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Welcome to the Physics program!Chair: John Carzoli, 847.376.7042 or jcarzoli@oakton.edu Why take a physics course? Physics is the most fundamental of all the sciences. Questions asked, and problems solved by physicists form the foundation for all scientific inquiry. This is not to say that physics is the most important area of science, but rather, if you truly desire to understand nature at its most fundamental level you need to know a bit of physics. Students at Oakton take physics courses for a variety of reasons. For students in career fields we offer a technical physics course that provides an understanding of the basics: motion; light and optics; electricity and magnetism; and thermodynamics, including heat, temperature, pressure and volume of gasses, liquids, and solids. Oakton also offers a two-semester sequence of algebra-based courses that focus on all the topics listed above, but in more depth than in the technical course. Students taking this two-course sequence might be considering careers in health related fields, technical fields, or simply satisfying a general education requirement. We also offer a three-semester sequence of calculus-based courses that continues the above areas of study while using calculus. The third semester course covers additional topics including special relativity and quantum mechanics. Students taking these courses typically plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue majors in physics, engineering, chemistry, or other science and technology related fields. Finally, Oakton offers an astronomy course for those students interested in learning about the universe beyond Earth. This course includes topics like lunar and solar eclipses; the seasons; the creation of our solar system; birth, evolution and death of stars; amd properties of the planets. To find out more about the exciting field of physics at Oakton, contact me. John Carzoli, Ph.D. |
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