PHYSICS 102: Atoms to Galaxies

Concepts, history, and methodology of physical ideas such as motion, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quanta, and relativity with interrelationships and applications. The theme or focus may vary by section.

• Required courses: Not for cr maj/min. May not be taken under the CT/NC option. Lecture and lab.

Autumn Semester 2017

Section 15/16
Class: MWF 12:00 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
Lecture: Moulton Hall Room 210
Lab: Moulton Hall Room 202/204

(Under revision; last updated November 30, 2017 - UPDATED minor updates.)

Drop down to Class Schedule

Instructor:

Dr. Carl J. Wenning

312B Moulton Hall (3rd floor, west end of Moulton Hall, turn right at T, door on left)

Office hours: Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays after class (1:00 - 1:30 p.m.) or by appointment before class. If you wish to see me during regular office hours after class, please tell me in class. Please note that I am not normally on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Email: cjwennin@ilstu.edu N.B. Email is the best way to contact me as I check email regularly throughout the day.

Office phone: Don't currently have one; after I have been assigned a number, you may phone me during my office hours but please don't leave a message at any time. I do NOT listen to phone messages on my campus phone.

Overview:

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the methodology, history, and basic concepts of physics and astronomy, as well as to basic experimental techniques via traditional lab set-ups and computer simulations.

Specific Goals:

As one of the four science literacy courses of the general education program at ISU, the main goal of this course is to acquaint you with the content and processes of science. As such, coming out of this course you should demonstrate the ability to:

• explain how we know what we know about the physical universe;
• differentiate between knowledge and faith;
• describe the connections between science (physics and astronomy), technology, and society;
• explain the crucial role of precise observation in formulating the nature of reality; and
• use and explain course content and processes to solve problems related to the real world.

Course Outline:

The course is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the beginning of science through the study of astronomy. The second part is about classical physics where many of the concepts and outlooks that led to our understanding of the universe had their beginning. The last part will concentrate on the origin and history of the universe, emphasizing the experimental evidence that led to the “big bang” theory, its subsequent observational verification, and its theoretical consequences.

Textbooks:

No textbook is required for this course. We will take advantage of online resources for our readings rather than spend some $200 on a book. Please read all assignments prior to coming to class.

Lab Manual Required:

Hands-on Activities for PHY 102, Atoms to Galaxies, by Ansher & Goderya (required). Available in local bookstores. Bring to every lab as you will need to record information on data sheets and turn in before you depart lab.

Clicker Required:

Classroom clickers are required, one per student; no sharing is allowed. Clickers also will be used to help the instructor gain feedback about student understanding and to award extra credit. Please bring your clicker to every class. If you do not understand how to set up your clicker after reading the advice below, please contact another student who has done so successfully. Your instructor has never had to complete the following steps, and so can't offer advice other than that which follows.

• Publisher: TURNING TECHNOLOGIES, ISBN 9781934931783
• Clickers are based on TurningPoint Cloud technology used as audience response device.
• Clickers will allow to poll face-to-face class in real time, display the results, engage you in your learning, and get a sense of level of understanding of the course materials.
• To make your classroom click response count, please register your unique clicker ID with ReggieNet and bring it to every class with you.

Instructions for Registering your Clicker

• If you created a working TurningPoint account last semester, you should NOT have to reregister this semester if you are using the same clicker. (Once successfully registered, the account works for any ReggieNet course for as long as the subscription lasts.)
• For details on how to register your new clicker for the classroom, please visit http://ctlt.illinoisstate.edu/technology/clickers/students/
• Each of you should have your own unique “clicker and license”, which can be purchased in either ISU TurningPoint online store (cheaper option) or in the bookstore.
• To order online, log on to https://reggienet.illinoisstate.edu and visit “PHY 102 0015/16 AU2017 - Atoms To Galaxies” course website, and click “TuringPoint Cloud” menu located at the bottom left menu (above Help menu).
• Clicking the “TuringPoint Cloud” option would direct you to TurningPoint Technology website to create an account and purchase a bundle of clicker and license online (Keep all the papers and packaging so that they can be sent as a proof of purchase for rebate!).
• Whether purchasing online or in the bookstore, you can get rebates by redeeming codes at https://rebates.turningtechnologies.com where you have to fill out an online form and receive instructions on how to mail in the rebate materials.
• Rebate Codes: RF LCD 4 year bundles ($20.99 rebate) ® Risu20; 4 year license ($37.00 rebate) ® Risu37; 1 year license ($20.99 rebate) ® Risu20

Assessments:

Lab Activities: Associated with this course are 10 lab activities, each worth 10 points. The lowest single lab score will be dropped. The activities take place in an open lab. This means that you can walk in and perform the current activity any time during the hours in which the lab is open (see PHY 102 Lab Schedule for details). Because of the constant accessibility of the lab room, there is by departmental policy no make-up for a missed lab activity. The deletion of the lowest score allows for a week-long emergency per student. Lab reports typically will be completed in lab, stamped, and turned in before leaving. The grader for this section's labs is Clay Calamari who proctors the lab on Tuesdays, 11AM to 1PM, Wednesdays 11 AM to 12 PM, and Thursdays, 11AM to 1 PM. You may attend the lab at any time, but his is available for consultation there and then should you have questions about scoring, etc. See the Lab Schedule along with lab hours and other important information near the bottom of the syllabus.

