Overview

Syllabus
ps83
ps83 planner

Sheet 1: Syllabus
SC 130 Physical Science
Textbook: Physical Science by Shipman, Wilson, Todd
Required materials: Scientific calculator.
Recommended optional materials: 30 cm ruler, digital watch with chronograph.
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 2-5, by walk-in, or appointment
Instructor: Dana Lee Ling
Email: dleeling@comfsm.fm cc: dana@mail.fm
Web site: http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/physci/ps83/index.html
Work: 320-2480 extension 228 / Home phone: 320-2962.
Attendance: Seven MWF absences results in withdrawal from the course. A late is one third of an absence. Thus any combination of MWF absences and lates that adds to seven will result in withdrawal. For example, twenty-one lates would result in withdrawal. Missing more than three laboratories will also lead to failure of the course.
No betel nut in class nor on campus except in the cultural huts.
Evaluation and assessment: Quizzes, tests, and midterms are given every Friday that there is not a test. Quizzes and tests can and do occur on a Wednesday wherein Friday is a holiday. Lab practical examinations are on lab days.
Grading policy: Homework is worth 1 to 5 points and, when given, is checked at the start of the next MWF class. Pop cloud quizzes are worth up to 3 points. Quizzes generated an average maximum of 35 points spring 2008. Test one spring 2008 was worth 36 points, test two was worth 48 points, test three was worth 37 points, the final was worth 38 points. By term end spring 2008 36% of the points were in quizzes, tests, the midterm, and the final. 60% of the points were in laboratories. Both are important in this demanding and difficult course. Spring 2008 there was a total possible of 1098 points. The final was worth 38 points, again only 3% of the overall points. This course places more value on work done over the term than on a cumulative final examination. This course is about researching a system and writing a report on the findings. The course requires the discipline of mind of the distance runner. Success in this course depends on consistent completion of work throughout the term. There is no way to bring a grade up late in the term. Your grade is a reflection of a body of work during the term. The final letter grade is based on the standard College policy: Obtain 90% of the points or more to obtain an A, 80% to 89% for a B, and so forth.
Laboratories: Laboratories are central to the course. To the extent possible, each week focuses on the laboratory with lecture in support of the laboratory exploration. Laboratories are marked using a rubric. Each lab has its own rubric, all are based to a lesser or greater extent on the generic rubric. Laboratory write-ups are composed of a single word processing document created with Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org Writer. Tables, graphs, and analysis done in a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice.org Calc should be copied and pasted into the word document in the appropriate order. Laboratories are due a week after the laboratory at the next laboratory period. Laboratories can be sent by email, this does not change the due date/time or submission guidelines. Laboratories turned in after the start of class for the next laboratory are late. Late laboratories can be turned in up to the start of the Friday class period the next day, but incur a five point penalty. After the start of the Friday class period the late penalty increases to ten points. Laboratories can be turned in up to a week late (14 days after the lab) but incur a ten point penalty. Laboratories more than 14 days late are not accepted. Laboratory reports CAN be turned in for labs for which you were absent! Get data from a colleague to complete the report, do your own analysis and write-up to the best of your ability.
Academic Honesty Policy: Cheating on an assignment, quiz, test, midterm, or final will result in a score of zero for that assignment, quiz, or examination. Due to our cramped quarters, the course operates by necessity on a system of personal integrity and honor.

Sheet 2: ps83
Wk Day Date Activity Assessment
0 Thurs 08/14/08 Peripatetic school: Steps, distance, and time. Steps are both distance and time. 30 steps can be a distance. 30 steps can be a time. Both and neither. Standards of measure. Graphing. Mathematical relationships.
0 Fri 08/15/08 Course introduction and role call. Required material: scientific calculator. Useful: a digital chronograph. Quiz 1
1 Mon 08/18/08 1. Measurement 1.1. The Physical Sciences 1.2. The Scientific Method and Attitude 1.3. The Senses 1.4. Standard Units and Systems of Units 1.5. More on the Metric System 1.6. Derived Units and Conversion Factors Last day to add/drop
1 Wed 08/20/08 Review speed homework Mini-activity Your fundamental measurements. Your mass, height, and age in mks. Your derived measure: BMI. Homework: deathclock.com Added in day name, CGS units. See also notes in lab01photos.html
