Physical Science 101

Syllabus – Spring 2008

INSTRUCTOR

Name: Dr. Joseph W. Howard – “Joe”
Office/Phone: Henson Science Hall 305E, 410-548-5393
eMail: jwhoward@salisbury.edu
Office Hours: MTRF 9:00 – 10:00 am
On the Web:     http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~jwhoward/
                          http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~jwhoward/Physics101/p101.htm

TEXTBOOK

Physical Science: “Conceptual Understanding of Chemistry & Physics” – The 101 Group; Salisbury University, Dept. of Physics & Chemistry (Spring 2008 Edition).

Physical Science: Laboratory Manual – The 101 Group, Salisbury University, Depts. of Physics & Chemistry

The text and the required lab packet are available at the Salisbury University Bookstore.

OBJECTIVE

   The purpose of this course is to introduce students to fundamental concepts of physical sciences. The course will emphasize practical applications, especially those that integrate all of the natural sciences. The salient topics covered have been delineated under “Tentative Schedule of Lecture Topics” below.

Course Philosophy

   I want you to enjoy Chemistry/Physics 101. The material we will be covering is fascinating and applicable. Its implications can be observed in almost everything you interact with everyday. In order to make this class as interesting and useful as possible, I will need to get feedback from you. Please feel free to ask questions in class and to come by my office during office hours.

Note to Education Majors: This course is not designed to show what to teach in a student classroom but is a course designed to introduce future teachers to conceptual ideas in the physical sciences themselves.  Consequently, you will gain an understanding, respect, and appreciation of the sciences so that you can better understand the concepts that you will teach to your own future students. With a thorough understanding of concepts in physics and chemistry you will better be able to evolve and adapt your own science teaching techniques.

Policies

• Attendance: Attendance is required at all lecture and lab classes. You must notify your laboratory instructor in advance if you are unable to attend a lab. Although formal attendance will not be taken in lecture, students are expected to attend class. Students are responsible for material covered and announcements made in class.
• Cell Phones: Please turn off your cell phones during the class lecture. You may not talk on the phones in the classroom during lecture.  Having a cell phone out during a quiz or exam (even if it is turned off) will not be allowed.
• Writing Requirement: Students will be required to complete writing assignments given as homework and in laboratory. The University requirements of “writing across the curriculum” will be met by many of the activities during the semester and we expect the students to demonstrate proficiency in writing logically, legibly, and lucidly.
• Calculators: You will often need to use a calculator for quizzes and exams. You will need a non-programmable calculator that you should bring to every class. Using a programmed calculator in a quiz or exam to store information not available to the entire class, including solutions or equations, is considered cheating.  A cell-phone calculator is not allowed.
• Students with Disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact us personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation in this class and facilitate educational opportunities.

Academic Integrity

   Academic integrity is at the heart of education because there is no doubt that honor and the quest for knowledge are inexorably intertwined. Salisbury University is an academic community dedicated to the achievement of intellectual growth where the pursuit of freely exchanged ideas and active study is an essential element of academic excellence and development. Students and faculty are expected to meet the highest possible standards of personal, ethical, and moral academic conduct. These standards require personal integrity, a commitment to honesty without compromise, as well as truth without equivocation. Academic trust means respecting these truths and principles, without which no university can exist.

• Academic Dishonesty: This instructor adheres to the policy of academic dishonesty as it appears in the college catalog and outlined in the student handbook.

EXAMINATIONS

Exams will be given during regular class periods and will cover material from the lecture, textbook, and laboratory. If a student has a legitimate excuse for missing an exam, s/he must notify the instructor in advance.  The instructors may, at his/her discretion, replace the zero on the missed exam with the grade received on the comprehensive final exam.

• EXAM I                         Friday, February 22^nd
• EXAM II                        Friday, April 4^th
• EXAM III                       Monday, May 5^th
• FINAL EXAM             Monday, May 12^th, 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 

QUIZZES

   Quizzes will be given at the discretion of the instructor.  These quizzes will be entirely unannounced, however, you can count on roughly ten quizzes in a semester. In computation of the final grade, the lowest (or one missed) quiz will not be counted.  There are NO make-up quizzes. A quiz can be given at the beginning, middle, or end of a class period. In addition, a quiz can be given both at the beginning and end of a class. Always arrive to class prepared to experience a quiz on current class content.

NCUR (National Conference of Undergraduate Research)

   We will have no formal class meeting on Friday April 11^th due to NCUR on campus.  HOWEVER, you are expected to attend NCUR.  You will be expected to attend at least one presentation or poster session of your choice.  You will specify the session you plan to attend in advance (due Wednesday April 2^nd).  You will turn in a brief report about the presentation/poster session on Monday April 14^th.  Attendance and completion of the report will count as a quiz grade
(http://www.salisbury.edu/ncur22/).

LABORATORY

   Laboratory work will be handed in each period for grading of that week’s lab activity.  For further details regarding the laboratory experience, consult with your laboratory instructor.

***Important Note: Laboratory attendance is mandatory. You may make-up one missed lab at the end of the semester. A missed lab, unless made-up, will be graded as a zero for that day. Each additional lab that you miss beyond two lab activities will result in 10 percentage points (10%) being deducted from your final course grade. For further details about this policy see your laboratory syllabus and instructor.

