Physical Science Laboratory
 

Instructor:  Dr. Dennis L. Merat

Office Hours: Room  S-302B

        M   10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
                 1:00 p.m.-   1:50 p.m.

        W   10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
                 1:00 p.m. -  4:00 p.m.

         R     8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

         F    10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
                 1:00 p.m. -   1:50 p.m.

Phone Numbers:   321-4201 (Office)
                             362-3682 (Home)  8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

E – mail:   dmerat@cbu.edu

Course Description:  This course is designed to introduce students to basic techniques used in physical science and to illustrate selected concepts described in
                                NSCI 118.

Prerequisite or corequisite: Math 105 or higher.
 

Corequisite: NSCI 118
 

Texts and Materials:

      1. Physical Science Laboratory Manual to Accompany Krauskopf-Beiser: The    Physical Universe, Sixth Edition, by Ronald G. Samec et al.; McGraw-Hill,
          Inc.,  New York, 1991.

      2. Calculator

      3. Safety glasses  (may be purchased in the lab for $4.25)

General Course Goals:

    The course is designed to:

     1. introduce the student to the scientific method and techniques of
         measurement and scientific investigation;

      2. explore the relationship between scientific laws and everyday life.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all of their regularly scheduled laboratory meetings.  If a student must be absent, other arrangements must be made in advance.  These alternate arrangements are made at the discretion of the instructor and only for very good reasons.

Safety: Safety in the laboratory is first and foremost.  You will be advised during the check-in period of the rules for a safe laboratory environment and the location
           of safety equipment.

           Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the laboratory during experiments involving manipulation of chemicals.

           Any student who withdraws from/drops NSCI 118 must also withdraw from/drop NSCI 118L.

Point Distribution:

     7 Laboratory Reports @   100  points  each         700  points

Grading Policy:

  Average  (%)                       Letter Grade

             90 -- 100                                   A
             80 --  89                                    B
             65 --  79                                    C
             54 --  64                                    D
             53 or below                                F

The student’s average for this course is calculated by dividing the total points earned by 700, then multiplying by 100.  If your scores are within these ranges, you are guaranteed the appropriate letter grade for the range within which your scores fall.

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Schedule of Experiments -- NSCI 118L

Experiment
  Number*                          Topic                                       Date

   # 1                        Introduction/Density                        January 22

   #6                         The SimplePendulum                      February 5

Handout                   Diffraction/Isolation of DNA           February 19

Handout                  Environmental Chemistry Lab          March 4

  #23                       Earthquakes                                    March 25

  #24 and #28          Length of Day andNight/ Humidity  April 15

  #26                       Moon Topography/Spectal
                               Analysis                                         April 29

* The numbers in the table correspond to the experiment numbers in the
laboratory manual.