Richard Barrans, Ph.D., M.Ed., Department of Physics and Astronomy
| Office: | PS 110 |
| Phone: | (307) 766-6516 |
| e-mail: | rbarrans@uwyo.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday 1:00–1:50 PM, Tuesday 10:00–10:50 AM, Friday 10:00–11:50 AM |
The successful student will:
How does the world work? What is it made of? The secrets of the universe are the focus of PHYS 1090. The course is a one-semester overview of physical science for students who plan to become elementary school teachers. It addresses the main domains of classical physics: mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism; and the fundamental concepts of chemistry: bonding, structure, and reactions. The emphasis is on recognizing physical principles at work in the everyday world, communicating your understandings to others, and using experiments and observation to deepen your understanding.
Textbooks: The Physical Universe, 13th Edition by Konrad B. Krauskopf and Arthur Beiser, published by McGraw Hill. At the University Bookstore for $170.05 new, $117.55 used.
Course Pack: PHYS 1090 Activities Manual, at the bookstore for $15.30.
The final grade is determined from cumulative points attained. Grading is on a standard scale (90’s = A, 80’s = B, 70’s = C, 60’s = D, < 60% = F).
A total of 1000 points will be available in the course. They are apportioned as follows:
| item | number | points/ea | points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topical units | 16 | 40 | 640 |
| Labors | 3 | 120 | 360 |
Nearly all of the graded items in the course may be revised and re-submitted if you are not satisfied with them. Only the latest grade will count. To submit a revision, first apply to re-submit: explain what was wrong with the previous effort and your plan to correct it. (You will be advised of specific application procedures for each graded item.) If the application is accepted, you may submit the revision. If the application is rejected, you may apply again. Usually, a first application must be entered within one week after grades are returned.
A note about grades: Your grade in this course reflects only your performance over a 15-week period on a limited set of evaluations. It does not reflect your worth as a person or what I think of you. Because of the limited scope of this course, your grade is not a prediction of your future success or an evaluation of your potential as a teacher. In short, do not cause yourself (or your instructor) anxiety by making more of your grade than it is.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 3:10–5:00 PM, Physical Science Building, rooms 237–239. Lectures and laboratory activities are integrated in the three weekly class meetings.
Class activities are your primary opportunity to learn the class material. Most of the class activities are activities designed to be done by groups of four students. Grading is all-or-nothing: a satisfactory creation yields full credit, while any inadequate part permits no credit for the day. Each day, sign the roster at the start of class and verify that the instructor approves your work before you leave. Collaborating in group work is expected and encouraged because working and discussing with other students helps you develop your scientific reasoning and communication.
Most quizzes are accessed on-line through WyoSakai. A quiz may be re-taken as many times as you wish before it closes; the latest score is recorded. Up to one week after a quiz closes, you may arrange to re-take the quiz by applying.
Most units conclude with an on-line drill and written homework assignment. These reinforce the concepts explored in the activities and discussion. Unless otherwise specified, weekly homework questions require hard copy written answers.
There are three labors during the semester, each worth 120 points. These require you to integrate, apply, and communicate your topical knowledge. Each labor is described in detail in its own document.
The textbook is a resource for you to help yourself fulfill the course objectives. Textbook readings complement the material presented in class by providing a different approach and providing additional information. I expect you to complete the textbook reading before a unit.
Course information is posted on the class web site at http://www.barransclass.com/phys1090. Surveys and quizzes are submitted through WyoSakai, which can be accessed at wyosakai.uwyo.edu. Written assignments may be submitted through Sakai if you wish. All grades will be posted on Sakai as well.
Class is the primary setting in which I communicate content to you and you examine the concepts in a supportive environment. If you know that you must miss a class, please notify me beforehand so that I won’t wonder or worry. If you miss a class for an emergency, please notify me as soon as possible afterwards. Arrange to get class notes from a classmate. Missed class work may be made up without penalty with a university excuse or at my discretion. Arrange with me within one week of your return to make up class work.
If an assignment is not submitted by its deadline, apply before the application deadline to submit it later.
The purpose of this class is to help students learn physics and chemistry. Students should conduct themselves in class in accordance with this goal. Respect others’ opinions and abilities, and to help each other to learn.
Telephoning, text-messaging, web-surfing, etc. during class is rude, as is pretty much everything other than attending to the lesson. Using electronic devices for class purposes is permitted.
