DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

College of Science
Department of Physics
PHYFUN1

Physics Fundamentals for Science Majors 1

Prerequisite:

Prerequisite to: ENGPHY2

Instructor:_______________________
Consultation Hours:_______________

Contact details:__________________
Class Schedule and Room_________

Course Description
This is a General Education (GE) course on Physics designed for students in the College of
Science (COS). This course is a study of the conceptual foundations of Newtonian mechanics.
In examining Newtons three laws of motion and their relevant consequences, vector methods as
well as the basic concepts of calculus will be used.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student is expected to present the following learning outcomes
in line with the Expected Lasallian Graduate Attributes (ELGA)
ELGA
Learning Outcome
Critical and Creative Thinker
LO1: Infer and predict relevant consequences
and apply the laws and principles in solving
physics problems.
Effective Communicator
LO2: Interpret and explain the solutions in a
clear and organized manner.
Lifelong Learner
LO3: Apply the basic physical laws and
principles of physics in the relation to its
environment and everyday living.
Service-Driven Citizen
LO4: Volunteer and share the knowledge in
physics for the under-privilege
Final Course Output
As evidence of attaining the above learning outcomes, the student is required to submit the
following during the indicated dates of the term
Learning Outcome
Required Output
Due Date
LO1: Infer and predict relevant
Portfolio of coursework,
Week 3, 6, 9
consequences and apply the
assignment, home work, Long
laws and principles in solving
Exam
physics problems.
LO2: Interpret and explain the
Paper and Oral presentation of
Week 10
solutions in a clear and
assigned problem set
organized manner.
LO3: Apply the basic physical
Reaction paper regarding field
Week 11
laws and principles of physics in trip, museum visit, science
the relation to its environment
center, world trade visit, movie
and everyday living.
critique, laboratory activity
LO4: Volunteer and share the
Outreach project in physics
Week 12
knowledge of physics for the
under-privilege
Rubric for assessment
CRITERIA

Excellent (4)

Good (3)

Satisfactory (2)

Organization
(20%)

Manuscript is
well-organized
and structured.

Manuscript is
organized but
lacks certain key
elements.

Manuscript show
organization but
has several
portions that are
not relevant.

Scientific

Scientific

Scientific

Scientific

Needs
Improvement (1)
Manuscript is
disorganized and
the flow of
information and
arguments are
confusing.

Scientific

Accuracy
(50%)

explanations or
facts
presented/cited
are 100%
accurate.

explanations or
facts
presented/cited
show some
inaccuracies.

explanations or
facts
presented/cited
show a significant
number of
inaccuracies.

explanations or
facts presented or
cited are all
misconceptions.

Presentation
of Arguments
or
Explanations
(30%)

Arguments and
explanations
presented are
clear, valid, and
convincing.

Arguments
presented are
clear, valid, and
convincing but
has several
flaws.

The arguments
and explanations
presented only
partially
addressed the
problem.

The arguments
and explanations
presented do not
in any way
address the
problem.

Additional Requirements
Long Exams, Final Exam, Physics Fieldtrip, Alternative Classes, Library Work, Physics Seatwork,
Outreach Project, Community Volunteer, and other requirements prescribed in the course.
Grading System
The average of the three long exams will be compared
with the final exam. Whichever is higher gets 50% of
the final grade; the other gets 35%
Long Exams :
50 or 35%
Final Exam :
50 or 35%
Final Product
15%
TOTAL:
100%
Passing Grade: 50%
Learning Plan
LEARNING
TOPIC
OUTCOME
LO1 Physics and Measurement

Scale:
94-100
87-93
80-86
73-79
66-72
58-65
50-57
<50

WEEK
NO.
1

LO2
LO3

LO1 Vectors

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Lecture on Standards of Length,
Mass, and Time
Reading Assignment: Matter and
Model Building
Lecture on Dimensional Analysis
Conversion of Units,
Estimates and Order-ofMagnitude Calculations
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Significant
Figures

Lecture on Coordinate Systems

Vector and Scalar Quantities
Some Properties of Vectors
Components of a Vector and Unit
Vectors
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Force Table

Position, Velocity, and Speed

Instantaneous Velocity and
Speed
Reading Assignment: Analysis
Model: Particle Under Constant
Lecture on Velocity,
Acceleration,
Motion Diagrams
Reading Assignment: Analysis
Model: Particle Under Constant

LO2
LO3
LO1 Motion in One Dimension

4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0

Lecture on Acceleration,
Freely Falling Objects,
Kinematic Equations Derived
from Calculus
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Motion

LO2
LO3
LO1 Motion in Two Dimension

Lecture on The Position, Velocity,

and Acceleration Vectors
Two-Dimensional Motion with
Constant Acceleration
Projectile Motion
Reading Assignment: Analysis
Model: Particle in Uniform
Circular Motion
Tangential and Radial
Acceleration
Relative Velocity and Relative
Acceleration
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Centripetal
Force
Exam 1

Lecture on The Concept of Force

Newtons First Law and Inertial
Frames
Mass
Newtons Second Law
The Gravitational Force and
Weight
Newtons Third Law
Reading Assignment: Analysis
Models Using Newtons Second
Law
Forces of Friction
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Newtons
Second law

