General Science Physics -1010Contemporary Physics

Part one of a four course sequence in science.

GSC-1020--> GSG1030-->GSB1040

Syllabus GSP-1010Contemporary Physics

Two Semester Hours

• Instructor: Dr. Thomas L. Rokoske

• Tel: 262-2432

• Office: CAP Science 223

• Email: rokosketl@appstate.edu

• NOTE: I do not use pipeline, send messages to the above address.

Catalog Description

This course presents a broad view of essential areas of contemporary physics. Ideas of modern physics are presented at an introductory level with the necessary classical physics needed for their understanding. Topics include electromagnetism, gravitation, conservation laws, quantum physics and nuclear physics. Lecture three hours, laboratory two hours.

OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT

• LECTURE• Introduction, Big Bang

• Force and Motion

• Momentum and Conservation

• Work and Energy

• Electromagnetic Stuff

• Waves, Optics & Light

• Quantum Theory, Atoms

• Uncertain Micro World

• LABORATORY• Measurement of Physical

Quantities

• Introduction to Motion

• Force and Motion

• Sound Waves in Air

• Using a Spectroscope

• Ohm’s Law

• Natural Radioactivity

METHODOLOGY - Lecture

• Instructor initiated discussion of the concepts using demonstrations and math.

• There will be a review on how to analyze word and algebraic problems.

• At the end of each lecture each student will fill out a Minute Feedback Paper

• These will be discussed at the beginning of the next class.

METHODOLOGY - Laboratory

• Students will perform six laboratories which investigate physical phenomena.

• Students will use the apparatus to make scientific measurements of these parameters and they will be recorded on a personal computer.

• Students will work in groups of two and each student will hand in a laboratory report

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Students are required to read the assigned readings from the text and lab manual.

• Each student will take one hour test and a two hour final examination.

• Each Student will work out and hand in the assigned homework.

• There will be announced and unannounced quizzes.

EVALUATION AND GRADING

• GSP 1010 is a separate course and is graded independently from GSC 1020. The course grading on the following percentages:

• 20% Hour Test

• 30% Laboratory (Lab work, reports and quizzes)

• 35% Comprehensive Final Exam

• 15% Quizzes, Homework, etc.

Attendance/Participation Policy• Lecture attendance is expected. • Roll will be taken with Minute Papers• Lecture and Laboratory Sessions are • Cell Phone Off Zones.• Using a cell phone during a test results in a zero. • Arrive on time and be ready to start at the beginning

of each session.• Missing one or more labs will constitute • a failure of the entire course.

Attendance/Participation Policy • You may be excused from the lecture or

laboratory for legitimate reasons.

• Excuses can be presented to the instructor either prior or no later than one week after returning from a missed session.

• If an hour test is missed a grade of zero will be assigned. With a proper reason, it may be excused no later than one week after return.

• Course web site found by using pipeline or http://www.phys.appstate.edu/courses/tlr_fcourses5.html

REQUIRED READING

• Required Reading is from the class assignments stated on the class schedule.

• These assignments should be read before coming to class or to the laboratory.

• Students are required to have a copy of the text and lab manual.

• **** UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS ****• This course is the first of an set of four for the

CORE CURRICULUM Science Requirement.

• It carries no credit for a science major.

WHY STUDY SCIENCE?• The basic goal of studying science is to learn

about our observable universe and everything within it.

• Divisions:• NATURAL SCIENCES• (Understanding of the universe through

interactions between matter and radiation.)• SOCIAL SCIENCES• (Interactions between living beings.)

Natural Sciences• Physics - the study of the structure of matter, the

nature of radiation and its interaction with matter. There is an attempt to develop a unified description of the fields of force.

• Chemistry - a study of the composition and properties of substances and those reactions which change those substances.

• Biology - the study of living organisms. It is divided into Botany (plant life) and Zoology (animal life).

Specific Natural Sciences• Astronomy - a study of the origin,

evolution, composition, distance and motion of all bodies and matter in the universe.

• Geology - a study of the structure of the earth’s crust and the formation and development of its various layers, included are the different rock types, movement of water, minerals and early forms of life found as fossils in rocks

Specific Natural Sciences

• Medicine - the study of diagnosing, treatment, curing and preventing disease, relieving pain, improving and preserving health in humans.

• Meteorology - the study of the atmosphere and its phenomena including weather, climate and their forecast.

• Oceanography - the study of the ocean and its influence on humans.

Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences

• Astrophysics Astrochemistry

• Astrobiology Biochemistry

• Biophysics Biomedicine

• Chemical Physics Physical Chemistry

• Geophysics Physical Geology

• Material Science Environmental Science

PHYSICS DIVISIONS• MATTER - (Microstructure)• Atomic, Nuclear, Elementary Particles• MATTER - (Macrostructure) • Liquids, Solids, Gases, Plasmas• RADIATION - Acoustical, Mechanical

(collisions), Thermal, Electrical, Magnetic, Electromagnetic (Radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, Gamma) Gravitational (waves), Nuclear (particle and wave emission,)

PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS

• Particle and Fields

• Collisions (Mechanical), Resonance

• Radiation, Scattering, Chaos

• Electrical (Photons)

• Gravitational (Gravitons?)

• Weak Nuclear ( W+, W-, Zo )

• Strong Nuclear (Mesons)

PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS

• Waves

• Diffraction, Interference, Absorption,

• Transmission, Radiation, Refraction,

• Stimulated Radiation, Scattering.

• Energy

• Creation, Annihilation, Fusion, Fission

Areas of Matter Interactions• (Continuous & Macroscopic)• Classical Mechanics, Special and General

Relativity, Electrodynamics, Thermodynamics

• (Continuous & Microscopic)• Statistical Mechanics

• (Discreet & Microscopic)• Quantum Mechanics, Relativistic Quantum

Mechanics, Quantum Electrodynamics, Quantum Color Dynamics and Grand Unified Theory

Read This:

FEDERAL FUSES ARE

THE RESULT OF YEARS

OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.