2023-2024 Schoolcraft Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Physics
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Schoolcraft offers courses in basic, applied, general, and engineering physics, including courses that range from the introduction to astronomy to physics for scientists and engineers. In addition, through lab work and lectures, students will learn about other aspects of physics, including optics, harmonics, magnetism, and momentum.
There is currently no certificate or degree program offered in Physics. Some or all of the courses listed below may be required/recommended or applied toward a certificate or degree program in another area of study. These courses may also be taken for personal or professional interest or for transfer to a four-year college or university.
Students interested in studying Physics should talk to their Academic Advisor about transfer guides and articulation agreements with Schoolcraft College. Students interested in studying Physics at a 4-year university may be interested in completing the Associate of Engineering or Associate of Science degree at Schoolcraft College.
Degrees
Transfer Degrees
Physics
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PHYS 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
Credits: 4
Lecture Contact Hours: 3
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: PHYS 104 is a one-semester introduction to astronomy that utilizes laboratories and basic mathematics to assist in, and expand upon, the exploration of the course topics. Earth-sky relationships, the solar system, stellar astronomy, cosmology and astrobiology will be covered. Several space exploration missions will also be featured. This course is not intended for science majors.
Prerequisites: MATH 053 , or overall high school GPA of 2.8 or higher, or a minimum score of 19 ACT-Math, 25 SAT-Math, 78 CPT-Elementary Algebra or 250 NGA-Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics or one year of high school algebra.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.
Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.
This Course is Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Fall
Check Course Availability
Course Competencies
- Apply the equatorial and horizontal coordinate systems, in conjunction with the celestial sphere, for location and navigation.
- Apply the distance ladder methods to determine the distance of celestial objects.
- Examine the electromagnetic spectrum using photon and wave models.
- Apply radiation laws such as Wien’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, Stefan-Boltzmann law and Planck’s law.
- Explore the goals and operation of several well-known terrestrial and non-terrestrial telescopes working in visible and non-visible frequency bands.
- Examine celestial motions, cycles and configurations.
- Examine lunar phases, lunar cycles, lunar eclipses and solar eclipses.
- Examine the formation and current state of the solar system.
- Differentiate terrestrial and Jovian planets.
- Differentiate meteoroids, asteroids, comets, moons and dwarf planets.
- Diagram the composition and key characteristics of the sun.
- Relate stellar luminosity, surface temperature, brightness, composition, size and mass.
- Classify stellar types and life cycles. Identify key features of the Milky Way Galaxy.
- Classify galaxies in terms of formation, type and evolution.
- Explore Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity.
- Apply Kepler’s and Newton’s laws.
- Explore how black holes form, their effect on space-time and their role in the structure of galaxies.
- Explore the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy and the evolution of the Universe.
- Explain criteria used to search for extra-terrestrial life.
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PHYS 123 - Applied Physics
Credits: 5
Lecture Contact Hours: 4
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: This course in applied physics is designed for technical, business and applied health programs. Using algebra, the traditional topics of kinematics, dynamics, mechanics, heat, acoustics, electricity and magnetism, optics, modern physics and nuclear physics are treated in a practical and applied fashion with emphasis on laboratory work and scientific procedures.
Prerequisites: MATH 102 or MATH 113 or higher MATH class.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.
Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.
This Course is Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Fall
Check Course Availability
Course Competencies
- Use the scientific method as a process for learning about scientific phenomenon and technical challenges.
- Identify how the fundamental principles of physics are used in everyday life.
- Outline the role of physics in history, culture and philosophy.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of linear motion (kinematics).
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of forces (Newton’s Laws).
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of work and energy.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of impulse and momentum.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of fluids.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of heat and thermodynamics.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of waves and sound.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of electricity, magnetism and electromagnetics.
- Explain the fundamental qualitative and analytical aspects of optics.
- Solve practical problems drawn from biological/health sciences, sound/acoustics, mechanical, heating and cooling, electronic/electrical related application areas.
- Use mathematics to solve problems and in laboratory activities.
- Demonstrate proper laboratory skills for equipment setup, systematic data collection, analysis and error reporting.
- Use computer applications for laboratory data acquisition and analysis, modeling and simulations.
- Create a scientific laboratory report.
- Collaborate on one or more group projects.
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PHYS 181 - General Physics 1
Credits: 4
Lecture Contact Hours: 4
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: This first semester course in general physics is designed for pre-professional students. Using algebra and trigonometry, the traditional topics of mechanics, fluids, energy, heat and sound are explored through lecture demonstrations, interactive activities and laboratory work. This course is not for engineering students or physics majors.
Prerequisites: MATH 113 or higher.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: PHYS 123 or one year of high school physics.
Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.
This Course is Typically Offered: Fall, Winter
Check Course Availability
Course Competencies
- Analyze the motion of an object in terms of its position, velocity and acceleration.
- Analyze a system’s mechanics using Newton’s Laws of Motion.
- Organize forces using a free body diagram.
- Analyze a system’s mechanics using conservation of energy.
- Analyze collisions using both conservation of energy and conservation of momentum.
- Analyze simple harmonic motion.
- Analyze orbital motion of satellites using Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
- Explain various wave phenomena using the principle of superposition.
- Integrate concepts across the chapters of the text.
