PHY 118 - Physics for Physical Therapist Assistants

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Discriminate between fundamental and derived units of measurement.
2. State an appropriate SI unit for each physical quantity studied throughout the course.
3. Measure physical quantities in laboratory.
4. Perform a mathematical analysis of experimental data and graphs.
5. Solve algebraic motion problems.
6. State Newton’s laws of motion.
7. Solve simple problems using Newton’s Second Law.
8. Define mass in terms of inertia and discriminate between weight and mass.
9. Solve problems involving equilibrium of forces and equilibrium of torques.
10. Relate equilibrium concepts to common physical therapy practices.
11. Solve equilibrium problems which include a buoyant force.
12. Define concepts of work and power.
13. Distinguish among gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and elastic potential energy.
14. State the work energy theorem and conditions under which it leads to conservation of total mechanical energy.
15. Solve problems using the work energy theorem, or the law of conservation of energy, where appropriate.
16. Distinguish between temperature and heat.
17. Solve problems involving thermal equilibrium and heat transfer.
18. Describe the present theory of the composition of matter in terms of the Standard Model of Elementary Particles.
19. Define charge in terms of its consequences, using Coulomb’s Law.
20. Name the electrostatic force and the gravitational force as two examples of an inverse-square law.
21. Define current, voltage, and resistance.
22. Graphically illustrate the difference between the time dependencies of DC and AC voltages.
23. Use Ohm’s Law to solve simple problems.
24. State the relationship between voltage, current, and electrical power.
25. Compute electric power, electric energy, and cost of operation of ordinary household appliances.
26. Solve simple problems about circuits containing series and parallel resistor combinations.
27. Know how to connect an ammeter, a voltmeter, a fuse, and a circuit breaker into an electric circuit.
28. Define open and short, and state the consequence of having each in a series or in a parallel circuit.
29. State the function and purpose of a capacitor and name devices which use capacitors.
30. Identify the function of a transformer.
31. Define electric and magnetic fields.
32. Describe the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction.
33. Describe the principle of operation of an electric generator.
34. Use the mathematical relationships among wavelength, period, frequency, and speed to solve problems.
35. Distinguish among the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum on the basis of wavelength, frequency, and energy.
36. Compute the energy of electromagnetic radiation given either its frequency or wavelength.
37. Describe the relationship between electromagnetic energy and transitions between electron energy levels.