IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Physical Science Course Outline
Instructor: Michael McPheeters
Web/e-mail: http://www.vigoschools.org/~mmc3; mmc3@vigoschools.net
Phone #: (812) 877-1181
Office Hours: (By appointment)
Term: Spring 2007 Credit Hours: 3.00
Course Number: SCI-111 Course Section: 01G
Location: Main Campus H208 Meeting Times: 6-9:50 p.m.
Responsible Division: General Education Program: Math/Science
Contact Hours: 64
Prerequisite(s): ASSET Scores of - 41 for reading, writing and math
- 40 for elementary algebra
Catalog Description:
This course introduces physical concepts and theories pertaining to current applications and trends in physics, chemistry, Earth science, and astronomy; also emphasizing concepts and factual knowledge.
Major Course Objectives:
· Describe the history and origins of scientific concepts and principles
· Use and convert both physical quantities and measurements in the SI and USCS unit systems
· Apply the scientific method of inquiry, including analysis based on scientific concepts and observation, to laboratory situations.
· Discover the underlying principles in physics that govern our universe by investigating kinematics, nature of energy, heat, and light.
· Develop an understanding of important concepts in chemistry, including: the atomic model, formation of compounds, and chemical reactions.
· Investigate the primary fields of Earth Science, including: astronomy, geology, and meteorology.
Course Content:
· Unit 1 – Scientific Measurements and Calculations
· Unit 2 – Physics; Motion and Energy
· Unit 3 – Physics; Heat and Light
· Unit 4 – Chemistry; Structure of Matter and its Interactions
· Unit 5 – Astronomy; Exploring the Solar System and Universe
· Unit 6 – Introduction to Earth Science
Text/ Curriculum Materials:
Tillery, Bill W. Physical Science. 7th ed. McGraw Hill. Boston, Ma. 2007.
Academic Honesty Statement:
The College is committed to academic integrity in all its practices. The faculty value intellectual integrity and a high standard of academic conduct. Activities that violate academic integrity undermine the quality and diminish the value of educational achievement.
Cheating on papers, tests or other academic works is a violation of College rules. No student shall engage in behavior that, in the judgment of the instructor of the class, may be construed as cheating. This may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty such as the acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials and/or distribution of these materials and other academic work. This includes students who aid and abet as well as those who attempt such behavior.
ADA Statement:
Ivy Tech Community College seeks to provide effective services and accommodations for qualified individuals with documented disabilities. If you need an accommodation because of a documented disability, you are required to register with Disability Support Services at the beginning of the semester. If you will require assistance during an emergency evacuation, notify your instructor immediately. Look for evacuation procedures posted in your classrooms. You may contact this department at 800-377-4882 ext. 2282 or 812-298-2282.
Method of Delivery:
You will be responsible for information given during in-class lecture, laboratory investigations, homework assignments, and appropriate chapters in the text (see outline).
Method of Evaluation:
The final grade for this course is derived from unit exams, in-class laboratory activities, homework assignments, and collaborative projects. In-class laboratories involve the collection and manipulation of scientific data related to the topics discussed in lecture and homework activities will be given to further develop your understanding of content material. There will be two collaborative projects during the term that will constitute a large portion of your final grade and will be discussed further in class. The 5 unit exams are designed to test your working knowledge of the scientific content presented through lecture and the required reading. Your lowest exam score will be dropped and not averaged into your final grade (this includes any missed exams). Just a warning, class continues after examinations.
Your grade will be calculated based on a point system for the following tentative assignments:
In-Class Laboratory activities (11)
Homework Assignments (4)
Collaborative Projects (2)
Unit Exams (5)
Grading Scale:
90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
0 - 59 F
Make-Up Policy:
Night classes pose a difficult situation for necessary absences. Because of the amount of time spent in one session, a large amount of material is missed per class. Therefore, it is imperative that you attend class regularly. Due to the relationship of the in-class laboratory activities and subsequent homework assignments discussed following lecture, they may not be made up. You are here and participate, or, you are not. Any assignments due on the date of absence are due in at the beginning of the first class back. Assignments not turned in on time are subject to a zero (instructor’s discretion when extenuating circumstances exists). Since your lowest exam score will be dropped, you may not make up missed exams. Participation in both collaborative projects is mandatory. Failure to attend, participate and present during the “Principles in Physics” lab presentation or the “Collaborative Teaching” presentation will result in a zero for the project grade. Again, project grades can not be expunged or made-up.
