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PHYSICAL SCIENCE
PSCI 1030 Syllabus
2006 SPRING TERM CALENDAR
Wed Jan 11: HC classes begin Mon
Jan 16: MLK holiday
Tue Jan 17: class 1 Tue Jan 24: class
2 Tue Jan 31: class 3 Tue Feb 7: class 4 Tue Feb 14: class 5 (meets 2 pm-5pm) Sat
Feb 18: class 6 at Tamke-Allan Observatory (bad weather alternate, Tue Feb 21) Tue Feb 28: class 7
Wed Mar 1: Midterm (no exam, but all late or make-up work due; term
paper title approval deadline)
Tue Mar 7: class 8 Tue Mar
14: class 9 Sat Mar 18 rescheduled TAO lecture on Black Holes Mon Mar 20-Fri Mar 24 Spring Break Tue
Mar 28: class 10 Tue Apr 4: class 11 Tue Apr 11: class 12 Fri Apr 14: Easter Holyday Tue
Apr 18: class 13 (Term Paper deadline; all late or make-up work due) Tue Apr 25: class 14 (last
lecture class; no lab Tue May 2: Final Exam
PLEASE NOTE: DOWNLOADED DOCUMENTS FOR WHICH YOU WISH TO ELECRONICALLY USE WILL REQUIRE YOU TO ENABLE READ AND WRITE
PROTOCOL. TYPICALLY, DOWNLOADED DOCUMENTS ARE READ-ONLY.
ON A PC, TRY RIGHT-MOUSE
CLICK ON DOCUMENT TO GET INFO OTHERWISE CONSULT YOUR HELP MENU ON HOW TO DO THIS.
ON
A MAC, SIMPLY DO A COMMAND-I TO GET INFO AND SELECT ENABLE READ AND WRITE.
SUBJECT-MATTER CALENDAR (tentative)
Tue Jan 17: class
1 Overview, Scientific Method, hypothesis, theory, models, principles, law Powers of Ten video, Implemenation of
Scientific Methodology: Strategies to Assess Coffee Bean Count in a Clear Container.
Assignment: 1-2 page typed summary of comparative
findings; review chapter 1 and read physical properties of matter
Tue Jan 24: class 2 Physical properties, Measurement and Errors; Archimedes principle; Measurement of Density and Error Analysis
Techniques; use of Excel statistical and graphing capability.
Assignment: Complete Lab Analysis Sheet (typed) and Excel Control Chart Analysis; Read Newton's Laws of Physics
Lab 2 Notes & Data Sheets
Volume of Holed Rubber Stopper
Control Chart: Penny Mass
Tue Jan 31: class 3 Completion of static and dynamical properties of matter; Map Quest- an aid to kinematics;
Class 3 Written Assignments
Quiz 1 Answers
Wed Feb 1: optional activity- Orion lecture meeting in Oak Ridge
Tue
Feb 7: class 4 More on kinematics (review Newton's Laws of Physics for class 5)
Take Quiz 2 posted below (9:30 pm Tue 2/7/06) individually. Send me your solutions as a Word attachment (not the body
of the email) by 10 am Thursday morning (2/9/06). I recommend reattaching the downloaded quiz after answering the quiz on
the same sheet(s). Otherwise, I want complete question and answer in the form of a sentence. Since this was supposed to have
been an inclass closed book quiz, no late solutions will be accepted.
Quiz 2 Solutions
Be prepared with three possible topics for your research paper by Feb 14. Topics are subject
to my approval. To help you get started on potential candidates, here are a few general ideas:
(1) Historical profiles (not canned biographies), e.g., Kepler,
Newton, etc (may have to be focused)
(2) Thesis proposals, e.g.,
Impact of SciFi on Science
(3) Experimentally based, e.g., Astronomical
observation and report (see Boy Scout merit badge) or a CLEA experiment (virtual astronomy)
(4)
Literature Review, e.g., Galileo’s book(s), Stephen Hawkings' "A Brief History in Time," etc.
(5)
Science Education, e.g., Develop lesson plan (grade 9-12 or higher) and short discussion plus a
PowerPoint presentation to last 50 minutes
For a standard paper
covering a research topic or book analysis, the paper should be nominally 2500 words of text (references + pictures not included).
