PHYSICS 103-01 TR 0800
Ð
0915 DL312
http://people.uncw.edu/morrisonj/courses/PHY103/Syllabus/PHY103-Syllabus-011211.html
GREAT
IDEAS IN PHYSICS
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
JOHN M. MORRISON
OFFICE:
DL-201
and MYRTLE GROVE 2331
EMAIL:
morrisonj@uncw.edu - Preferred Method of Communication
PHONE:
910-962-2333
OFFICE HOURS:
TUESDAY
AND THURSDAY, 0915 Ð 1015 DL201
or
CALL
OR EMAIL FOR APPOINTMENT
ALSO,
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME WHEN
YOU
ARE STUDYING, EMAIL ME, I MIGHT BE ONLINE
AND
ANSWER YOU IMMEDIATELY!!!
Course
Prerequisites or Restrictive Statements: None
Student
Learning Outcome:
á
An understanding
of the nature
of science by the nonscientist by emphasizing the concepts underlying
four
great ideas in physics: the conservation of energy, the second law of
thermodynamics, the relativity of time, and the wave-particle duality
of
nature. Explores the mutual influence of science and the humanities
á
Physics deals with
the study of
nature in terms of matter and energy.
In or course we will deal with only four fascinating topics
which will
hopefully allow us to learn how scientists develop concepts and how
these
concepts are used to study nature. We will also spend some time
studying how
science and the humanities influence each other!
á
Alas, the
equations! The language of science is
mathematics,
and it is impossible to appreciate science without equations and
quantitative
problems. The mathematical
treatment of these topics is based on high school mathematics, without
calculus. A review of the
mathematics needed for this course is presented in Appendix A.
REQUIRED TEXT: ÒGREAT IDEAS IN PHYSICSÓ, 3rd
Edition
by
Alan Lightman
SYLLABUS:
Course
work based on CHAPTERS 1 through 4 of TEXT
Course
Organization and Scope:
á
Chapter
1:
Conservation
of
Energy
o
Conservative Laws
o
Gravitational
Energy
o
Kinetic Energy
o
Units of Length,
Mass, Weight,
and Energy
o
Heat Energy
o
The Conservation
of Energy and
the Limited Lifetime of the World
o
Reactions to
Possible Violations
of the Conservation of Energy
á
Chapter
2:
The
Second
Law of Thermodynamics
o
Reversible and
Irreversible
Phenomena
o
States of a System
and
Probability of Configurations
o
Mechanical Energy
and Heat
o
The Irreversible
Flow of Heat
o
Doing Work with
Heat
o
Entropy and order
o
Resistance to
Implications of
the Second Law
o
The Second Law
Applies to Human
Society
o
The Second Law
Used to Refute
the Theory of Evolution
á
Chapter
3:
The
Theory
of Relativity
The Relativity of
Time
o
Relativity in Brief
o
Science Leading to
the Theory
of Relativity
o
The Theory of
Relativity
o
Abolition of
Absolute Space and
Time
o
EinsteinÕs
Approach to Science
o
The Influence of
the Theory of
Relativity on Literature
o
Relativity and
Sculpture
á
Chapter
4:
Quantum
Mechanics
The Wave-Particle
Duality of Nature
o
Waves
o
The Photoelectric
Effect
o
The Double-Slit
Experiment
o
The Role of the
Observer and
the Nature of Reality
o
Quantum Physics
and Language
o
The Heisenberg
Uncertainty
Principle and the Demise of
Determinism in
Science
o
Determinism,
Causality, and
Choice in the Quantum World
Appendix A:
A review of basic mathematics
Appendix B:
Problems and Discussion Questions
GRADING:
á
EXAM
1: Multiple
Choice
and Short Problems on Ch1
50
pts
á
EXAM
2: Multiple
Choice
and Short Problems on Ch2
50
pts
á
EXAM
3: Multiple Choice and Short Problems on
Ch3
50
pts
á
EXAM 4: Multiple
Choice and Short Problems on Ch4
50
pts
á
SHORT
ESSAYS: 2 TO BE ASSIGNED
100
pts
á
HOMEWORK:
100
pts
á
CLASS
PARTICIPATION:
100 pts
Final
grade based on percentage of
500 pts
Final
grades
will be based on a plus/minus grading scale as follows:
A
= 93-100;
A- = 90-92; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86; B- = 80-82; C+ = 77-79; C = 73-76;
C- =
70-72; D+ = 67-69; D = 63-66; D- = 60-62; and F < 60.