Paper & Pencil Quizzes: There will be six in-class, 10-point quizzes, all announced in the class schedule. Each quiz will consist of 10 multiple-choice questions and will be worth 10 points each. The lowest 1 of the 6 quiz scores will be dropped. Missed quizzes score 0. Make-up quizzes will not be allowed unless a student has missed more than one quiz.

Tests: There are four paper-and-pencil tests, three of which consist of approximately 25 multiple-choice questions, each question will be worth 1 or 2 points. The last test is just the final, and it will consist of 35 questions. Approximately 25 questions will deal with topics covered after the third test, and approximately 10 questions will deal with topics from the earlier parts of the course. No test scores will be dropped.

Calculator: Most in-class quizzes and exams require a scientific calculator - the use of smart phones and similar technology may not be used due to their capacity to store information. Also, bring a number 2 pencil for completing Opscan forms associated with paper-and-pencil quizzes and exams. See the class schedule for days and dates of in-class quizzes and tests.

Note Well: Late or missing assignments score zero unless there are substantial mitigating circumstances. Keep in mind that a zero figured into your grade can have devastating effects. Consider the following four submissions: 90%, 100%, 95%, 0%. The average is 71.25%, a letter grade of C by this course's grading scale. Is this acceptable when your typical performance has been A-grade? Of course not. The point is, "Never fail to turn in an assignment or make up a missed test!"

Appeals on Paper-and-Pencil Quizzes and Tests:

Students should compare their answers on the quiz and test forms with the answer key. Students are permitted to appeal answers marked "incorrect" on quizzes and tests so long as specific requirements are followed: (1) Verify with your instructor that an item has indeed been marked "incorrect"; (2) In writing - email is acceptable - state the question number AND color of the test form. (3) State your answer. (4) State the instructor's answer. (5) Explain why your answer to the question is just as good as or even better than that of the instructor. If you are planning an appeal, you MUST do so within one week of the quiz or test. If you intend to appeal, it is the course instructor's policy not to discuss a question with the student prior to the appeal. The instructor's decision in these matters is final.

Prerequisites:

No science background is required for PHY 102. This does not mean, however, that the course is void of new and unfamiliar concepts. On the contrary, even if you have already had physics and/or astronomy in high school, the topics covered here might appear unfamiliar because the course emphasizes neither memorization nor mere “hands-on” recreation, but rather, true learning experiences. When a certain topic is introduced, examples of its application will be analyzed in detail. You will then be expected to analyze new examples. This requires an in-depth comprehension of the topics. Although the process of learning will be slow at the beginning, a little bit of patience and diligence can go a long way. The most important prerequisite for the course is a willingness to learn. As for the mathematics preparation, some very basic algebra skills such as solving algebraic relationships for unknowns, taking square roots, raising numbers to powers, and using power-of-ten notation will be assumed. As you will see, it is not good mathematical skill that ensures success in the course but the ability to apply that skill to physical situations.

Grades:

Your course grade is divided into five (5) parts weighted as shown in the following list:

Lab Reports (9): 21.05% of final grade
In-Class 10-point Quizzes: 31.58% of final grade
Regular Tests: 31.58% of final grade
Final: 15.79% final grade

The dates of paper-and-pencil tests and quizzes, as well as the due dates for lab activities, are as given in the following schedule. Changes, if any, will be announced in advance. The final is simply the fourth test. There will be no make-up paper-and-pencil quizzes or tests unless more than the minimum number required to determine the course grade is unavailable! Missed quizzes and tests score zero. The percentage range for letter grades will be approximately as follows:

85% < A < 100%
75% < B < 85%
65% < C < 75%
55% < D < 65%
F < 55%

General Advice and Study Tips:

• Dr. Wenning's Advice for College Students
• Behavior and It Relationship to Course Grades

Free Tutoring Available for this Course

The Julia N. Visor Academic Center provides free weekly tutoring sessions for this course and many other general education courses. To sign up, call (309) 438-7100 or visit the Julia N. Visor Academic Center, Vrooman 012 (between Manchester and Hewett dorms), Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Fri, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sun, 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. See their website for additional information http://www.UniversityCollege.IllinoisState.edu/tutoring

Class Schedule:

The following is a tentative schedule. Changes will be announced in advance. The reading assignments come primarily from the Internet. Please complete all reading assignments and review all resources for a given day PRIOR to class. For instance, for Wednesday, August 23, review Class 01: PowerPoint; for Friday, August 25, review Class 02: PowerPoint, Stellarium (computer program) PRIOR to class.

Lab Schedule:

General Education Laboratory Schedule for Spring Semester 2017 Moulton Hall Rooms 202/204. All lab activities begin on Tuesdays and must be completed by 4pm on Fridays. If no one is present in the lab by, say, 3:30 p.m., the lab might be closed. Don't wait until the last minute to begin (or finish) your lab.

Laboratory Hours:

MON - CLOSED
TUE - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
WED - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
THU - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
FRI - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

• Check the Notice Board outside Room 204 in Moulton Hall for latest updates or changes to laboratory schedule.
• You must bring your activity manual to do the experiment. It is required. You must turn in your own worksheet. No exceptions.
• Caution: Labs can close as early as 3:30pm on Fridays if no one is present. Don't want to the last minute to start or even complete your lab as you could find the lab closed.