# Physics (PHYS) courses

Merritt College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 7 courses

Source: https://mc.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/48441/48769/49120/49121/49146

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026.

### PHYS 2A — General Physics

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 050.
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/merritt-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Peralta GE Areas 5; Cal-GETC Area 5A, 5C;

Comprehensive study of general physics: Mechanics, properties of matter, thermodynamics, heat, wave motion, and sound.

### PHYS 2B — General Physics

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 002A.
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule
- Peralta GE Areas 5; Cal-GETC Area 5A, 5C;

Comprehensive study of general physics: Light, optics, electricity, magnetism, atomic physics, and modern physics.

### PHYS 4A — General Physics with Calculus

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** MATH C2210 and MATH C2220 or
- **Corequisite:** MATH C2220.
- **Advisory:** PHYS 010.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 205
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/merritt-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Peralta GE Areas 5; Cal-GETC Area 5A, 5C;

Comprehensive study of major topics of physics: Motion, forces, gravity, energy, momentum, rotation, equilibrium, fluids, oscillations, waves, and sound.

### PHYS 4B — General Physics with Calculus

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 004A and MATH C2220 and MATH 003C or
- **Corequisite:** MATH 003C.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 210
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule
- Peralta GE Areas 5; Cal-GETC Area 5A, 5C;

Comprehensive study of major topics in physics: Thermodynamics, electric forces and fields, magnetic forces and fields, electricity, and AC and DC circuits.

### PHYS 4C — General Physics with Calculus

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 4 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 004B and MATH 003C and MATH 003E or MATH 003F or
- **Corequisite:** MATH 003E and MATH 003F.
- **C-ID:** PHYS 215
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/merritt-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Peralta GE Areas 5; Cal-GETC Area 5A, 5C;

Comprehensive study of major topics in physics: Light, interference, relativity, quantum physics, atoms, molecules, and nuclei.

### PHYS 10 — Introduction to Physics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 4 hours lecture
- **Advisory:** MATH 201 or MATH 202 or MATH 210D.
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/merritt-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Peralta GE Areas 5; Cal-GETC Area 5A;

Elementary study of major topics of physics: Motion, forces, gravity, matter, energy, momentum, rotation, oscillation, sound, heat, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, light, quantum physics, atoms, nuclei, and relativity. Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in PHYS 2A-2B, 3A-3B, or 4A-4B-4C.

### PHYS 49 — Independent Study in Physics

- **Units:** .5-5
- **Hours:** .5 - 5 hours lecture
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule

In-depth exploration of an area or problem of the student's choice not covered by regular catalog offerings in Physics. Student must obtain approval from an appropriate faculty member. For more details, see the section on independent study in the college catalog.