PHY 111

Introduction to General Physics

Summer Term 2026
Instructor: Staff	Total sessions: 35 Sessions
Office Hours: TBA	Session Length: 145 Minutes
Classroom: TBA	Credits: 4 Units
Class Length: 7 Weeks	Language: English

Course Overview:

This course introduces fundamental principles of physics with an emphasis on applications relevant to biological and life sciences. Students will develop an understanding of energy, mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and basic electrical phenomena through both analytical reasoning and experimental investigation.

The course integrates lecture and laboratory components to reinforce conceptual understanding with hands-on experience. Topics include energy conservation, fluid dynamics, transport processes, and Newtonian mechanics, with applications to biological systems such as circulation, diffusion, and cellular processes. Students will learn to analyze physical systems, interpret experimental data, and apply quantitative reasoning to scientific problems.

Required Material:

Primary Textbook

Knight, Randall D. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach. 4th Edition. Pearson.

Supplementary Material

Selected laboratory manuals and instructor-provided notes based on course experiments.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Apply principles of energy, mechanics, and thermodynamics to biological systems.

2. Analyze physical processes such as fluid flow, transport, and heat transfer.

3. Interpret relationships between force, motion, and energy using mathematical models.

4. Conduct laboratory experiments, collect data, and analyze results quantitatively.

5. Communicate scientific findings through structured reports and problem-solving explanations.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Energy and Thermal Processes

Lecture 1: Introduction to Physics in Life Sciences

· Role of physics in biological systems

· Measurement and units Lecture 2: Thermal Energy

· Temperature and heat

· Biological relevance Lecture 3: Phase Changes

· States of matter

· Phase transitions

Lecture 4: Energy Conservation

· First law of thermodynamics

Lecture 5: Heat Capacity and Energy Transfer

· Biological and physical systems

Laboratory: Measurement of thermal properties and phase transitions

Week 2: Mechanical Energy and Work

Lecture 6: Kinetic and Potential Energy

· Mechanical energy concepts Lecture 7: Work and Energy Transfer

· Work-energy theorem Lecture 8: Energy Graphs

· Visualizing energy relationships Lecture 9: Elastic Energy

· Springs and biological analogs

Lecture 10: Energy in Biological Systems

· Metabolic energy

Laboratory: Mechanical energy and work experiments

Week 3: Forces and Motion

Lecture 11: Force and Motion

· Newton’s laws

Lecture 12: Motion in One Dimension

· Velocity and acceleration

Lecture 13: Motion in Two Dimensions

· Vector representation

Lecture 14: Momentum and Impulse

· Conservation laws

Lecture 15: Applications to Biological Motion Midterm Exam (Lecture 1–15)

Laboratory: Motion and force measurements

Week 4: Fluid Mechanics and Transport

Lecture 16: Fluid Statics

· Pressure and density Lecture 17: Fluid Flow

· Continuity equation

Lecture 18: Bernoulli’s Equation

· Applications in biology

Lecture 19: Viscosity and Resistance

· Flow in tubes

Lecture 20: Diffusion and Osmosis

· Transport processes

Laboratory: Fluid flow and pressure experiments

Week 5: Oscillations and Systems

Lecture 21: Oscillatory Motion

· Harmonic motion

Lecture 22: Energy in Oscillations

· Energy exchange

Lecture 23: Damped Systems

· Real-world systems Lecture 24: Resonance

· Biological systems

Lecture 25: Review of Mechanical Systems Assignment 1

Laboratory: Oscillations and system dynamics

Week 6: Electricity and Circuits

Lecture 26: Electric Charge and Fields

· Coulomb’s law

Lecture 27: Electric Potential

· Energy perspective Lecture 28: Electric Circuits

· Current and voltage

Lecture 29: Resistance and Conductivity

· Ohm’s law

Lecture 30: Bioelectric Systems

· Nerve signals and membranes Assignment 2

Laboratory: Electric circuits and measurements

Week 7: Integration and Applications

Lecture 31: Energy Systems in Biology

· Integration of concepts

Lecture 32: Transport in Living Systems

· Circulatory and cellular systems Lecture 33: Experimental Data Analysis

· Error and uncertainty

Lecture 34: Comprehensive Problem Solving Lecture 35: Final Review

Final Exam (Comprehensive)

Laboratory: Final integrated experiment and report

Grading Assessment:

Assignment 1 — 10%

Assignment 2 — 10%

Midterm — 20%

Final Exam — 30%

Laboratory Assessment — 20% Seminar Participation — 10% Total — 100%

Assignments:

Assignments will include analytical and problem-solving questions based on lecture topics. Students must demonstrate structured reasoning, correct use of physical principles, and clear presentation of solutions. Applications to biological systems will be emphasized where appropriate.

Laboratory Assessment

Laboratory work is an essential component of this course and is integrated with lecture topics. Students will perform experiments related to thermal processes, mechanics, fluid dynamics, and electrical systems.

Assessment will be based on:

· Participation and laboratory conduct

· Accuracy of measurements and data collection

· Data analysis and interpretation

· Laboratory reports and scientific communication

Students are expected to follow laboratory safety guidelines and complete all required experiments.

Attendance:

Students are required to attend a weekly seminar led by TA to focus on the week's topic and deepen understanding. Seminar time assigned by TA. Seminar attendance counts toward the final grade.

Exams:

The examinations in this course consist of multiple choice and Problem-solving questions. The final exam is cumulative.

Final Evaluation:

Letter Grade	Percentage (%)	Letter Grade	Percentage
A+	≥95	C+	64-67
A	89-94	C	60-63
A-	84-88	C-	56-59
B+	79-83	D+	54-56
B	73-78	D	50-53
B-	68-72	F	≤50

General Policies:

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is the cornerstone of academia and requires students and researchers to

maintain honesty, fairness, trust and responsibility in all academic activities. It includes not only avoiding dishonest behaviors such as plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying data, but also requires taking responsibility for one's own academic actions and ensuring that all work is done

independently and accurately cites the research of others. Violations of academic integrity can result in severe academic penalties, such as zero grades, suspension or even expulsion, and can cause serious damage to an individual's reputation and future career. Upholding academic

integrity is therefore essential to promoting a fair academic environment and facilitating the authentic dissemination of knowledge.

Accessible Resources Policy

The policy ensures that all students, especially those with disabilities, are able to participate equally in school learning and activities. The school provides a wide range of accessibility resources including, but not limited to, specialized classrooms, hearing aids, Braille textbooks, assistive technology, and flexible testing arrangements. Students are required to apply to the school in advance and provide appropriate medical or psychological evaluations so that an

individualized support plan can be developed for them. This policy is designed to remove barriers in the academic environment and to ensure that every student has access to equitable learning opportunities.

Withdrawal Policy

Students may choose to withdraw from a course within a specified period of time, and may not be able to do so after the expiration date. When withdrawing from a course, students are required to fill out a withdrawal form with a reason, which will be reviewed and processed on a case-by- case basis. Withdrawal from a course may not affect the student's academic performance. If a student withdraws from a course with incomplete requirements, a “W” may be assigned instead of a grade, depending on the course.