 Conceptual Physics

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:MATH 32 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitations: PHYS 310 & 311 combined: maximum credit, one course. No credit if taken after PHYS 350 or 410)
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV; CSU Area B1; IGETC Area 5A
  • C-ID:Part of C-ID PHYS 140
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This course covers selected topics in motion, gravity, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, light, and atomic and nuclear physics. It is designed for non-science majors and students who have not taken a course in physics.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • test the validity of a hypothesis using the scientific method.
  • identify the basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as Newton’s Laws, energy conservation, or momentum conservation).
  • analyze conceptual problems that require the application of basic physics concepts.
  • solve simple mathematical problems that require the application of basic physics concepts.
  • define common physics terms and physical laws.
  • evaluate the pros and cons of topics such as nuclear power, release of greenhouse gases, and humanity's impact on the environment.

PHYS 311 Basic Physics

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:MATH 373 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitations: PHYS 310 & 311 combined: maximum credit, one course. No credit if taken after PHYS 350 or 410)
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV; CSU Area B1; IGETC Area 5A
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This survey course emphasizes problem solving in physics. Topics include motion in one and two dimensions, forces, energy, and momentum. It is designed for science majors who plan to continue with PHYS 350 or 410.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • identify basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as Newton’s laws, energy conservation, or momentum conservation).
  • evaluate conceptual problems that require the application of basic physics.
  • solve problems that require the application of basic physics and mathematics.
  • interpret the results of physics calculations.
  • define common physics terms and physical laws.

PHYS 312 Conceptual Physics Laboratory

  • Units:1
  • Hours:54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Corequisite:PHYS 310
  • Advisory:Successful completion of Algebra I/Integrated Math 1 or Beginning Algebra.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV; CSU Area B3; IGETC Area 5C
  • C-ID:Part of C-ID PHYS 140
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This laboratory course provides hands-on observation activities and interpretation of data in a variety of experimental situations. Topics include motion, sound, light, heat, electricity, and magnetism.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • collect, analyze, and present experimental data.
  • tabulate, graph, and interpret various experimental measurements and calculated results.
  • apply dimensions and units correctly for various physical quantities.
  • use instruments such as a protractor, mass balance, timer, ammeter, and voltmeter.
  • write a well organized and complete lab report.

PHYS 350 General Physics

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:MATH 373 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Advisory:PHYS 311; Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: PHYS 350, 360 & 410, 421, 431 combined: maximum credit, one series)
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV; CSU Area B1; CSU Area B3; IGETC Area 5A; IGETC Area 5C
  • C-ID:C-ID PHYS 105; Part of C-ID PHYS 100S
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This trigonometry-based physics course covers the mechanics of particles, rigid bodies, and fluids. It also covers mechanical waves, sound, heat, and thermodynamics. The PHYS 350/360 series is designed for biological science students, including those in pre-medical, pre-dental, agricultural, and forestry programs.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • test the validity of a hypothesis using the scientific method.
  • identify the basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as Newton’s laws, energy conservation, or momentum conservation).
  • analyze conceptual problems that require the application of physics.
  • solve problems that require the application of physics and mathematics up through trigonometry.
  • interpret the results of physics calculations.
  • define common physics terms and physical laws.
  • compose a well-organized and complete lab report.

PHYS 360 General Physics

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:PHYS 350 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: PHYS 350, 360 & 410, 421, 431 combined: maximum credit, one series)
  • General Education:CSU Area B1; CSU Area B3; IGETC Area 5A; IGETC Area 5C
  • C-ID:C-ID PHYS 110; Part of C-ID PHYS 100S
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This trigonometry-based physics course covers electricity, magnetism, basic electric circuit theory, optics, wave behavior, and modern physics. The PHYS 350/360 series is designed for biological science students, including those in pre-medical, pre-dental, agricultural, and forestry programs.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • test the validity of a hypothesis using the scientific method.
  • identify the basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as Coulomb’s law, Ohm’s law, or charge conservation).
  • analyze conceptual problems that require the application of physics.
  • solve problems that require the application of physics and mathematics up through trigonometry.
  • interpret the results of physics calculations.
  • define common physics terms and physical laws.
  • compose a well-organized and complete lab report.

PHYS 410 Mechanics of Solids and Fluids

  • Units:5
  • Hours:72 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:MATH 400 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Corequisite:MATH 401
  • Advisory:PHYS 311; and eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: PHYS 350, 360 & 410, 421, 431 combined: maximum credit, one series)
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV; CSU Area B1; CSU Area B3; IGETC Area 5A; IGETC Area 5C
  • C-ID:C-ID PHYS 205; Part of C-ID PHYS 200S
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This calculus-based physics course covers the mechanics of particles, rigid bodies, and fluids. The PHYS 410, 421, 431 sequence is required for majors in physics, chemistry, or engineering.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • test the validity of a hypothesis using the scientific method.
  • identify the basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as Newton’s laws, energy conservation and momentum conservation).
  • evaluate conceptual problems requiring the application of mechanics.
  • solve problems requiring the application of physics and mathematics up through calculus 1.
  • interpret the results of physics calculations.
  • define common physics terms and physical laws, such as Newton's laws of motion, work, conservation of energy, Newton's law of gravitation, centripetal acceleration, etc.
  • compose a well-organized and complete lab report.

PHYS 421 Electricity and Magnetism

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:MATH 401 and PHYS 410 with grades of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: PHYS 350, 360 & 410, 421, 431 combined: maximum credit, one series)
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV (effective Fall 2024)
  • C-ID:C-ID PHYS 210; Part of C-ID PHYS 200S
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This calculus-based physics course is an in-depth treatment of electricity and magnetism. It involves problem solving with an emphasis on physics problems that require integral calculus.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • test the validity of a hypothesis using the scientific method.
  • identify the basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as Coulomb’s law, Ohm’s law, and charge conservation).
  • evaluate conceptual problems requiring the application of electricity and magnetism.
  • solve problems requiring the application of physics and mathematics up through Calculus II.
  • interpret the results of physics calculations.
  • define basic physics terms (such as electric charge, field, voltage, current, resistance) and physical laws (such as Maxwell’s equations).
  • compose a well-organized and complete lab report.

PHYS 431 Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:MATH 401 and PHYS 410 with grades of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (UC credit limitation: PHYS 350, 360 & 410, 421, 431 combined: maximum credit, one series)
  • General Education:AA/AS Area IV (effective Fall 2024)
  • C-ID:C-ID PHYS 215; Part of C-ID PHYS 200S
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This calculus-based physics course explores the fundamental theories of thermodynamics, waves, optics, and modern physics. Topics include heat, temperature, kinetic theory, waves, sound, light reflection and refraction, optics, interference, diffraction, atomic theory, and nuclear physics.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • test the validity of a hypothesis using the scientific method.
  • identify the basic physical principles that apply in a particular situation (such as interference, diffraction, or energy conservation).
  • analyze conceptual problems that require the application of thermodynamics, wave mechanics, optics, and modern physics.
  • solve problems requiring the application of physics and mathematics up through Calculus II.
  • interpret the results of physics calculations.
  • define common physics terms and physical laws (such as the principles of wave superposition, interference, and diffraction; the laws of thermodynamics; the laws of reflection and refraction; and the conservation of energy/mass and charge in nuclear reactions).
  • compose a well-organized and complete lab report.

PHYS 495 Independent Studies in Physics

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College. They must also discuss the study with a professor in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.

PHYS 499 Experimental Offering in Physics

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2024

This is the experimental courses description.

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