FINAL EXAM:
THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 11, 0800 Ð 1100
Late
Assignments and Incomplete Grades:
- Extensions for late assignments
will be granted individually in consultation with the professor under
extenuating circumstances. Incomplete grades will be issued in
extenuating circumstances to students who are passing the course.
Absences
and Scheduling Makeup Work:
- Attendance is highly recommended
as 1/7 of the grade from class participation. More than three (3)
absences will result in a loss of 5 pts on you class participation
grade for each additional absence unless you have an excused absence.
- Extensions will be granted on
homework deadlines for students with excused absences. Partially
completed work will be given partial credit. Absences from tests will
result in a zero being registered for that test except for excused
absence. If you miss a test due to an excused absence, it will be the
responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the professor
for a makeup exam.
- Excused Absence: Case of illness documented with a note from a
doctor or (when presented before the scheduled class period) officially
sanctioned university activities that conflict directly with the class
time or when excused from class by the professor prior to the scheduled
class period.
Statement
on Academic Integrity:
- University Policy on Academic
Integrity: The
instructor of this course is committed to upholding the University
policy on academic integrity, described in the Code of Student Conduct,
which can be found at: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/doso/documents/HonorCode09.10.doc
- ÒAs a student at The University
of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and
truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW
Student Academic Honor Code.Ó
- ÒIt is the responsibility of
every faculty member, student, administrator and staff member of the
university community to uphold and maintain the highest academic
standards and integrity of the university. Any member of the university
community who has reasonable grounds to believe that an infraction of
the Honor Code has occurred has an obligation to report the alleged
violation to the faculty member teaching the class who, in turn, must
report the allegation to the Office of the Dean of Students. This
obligation is a core value of the Honor Code, and must be fulfilled by
each and every member of the university.Ó
- Faculty Expectation: The instructor of this course
is committed to upholding the University policy on academic integrity.
Statement
regarding plagiarism: Please be especially familiar
with UNC-WÕs position on plagiarism as
outlined in the UNCW Student Handbook.
Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty in which you take
someone
elseÕs ideas and represent them as your own.
Here are some examples of plagiarism:
á
You write about someone elseÕs
work in your paper
and do not give them credit for it by referencing them.
á
You give a presentation and use
someone elseÕs
ideas and do not state that the ideas are the other persons.
á
You get facts from your textbook
or some other
reference material and do not reference that material.
Statement
regarding
violence and harassment.
á
UNCW
practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing
behavior. If you are experiencing
an emergency of this type contact the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at
962-2273. Resources for
individuals concerned with a violent or harassing situation can be
located at http://www.uncw.edu/wsrc/crisis.html.
Statement
for students with disabilities:
- Students with disabilities are
invited to schedule an appointment with the instructor to discuss any
needed accommodations. Reasonable
accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities.
- In order to take advantage of
available accommodations, students must present documentation to
Disability Services for Students at Westside Hall, First Floor, Phone:
910-962-7555 - Fax: 910-962-7556 - TDD: 910-962-3853.
http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/disability/contact.htm
- For more information on UNCW's
policy on working with students with disabilities, please see
http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/disability/contact.htm
Statement
on laboratory safety or risk assumption:
- Any laboratory
work associated with this course has no special risks that would make
it less safe than any other classroom. The Department of Physics and
Physical Oceanography is committed to maintaining an environment in
which students can safely pursue their required laboratory assignments.