Attendance Policy:
In order to provide you, the student, with a quality education, it is important for you to attend class regularly. However, if you choose to quit attending class, you are responsible for contacting the Registrar’s office to withdraw from the course. Ivy Tech Community College will not allow faculty to withdraw students from a class.
Last Date to Drop:
November 9, 2007
Below is a listing of all expected reading. To fully prepare for exams, you should read the required material before attending class for that week. I cannot stress how important it is to read the text and attend the weekly lectures due to the amount of supplemented material that is presented outside of the text.
Syllabus (Tentative):
Mondays
1 8-20 L1 - Introduction to Physical Science 1
Scientific Method Lab
2 8-27 L2 - Scientific Measurement &
Measurement Conversions 1
(Bring Calculator!!!)
Measured Quantities Lab
3 9-3 Labor Day – No Class
4 9-10 L3 – Derived Quantities 1
Derived Quantities Lab
5 9-17 Unit 1 Exam
L4 – Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion 2
Homework Problems
Begin “Principles of Physics” Lab Project
6 9-24 L5 – Kinematics 2
Velocity & Acceleration Lab
7 10-1 L6 – Energy 3
Work & Power Lab
8 10-8 Principles of Physics Lab Presentations 2-3
TBA
9 10-15 Unit 2Exam
L7 –Kinetic-Molecular Theory and Heat 4
Specific Heat Lab
10 10-22 L8 – Electromagnetic Radiation 7
Reflection & Refraction Lab
11 10-29 Unit 3 Exam
L9 – Development of the Atomic Model 8
Atomic Structure Lab
12 11-5 L10 – Compounds and Chemical Reactions 9 & 10
Observing Chemical Reactions Lab
13 11-12 Unit 4 Exam
L11 – History of Astronomy
Begin “Collaborative Teaching” Project 18-20, 22
14 11-19 L12 – Studying the Universe 14
Hurtzburg-Russel Diagram Lab
15 11-26 L13 – Our Solar system 15
Scale of the Solar System Lab
16 12-3 Unit 5 Exam
Media check
Resource time for Project
17 12-10 Final Exam: Collaborative Project Presentations
Students Dismissed
Tuesdays
1 8-21 L1 - Introduction to Physical Science 1
Scientific Method Lab
2 8-28 L2 - Scientific Measurement &
Measurement Conversions 1
(Bring Calculator!!!)
Measured Quantities Lab
3 9-4 L3 – Derived Quantities 1
Derived Quantities Lab
4 9-11 Unit 1 Exam
L4 – Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion 2
Homework Problems
Begin “Principles of Physics” Lab Project
5 9-18 L5 – Kinematics 2
Velocity & Acceleration Lab
6 9-25 L6 – Energy 3
Work & Power Lab
7 10-2 Principles of Physics Lab Presentations 2-3
TBA
8 10-9 Unit 2Exam
L7 –Kinetic-Molecular Theory and Heat 4
Specific Heat Lab
9 10-16 Fall Break – No Class
10 10-23 L8 – Electromagnetic Radiation 7
Reflection & Refraction Lab
11 10-30 Unit 3 Exam
L9 – Development of the Atomic Model 8
Atomic Structure Lab
12 11-6 L10 – Compounds and Chemical Reactions 9 & 10
Observing Chemical Reactions Lab
13 11-13 Unit 4 Exam
L11 – History of Astronomy
Begin “Collaborative Teaching” Project 18-20, 22
14 11-20 L12 – Studying the Universe 14
Hurtzburg-Russel Diagram Lab
15 11-27 L13 – Our Solar system 15
Scale of the Solar System Lab
16 12-4 Unit 5 Exam
Media check
Resource time for Project
17 12-11 Final Exam: Collaborative Project Presentations
Students Dismissed