1 Thurs 08/21/08 Lab 01: Measurement and mathematical models in physical science A204 required.
1 Fri 08/22/08 Pick up on "page four" of lab01. Quiz 2
2 Mon 08/25/08 2. Linear motion 2.1. Defining Motion 2.2. Speed and Velocity 2.3. Acceleration
2 Wed 08/27/08 Mini-activity: your speed. GPS and a road required.
2 Thurs 08/28/08 Lab 02: Linear motion: Ball roll A204 required. Class lists due
2 Fri 08/29/08 Lab notes and wrap-up. Write-up details. Review homework. Quiz 3
3 Mon 09/01/08 Reviewed quiz and laboratory.
3 Wed 09/03/08 2.5.Mini-activity: Projectile Motion: ball arc exercise Homework: Plot the five projectile points, sketch the curve
3 Thurs 09/04/08 Lab 03: Accelerated motion: g Grad app
3 Fri 09/05/08
Test 1
4 Mon 09/08/08 3. Force and Motion 3.1. Force and Net Force 3.2. Newton's First Law of Motion 3.3. Newton's Second Law of Motion 3.4. Newton's Third Law of Motion 3.6. Momentum
4 Wed 09/10/08 Force of air: water in an inverted glass Force of air II: balloon balance. [Possible statics mini-activity due to 9/11 holiday back-shifting the labs
4 Thurs 09/11/08 Pohnpei liberation day
4 Fri 09/12/08
Quiz 4
5 Mon 09/15/08 4. Work and Energy 4.1. Work 4.2. Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy 4.3. Conservation of Energy Early warning
5 Wed 09/17/08 4.2 Mini-activity: conservation of energy Banana leaf marble ramp: PE = KE
5 Thurs 09/18/08 Lab 04:Marble momentum
5 Fri 09/19/08
Quiz 5
6 Mon 09/22/08 Option to pass out the marble momentum handout 5. Temperature and Heat 5.1. Temperature 5.2. Heat 5.3. Specific Heat and Latent Heat 5.4. Heat Transfer
6 Wed 09/24/08 5.1 Mini-activity: boiling and freezing water temperatures
6 Thurs 09/25/08 Lab 05: Heat transfer
6 Fri 09/26/08
Quiz 6
7 Mon 09/29/08

7 Wed 10/01/08 Highlight: El Niño and La Niña. Possible MITC usage?
7 Thurs 10/02/08 Lab 06: Midterm practical. Midterm practical due
7 Fri 10/03/08
Test two: Midterm
8 Mon 10/06/08 Review of lab six 15. Place and Time 15.1. Cartesian Coordinates 15.2. Latitude and Longitude 15.3. Time 15.4. Determining Latitude and Longitude 15.5. The Seasons and the Calendar 15.5. Precession of the Earth's Axis
8 Wed 10/08/08 Mini-activity: Latitude and longitude hide and seek.
8 Thurs 10/09/08 Lab 07: Latitude/Longitude Google Earth. A204 required. Middefs due
8 Fri 10/10/08
Quiz 7
9 Mon 10/13/08 Review midterm, lab 07. Begin chapter 19 with cloud observation. 19. The Atmosphere 19.1. Composition and Structure 19.2. Atmospheric Energy Content 19.3. Atmospheric Measurements and Observations 19.4. Air Motion 19.5. Clouds
9 Wed 10/15/08 20. Atmospheric Effects 20.1. Condensation and Precipitation 20.2. Air Masses 20.3. Storms Highlight: Naming Typhoons 20.4. Atmospheric Pollution 20.5. Pollution and Climate
9 Thurs 10/16/08 Lab 08: Clouds
9 Fri 10/17/08
Quiz 8
10 Mon 10/20/08 6. Waves 6.1. Waves and Energy Propagation 6.2. Wave Properties 6.4. Sound Waves Activity: determining the wavelength, frequency, and velocity of a wave on a chain. LDTWWW
10 Wed 10/22/08 Doppler effect or wave activity? I need a noise making device and a string.
10 Thurs 10/23/08 Lab 09: Sound lab Shift to linear regression on sound speed. Do demo off of building A. Four teams work from the road: Building B, LRC, boys dorm, gym 3 GPS plus the wheel for building B. Three hour window to find rain-free time.
