Student Achievement Objectives

Objectives for Majors

A knowledge of physics.  The student will

• have a qualitative grasp of the way things work (e.g., force is related to acceleration, a magnetic field is associated with a changing electric field, confined particles have quantized energies);
• know the basic laws of physics and their range of application (e.g., Maxwell’s equations, conservation of momentum, the Schrödinger equation);
• understand experimental evidence for the basic laws and the role of measurement in science;
• have a general awareness of what fields of physics are the subject of current investigation;
• know career paths that are available with a bachelor’s degree in physics.

 
Problem solving skills.  The student will be able to

• identify important concepts and ignore irrelevant data;
• use simple techniques (e.g., dimensional analysis, limiting cases, symmetry, back-of-the-envelope estimates), both as rough solutions and as tests of more detailed solution techniques;
• use physical intuition to guess the character of a solution without actually solving the problem;
• translate physical concepts into mathematical language;
• use sound reasoning and detect flaws in logic;
• use computer skills such as symbolic and numerical analysis, write simple programs, and know when a computational approach is appropriate;
• carry out detailed solutions (e.g., solving algebraic, differential, and integral equations).

 
Experimental skills.  The student will be able to

• take measurements of physical phenomena (e.g., electrical, magnetic, and/or optical signals);
• use equipment (e.g, vacuum systems, cryostats) to control experimental conditions;
• understand and take necessary safety precautions;
• document experimental results;
• design experiments, including developing procedures for optimal data collection;
• analyze data using relevant curve fitting and error analysis methods.

Communication skills.  The student will be able to

• present physics to technical and non-technical audiences;
• write technical papers that are accurate, clear, and concise;
• locate, evaluate, and use appropriate electronic and print resources;
• convey information using graphs, drawings, and pictures.

Objectives for Students Majoring in Another Science

Through taking an introductory course in our department, students will

• become acquainted with the major subfields of physics;
• gain a sufficient knowledge to understand applications of physics in their major field;
• acquire a basis for more advanced study of physics concepts needed in their major field;

• advance their problem solving skills;
• develop skills in making elementary laboratory measurements, especially electrical ones.

Objectives for Students Not Majoring in a Science

By taking a physics or astronomy course, a student will

• acquire a basic understanding of some fundamental laws of nature (e.g., the first and second laws of thermodynamics or Newton’s laws of mechanics) and how they may be used to understand real-world phenomena;
• understand that science involves reasoning from observations and experiments, and appreciate the character and limitations of science;
• practice applying logic and quantitative reasoning;
• begin to appreciate the beauty, elegance, and economy of scientific explanations.