Taft College offers a variety of courses designed to prepare students who wish to
pursue professional programs in physical science education.
Instructors for Fall 2004
Michael Mayfield, Chem 8/9, Chem 10
Evie Einstein, Geol 10
Physical Science Course Offerings
Astronomy
Astronomy 10 Introduction to Astronomy (3) UC* Advisory: Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 3 hours
lecture.
This is a survey course that includes: historical development of astronomy; astronomical
instruments; basic physical laws and processes; the formation, life cycle and death of
stars; the structure and dynamics of the Milky Way galaxy; other galaxies and the
structure of the universe; cosmology; and the evolution and structure of the solar system.
Chemistry
Chemistry 1A General Chemistry (5) UC Prerequisite: Chemistry 10 and Mathematics 52 (formerly Math
29) with a grade of "C" or better. High School chemistry or physics, and
intermediate algebra or trigonometry with grades of "C" or better are
acceptable alternatives.
Advisory: Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 3 hours lecture; 6
hours lab.
A basic course in the principles of chemistry, with special emphasis on chemical
calculations, this course is required of all pre-professional science majors.
Chemistry 1B General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis (5) UC Prerequisite: Chemistry 1A with a grade of "C" or better,
Advisory: Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 3 hours lecture; 6
hours lab.
A continuation of Chemistry 1A, this course has a special emphasis in the laboratory
on the
theory and techniques of qualitative analysis. A unit on organic chemistry is included.
Chemistry 5 Quantitative Analysis (4) UC Prerequisite: Chemistry 1B;
2 hours lecture; 6 hours lab.
A required course for chemistry, economic, geology, premedical, and
pre-dentistry majors.
Theoretical principles and chromatographic laboratory techniques and skills involved in
gravimetric and volumetric analysis are stressed in lecture and laboratory.
Chemistry 8 Organic Chemistry (3) UC Prerequisite: Chemistry 10, or high school chemistry with a grade of
"C" or better. It is recommended that Chemistry 8 be taken concurrently with
Chemistry 9; 3 hours lecture.
An introduction to the aliphatic and aromatic carbon compounds. This course is required of
premedical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, and some pre-engineering majors.
Chemistry 9 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) UC Prerequisite: Chemistry 10 or high school chemistry with a grade of
"C" or better. It is recommended that Chemistry 9 be taken concurrently with
Chemistry 8; 6 hours lab.
In this course the physical and chemical properties or aliphatic and aromatic carbon
compounds studied and useful organic compounds are synthesized in the laboratory.
Chemistry 10 Introductory College Chemistry (4) UC Prerequisite: Eligibility for Mathematics 50;
Advisory: Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 3 hours lecture; 3
hours lab.
This is an introductory course emphasizing basic principles of inorganic and organic
chemistry with a brief introduction to bio-chemistry and contemporary chemistry problems.
This is a general education course not open to students with credit in 1A Chemistry. (For
non-science majors or students who need an introductory chemistry course.).
Engineering
Civil Engineering 1A Plane Surveying (3) UC* Prerequisite: Mathematics 31 or one year of high school plane trigonometry with
a grade of "C" or better;
Advisory: One semester of drafting or one year of high school drafting strongly
recommended; 2 hours lecture; 3 hours lab (field work).
This study of the elementary operations used in surveying for engineering work includes
use of the level and transit; measurement of angles and directions; differential leveling;
traverse surveys and computations; triangulation; topographic surveying; and horizontal
curves.
Engineering 35 Statics (3) UC Prerequisite: Physics 4A, Mathematics 3B or concurrent registration in
Mathematics 3B; 3 hours lecture.
Principles of statics as applied to particles and three dimensions under concentrated and
distributed force systems are studied. Emphasis is on equilibrium conditions in
structures, machines, beams and cables; determination of centroids and moments of inertia;
dry friction and methods of virtual work. This course is for pre-engineering students,
mathematics and physics majors.
Geology
Geology 10 Intro. to Geology (4) UC Advisory: Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 3 hours
lecture; 3
hour lab.
This course studies the basic principles of geology including laboratory study of minerals
and rocks, structure of rock masses in the field, earthquakes, interpretation and geologic
maps and evolution of natural landscapes. Field trips are required to certain local points
of geological interest.
Geology 11 Historical Geology (4) UC Advisory: Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 3 hours
lecture, 3 hours lab.
This course studies the origin and geologic history of the earth and the development of
plant and animal life as shown through the evidence of fossils and rocks. Field trips are
made to local points of geological interest.
Physics
Physics 2A General Physics (Non-Calculus) (4) UC Prerequisite: Mathematics 52 (formerly
Math 29) or two years of high school algebra with a grade of "C" or better;
Advisory: Eligibility for English 1A and 6 strongly recommended; geometry,
high school physics or chemistry recommended; 3 hours lecture; 3 hours lab.
Demonstration lectures, problems, and laboratory experiments covering
mechanics, properties of matter, heat and sound comprises this course which
is designed for students planning to enter medicine, dentistry, pharmacy,
optometry, architecture, agriculture, or forestry. Physics 2A is not open to
students with credit in Physics 4A.
Physics 2B General Physics (non-Calculus) (4) UC Prerequisite: Physics 2A; 3
hours lecture; 3hours lab.
Demonstration lectures, daily problems assignments, and laboratory
experiments covering optics, magnetism, electricity, and atomic and nuclear
physics are covered in Physics 2B which is a continuation of course 2A.
Physics 4A General Physics (Calculus) (4) UC Prerequisite: Mathematics 3A or
concurrent registration in mathematics 3A;
Advisory: High school physics or chemistry strongly recommended: 3 hours lecture; 3
hours lab.
Demonstration lectures, problems, and laboratory work in the fundamentals of mechanics,
properties of matter, wave motion, including problems in forces, motion, and energy are
covered in this course which is deigned for chemistry, physics and engineering students.
Physics 4B General Physics (Calculus) (4) UC Prerequisite: Physics 4A, Mathematics 3B or concurrent enrollment in
Mathematics 3B; 3 hours lecture; 3 hours lab.
Demonstration lectures, problems, and laboratory work in the fundamentals of electricity,
including fields, circuits, magnetism, and waves comprise this course which is a
continuation of course 4A.
Physics 4C General Physics (Calculus) (4) UC Prerequisite: Physics 4B; 3 hours lecture; 3 hours lab
Demonstration lectures, problems, and laboratory work in the fundamentals of physics
optics, heat and thermodynamics, atomic and nuclear physics, relativity, and quantum
mechanics comprise this course which is a continuation of course 4B.
Physics 11 Descriptive Physics (3) UC* Prerequisite: Math 50 or one year of high school algebra with a grade of
"C" or better; Advisory: Eligibility for English 6 and English 50
strongly recommended; 3 hours lecture.
A survey course in classical and modern physics, Physics 11 places an emphasis on
appreciation for science and its applications. A lecture-demonstration course designed
primarily for liberal art students, Physics 11 is not open to students with credit in
Physics 2A or 4A.
For more information phone the Department chair
Craig Johnson at (661) 763-7777 or email him at cjohnson@taft.org