The minimum length is 1800 and the maximum length is 5000 words. This is based on Times New Roman 12 point font. For research
project involving 50-70 substantive slides PowerPoint presentation for a High School level class, only a 1000 word "teachers'
manual" is required. In the case of an experimental project, please see me for requirements, which vary substantially for
virtual vs. real experiments.
Thu Feb 9: optional activity- BAS Chattanooga. I will lecture "On the Spectrum of Things About the Sun"
Tue Feb 14: class 5 (moved to earlier time- 2 pm) A detailed conceptual discussion
of Newton's 3 Laws of Physics, fundamental concepts of linear momentum, and universal gravitation (including mass vs. weight)
with uniform circular motion in the context of planetary orbits
Please
note added detail reflecting our discussion of the research paper.
Class 5 Assignment
Sat Feb 18: class 6 Required observing and lecture at TAO- "Black Holes and Galactic Physics" (This will also be in support
of the Nightsky Network). NOTE: PLAN TO BE THERE AROUND 7 PM (NOT 5 PM).
(Please
bring your family and friends; this is a public night; we will meet at TAO even if it's cloudy/rainy by popular request in
lieu of class on Feb 21. See www.ronsestate.edu/obs/ for directions).
REGRETFULLY, THE TAO ACTIVITIES MUST BE CANCELLED DUE TO ICING CONDITIONS. THEREFORE, WE WILL
MEET FEB 21 AT THE USUAL TIME (Posted Saturday Feb 18, 2006, 11:40 am).
Observatory trip/lecture rescheduled
for Sat MARCH 18 at 7 pm (confirmed 2/21/06).
Quiz 3 Solutions
Tue Feb 21: class 6 Developed concepts of work from force and displacement, applied to free fall and derived the
equivalence of work with and against a gravitational field from definition of work and the kinematic equatons, tied into notion
of energy, gravitational potential and kinetic energies, derived equivalence of work with change in kinetic energy from defintion
of work, and averaging Fx. Also performed graphical analysis of F vs x, area = work. Refer to Chapter 4 for further
analysis and examples.
Prepare for quiz 4 on Newtons laws, work,
and energy.
Prepare for class 7 by reading introduction to atomic
structure.
Tue Feb 28: class 7 review of Gravitational theory and lunar formation. Introduction to atomic structure. Rutherford,
Chadwick, Bohr. Basics of quantum energy levels, hydrogen atom (including isotopes), building of atoms, Aufbau, periodic table-
general entry.
Quiz 4 Solutions
Quiz 5 must be taken on the Learning Center computers. Launch Achievement Services and log unto the student account
with the passwords assigned. From the Physcial Science submenu, find the Periodic Table. Read and take the quiz BEFORE Tuesday
April 7 The quiz will have an expiration date. This is not a group venture. The software will log access times. Interspersed
throughout the short tutorial are 10 quiz questions. Though programmed to give you 3 chances to get the right answer, it will
be to your advantage to get them right the first time.
A supplemental resource
is linked below:
Interactive Periodic Table of Elements
Tue Mar 7: class 8
Wed Mar 8:
Optional (but no extra credit), 8 pm CSM, I am the guest speaker on a special topic of Biblical Astronomy. The title is a
bit more general: "Word Pictures: An Introduction to Astronomy in the Bible."
Tue Mar 14: class 9
Mon Mar 20-Fri Mar 24 Spring Break
Tue
Mar 28: class 10
Fri Mar 31- Sun Apr 2 Optional activity- TN Spring
Star Party a Fall Creek Falls State park. I will lspeak on "Astronomy- The Other Liberal Art"
Tue
Apr 4: class 11
Wed Apr 5: Optional activity- Orion in Oak Ridge.
Professor Alexeff will speak on "Plasma Physics for Dummies"
Tue
Apr 11: class 12
Sun Apr 16: Easter Sunday Community Sunrise Service
Memorial Gardens Sweetwater, TN
Tue Apr 18: class 13 Friends of Science Lecture, "Moon Over Boston:
Dawning of the American Revolution"
Tue Apr 25: class 14 Summary lecture; exam review
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