10 Fri 10/24/08 United Nations Day
11 Mon 10/27/08 7. Optics and Wave Effects 7.1. Reflection 7.2. Refraction and Dispersion 7.3. Spherical Mirrors
11 Wed 10/29/08 Pinhole camera Lenses: convex and concave. Could use large magnifying glass to focus heat and start fire on sunny day. Age related presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia. Polarized light off of water, polarization briefly.
11 Thurs 10/30/08 Lab 10: Reflection and refraction: Peoples in a mirror, penny in dishpan
11 Fri 10/31/08
Test 3
12 Mon 11/03/08 FSM constitution
12 Wed 11/05/08 6.3, 7.2 and chapter 7.2 highlight: The Rainbow: Dispersion and Internal Reflection. HSL color concepts.
12 Thurs 11/06/08 Lab 11: The Rainbow and the Colors of Light using HSL CSS commands A204 required.
12 Fri 11/07/08 Pohnpei constitution day
13 Mon 11/10/08 Review Test two, lab 11 Course selection
13 Wed 11/12/08 8. Electricity and Magnetism 8.1. Electric Charge and Current 8.2. Voltage and Electrical Power 8.3. Simple Electric Circuits and Electrical Safety
13 Thurs 11/13/08 Lab 12: Circuits and conductivity: Batteries, bulbs, and materials
13 Fri 11/14/08 8.4. Magnetism 8.5. Electromagnetism Quiz 9
14 Mon 11/17/08 11. The Chemical Elements 11.1. Classification of Matter 11.2. Discovery of the Elements 11.3. Occurrence of the Elements 11.4. The Periodic Table 11.5. Naming Compounds 11.6. Groups of Elements
14 Wed 11/19/08 12. Chemical Bonding 12.1. Law of Conservation of Mass 12.2. Law of Definite Proportions 12.3. Dalton's Atomic Theory 12.4. Ionic Bonding 12.5. Covalent Bonding 12.6. Hydrogen Bonding 13. Chemical Reactions 13.1. Balancing Chemical Equations 13.2. Energy and Rate of Reaction 13.3. Acids and Bases p331-332 10 edition
14 Thurs 11/20/08 Lab 13: Acid or base?
14 Fri 11/21/08
Quiz 10
15 Mon 11/24/08 17. The moon 17.1 General features 17.2 Composition and history 17.3 Lunar motions 17.4 Phases of the moon 17.5 Eclipses 17.6 Ocean tides
15 Wed 11/26/08 15. The Solar System 15.1 Overview 15.2 Planet Earth 15.3Terrestrial planets 15.4 Jovian giants Planetoids and the demotion of Pluto 15.5 Other objects 15.6 Origins 15.7 Other planetary systems
15 Thurs 11/27/08 Lab 14: Lab practical final
15 Fri 11/28/08
Quiz 11
16 Mon 12/01/08 18. The Universe 18.1 A star called the sun
16 Wed 12/03/08 18.2 Celestial sphere 18.3 Classifying stars 18.4 Life cycle of low mass stars 18.5 Life cycle high mass stars 18.6 Galaxies 18.7 Cosmology
16 Thurs 12/04/08 Lab 15: Site Swaps
16 Fri 12/05/08 Review by quiz [Last Day]
17 Wed 12/10/08 Final examination 10:05 to 12:05 Final

Sheet 3: ps83 planner
Wk Day Date Activity Assessment
0 Thurs 08/14/08 Peripatetic school: Steps, distance, and time. Steps are both distance and time. 30 steps can be a distance. 30 steps can be a time. Both and neither. Standards of measure. Graphing. Mathematical relationships.
0 Fri 08/15/08 Course introduction and role call. Required material: scientific calculator. Useful: a digital chronograph. Quiz 1
1 Mon 08/18/08 1. Measurement 1.1. The Physical Sciences 1.2. The Scientific Method and Attitude 1.3. The Senses 1.4. Standard Units and Systems of Units 1.5. More on the Metric System 1.6. Derived Units and Conversion Factors Homework: 20.2 km in 2h45m Last day to add/drop
1 Wed 08/20/08 Review speed homework Mini-activity Your fundamental measurements. Your mass, height, and age in mks. Your derived measure: BMI. Homework: deathclock.com Fall 2008 proposal: replace or add on to this the volume of a soap box.
1 Thurs 08/21/08 Lab 01: Shift to Linear regressions using carved soap of varying size. Volume versus mass yields a slope equal to density. Math models, mathematical models decision tree. Revamped to utilize carved soap. Will need soap carving tools. A204 required.
