PHY 221 Mechanics, Sound and Heat [GEKN]

The first course of an introductory two course sequence in college-level physics. Topics include particle motion, Newton’s laws of motion, conservation laws, gravitation, rotation, harmonic motion, sound and thermodynamics. Laboratory: two consecutive hours, one day per week. All physics majors, minors and pre-engineers must elect PHY 223.

Credit 4 hrs May not be repeated for additional credit
Grade Mode Normal (A-F) Course Rotation Fall, Winter, and Summer

Prerequisites - (MATH 105 with a “C” or higher and MATH 107 with a “C” or higher), (MATH 107 with a “C” or higher and MATH 119 with a “C” or higher), MATH 112, MATH 120, or MATH 140 with a “C” or higher
Restriction by Major -
Restriction by Class - Undergraduate standing

Additional Information -

Upon completion of an equivalent lecture and laboratory course with a “C” or higher, a student is awarded transfer credit for PHY 221 , PHY 222 , PHY 223 , and PHY 224 . Both the equivalent lecture and laboratory course or courses must be completed to earn credit. No exceptions are made.

Rationale for Knowledge of the Disciplines - The purpose of this course is to introduce, explore, test and apply the principles of physics that predict the motion of an object. Today when we take a flight from Detroit to Los Angeles, we expect the arrival time to be within five minutes of predicted time. Such predictions are based on the principles of physics and the tools of mathematics. Other practical applications of these principles include the flight of a baseball, the putting of a golf ball, the motion of the Earth around the sun, the rotation of a bicycle wheel, the setting of bones to allow healing, the vibration of the string on a violin, the flow of air across an airplane wing, and the conduction of heat through a window. PHY 221 presents in detail the foundational principles of motion that all scientists use in their research.

Equivalent Course(s) -
Course History -
Course Rotation added 1/2015; Prereqs. updated 7/2011

physics, Knowledge of the Disciplines - Natural Sciences (GEKN)

Winter 2025 Course Sections

Fall 2024 Course Sections