Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - PHYS 100 D100

Introduction to Physics (3)

Class Number: 2624

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BC Pre-Calculus 12 (or equivalent) or MATH 100, with a minimum grade of C-. BC Physics 11 (or equivalent) is recommended.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

For students without Physics 12 (or equivalent) to prepare for further physics courses. Introduction to kinematics, dynamics, and conservation of energy and momentum. Students who have obtained a grade of C+ or better in BC high school Physics 12 (or its equivalent) or who have taken any further physics course normally may not take PHYS 100 for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Content    Course-Level Educational Goals
 1. Introduction: what is physics; units, scalars, vectors            
2. Motion along a straight line            
3. Newton’s laws of motion            
4. Forces and motion in one and two dimensions            
5. Motion at the earth’s surface            
6. Kinetic and potential energy            
7. Gravitational force            
8. Collisions: the transfer of momentum and kinetic energy  
9. Optional topics selected from:
-       Power and world energy use   
-       Electrostatics
-       Ray Optics  		  On completion of this course, students should be able to:
1.     Demonstrate the ability to apply mathematical concepts from prerequisite courses (such as area; volume; proportional reasoning; basic algebra, including solving two equations in two unknowns; fractions; basic trigonometry; and radian units for angles) to physics problems;
2.     Resolve vectors into components; add and subtract vectors graphically and analytically; use vectors to find relative motion;
3.     Describe linear motion in terms of position, displacement, velocity and acceleration;
4.     Relate the change in velocity to centripetal acceleration for the case of uniform circular motion;
5.     Predict an object’s future motion graphically and analytically based on its current state of motion
○      for constant acceleration in one and two dimensions, including projectile motion, and
○      for uniform circular motion;
6.   Use Newton’s laws of motion to predict the future motion of an object, and be able to
○      Determine the net force using free-body diagrams;
○      Find the apparent weight of an object; and
○      Solve applications involving common forces, such as a spring force, tension, normal force, friction, and gravity;
7.  Solve problems using the work-energy theorem and conservation of mechanical energy;
8.  Distinguish between conservative and nonconservative forces; and
9.  Use the laws of conservation of momentum and energy to predict the results of collisions between objects for motion restricted in one dimension.
PHYS 100 (or Physics 12) is a pre-requisite for PHYS 101, PHYS 120, PHYS 125 and PHYS 140.

Course delivery:
All classes and exams are in-person.

Grading

  • In-Class Participation (iClickers) 10%
  • In-Class Quizzes 5%
  • Tutorial Attendance and Participation 10%
  • Assignments 30%
  • Exams (2 midterms, 1 final, 15% each) 45%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Materials:

i) OpenStax College Physics - SFU Version (available through Canvas)
ii) Achieve for College Physics with Prelectures - Purchase at www.sfu.ca/bookstore/ebooks

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students who cannot write their exam during the course's scheduled exam time must request accommodation from their instructor in writing, clearly stating the reason for this request, within one week of the final exam schedule being posted.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.