Physics Courses

Register for classes using WebAdvisor. Review the Class Schedule for class dates and times. Course descriptions are available in the Catalog. All students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to review academic program requirements and/or have questions answered.

A sampling of courses for this discipline includes (not a complete list):

• PHYS-108 Survey of Physics
• PHYS-120 Introduction to Physics I
• PHYS-120A Introduction to Physics I - Calculus Supplement
• PHYS-131D Review of Physics Concepts
• PHYS-140 Mechanics
• PHYS-141 Electricity and Magnetism
• PHYS-142 Optics, Heat, and Modern Physics

Textbooks, Online Access Codes, Other Supplies and Resources

Most Ohlone College classes require the purchase of a textbook, and some classes require the purchase of online access codes (also known as keys) or other supplies most of which are available at the Ohlone College Bookstore. The exact textbook and other specific costs are now available for each section on WebAdvisor (select “Book and Section Information” after you select a course).

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the courses in this discipline, the student will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrate a comprehension of physical and environmental reality by understanding how fundamental physical principles underlie the huge variety of natural phenomena and their interconnectedness.
• Demonstrate a comprehension of biological reality by understanding how physical principles are at work in living organisms.
• Demonstrate a comprehension of technology by understanding how things work on a fundamental level.
• Build critical thinking and quantitative skills by gaining insight into the thought processes of physical approximation and physical modeling, by practicing the appropriate application of mathematics to the description of physical reality, and by searching for a physical interpretation of mathematical results.
• Demonstrate basic experimental skills by the practice of setting up and conducting an experiment with due regards to minimizing measurement error and by the thoughtful discussion and interpretation of data.
• Demonstrate basic communication skills by working in groups on a laboratory experiment.
• Retain information from course to course by aiming at proficiency in the correct use of all the fundamental laws and equations to solve integrated problems.