If you find yourself struggling, please see me for help sooner rather than later. I will do all I can to help you succeed.
Students are expected to work together on group work. Individual work, such as quizzes and labors, must be solely the work of the student claiming credit. All ideas from others that appear in writings and presentations submitted in this class must be properly attributed. Consult me or the specific assignment for the appropriate attribution format.
Academic dishonesty is forbidden and will be dealt with according to University procedures. Academic dishonesty primarily involves a student claiming credit for work done by another or helping another student improperly claim credit for work. This includes, but is not limited to, signing an absent student’s name to a group work sheet; “dry-labbing” or recording data that you did not actually observe; submitting material for grading that is, was, or will be also submitted to another class; and submitting material written by another without proper attribution. A comprehensive description of academic dishonesty can be found at http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounselsupport/UniRegs/802, rev 3.doc.
During my listed office hours, I will be either physically in my office, or I will leave a note on my desk stating where I can be found nearby (lab, department office…). You are also welcome to see me in my office any other time that I am there. If my office door is open, come on in! To ensure my undivided attention, you may schedule an appointment.
The very best way to contact me is by e-mail. I can pretty much guarantee that I will forget any conversation in class. If I have my wits about me when you speak to me in class, I will ask you to send me an e-mail to remind me of what we discussed. If I forget to ask you to send the e-mail, please send the e-mail anyway.
The hour immediately before class is not a good time to contact me, because I need the time to prepare for class. After class is usually better, especially if you help me clean up while we talk.
Finally, I am not permitted to discuss your grades by telephone or e-mail, so please do not ask!
If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and provide documentation of your disability to, University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall, 766-6189, TTY: 766-3073, udss@uwyo.edu. Please discuss any special needs you have with me as well.
This course fulfills the Earth Science (SE) component of the 2003 University Studies Program. SE courses include basic and applied study of fundamental principles addressing the earth-sun relationship, astronomy, distribution of physical/geological features, map interpretation, weather/climate/oceanography, soils and vegetation. They introduce the scientific approach, its scope and limitations. They provide a term-long laboratory experience (or equivalent substantial experimental work integrated with the lecture).
Information in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, correct when distributed at the beginning of the term. The instructor, however, reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of the University of Wyoming, to make changes in the course content or instructional techniques during the term without notice or obligation. If any changes to the syllabus become necessary, students will be notified in class and on the class web site.
| Dates | Unit | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 22 | 1. Science as a way of learning | 1.1–2; 1.12 |
| Aug 24, 26, 29 | 2. Force and Motion | 2.1–10 |
| Aug 31, Sep 2 | 3. Momentum and Energy | 2.11, 3.1–8 |
| Sep 5 | Labor Day Holiday | |
| Sep 7, 9 | 3. Momentum and Energy (cont’d) | |
| Sep 12, 14, 16 | 4. Heat and Temperature | 5.1 5.3, 5.8–5.16 |
| Sep 19, 21, 23 | 5. Fluids and Pressure | 5.4–7 |
| Sep 26, 28, 30 | 6. Electricity and Magnetism | 6.1–4, 6.12–17 |
| Oct 3, 5, 7 | 7. Waves and Sound | 7.1–7 |
| Oct 10, 12, 14 | 8. Light and Optics | 7.8–17 |
| Oct 17, 19 | 9. Nuclei and Radioactivity | 8.1–4, 9.5–10, 9.12–14 |
| Oct 21, 24 | 10. Formulas, Equations, Amounts | 10.1–3; 10.13–16; 12.3–4 |
| Oct 26, 28 | 11. Electrons and Bonding | 10.4–17 |
| Oct 31 | Labor 2 Presentations | |
| Nov 2, 4 | 12. Intermolecular Forces | 11.4–9 |
| Nov 7, 9 | 13. Acids and Bases | 11.10–14 |
| Nov 11, 14, 16 | 14. Chemical Equilibrium | 12.5–11 |
| Nov 18, 21 | 15. Oxidation and Reduction | 12.12–13 |
| Nov 23–25 | Thanksgiving Break | |
| Nov 28, 30, Dec 2 | 16. Organic Compounds | 13.1–9 |
| Dec 5 | Final: Labor 3 Presentations, 3:30–5:30 PM | |
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Copyright © 2008, Richard Barrans
Revised: 20 August 2011. Maintained by Richard Barrans.
URL: http://www.barransclass.com/phys1090/P1090_Syll_F11.html