Course Description INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL SCIENCE (PHS 101) General Education Required Core C for Life and Physical Science No-Pre or co-requisite This course is designed to study the basic laws that govern the universe and how these laws are revealed to us. The topics covered include motion, atoms energy, forces, the interaction of atoms, the physical properties of substances, and the study of objects in the universe. Laboratory exercises are an integral part. Lectures are supplemented by demonstrations and hands-on experiments. Life and Physical Science Required Core Area C Learning Comes LO1- Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a life or physical science. LO2- Apply the scientific method to explore natural phenomena, including hypothesis development, observation, experimentation, measurement, data analysis, and data presentation. LO3- Use the tools of a scientific discipline to carry out collaborative laboratory investigations. LO4- Gather, analyze, and interpret data and present it in an effective written laboratory or fieldwork report. LO5- Identify and apply research ethics and unbiased assessment in gathering and reporting scientific data. Required Text: The Physical Universe 10 th Ed. K.B. Krauskopf & A. Beiser, McGrawHill Text & calculator should be brought to class at ALL times. Grade breakdown Exam 1-20 %, Exam 2 20%, Exam 3-30%, Assignments -10 %, and Labs 20 % ( five labs total) Important dates: Exam 1 - Week 4, Exam 2 Week 8, Exam 3 Week 15. Labs are due one week after completion. GRADING 1
A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 70-76 D 60-69 F Below 60 Week 1 Introduction: The course, the faculty, the students a. Opening an email account b. Office hours & extra help c. Class & Lab Memo Activities: Math Refresher: Decimal & Scientific Notation, Conversions Chapter 1: The Scientific Method a. How Scientist Study Nature: Sections 1.2 1.2 b. The Solar System: Sections 1.3 1.7 c. Universal Gravitation: Sections 1.8 1.11 Activities: Measuring Density of Substances Calculate the densities of known and unknown substances Assignment: Text (pg. 25): Do Questions 1, 3, 9, 12, 16 Study Guide: Complete the study questions Read Chapter 2: Motion: Sections 2.1 2.6 (pg. 28 40) Week 1 address LO1 and LO3 Week 2 Chapter 2: Motion Constant & Accelerated Motion a. Describing Motion: Sections 2.1 2.4 b. Acceleration of Gravity: Sections 2.5 2.6 Activities: Measurement Activity Sheet Scalar/Vector/Unit Chart Problem Solving Strategies on Index Card Assignment: Text (pg. 60): Do EVEN number problems (# 1 20) Read Chapter 2: Motion: Sections 2.7 2.15 (pg. 40 55) Chapter 2: Motion Forces & Gravity a. Force & Motion Newton s Laws: Section 2.7 2.11 b. Gravitation Newton s Law & Kepler s Laws: Section 2.12 2.15 2
Activities: Graphing Motion CBL Motion experiment Constant & Accelerated Motion Assignment: Text (pg. 60 61): Do problems 22, 24, 26, 30, 34, 42. Lab Report: Write up the Graphing Motion Lab with sketches included. Read Chapter 16: The Solar System: Sections 1 8 (pg. 564 582) Week 2 addresses LO1, LO2, and LO3 Week 3 Chapter 16: The Solar System a. The Family of the Sun: Sections 16.1 16.3 b. The Inner (Terrestrial) Planets: Sections 16.4 16.8 Activities: Online NASA Astronomy/Space sites. Research Paper & Presentation style and format. Week 3 addresses LO1. Assignment: Text (pg. 606 607): Do Questions 7, 9, 17, 27, 28, 31, 35, 43, 46, 48. Read Chapter 16: The Solar System: Sections 16.9 16.16 (pg. 584 602) Chapter 16: The Solar System a. The Outer (Giant or Jovian) Planets: Sections 16.9 16.11 b. The Moon: Sections 16.12 16.16 Activities: Light Intensity and Distance CBL Motion experiment Assignment: Students MUST Visit Hayden Planetarium: Exploring the Cosmos & Rock Garden: Complete Student s Activity Sheet and Submit 2-page summary outlining their visit along with proof of visit (Ticket stub). Read Chapter 3: Energy: Sections 3.1 3.8 (pg. 64 74) Week 4 Week 5 Chapter 3: Energy a. Work: Sections 3.1 3. 2 b. Energy: Sections 3.3 3.7 c. Momentum: Section 3.8 Activities: Graphing Motion CBL Motion experiment The Swinging Pendulum Assignment: Text (pg. 132 133): Do EVEN number problems (# 1 17). Lab Report: Write up lab with calculations done. Read Chapter 4: Matter & Energy: Sections 4.1 4.3. Chapter 4: Matter & Energy 3