Lecture on Extending the Particle

in Uniform Circular Motion Model
Nonuniform Circular Motion
Motion in Accelerated Frames
Motion in the Presence of
Resistive Forces
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Centripetal
Force
Exam 2

Lecture on Systems and

Environments
Work Done by a Constant Force
The Scalar Product of Two
Vectors
Work Done by a Varying Force
Kinetic Energy and the Work
Kinetic Energy Theorem
Potential Energy of a System
Conservative and
Nonconservative Forces

LO2
LO3
LO1

LO1 The Laws of Motion

LO2
LO3

LO1 Circular Motion and Other

Applications of Newtons
Laws

LO2
LO3
LO1

LO1 Energy of a System

Relationship Between
Conservative Forces and
Potential Energy
Energy Diagrams and Equilibrium
of a System
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Elastic
Potential Energy

LO2
LO3

LO1 Conservation of Energy

Reading Assignment: Analysis

Model: Nonisolated System
(Energy)
Analysis Model: Isolated System
(Energy)
Lecture on Situations Involving
Kinetic Friction,
Changes in Mechanical Energy
for Nonconservative Forces,
Power
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Mechanical
Energy

Lecture on Linear Momentum

Reading Assignment: Analysis
Model: Isolated System
(Momentum)
Analysis Model: Nonisolated
System (Momentum)
Lecture on Collisions in One
Dimension
Collisions in Two Dimensions
The Center of Mass
Systems of Many Particles
Deformable Systems
Rocket Propulsion
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Collisions
Exam 3

10

Lecture on Angular Position,

Velocity, and Acceleration
Reading Assignment: Analysis
Model: Rigid Object Under
Constant Angular Acceleration
Lecture on Angular and
Translational Quantities
Rotational Kinetic Energy
Calculation of Moments of Inertia
Torque
Reading Assignment Analysis
Model: Rigid Object Under a Net
Torque
Energy Considerations in
Rotational Motion
Rolling Motion of a Rigid Object
Assignment/Homework
Laboratory Activity: Torque

11

The Vector Product and Torque

Reading Assignment: Analysis
Model: Nonisolated System

LO2
LO3

LO1 Linear Momentum and

Collisions

LO2
LO3
LO1
LO1 Rotation of a Rigid Object
About a
Fixed Axis

LO2
LO3
LO1 Angular Momentum

(Angular Momentum)
Lecture on Angular Momentum of
a Rotating Rigid Object
Reading Assignment Analysis
Model: Isolated System (Angular
Momentum)
Reading Assignment The Motion
of Gyroscopes and Tops
LO2, LO3, LO4 Field trip, Museum Visit,
Science Center, World Trade
Fair and SMX exhibit, Movie
critique, EK, Star City,
Physics Camp, Outreach
project in physics, and other
activities required by the
course
LO1

12

Final Product: Submission of

Reports, Projects, Problem Sets
and other requirements by the
course

Final Exams

References
1. Halliday, D., Resnick, R: and Walker J. (2001). Fundamentals of physics (6th edition). New
York: John Wiley and Sons.
2. Jones, E., Childers, R. (2001), Contemporary college physics (3rd edition) Boston: Mc-Graw
Hill Companies, Inc.
3. Serway, R. (1996), Physics for scientists and engineers with modern physics (4 th edition).
Chicago: Saunders College Publishing.
4. Serway, Raymond A., & Jewett, John W., (2012), University Physics1 Philippine Edition.
CENGAGE Learning.
5. Serway. R.A., and Beichner, R. J. (2000). Physics for scientists and engineers with modern
physics (5th edition). Orlando, Florida: Saunders College Publishing.
6. Young, H. (1996). University physics (8th edition). New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing
Company
Online Resources
IVLE, Integrated Virtual Learning Environment, is DLSU's resource for course materials. See
ivle.dlsu.edu.ph and your professors suggestions. You must login using your My.LaSalle account
username and password.
Physlets at University of Colorado, Boulder. www.phet.colorado.edu
Physlets at Davidson College, http://webphysics.davidson.edu/applets/applets.html
"Physlet physics: interactive illustrations, explorations, and problems for introductory physics" by
Christian, Wolfgang. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, c2004.
Location: Circulation, 3rdFlr. QC30 .C47 2004; CD02355
Physlets at Boston University, http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/classroom.html. Mechanics and Heat
are in the first semester set. Electricity & magnetism is in the second semester set.
Class Policies
This is a general education course in physics. However, students of the College of
Engineering (COE) and College of Science (COS) are qualified to take this course.
This course is a prerequisite to ENGPHY2/PHYFUN2.
The final examination covers the entire course syllabus and is given during the Final
Examinations Week.
It is the responsibility of the student to be mindful of his/her absences/tardiness and
performance in class.
Specific class policies on attendance, make-up quizzes, academic honesty, grading system,
dress code, classroom management, and others not mentioned above, are to be discussed by
the faculty member on the first day of classes.

Approved by:

Name and Signature

Chair, Department of Physics