# Physics (PHYS) courses

Las Positas College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 9 courses

Source: https://laspositas.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/1097/1125/1193

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

### PHYS 29 — Independent Study, Physics

- **Units:** 0.5-2
- **Hours:** 108 hours laboratory
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only

For course information, see "Independent Studies". 27-108 hours lab.

### PHYS 1A — General Physics I

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 72 hours lecture,, 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 1
- **C-ID:** PHYS 200S (if taken with PHYS 1B+1C+1D), PHYS 205
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Summer 2026, 2 sections (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/summer-2026/phys.md); Fall 2026, 5 sections (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A, 6
- LPC-GE: 5

Introduction to the principles of Newtonian Mechanics and analytical methods of physics using calculus as needed. Topics covered include vectors, kinematics, forces, energy, momentum, rotation, and gravitation.

### PHYS 1B — General Physics II

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 72 hours lecture,, 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 1A; MATH 2
- **C-ID:** PHYS 200S (if taken with PHYS 1A+1C+1D), PHYS 215 (if taken with PHYS 1D)
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A, 5C
- LPC-GE: 5

Introduction to fluid dynamics, oscillations, mechanical waves, thermodynamics, light and optics.

### PHYS 1C — General Physics III

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 72 hours lecture,, 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 3, may be taken concurrently; PHYS 1A
- **C-ID:** PHYS 200S (if taken with PHYS 1A+1B+1D), PHYS 210
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A, 5C
- LPC-GE: 5

Introduction to electricity and magnetism, circuits, Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves.

### PHYS 1D — General Physics IV

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 36 hours lecture,, 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 5, may be taken concurrently; PHYS 1B; PHYS 1C
- **C-ID:** PHYS 200S (if taken with PHYS 1A+1B+1C), PHYS 215 (if taken with PHYS 1B)
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A, 5C
- LPC-GE: 5

Introduction to relativity and modern physics, including: introduction to quantum theory; atomic, molecular, nuclear and particle physics; condensed matter physics; astrophysics and cosmology.

### PHYS 2A — Introduction to Physics I

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture,, 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** MATH 39
- **C-ID:** PHYS 100S (if taken with PHYS 2B), PHYS 105
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A, 5C
- LPC-GE: 5

Introduction to the major principles of classical mechanics using pre-calculus mathematics. Includes Newtonian mechanics, energy, gravitation, fluids, thermodynamics, oscillations, and waves.

### PHYS 2B — Introduction to Physics II

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture,, 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 2A
- **C-ID:** PHYS 100S (if taken with PHYS 2A), PHYS 110
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026 schedules
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A, 5C
- LPC-GE: 5

This algebra-based course is an introduction to the basic principles of electricity, magnetism, and modern physics. Topics include electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, optics, relativity, atomic physics, and nuclear physics.

### PHYS 10 — Descriptive Physics

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture
- **Prerequisite:** Intermediate Algebra or a higher level of mathematics.
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5A
- LPC-GE: 5

Motion, gravitation, heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, atoms, and nuclei. Present-day scientific problems and developments such as alternative energy sources, solar energy, nuclear power, lasers, relativity and black holes. Designed for non-majors in physical science.

### PHYS 10L — Descriptive Physics Laboratory

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** 54 hours laboratory
- **Prerequisite:** PHYS 10, may be taken concurrently; Intermediate Algebra or a higher level of mathematics
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/las-positas-college/schedule/fall-2026/phys.md)
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
- Cal-GETC: 5C

Introduction to laboratory principles and techniques with emphasis on the basic concepts of physics such as mechanics, thermodynamics, energy, electricity, magnetism, and optics.