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Mount Wachusett Community College · Courses

PHY

13 courses with the subject PHY, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.

PHY 101Introduction To Physical Science4

This course will provide the non-science major with a basic background in physics and chemistry that affects everyone's life. Fundamental concepts of force, motion, energy, and chemistry are covered. Laboratory work complements the classroom presentation.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
ENG 098, FYE 101, MAT 092 or MAT 096, RDG 098, or placement.
PHY 103Physics of Light and Sound4

The study of light and sound as applied to visual and auditory mediums. The study of vision, light in nature, photography, and artistic media and the study of hearing, musical sound, musical instruments, and room acoustics are included. Laboratory work complements the classroom presentation. Three hours lecture and two hours lab per week.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
ENG 098, FYE 101, MAT 092 or MAT 096, RDG 098, or placement.
PHY 105College Physics I4

This course is designed to give students an appreciation of the progress that has been made in understanding the basic nature of the universe. Topics considered include vectors, statics, force and motion, kinematics in one and two dimensions, dynamics, work and energy, impulse and momentum, and conservation of energy. Lab work is correlated with class discussions.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
ENG 098, FYE 101, MAT 162 (or corequisite), RDG 098, or placement.
PHY 106College Physics II4

This course is a continuation of PHY 105. Topics to be covered include rotation, elasticity, fluid mechanics, temperature and heat transfer, electricity and electric circuits, waves and acoustic phenomena. Lab work is correlated with class discussions. Spring. 289

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
PHY 105.
PHY 120Physics for Engineering and Science I4

This course is designed provide the student with a clear and logical presentation of the basic concepts and principles of physics, to strengthen an understanding of the concepts and principles through a broad range of interesting real-world applications, and to develop strong problem solving skills through an effectively organized approach. Topics considered include measurement, vectors, statics, force and motion, kinematics in one and two dimensions, dynamics, circular motion, work and energy, impulse and momentum, and conservation of energy. Lab work is correlated with class discussions.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
MAT 211 with a C or higher (or corequisite).
PHY 121Physics for Engineering and Science II4

This course is designed to provide the student with a clear and logical presentation of the basic concepts and principles of physics, to strengthen an understanding of the concepts and principles through a broad range of interesting real-world applications, and to develop strong problem solving skills through an effectively organized approach. Topics considered include the principles of simple harmonic motion, wave motion, sound, geometric optics, wave nature of light, charge, coulomb force, electric field and flux, Gauss' law, electric potential, voltage, resistance, current, DC circuits, Kirchoff's Laws, capacitance, RC time constant, magnetic field and flux, Faraday's Law, Lens' Law, Ampere's Law, Electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic waves, and Maxwell's equations. This course is intended to serve students who plan to major in science or engineering at the four-year college level. Laboratory work is correlated to the classroom presentations. Spring.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
PHY 120 with a C or higher; MAT 212 with a C or higher (or corequisite).
PHY 201Mechanics I: Statics3

This course explores a vector treatment of equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies. Forces, moments, couples, equations of equilibrium, free-body diagrams, constraints, structures, machines, friction, and centroids. Distributed forces, shear and bending moment diagrams and virtual work.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
MAT 212 and PHY 120.
PHY 202Mechanics II: Dynamics3

This course explores a vector treatment of dynamics. Kinematics of a particle in two dimensions. Dynamics of a particle; momentum, moment of momentum, and work-energy. Rigid bodies in plane motion; kinematics and dynamics. Relative motion. Work and energy methods; impulse and momentum; Vibrations.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
MAT 211 and PHY 201.
PHY 210Modern Physics3

An introduction to the pivotal ideas and developments of twentieth-century physics. Topics include: special theory of relativity, experimental basis of quantum theory, photoelectric effect, X-rays, Compton scattering, blackbody radiation, wave properties of matter, DeBroglie waves, uncertainty principle, Bohr theory of the atom, atomic nuclei, nuclear interactions, radioactivity, and elementary particles.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
PHY 121.
PHY 221Circuit Theory 14

Terminal characteristics of ideal elements, active and passive. Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's Laws. Equivalent resistance, voltage division, current division. Introduction to network topology, independent variables, mesh and nodal analysis with matrix methods. Definition and consequences of linearity. Superposition theorem. Concept of excitation and response. Passive equivalent circuits; active equivalent circuits. Thevenin's and Norton's theorems. Ideal inductance and capacitance, volt-ampere characteristics, energy relations. First-order transients: initial conditions, natural response, and natural frequencies. Network response to unit step function and unit impulse. Second-order transients: RLC circuits, natural frequencies and the complex-frequency s-plane. Introduction to matrices and their use in circuit analysis.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
PHY 121; MAT 220 (or corequisite).
PHY 222Circuit Theory 24

This is the second engineering course in basic circuit theory and design. Analysis techniques in this course include application of Laplace transforms and differential equations with initial conditions to provide solutions to switched and steady state multi-ordered circuits. Circuit stability, the understanding of poles/zeros, and the use of Fourier transforms are also covered to introduce the student to circuit frequency response and Bode plot analysis and specification. Students are also introduced to graphical convolution and Fourier series as it applies to circuit analysis. Assignments and lab project activities require the design, implementation, and measurement of filters and other circuits to meet design specifications. Extensive lab work along with various circuit simulations.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
PHY 221 with C or better.
PHY 242Thermodynamics3

The first and second laws of thermodynamics are introduced and applied to the analysis of thermodynamic systems in terms of work, heat, energy transformation, and system efficiency. The use of tables, graphs, and equations of state is introduced to obtain various properties of pure substances. The concepts of work, heat and energy, as well as their relationships, are studied. The theory and 290 | rev. 06/26

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
PHY 269Physics for Engineering and Science III4

Statics and dynamics of fluids, pressure, viscosity, Archimedes and Bernoulli principles, mechanical properties of solids, stress and strain, shear, electric and magnetic properties of materials, para- dia- and ferromagnetism, electro-mechanical and magneto- mechanical effects, hysteresis, advanced topics in waves and vibrations, damping, resonance in mechanical and AC oscillators, thermodynamics, Maxwell's velocity distribution, blackbody radiation, and the limits of classical physics, introduction to special relativity.

Subject
PHY
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Credits
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Source
catalog.mwcc.edu
Prerequisite
PHY 121.

Source: Mount Wachusett Community College's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 61