Physics
12 courses · Chaffey College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Summer 2026 · Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
PHYS 5 The Ideas of Physics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Basic concepts of mass, force, and Newton’s Laws of Motion will be covered, as well as conservation laws (momentum and energy). Introduction to physics for students requiring a general education science lecture course and for students majoring in engineering technology and life sciences.
PHYS 6 The Ideas of Physics Laboratory
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 48-54 Laboratory
- Corequisite
- Concurrent or Previous Enrollment or completion with a C or better in: PHYS 5
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to physics for students requiring a general education science lab course and for students majoring in engineering technology and life sciences. Experiments with some of the lecture concepts may include: measurement, free fall, vector addition and components, springs, centripetal force, kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, conservation of momentum, and Archimedes’ principle.
PHYS 20A Algebra/Trigonometry College Physics I
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 5
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 105; PHYS 100S
Course is designed for students majoring in a life or medical science, or engineering technology, whose university major does not require calculus-based physics. Position, velocity, and acceleration of objects are described using vectors. The concepts of mass, force, Newton’s Laws of Motion, momentum, impulse, work, energy, and power are used to describe straight-line motion, projectile motion, circular motion, collisions, explosions, and vibration. Rotational motion includes torque, moment of inertia, angular momentum, and static equilibrium. Simple harmonic motion, wave mechanics, and fluid mechanics are also covered.
PHYS 20B Algebra/Trigonometry College Physics II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 20A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 110; PHYS 100S
Course is designed for students majoring in a life or medical science, or engineering technology, whose university major does not require calculus-based physics. Topics include: the laws of thermodynamics, electric force and field, electric potential energy, electrical potential, capacitance, resistance, electromotive force, magnetic force and field, Faraday’s Law, inductors, light waves, and optics.
PHYS 30A Physics for Chemistry & Life Sciences I
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 5
- Corequisite
- Concurrent or Previous Enrollment or completion with a C or better in: MATH 65A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 105
This course is designed for students majoring in a life or medical science, chemistry, or engineering technology, whose university major requires calculus-based physics. Position, velocity, and acceleration of objects are described using vectors. The concepts of mass, force, Newton’s Laws of Motion, momentum, impulse, work, energy, and power are used to describe straight line motion, projectile motion, circular motion, collisions, and explosions. The unit on rotational motion includes torque, moment of inertia, angular momentum, and static equilibrium. Simple harmonic motion, wave mechanics, and fluid mechanics are also covered.
PHYS 30B Physics for Chemistry & Life Sciences II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 30A and; MATH 65A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 110
This course is designed for students majoring in a life or medical science whose university major requires calculus-based physics. Electricity and magnetism, including electric force and field, electric potential energy, potential, capacitance, resistance, electromotive force, magnetic force and field, and Faraday’s Law are presented. Basic tools of circuit analysis, including Kirchhoff's laws are covered. The laws of thermodynamics, as well as interference, diffraction, and geometric optics of light waves are also covered.
PHYS 35 Calculus Based Physics I
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 5
- Corequisite
- Concurrent or Previous Enrollment or completion with a C or better in: MATH 65A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 105; PHYS 100S; PHYS 205
This course is designed for students majoring in chemistry, life science, medical science, or engineering technology, whose university major requires calculus-based physics. Position, velocity, and acceleration of objects are described using vectors. The concepts of mass, force, Newton’s Laws of Motion, momentum, impulse, work, energy, and power are used to describe straight line motion, projectile motion, circular motion, collisions, and explosions. The unit on rotational motion includes torque, moment of inertia, angular momentum, and static equilibrium. Simple harmonic motion, wave mechanics, and fluid mechanics are also covered.
PHYS 36 Calculus Based Physics II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 35 and; MATH 65A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 110; PHYS 100S
This course is designed for students majoring in chemistry, life science, medical science, or engineering technology, whose university major requires calculus-based physics. Electricity and magnetism, including electric force and field, electric potential energy, potential, capacitance, resistance, electromotive force, magnetic force and field, and Faraday’s Law are presented. Basic tools of circuit analysis, including Kirchhoff's laws are covered. The laws of thermodynamics, as well as interference, diffraction, and geometric optics of light waves are also covered.
PHYS 44 Introduction to Motion
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: MATH 61
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to mechanics for students majoring in a physical science or engineering. Position, velocity, and acceleration of objects are described using vectors. Concepts of mass, force, Newton’s Laws of Motion, momentum, and impulse are used to describe straight line motion, projectile motion, circular motion, collisions, and explosions. In the laboratory, microcomputers with motion detectors and force probes are used to study the concepts of velocity and acceleration, and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Graphical representations of motion - velocity-time graphs, acceleration-time graphs, and force-time graphs - are emphasized.
PHYS 45 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 44 and; MATH 65A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 205
For students majoring in a physical science or engineering. Topics covered include: work and energy, translational and rotational kinematics and dynamics, static equilibrium, linear and angular momentum, simple harmonic motion, fluid statics and dynamics.
PHYS 46 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 45 and; MATH 65B
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 210
For students majoring in physical science or engineering. Electromagnetic concepts: electric force, Coulomb’s Law, electric field, Gauss’ Law, electric potential energy, electric potential, capacitance, resistance, electromotive force, power, meters, RC circuits, magnetic field, magnetic force, cyclotrons, Ampere’s Law, Faraday’s Law, Maxwell's equations, inductors, LC circuits, and LCR circuits, impedance and power factor.
PHYS 47 Physics for Scientists and Engineers III
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture, 48-54 Laboratory
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: PHYS 45 and; MATH 65B
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- PHYS 215
For students majoring in a physical science or engineering. Topics include: ideal gasses, the laws of thermodynamics, heat engines, properties of mechanical waves, sound, Doppler effect, light waves – interference and diffraction, optics – refraction, lenses, images, special relativity, and quantum mechanics.