GSCI 104 – Conceptual Physics - Summer 2008 at TVCC

 

Instructor:    Rick Reynolds, Ph.D.

Learning Community with MATH 70 – Algebra Review (Instructor: Pat Rhodes) – Students must register for both courses, or satisfy MATH 70 prerequisite.

 

Course Description:

This course is designed to develop an understanding of the phenomena of our everyday life via the laws of physics. The emphasis is not on problem-solving, although this aspect will be addressed, but on encouraging students to understand and appreciate their environment from a new perspective. The course may include topics in measurement, mechanics (motion, forces, momentum, energy, gravity and the planets) and other physics subfields such as fluid and thermal physics, electrical and magnetic phenomena, wave motion and optics, atomic and nuclear physics. GSCI 104 satisfies science general education requirements. 4 credit hours (30 hours of lecture, 30 hours of lab).

This summer, the course is being offered in a unique interdisciplinary format as a Learning Community with MATH 70 (Algebra Review), and a combined Laboratory Field Excursion to Crater Lake National Park together with GSCI 106 (Geology) and GSCI 107 (Astronomy).

General Course Objectives:

1. Develop basic science literacy of students, particularly with regard to physics, so that they can better fulfill their role as knowledgeable citizens.

2. Improve students' quantitative reasoning, problem solving, graphing, and modeling skills, while establishing a rationale for the need for mathematics within a scientific context.

3. Develop an appreciation for the processes by which scientific knowledge is obtained and evaluated.

4. Develop an understanding of some of the fundamental laws and principles of physics.

5. Develop an understanding of real-world phenomena from the perspective of physics.

6. Develop an understanding of the role of physics as the fundamental science, its relationship to other sciences (astronomy, geology, chemistry, biology), and the importance of mathematics in the scientific process. 

Textbook:  Conceptual Physics Fundamentals, by Paul G. Hewitt

 

Schedule: Lecture – M,T,W,Th 12-1pm (following MATH 70)

Lab – Mandatory Field Trip Excursion, July 28-August 2

To Central Oregon including the John Day Fossil Bed and Newberry Crater Volcanic National Monuments, Pine Mountain Observatory, SkydiveCentralOregon, and Crater Lake National Park (with GSCI 106 Geology and GSCI 107 Astronomy). $100 fee (pay only once for any or all courses).

Grading:  Attendance/Participation^* …………………………. 20%

Weekly Homework Assignments^* ………………… 20%

Weekly Quizzes ……………………….…………... 20%

Portfolio/Journal ……………………………….….. 20%

Final Exam ………………………………..…….…. 20% 

^*Includes Weekly Discussion Board Postings

       Final grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

          93-100%: A, 90-92: A-, 87-89: B+, 83-86: B, 80-82: B-,

77-79%: C+, 73-76: C, 70-72: C-, 60-69: D, <60: F

 

Policies:

 

        You are required to post at least twice (substantially) to your Blackboard discussion group each week. This is the minimum passing requirement, i.e., quality participation at this level guarantees a "C" for the discussion component of the grade. It is necessary to also reply to the instructor's (and others') responses to you postings for more credit. The topic will be explained in the weekly assignments and students who fail to participate in the discussion board (or do so minimally) will receive a failing grade in the class. Discussions will generally be open beginning on Monday at 12:01 am. Your first post must occur by Wednesday 11:59 pm MST each week, and your last by 11:59 pm MST on the following Sunday. No exceptions, although the instructor reserves the right to modify the posting dates and requirements on a week-to-week basis. You are encouraged to post more than the minimum amount per week, and will be graded on the effort and quality of your postings. If you participate minimally you probably will not do very well in this course. Try to stick to the topic and move the discussion along in a positive manner, although "off topic" discussions and questions can be fun, interesting and helpful at times. Always be civil and respectful of others' opinions.