NSCI 118-2003

Natural Science 118

Instructor:Dr. Dennis L. Merat

Phone Numbers: 321-4201 (Office)

362-3682 (Home)8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to physics, chemistry, and earth and space science. The majority of course topics will be chosen from the areas environmental chemistry, meteorology, geology, and astronomy and will include elements of the philosophy of science. The course is designed to cover many of the general/physical science knowledge and skill areas required for secondary school science teaching.

Prerequisite or Corequisite: Math 106 or Math 117 .The student should be familiar with basic algebra techniques such as solving for unknown variables.

Corequisite: NSCI 118L

Required Texts and Materials for NSCI 118:

1.Conceptual Physical Science, Second Edition, by Paul G. Hewitt,

John Suchocki, and Leslie A. Hewitt; Benjamin-Cummings, 2003.

2. Calculator

General Course Goals: The course is designed to:

1)Introduce students to the scientific method and to the basic principles of physics, chemistry, meteorology, geology, and astronomy;

2)Familiarize students with the practical applications of Scientific laws;

3)Enable students to understand the relationship between important scientific principles and their daily lives.

Attendance: Regular class attendance is expected.

Assignments: You are expected to read textbook chapters listed on the syllabus prior to the introduction of the topics related to that chapter in class.You are responsible for learning all material that is either presented or assigned during class lecture/demonstrations.In addition, you will be responsible for assigned questions, problems, and project(s).

Final Examination:

A comprehensive final examination will be given during the final examination period.The date and time will be announced later in the semester.

Make-up Policy:Makeup tests will be given only under the most extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness or death in the family.Make-up tests may be more difficult than the in-class test.

Graded Homework:There will be three 20 point graded homework assignments; these will be collected on the assigned due dates.Late assignments will be accepted only under the most extenuating circumstances and may receive lower grades.

Term Project/Paper: A major project/paper will be required.Guidelines for the project are described at the end of the syllabus.

Extra Credit: 10 extra credit points may be earned by serving as a judge for the 2003 Shelby County Science and Engineering Fair.Judging day will be March 25, 2003.

Additional Materials For NSCI 118L:

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.

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Natural Science 118 -- Tentative Lecture Topics

Note: The sequence of topics to be covered this semester is listed below.Reading assignments are given in parentheses and refer to the textbook.Additional topics may be presented and assigned in lecture.

Class will meet every MWF at 9:00 a.m. with the exception of the following scheduled holidays:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. DayJanuary 20

Spring Break March 10-14

Easter Holiday March 17-20

Topics

1. Scientific Method (Prologue: Pages 1-9)

2. Measurement and Density, Buoyancy, Archimedes’ Principle, and

Flotation (Sections 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, & 5.5)

3. Motion; Newton’s Laws of Motion (Chapters 1 and 2)

4. Energy/Conservation of Energy (Sections 3.4, 3.6, and 3.8)

5. Heat and heat transfer (Chapter 6: pages 135-139; Chapter 7: pages

159-168)

6. Transverse and Longitudinal Waves (Sections 10.1 – 10.4;

Sections 11.1 & 11.4 ;

Sections 12.1 & 12.2 )

7. Structure of the atom (Sections 13.1 through 13.5)

8. Elements, compounds, and mixtures (Chapter 15)

9. The Periodic Table (Sections 16.1 – 16.3)

10. Introduction to Environmental Chemistry (Sections 20.1 through 20.5)

11. Types and characteristics of rocks and minerals (Sections 22.1 & 22.2)

12. Igneous rocks (Section 22.4)

13. Sedimentary rocks (Section 22.5)

14. Metamorphic Rocks (Section 22.6)

15. The rock cycle (Section 22.7)

16. Structure of the earth and earthquakes (Sections 23.1 and 23.2)

17. The Richter Scale and techniques for locating the epicenter

of an earthquake (see Tables 23.1 and 23.2 on page 579)

18. Use of S and P waves to study the characteristics of the earth’s

internal layers

19. Introduction to Plate tectonic theory (Section 23.4)

20. Types of faults (Section 23.4)

21. Formation of divergent and convergent boundaries (Pages 580-582)

22. The hydrologic cycle (Section 24.1)

23. Ground and surface water (Section 24.2)

24. Water quality and pollution (Section 24.4)

25. The oceans (Section 24.7)

26. Major components of and layers of the atmosphere (Sections 26.1

and 26.2)

27. Solar energy and the Greenhouse Effect; Global Warming

(Section 26.3)

28. The Seasons and related topics (Section 26.3)

29. Wind flow patterns including low pressure and high pressure systems,

the Coriolis Effect, and Jet Streams (Sections 26.5 and 26.6)

30. Absolute and relative humidity, dew point, dew, and frost

(Section 27.1)

31. Cloud groups including major characteristics and mechanisms of

formation (Section 27.3)

32. Air masses and their seasonal influence on the weather in North

America (Section 27.4)

33. Atmospheric lifting mechanisms: Convectional, Orographic, and

Frontal; warm fronts and cold fronts(pages 670 – 673)

34. Discussion of the characteristics and mechanism of formation of the

major types of precipitation: rain, sleet, freezing rain, and hail

35. Mid-Latitude Cyclone (page 673)

36. How do thunderstorms form?(page 674)

37. Tornadoes and the Fujita scale (pages 674-675)

38. Mesocyclones

39. Hurricanes and the Saffir-Simpson Scale (page 675)

40. Climate and global climate patterns

41. The Solar System (Chapter 28)

42. Stars including our Sun (pages 706-714)

43. Galaxies (Section 29.5)

Guidelines For Term Project/Paper

You should choose a science topic that is in some way related to either your outside interests or to your prospective career choice.

The length of the paper should be 3-5 typed pages.

The general format of the paper should include:

Title

Introduction

Body

Summary and Conclusions

References

The paper must include at least 3 references obtained from the Internet.

You must e-mail the topic of your paper by March 5.

You must e-mail a summary of the paper by April 21.

The final due date for the paper is April 21.