HOMEWORK

Homework Due Dates: Homework problems will be assigned periodically and collected on the following dates;

• Homework #1 – Friday, February 8^th
• Homework #2 – Friday, February 15^th
• Homework #3 – Wednesday, February 20^th
• Homework #4 – Friday, March 7^th 
• Homework #5 – Friday, March 14^th
• Homework #6 – Wednesday, April 2^nd
• Homework #7 – Monday, April 21^st
• Homework #8 – Friday, May 2^nd
• Homework #9 – Friday, May 9^th 

The following rules will be applied for homework:

1. All homework must be handed in at the beginning of the lecture period on the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted.  In computing the final homework average, the one lowest (or one missed) homework grade will be dropped.
2. All homework assignments will be in .pdf format and will be linked to the course web pageYou must print the assignment sheets and submit your work on them.
3. Prior to turning in each assignment, students are responsible for checking the instructor’s web pages for clarification and/or changes.
4. Homework must be neatly written, logically organized, and all work must be shown to receive credit.
5. All problems must be submitted in sequence.
6. All homework problems must be the student’s own work.

Here are some suggestions for how to get the most knowledge and help out of the homework:

• Read the problems as soon as you get them. You don’t have to spend any time working on them; just think about them as you read and study the material.
• Don’t procrastinate!! Don’t wait until the last minute to do homework. In particular, you will have an opportunity to ask questions in class to help you further understand the problems. Many students find that it is very helpful to attempt the problems even before the material is discussed in the class lecture.
• Ask Questions!! If you are having problems with the homework, seek help!! You may discuss the problems with your classmates as well as with us during office hours.

***Important Notice: Although you may discuss the homework with your classmates, all work handed in must be your own. Copying another person’s work is plagiarism, and will be considered cheating. I encourage you to talk with others in order for you to get a general understanding of the work. However, each person must work out detailed solutions of the problems individually.
All homework is compared while being graded; do not copy other’s work.

GRADING

            Course grades will be calculated as follows:

Three Semester Exams (15 % each) 45% Final Exam (comprehensive) 20% Laboratory 20% Quizzes 10% Homework 5% ------ Total = 100%

Grade Scale**:
The following criteria will be used for determining letter grades:

• 90 -100% = A: Superior Work. Student demonstrates a thorough and complete understanding of    the subject.
• 80 - 89% = B: Excellent Work. Student demonstrates an above average understanding of the subject.
• 70 - 79% = C: Good Work. Student demonstrates an average understanding of the material.     
• 60 - 69% = D: Fair Work. Student demonstrates below average understanding of the material and has completed most of assignments.
• 0 - 59% = F: Unsatisfactory Work. Student does not demonstrate and adequate understanding of the subject and has not turned in all assignments.

**The instructors reserve the right to lower some, or all, of these cut-off grades.

Important Notice

   If your grade will affect any of the following: 1) whether you receive or retain a scholarship (athletic or otherwise); 2) your eligibility to participate in any university sponsored activity; 3) your continuing progress within an academic track; 4) your standing within the education department and/or student teaching requirements; 5) your standing with your fraternity, sorority, the university, or any other student organization; - NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME CONCERNED - NOT AT FINAL EXAM OR AFTER FINAL GRADES HAVE BEEN DETERMINED!! Please do not wait until the last minute, when it will be too late for anyone to help you! Also remember, we are here to learn and most of all have FUN!!

Tentative Schedule of Weekly Lecture Topics

Semester’s Lecture Topics

• Scales
• Macro
• Micro
• Nano
• Motion
• Speed
• Acceleration
• Kinetic Molecular Theory
• Solids, Liquids, Gases
• Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Newton’s First Law
• Newton’s Second Law
• Newton’s Third Law
• Momentum & Energy
• Momentum
• Conservation of Momentum
• Work & Energy
• Power
• Thermal Energy
• Temperature
• Absolute Zero
• Heat & Thermal Energy
• Specific & Latent Heat
• Periodic Motion
• Vibrations & Waves
• Wave Motion
• Longitudinal & Transverse Waves
• Sound Waves
• Resonance
• Electricity
• Charges
• Charge Interactions
• Forces Between Charges
• Structure of the Atom
• The Elements
• The Electron
• The Atomic Nucleus
• Protons & Neutrons
• The Quantum Models
• Electron Configuration
• Light Waves
• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Color
• Elements of Chemistry
• Phases of Matter
• Physical & Chemical Properties
• Classification of Matter
• The Periodic Table
• Organizing the Elements
• Metal, Nonmetals, & Metalloids
• Atomic Groups & Periods
• Periodic Trends
• Chemical Bonding
• Metals & Alloys
• Ionic Bonds
• Lewis Structures
• Covalent Bonds
• Molecular Polarity
• Molecular Mixing
• Solutions
• Surface Tension Solubility
• Units of Conversion
• Chemical Reactions
• The Chemical Reaction
• Energy & Chemical Reactions
• Acid & Base Reactions
• Acids & Bases Defined
• Acid Strength
• Acid, Basic, or Neutral
• The pH Scale
• Acid Rain & Basic Oceans
• Buffers
• Electric Circuits
• Current
• Voltage
• Series Parallel Circuits