Course Outline for Physics 4C
General Physics III

Effective: Fall 2024
SLO Rev: 05/19/2016
Catalog Description:

PHYS 4C - General Physics III

5.00 Units

Physics 4C is the third course in the calculus-based sequence for STEM majors. It includes oscillations, fluids, sound waves, thermodynamics, electromagnetic spectrum, optics including reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, polarization. May not receive credit if PHYS 7B has been completed successfully.
Prerequisite: PHYS 4B and MTH 3 and MTH 4 and, MTH 6 (MTH 4 and MTH 6 may be taken concurrently with PHYS 4C).
1902.00 - Physics, General
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 4.00 72.00 144.00 216.00
Laboratory 1.00 54.00 0.00 54.00
Total 5.00 126.00 144.00 270.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. analyze and solve a variety of problems often using calculus in topics such as:
    a. oscillations;
    b. fluids;
    c. sound waves;
    d. thermodynamics;
    e. optics;
  2. operate standard laboratory equipment;
  3. analyze laboratory data;
  4. write comprehensive laboratory reports according to published lab report standards.
Course Content:

Course Content (Lecture):

  1. Oscillations and Wave behavior
  2. Fluids
  3. Sound Waves
  4. Temperature
  5. Thermal expansion and conduction
  6. Kinetic theory
  7. Ideal gases
  8. Laws of thermodynamics
  9. Heat Engines & Refrigerators
  10. Light & Radio waves
  11. Reflection & refraction
  12. Interference
  13. Diffraction
  14. Polarization

Course Content (Laboratory):

  1. Laboratory experiments, simulations, and activities exploring the lecture content that may include the following concepts
    1. Oscillations and Wave behavior 
    2. Fluids (Archimedes & Bernoulli Laws)
    3. Sound Waves (Speed of Sound, Resonance)
    4. Temperature (Newton’s Law of Cooling, Temperature Scales, Absolute Zero)
    5. Thermal expansion and conduction of materials
    6. Kinetic theory
    7. Ideal gases
    8. Laws of thermodynamics
    9. Heat Engines & Refrigerators
    10. Light & Radio waves (Speed of light, Microwaves)
    11. Reflection & refraction (Basic optics of lenses and mirrors, Telescopes, Microscopes)
    12. Interference (Interferometry)
    13. Diffraction 
    14. Polarization
  2. Experimental Technique, Manual and Computerized Collection and Analysis of Data, Error Analysis.
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Laboratory
  3. Demonstration/Exercise
  4. Group Activities
  5. Problem solving.
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Weekly homework/question sets: 10+ discussion and/or numerical problems taken from the textbook and online homework systems. Example: An object is placed 15 cm from a certain mirror. The image is half the height of the object, inverted, and real. How far is the image from the mirror, and what is the radius of curvature of the mirror?
  2. Laboratory reports (individual and group), including computer-based data acquisition and analysis. Example: Demonstrate the wave nature of light, including reflection, refraction, polarization, interference, and diffraction, using microwaves. Along the way, experimentally test and verify the inverse square law, Snell’s Law, and the physics of Young double-slit experiment as well as the physics of interferometers. Using microwaves, measure and compare your values for the indices of refraction for wax and plastic, and the wavelength of microwaves, with known values, and discuss errors and uncertainties in your results.
  3. Written assignments that encourage critical thinking and writing skills by including essays which involve analytical reasoning; Special exercise worksheets; computer simulations and tutorials; individual and group activities, research papers, long-term individual and group projects. Example: Research an application of physics related to a topic from our class, and write a 5+ page paper, including at least 5 current outside references. Present your work to the class in a 10-minute presentation, and develop a handout to support your presentation.
  4. Participation in email and web-based instruction, discussion, homework assignments, and tutorials, including web-based research on topics dealing with physics and its applications to technology.
  1. Quizzes
  2. Research Projects
  3. Projects
  4. Home Work
  5. Written Laboratory reports (individual and group) based on the Physics Department Laboratory Standards and graded on criteria that may include the following: 1) Description of experimental procedures 2) Completeness of data collected 3) Quality of data collected 4) Computational precision and accuracy 5) Accuracy and precision of experimental laboratory results 6) Proper use of symbolic notation 7) Quality of analysis of scientific principles explored 8) Quality of narrative explanations and reasoning 9) Representation of data in tables or diagrams 10) Evaluation of the experiment overall, including accuracy and error
  6. Midterm Examination
  7. Final Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate qualitative mastery of physics 4C concepts in waves, thermodynamics, and/or optics through presentations, group projects, research papers, and/or homework essays
  2. Demonstrates Mastery of Physics 4C lab experiment through submission of a complete lab report with all requirement elements present, including abstract; introduction; materials, methods, and procedures; data and analysis; results and discussion; references; data tables.
  3. Demonstrates mastery of quantitative aspects of Physics 4C concepts in waves, thermodynamics, and optics through homework and/or exam problems
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Knight, R. (2017). Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach (4th). Pearson.
  2. Young & Freedman (2019). University Physics (15th). Pearson.
  3. Halliday, D., R. Resnick, J. Walker. (2021). Fundamentals of Physics (Extended) (12th). Wiley.
  1. Vernier. Experiments in Physics. Vernier, 2020.
  1. Mastering Physics. Pearson, (2023/e).
  • Calculator
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Oscillations, fluids, sound waves, thermodynamics, electromagnetic spectrum, optics including reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, polarization.
Prerequisite: PHYS 4B and MTH 3 and MTH 4 and, MTH 6 (MTH 4 and MTH 6 may be taken concurrently with PHYS 4C).
Discipline:
Physics/Astronomy*