A Gordon Rule Topic: General Physics I
A Gordon Rule report is a scholarly report that presents meaningful research and analysis on a particular academic topic and which is designed to demonstrate the degree to which students have mastered key concepts and data related to the course and the selected topic. At issue herein is a description of an appropriate Gordon Rule Topic for General Physics I that will permit students to demonstrate creativity while discussing their involvement with the subjects covered in the course.
According to Seville Chapman (2), one studies physics as the basic physical science in order to obtain insight into such things as mechanics, sound, heat, light, electricity, and atomic structure. Physics has been described as the science of "why things work (Chapman, 3)." In physics, according to Chapman (4), "it is necessary to develop an ability to analyze problems, to reason logically, and to discriminate between important and irrelevant material." With these caveats in mind, the Gordon Rule Topic selected for development herein is Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion, the basis upon which the study of mechanics proceeds.
Newton's Laws of Motion describe how the planets and all other objects move when acted on by gravity or any other force (Barnes-Svarney, 275). Newton's Laws were modified by Albert Einstein for special situations such as a subatomic particle moving at very high velocity but Newton's original laws still remain valid. Presented below is the descriptive outline of this topic.
Descriptive Outline
Thesis: One of the fundamental topics addressed in General Physics I centers upon Newton's Laws of Motion, which derive from his universal Law of Gravitation. This report will identify each of the three laws of motion as presented by Newton in order to demonstrate competency in understanding the foundation of mechanics as a discipline within the physical sciences.
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