Physics

Physics is the most fundamental of all the sciences. Questions asked and problems solved by physicists form the foundation for all scientific inquiry. If you want to understand nature at its most fundamental level, you need to know a bit of physics. And there's no better place to start than Oakton.

Oakton's Department of Physics offers a technical physics course where you'll develop an understanding of basic physics principles: 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 the technical course. Students taking this two-course sequence might be considering careers in health-related fields, technical fields or may want to satisfy a general education requirement.

We also offer a three-semester sequence of calculus-based courses that cover the same topics as above but in even more depth while using calculus in addition to algebra and trigonometry. 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, we offer a course in descriptive astronomy that covers topics such as why we have seasons; why we have lunar and solar eclipses; how we measure the temperature, size, chemical composition and distance to stars; properties and classifications of galaxies; Big Bang Theory; and what is dark matter and dark energy. This course is offered in both an online and face-to-face format.