PHSC 106 - Introduction to Physical Science - Syllabus

Syllabus

Readings

Labs

 

 

Instructor:  Dr. Craig Tyler, tyler_c@fortlewis.edu.  Please contact me by email, but not by phone. You can also visit me during my office hours.

Final Exam:  Wednesday, 16 December, at 9:45 to 11:45 in our usual lecture classroom.

Objective:  This course is a wide-ranging survey of the science of the physical world. It covers basic mechanics, including velocities and accelerations, forces like gravity, and conservation of energy. It also covers some electricity, magnetism, and thermodynamics, including electromagnetic radiation, global warming, and the global energy problem. Finally, the course will cover some less familiar topics in physical science: quantum physics and nuclear energy. The idea here is that a student in this course will learn a little about everything - ideal preparation for teachers, consumers, voters and citizens in the twenty-first century.

Class format:  You are responsible for material covered in class, even if you are not there for any reason; you can usually catch up from the book. I will try to make the class sessions worth your while, so that most of the learning can take place during class hours. Every day (or nearly every day) we will have a short, graded reading quiz, starting in week 2. Every week in class, the day after lab, we will also have a short, graded lab quiz. Reading quizzes and lab quizzes will be completed electronically using PRS hardware (see below).

Readings:  The "readings" link at the top left of this web page will list all readings and exams. It is your responsibility to keep up. Readings are usually listed by chapter; you will have to figure out which sections to read when in order to prepare for daily reading quizzes. Whenever a chapter is assigned, you should (eventually) read the whole thing, including starred (optional) sections, unless instructed otherwise in class. Also read in-chapter features, such as "How do we know?" and "Concept checks."

Grading:  Your grades will break down approximately as follows:

  • Two midterm exams combined: 30%
  • Final exam: 25%
  • Reading quizzes combined: 20%
  • Lab participation: 15%
  • Lab quizzes combined: 10%

There are several important notes about grading:

  • I will count three reading quiz grades as extra credit. No reading quizzes can be made up for any reason. Also, a small portion of the daily reading quiz grade will come from basic PRS participation in other questions posed each day.
  • I will probably curve the final grades. This procedure will always raise grades, and never lower them.
  • I may change the percent grade weightings for the class (above), but I won't change them by much. I also reserve the right to change the weightings for an individual student if I feel that circumstances warrant it (such changes could be substantial).
  • You may withdraw from the course (with a grade of "W") at any time before the final exam. If you take the final, then you are committed to a grade of A through F. I will not allow pass/fail grading, and I will only allow incompletes in utterly unavoidable circumstances
Scantron exams:  The exams will be machine-graded. You are required to bring your own scantron form to each of the three exams; I will not have any extras available for you. You can buy scantrons from the bookstore, very cheap. Fill out the scantron forms carefully; I absolutely will not change your score due to a machine grading error. Use only red scantron forms, not brown. (Green works too.)

Personal Response System (PRS): You are responsible to buy a PRS transmitter from the bookstore, and provide me with its transmitter ID number.  We will use these every day in class. In addition, you will use your PRS transmitter for all reading quizzes and lab quizzes to send your answers. It is your responsibility to buy, bring, and maintain your transmitter every day. I will not have extra batteries available if yours die, for example, and if you forget your transmitter on a quiz day, you will get a zero for that day's quiz.

Textbook:  Hobson, Physics: Concepts & Connections, 4th edition.

Academic (dis)honesty: Any incidents of cheating on quizzes or exams will result in being reported to the office of academic affairs, and getting an F for the course.

Accessibility:  Students with disabilities have equal access and equal opportunity in this course.  If you require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, you must register with Disability Services, 280 Noble Hall, 247-7459.  If you qualify for services, bring your letter of accommodation to me as soon as possible.

Also, see the syllabus addendum for more information about this course.