Atoms to Galaxies
Physics 102 - Section 3
(Lab Section 4)
Fall 2003
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Instructor: |
Dr. B. Clark, mailto:bkc@phy.ilstu.edu 312 D Moulton Hall, 8-5502 |
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Office Hours: |
3:00 - 3:50 p.m. M and W |
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Class Meetings: |
Lecture: M, W, and F, 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. Moulton Hall 210 Activities: Moulton Hall 202 / 204 |
Text: Required: “Astronomy Notes” created and copyrighted by Nick Strobel at Bakersfield College and located at http://www.astronomynotes.com/ . “A Qualitative Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics” available in PDF form at http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~bkc/qind (this link will not be active until later in the fall semester) created and copyrighted by Brian Clark at Illinois State University. “Hands On Activities for Physics 102 – Atoms to Galaxies” compiled and edited by Shaukat Goderya, which can be obtained at either campus bookstore, is also required.
Course Objective: The objective of this course is to help you achieve a reasonable level of scientific literacy. We achieve this by tracing the development of physics and scientific practice from its beginning to the present day. Along the way, we discuss science, technology, pseudoscience, and their impact on society.
Grading: There are four quizzes. Each quiz is scaled to the same value. Normally, each quiz consists of 40 multiple choice or true/false type questions. The lowest quiz score is automatically dropped. However, you must take the final quiz and obtain a score of at least 60% of your previous quiz average to drop it. If you do not achieve the minimum score, the second lowest quiz score is dropped and the final quiz score is included in your final grade determination. Quizzes account for approximately 75% of the course grade.
Homework consists of four multiple-choice assignments and ten hands-on activities. The three highest scores of the multiple-choice assignments and eight highest scores of the hands-on activities count toward the course grade. Homework accounts for approximately 25% of the course grade. There are no make-up assignments or activities.
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Quizzes |
3 x 160 pts |
480 pts |
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Hands-on Activities |
8 x 10 pts |
80 pts |
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Homework |
3 x 25 pts |
75 pts |
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Total Points |
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635 pts |
The final grade for the course is determined according to
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Final Grade |
Points Required (Percent of Possible Points) |
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A |
540 (85 %) |
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B |
445 (70 %) |
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C |
381 (60 %) |
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D |
318 (50 %) |
If you miss a quiz due to participation in other school activities you must notify me ahead of time. You must allow enough time so that your quiz can be rescheduled in advance of the general quiz. Make-up quizzes are more difficult than the general quizzes. If you fail to follow this policy or miss a quiz for any other reason, then your right to take a make-up quiz is determined on a case by case basis. Be sure to talk to me if you miss a quiz. Typically, you must contact me within one week. Homework is not accepted after the class period ends on the due date. Activities are normally due on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m., but the lab is expected to be open on Fridays. Activities will be accepted through Fridays at 3:00 p.m. if the lab is open.
General policies: A working knowledge of algebra is expected. You are responsible for any material covered in the class whether you are present or not present. Expect to spend about six hours a week on this course in addition to the time spent in class.
To be a successful student, you need to place a high priority on school. This means being at class on time and doing the assigned homework. Sometimes it means seeing the teacher during office hours to clarify misconceptions. Please keep in mind that this is a large lecture course. If students arrive late, then they distract the entire class.
Reading Assignment and Tentative Lecture Schedule:
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Date |
Topics / Quizzes |
Readings (from WWW) and Activities |
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Aug 18 – 22 |
Astronomy as a Sense… / Method for Finding Scientific Truth |
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Aug 25 – 29 |
(Early Models of the Universe) |
History of Astronomy |
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Sep 2 – 5 |
Copernicus to Kepler |
History of Astronomy |
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Sep 8 – 12 |
Galileo |
History of Astronomy Activity 1: Getting Started |
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Sep 15 – 19 |
Mechanics (Speed through Acceleration) Quiz 1, Sep 17 |
Newton’s Law of Gravity Activity 2: Graphical Analysis |
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Sep 22 – 26 |
Mechanics (Newton's Laws) |
Newton's Law of Gravity Activity 3: First Look One Body |
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Sep 29 - Oct 3 |
Mechanics (Applications of Newton's Laws) |
Planetary Science (Atmospheres) Solar System Fluff (Solar System Formation) Activity 4: Free Fall |
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Oct 6 – 10 |
Work and Energy(Basic Concepts and Conservation Laws) |
Class Notes Activity 5: Computer Interface |
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Oct 13 – 17 |
Work and Energy (Temperature and Heat Transfer) Quiz 2, Oct 15 |
Class Notes |
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Oct 20 – 24 |
Electromagnetic Radiation Activity 6: Newton's Second Law |
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Oct 27 – 31 |
Quantum Physics (Introduction through the Bohr Model) |
Electromagnetic Radiation (Bohr Model) Activity 7: Conservation of Energy |
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Nov 3 – 7 |
Quantum Physics (Particles and Waves through Radon) |
Class Notes Activity 8: Waves |
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Nov 10 – 14 |
Qualitative Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics Quiz 3, Nov 12 |
QIND – Introduction and Maps Activity 9: TBA |
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Nov 17 – 21 |
Qualitative Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics |
QIND – The Logistic Equation and The Bouncing Ball Activity 10: TBA |
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Dec 3 – 7 |
Qualitative Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics |
QIND – Return Maps, Feigenbaum Constant, and Initial Conditions |
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Dec 11 |
Quiz 4, 7:50 a.m. |
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This is a tentative course schedule. It is the assigned reading and activity schedule. The reading material should be completed before we begin to talk about it in class. It is the best way for you to spot significant terms and concepts in the lecture.
This schedule is tentative in the sense that hardware or software difficulties typical of computer systems might necessitate a shift in the schedule. There are no make-up times for activities. The classroom in which you complete the activities is an open classroom, so you may complete the activities at a time of your choosing within the time window for the specific activity. A schedule of the classroom hours is provided. The classroom serves approximately 600 students. If a significant number of individuals put off an activity until near the due date, then the room may be very crowded and a computer or apparatus may not be available. Do not procrastinate!
