St. Johns River Community College

Palatka Campus

 

 

 

Course Guide For:

 

Physical Science: PSC 1341

 

 

3 credit hours

 

 

Spring 2005

MWF 10:00 – 10:50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructor: Ryan Wolfe

Office location: Science and Technical Bldg. Room S-209A

Phone:  312-4209

E-mail: ryanwolfe@sjrcc.edu

 

Spring 2005 Office Hours:

 

TBA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

 

 

This course guide is designed to help you successfully navigate and complete the requirements for Physical Science, PSC 1341. This guide contains information regarding the course such as: the course description, required materials, grading system, and course calendar.

 

 

Course Information

 

Course Title:                        Physical Science 

Course Number:                  PSC 1341

Course Credit:                     3 hours

Prerequisites:                      None

 

Course Description:           Non-mathematical introductory physics/chemistry course designed for non-science majors. The focus of this course is designed to introduce the great ideas of physics and chemistry to those that have limited science knowledge. You will be introduced to many scientific ideas and theories along with their social and philosophical impacts. The class will meet two times a week and is primarily a lecture format.

 

Rational:                               No matter your background or major you are a citizen of the universe, hopefully. As such you are bound and surrounded by the laws of physics and chemistry. This course is designed to give a basic understanding of the principles of physical science and how that affects the world in which we live. At the very least you should be able to answer the kids when they ask, “why is the sky blue?” or “why is it colder in the winter?” In this course we will answer the questions that have puzzled mankind and ask they questions that scientists search for today.

 

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: This is an introductory science course and as such you need not have any previous science classes. A laboratory, PSC 1341L, is also offered in conjunction with the class.

 

Required Course Materials:

·  Textbook – Bill W. Tillery, Physical Science, Fifth Edition, Wm. C. Brown Publishers

 

Course Goals: This course, being an overview of physics, is broken up into different sections. Each section has its own list of goals, which we will discuss.

 

I assume that those of you that has signed up for this course has some basic interest or curiosity that pertains to physical science. This class should at the very least enhance that interest and encourage you to learn more about science as a whole. In order to have success, you should not simply memorize the facts or idea, but rather try to truly understand the concepts and goals that will be introduced to you over the next semester.

 

There are some important goals that I want you to take away from this class. I want you to have a real good idea of what the science of physics and chemistry are and what they are not. Physical science is present and around you everyday of your life. You should have a basic understanding of the laws of science and how they effect not only the world, but also the universe that you live. This goal will be achieved during lecture and will be tested during our exams. I want you to develop reasoning skills and learn to apply them to your studies. This goal will be met with the examinations and homework assignments.  

 

 

 

 

Grading System and Course Requirements.

 

Grading Scale – A grading scale of 90% and up will be an A, 80 % to 89% will result in a B, 70% to 79% will yield a C, 60% to 69% is a D, and 59% and below is a F. Your grade for the course will be composed of the following: 3 hour exams, quizzes, and attendance.

Exams:                   50%

Quizzes:                 30%

Attendance:          20%

Hour Exams:         Your exams will be covering the lecture objectives presented in class. Test will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer problems. We will have a total of 3 hour exams throughout the course of the semester.

 

Quizzes:                There will be a short quiz following every chapter. The quizzes will count 30% of your grade.

 

Attendance:          Your attendance in classes is mandatory and will be accounted each class meeting. Your attendance will compose 20% of your final grade. If you must miss a class meeting please see me before the day in question to avoid missing those points for the day.

 

 

Course Policies

 

Missed Assignments and Late work - If you have to miss an exam or quiz, please notify me ahead of time so that we may schedule a time for you to make it up. Please take care to note the dates of our exams, which I will announce up to a week in advance.

 

Academic Dishonesty:        I was a student once myself and as such I am aware of the sorts of types of dishonesty that can and do take place during the course of a semester. I encourage you not to cheat because not only are you hurting yourself, but you harm others as well. Take that time otherwise spent designing intricate hand signals or schematics for miniaturized transmitters to communicate with others, and take that time to go ahead and study. The punishment for an offense can range from a zero on an assignment to the expulsion from class.

 

Inclement Weather:            Basically, if the college is open I will be holding class. However, do not take unnecessary risks to attend class. I will also take care not to take up homework on such days.  

 

Meeting with Me:                If you have any problems of any kind with this material I encourage you to please come and talk with me about it. Many times a student can learn something unclear in class if I talk to them one on one. My office door is usually open and if I am not there we can make an appointment to meet at another time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tentative Course Schedule

 

Week

Subjects

Reading Assignments

1

·         Introduction

·         Math Review

·         App. A

·         Chapt. 1

2

·         Math Review (cont.)

·         1-D Motion

·         No school Mon 9/2

·          

·         Chapter 2 pp. 24 – 30

 

3

·         Forces

·         Free Fall

·         Compound Motion

·         Chapt. 2 pp. 30 – 43

4

·         Newton’s Laws of Motion

·         Momentum/ Circular Motion/Universal Gravitation

·         Chapt. 3 pp. 48 – 55

·         Chapt. 3 pp. 55 – 61

5

·         Work, Power, and Energy

·         Energy Conservation

·         Chapt. 4 pp. 68 – 74

·         Chapt. 4 pp. 75 – 84

6

·         Exam #1 Chapters 1 – 4

·         Heat and Temperature

·          

·         Chapt. 5 pp. 90 – 100

7

·         Heat Transfer/ Phase Change

·         Wave Motion and Sound

·         Chapt. 5 pp. 100 – 114

·         Chapt. 6 pp. 120 – 131

8

·         Sources of Sound

·         Electric Charge

·         Chapt. 6 pp. 132 – 140

·         Chapt. 7 pp. 146 – 153

9

·         Electric Circuits

·         Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

·         Chapt. 7 pp. 153 – 162

·         Chapt. 7 pp. 163 – 179

10

·         Nature and Properties of Light

·         Reflection

·         Chapt. 8 pp. 184 – 187

·         Chapt. 8 pp. 187 – 189

11

·         Light Refraction

·         Review

·         Test #2 Chapters 5 – 8

·         Chapt. 8 pp. 189 – 194

12

·         Atomic Structure

·         Elements

·         Chapt. 9 pp. 210 – 227

·         Chapt. 10 pp. 231 – 241

13

·         Periodic Table 

·         Compounds and Chemical Changes

·         Chapt. 10 pp. 242 – 251

·         Chapt. 11 pp. 256 – 266

14

·         Compound Names and Formulas

·         Chapt. 11 pp. 267 – 274

15

·         Chemical Formulas and Equations

·         Types of Reactions

·         Chapt. 12 pp. 278 – 286

·         Chapt. 12 pp. 286 – 296

16

·         Acids, Bases, and Salts

·         Review

·         Test #3 Chapters 9 – 13

·         Chapt. 13 pp. 310 – 317

 

(I reserve the right to alter this syllabus as time or needs allow.)