- Assign the appropriate SI unit to a physical characteristic.
- Use significant figures when reporting calculated values.
- Classify a physical quantity either as a scalar or a vector.
- Change between polar and Cartesian vector notation.
- Add two vectors graphically and algebraically.
- Use computer simulation to model motion.
- Use DataStudio for data acquisition.
- Develop data tables and graphs to portray the results of experimental data collection.
- Compare measured results from an experiment with calculated values derived from a mathematical model.
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PHYS 182 - General Physics 2
Credits: 4
Lecture Contact Hours: 4
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: This second semester course is a continuation of PHYS 181 . Using algebra and trigonometry, the more advanced topics of electricity, magnetism, light and modern physics are explored through lecture demonstrations, interactive activities and laboratory work. This course is not for engineering students or physics majors.
Prerequisites: PHYS 181 .
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.
Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.
This Course is Typically Offered: Winter Only
Check Course Availability
Course Competencies
- Evaluate the electric force between point charges.
- Evaluate the electric field at a distance from a point charge.
- Sketch both electric field lines and equipotential lines around charged objects.
- Analyze the motion of a charge in terms of the electric field it encounters.
- Evaluate the electric potential at a distance from a charged object.
- Analyze the motion of a charge in terms of the electric potential it encounters.
- Analyze properties of simple DC circuits.
- Relate the magnetic force on a moving charge to the magnetic field it encounters.
- Sketch the magnetic field near a current carrying wire.
- Evaluate the magnetic field at a distance from a current carrying wire.
- Analyze the image formed by a system of lenses and/or mirrors.
- Evaluate interference and diffraction effects for electromagnetic waves.
- Explain basic principles of special relativity.
- Analyze the atomic spectra of hydrogen.
- Analyze the electron configuration in an atom.
- Use a digital multimeter to measure current, voltage and resistance.
- Identify sources of experimental error.
- Develop data tables and graphs to portray the results of experimental data collection.
- Develop a conclusion based on analysis of experimental data.
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PHYS 211 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers 1
Credits: 5
Lecture Contact Hours: 5
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: This first semester, calculus-based course is designed for engineering students and science majors. Traditional topics of kinematics, dynamics, energy, fluids, heat and sound are investigated through lecture demonstrations, simulations and laboratory work.
Prerequisites: PHYS 123 or one year of high school physics. MATH 150 or high school calculus.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.
Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.
This Course is Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Fall
Check Course Availability
Course Competencies
- Analyze the motion of an object in terms of its position, velocity and acceleration.
- Analyze a system’s mechanics using Newton’s Laws of Motion.
- Organize forces using a free body diagram.
- Analyze a system’s mechanics using conservation of energy.
- Analyze collisions using both conservation of energy and conservation of momentum.
- Analyze simple harmonic motion.
- Analyze orbital motion of satellites using Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
- Use the principle of superposition to explain various wave phenomena.
- Assign the appropriate SI unit to a physical characteristic.
- Use significant figures when reporting calculated values.
- Classify a physical quantity either as a scalar or a vector.
- Change between polar and Cartesian vector notation.
- Add two vectors graphically and algebraically.
- Use computer simulation to model motion.
- Use a Vernier caliper.
- Use DataStudio for data acquisition.
- Develop data tables and graphs to portray the results of experimental data collection.
- Use curve fitting to analyze data.
- Identify sources of experimental error.
- Compare measured results from an experiment with calculated values derived from a mathematical model.
- Develop a conclusion based on analysis of experimental data.
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PHYS 212 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers 2
Credits: 5
Lecture Contact Hours: 5
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: This second semester, calculus-based course is a continuation of PHYS 211 . Advanced topics such as electricity, magnetism, light and modern physics are investigated through lecture demonstration, simulations and laboratory work. This course is designed for engineering students and science majors.
Prerequisites: PHYS 211 with a minimum grade of 2.0.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.
Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.
This Course is Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Check Course Availability
Course Competencies
- Analyze the thermodynamic efficiency of various engine cycles.
- Analyze thermodynamic processes using the first law of thermodynamics and the ideal gas law.
- Evaluate the electric force between point charges.
- Evaluate the electric field at a distance from a charged object.
- Sketch both electric field lines and equipotential lines around charged objects.
- Analyze the motion of a charge in terms of the electric field it encounters.
- Evaluate the electric potential at a distance from a charged object.
- Analyze the motion of a charge in terms of the electric potential it encounters.
- Analyze properties of simple AC and DC circuits.
- Relate the magnetic force on a moving charge to the magnetic field it encounters.
- Sketch the magnetic field near a current carrying wire.
- Evaluate the magnetic field at a distance from a current carrying wire.
- Relate the acceleration of charge to electromagnetic waves.
- Analyze the image formed by a system of lenses and/or mirrors.
- Use the principle of superposition to explain interference and diffraction effects for electromagnetic waves.
- Assign the appropriate SI unit to a physical characteristic.
- Use significant figures when reporting calculated values.
- Use a digital multimeter to measure current, voltage and resistance.
- Use DataStudio for data acquisition.
- Develop data tables and graphs to portray the results of experimental data collection.
- Use curve fitting to analyze data.
- Identify sources of experimental error.
- Develop a conclusion based on analysis of experimental data.
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