1 Fri 08/22/08
Quiz 2
2 Mon 08/25/08 2. Linear motion 2.1. Defining Motion 2.2. Speed and Velocity 2.3. Acceleration Homework: 5.65 km in 1h22mm, how fast? 2.5 m/s, 12.7 km, how long?
2 Wed 08/27/08 Mini-activity: your speed. 407 m in 55 s 407 m in 2 min 53 s
2 Thurs 08/28/08 Lab 02: Linear motion: Ball roll A204 required. Class lists due
2 Fri 08/29/08 Lab notes and wrap-up. Write-up details. Reviewed homework. Quiz 3
3 Mon 09/01/08 Reviewed quiz and laboratory. Due to the novel lab structure and mathematical weaknesses on quiz two, this took a whole period. Homework: instantaneous ball speed from lab 02
3 Wed 09/03/08 2.5.Mini-activity: Projectile Motion: ball arc exercise Homework: Plot the five projectile points, sketch the curve
3 Thurs 09/04/08 Lab 03: Accelerated motion: g Grad app
3 Fri 09/05/08
Test 1
4 Mon 09/08/08 3. Force and Motion 3.1. Force and Net Force 3.2. Newton's First Law of Motion 3.3. Newton's Second Law of Motion 3.4. Newton's Third Law of Motion 3.6. Momentum
4 Wed 09/10/08 Force of air: water in an inverted glass Force of air II: balloon balance. Set up as demo of equilibrium. Failure is all the sweeter.[Possible statics mini-activity due to 9/11 holiday back-shifting the labs
4 Thurs 09/11/08 Pohnpei liberation day
4 Fri 09/12/08
Quiz 4
5 Mon 09/15/08 4. Work and Energy 4.1. Work 4.2. Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy 4.3. Conservation of Energy Early warning
5 Wed 09/17/08 4.2 Mini-activity: conservation of energy Banana leaf marble ramp: PE = KE Homework: 5g marble 60 cm high on banana leaf ramp
5 Thurs 09/18/08 Lab 04:Marble momentum
5 Fri 09/19/08
Quiz 5
6 Mon 09/22/08 Option to pass out the marble momentum handout, covered also "what I think happened." Had the feeling of a brown bag lunch. 5. Temperature and Heat 5.1. Temperature 5.2. Heat 5.3. Specific Heat and Latent Heat 5.4. Heat Transfer
6 Wed 09/24/08 5.1 Mini-activity: boiling and freezing water temperatures Using foil to reflect the heat of the sun. Fall 2008: buy foil, try to focus the sun's radiation if sunny... And what else could we safely boil? Probably not coconut oil – but I could presolidify coconut oil and then measure the temperature at which it desolidifies
6 Thurs 09/25/08 Lab 05: Heat transfer
6 Fri 09/26/08
Quiz 6
7 Mon 09/29/08

7 Wed 10/01/08 Highlight: El Niño and La Niña. Possible MITC usage?
7 Thurs 10/02/08 Lab 06: Midterm practical. Option to use a static forces lab for distance = (1/force)*torque using stuff hanging off of rod, lots of local materials. Midterm practical due
7 Fri 10/03/08
Test two: Midterm
8 Mon 10/06/08 Review of lab six 15. Place and Time 15.1. Cartesian Coordinates 15.2. Latitude and Longitude 15.3. Time 15.4. Determining Latitude and Longitude 15.5. The Seasons and the Calendar 15.5. Precession of the Earth's Axis
8 Wed 10/08/08 Mini-activity: Latitude and longitude hide and seek. Three students who dual attend MS 150 Statistics and SC 130 Physical Science were given GPS units in the morning statistics class along with handouts containing my lat/long coordinates. The coordinates were for maintenance. Three groups took 20 minutes to find me, and learned the directionality of latitude and longitude in the process. Next run: a tougher hiding spot. Vietnam.