a. Temperature & Heat: Sections 4.1 4.3 Activities: Temperature and Heat CBL Heat experiment Assignment: Text (pg. 133): Do problems 1 7. Study Guide (pg 55 57): Complete Study Guide questions. Prepare for Exam 1 (Review Homework and Study Guide Materials) Lab Report: Write up lab with calculations done. Read Chapter 11: Chemical Reactions 11.1 11.8 (pg. 354 368) Week 5 addresses LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5 Week 7 Chapter 11: Chemical Reactions a. Combustion: Sections 11.1 11.2 b. Chemical Energy: Sections 11.3 11.5 Activities: Return Examination # 1. Exothermic/Endothermic Reactions: Alka-Seltzer & Water. Assignment: Text (pg. 173): Do EVEN number problems (# 1 15). Read Chapter 5: Matter & Energy: Sections 5.12 5.20. Week 7 addresses LO1. Chapter 11: Chemical Reactions a. Fuels: Sections 11.6 11.8 Activities: Chemistry CBL Experiment: Measuring Assignment: Text (pg. 382-384): 1-20 Even only questions Lab Report: Write up lab with measurements, diagrams and graphs. Read Chapter 13: Atmosphere & Hydrosphere: Sections 13.1 13.8 Week 8 Chapter 13: Atmosphere & Hydrosphere a. The Atmosphere: Sections 13.1 13.3 b. Weather: Sections 13.4 13.8 Activities: Tour MEC Weather Station Lab & Device on Roof Analyze some real weather data Assignment: Text (pg. 465): Choose Some Questions. Lab Report: Write up lab with measurements, diagrams and graphs. Read Chapter 13: Atmosphere & Hydrosphere: Sections 13.9 13.14 Week 8 addresses LO4. Week 9 Chapter 13: Atmosphere & Hydrosphere a. Climate: Sections 13.9 13.12 4
b. Hydrosphere: Sections 13.13 13.14 Activities: View NASA website: Global Ozone and Cloud distribution Assignment: Text (pg. 465): question 1, 4, 7, and 11 Lab Report: Write up lab with measurements, diagrams and graphs. Read Chapter 14: The Rock Cycle: Sections 14.1 14.5 (pg. 470 477) Week 9 addresses LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, and LO5 Week 10 Chapter 14: The Rock Cycle a. Rocks: Sections 14.1 14.5 Activities: Tour Brooklyn s Prospect Park and identify rock formations Assignment: Lab Report: Write up observations made from the in-class demonstration Read Chapter 15: The Evolving Earth: Sections 15.1 15.7 (pg. 514 26) Week 10 addresses LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, and LO5 Week 11 Chapter 15: The Evolving Earth a. Tectonic Movement: Sections 15.1 15.3 b. Plate Tectonics: Sections 15.4 15.7 Activities: Lines of Latitude and Longitude: Locating places on Earth Assignment: Read Chapter 17: The Stars Sections 17.3-17.9 13.1 13.8 Week 11 addresses LO1, LO2, and LO3. Week 12 Chapter 17: The Stars a. Tools of Astronomy: Sections 17.3 17.9 b. The Sun: Sections 17.4 17.7. Activities: NASA Online Resource The Sun Spot Cycle Assignment: Text (pg. 607): Do EVEN number questions (# 24 48). Read Chapter 17: The Stars: Sections 17.1 17.7 Week 12 addresses LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, and LO5 Week 13 Chapter 17: The Stars a. Tools of Astronomy: Sections 17.1 17.3 b. The Sun: Sections 17.4 17.7 Activities: NASA Online Resource The Sun Spot Cycle 5
Assignment: Read Chapter 17: The Stars: Sections 17.8 17.16 Chapter 17: The Stars a. The Stars: Sections 17.8 17.11 b. Life History of the Stars: Sections 17.12 17.16 Activities: Students Research Presentations 10 minutes each. (6) Students should be on-time and prepared for their presentations. Week 13 addresses LO2, LO3, LO4, and LO5 Week 14 - Final Review Week 15 - Exam 3 During the course of he semester you will conduct five labs. The days and times will be announced. Lab 1 - Unit Conversion in this lab students get practice in converting from metric to metric units and from English to metric units or metric to English units using the factor label method. Lab 2 - Measurements and Density Lab in this lab students learn how to read triple measure using significant figures, use a triple beam balance, and determine the density of an irregular shaped object. Lab 3 - The Scientific Method: The Simple Pendulum in this experiment students compare the theoretical and experimental values of a Pendulum and they calculate the percent error. Lab 4 Graphing Motion in this lab students learn difference between constant and accelerated motion. Lab 5 The Solar System in this lab students learn how to plot the position of planets and stars. 6