8 Thurs 10/09/08 Lab 07: Latitude/Longitude Google Earth. A204 required. Middefs due
8 Fri 10/10/08
Quiz 7
9 Mon 10/13/08 Review midterm, lab 07. Begin chapter 19 with cloud observation. 19. The Atmosphere 19.1. Composition and Structure 19.2. Atmospheric Energy Content 19.3. Atmospheric Measurements and Observations 19.4. Air Motion 19.5. Clouds
9 Wed 10/15/08 20. Atmospheric Effects 20.1. Condensation and Precipitation 20.2. Air Masses 20.3. Storms Highlight: Naming Typhoons 20.4. Atmospheric Pollution 20.5. Pollution and Climate
9 Thurs 10/16/08 Lab 08: Clouds
9 Fri 10/17/08
Quiz 8
10 Mon 10/20/08 6. Waves 6.1. Waves and Energy Propagation 6.2. Wave Properties 6.4. Sound Waves Activity: determining the wavelength, frequency, and velocity of a wave on a chain. LDTWWW
10 Wed 10/22/08 Doppler effect or wave activity? I need a noise making device and a string. Lino? Prep class that we have a three hour launch window on Thursday to find rain free conditions. Bring a book in case of a wait.
10 Thurs 10/23/08 Lab 09: Sound lab Shift to linear regression on sound speed. Do demo off of building A. Four teams work from the road: Building B, LRC, boys dorm, gym 3 GPS plus the wheel for building B. Three hour window to find rain-free time.
10 Fri 10/24/08 United Nations Day
11 Mon 10/27/08 7. Optics and Wave Effects 7.1. Reflection 7.2. Refraction and Dispersion 7.3. Spherical Mirrors
11 Wed 10/29/08 Pinhole camera Lenses: convex and concave. Could use large magnifying glass to focus heat and start fire on sunny day. Age related presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia. Polarized light off of water, polarization briefly.
11 Thurs 10/30/08 Lab 10: Reflection and refraction: Peoples in a mirror, penny in dishpan
11 Fri 10/31/08
Test 3
12 Mon 11/03/08 FSM constitution
12 Wed 11/05/08 6.3, 7.2 and chapter 7.2 highlight: The Rainbow: Dispersion and Internal Reflection. HSL color concepts.
12 Thurs 11/06/08 Lab 11: The Rainbow and the Colors of Light using HSL CSS commands A204 required.
12 Fri 11/07/08 Pohnpei constitution day
13 Mon 11/10/08 Review Test two, lab 11 Course selection
13 Wed 11/12/08 8. Electricity and Magnetism 8.1. Electric Charge and Current 8.2. Voltage and Electrical Power 8.3. Simple Electric Circuits and Electrical Safety
13 Thurs 11/13/08 Lab 12: Circuits and conductivity: Batteries, bulbs, and materials
13 Fri 11/14/08 8.4. Magnetism 8.5. Electromagnetism Quiz 9
14 Mon 11/17/08 11. The Chemical Elements 11.1. Classification of Matter 11.2. Discovery of the Elements 11.3. Occurrence of the Elements 11.4. The Periodic Table 11.5. Naming Compounds 11.6. Groups of Elements
14 Wed 11/19/08 12. Chemical Bonding 12.1. Law of Conservation of Mass 12.2. Law of Definite Proportions 12.3. Dalton's Atomic Theory 12.4. Ionic Bonding 12.5. Covalent Bonding 12.6. Hydrogen Bonding 13. Chemical Reactions 13.1. Balancing Chemical Equations 13.2. Energy and Rate of Reaction 13.3. Acids and Bases p331-332 10 edition
14 Thurs 11/20/08 Lab 13: Acid or base?
14 Fri 11/21/08
Quiz 10
15 Mon 11/24/08 17. The moon 17.1 General features 17.2 Composition and history 17.3 Lunar motions 17.4 Phases of the moon 17.5 Eclipses 17.6 Ocean tides
15 Wed 11/26/08 15. The Solar System 15.1 Overview 15.2 Planet Earth 15.3Terrestrial planets 15.4 Jovian giants Planetoids and the demotion of Pluto 15.5 Other objects 15.6 Origins 15.7 Other planetary systems
15 Thurs 11/27/08 Lab 14: Lab practical final
15 Fri 11/28/08
Quiz 11
16 Mon 12/01/08 18. The Universe 18.1 A star called the sun
16 Wed 12/03/08 18.2 Celestial sphere 18.3 Classifying stars 18.4 Life cycle of low mass stars 18.5 Life cycle high mass stars 18.6 Galaxies 18.7 Cosmology
16 Thurs 12/04/08 Lab 15: Site Swaps
16 Fri 12/05/08 Review by quiz [Last Day]
17 Wed 12/10/08 Final examination 10:05 to 12:05 Final