PSC 12 - Concepts in Physical Science

Catalog Description

Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Prerequisite: Intermediate Algebra or equivalent
Unit(s): 4.00

Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
Lab: 51.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/51.00 Total hours/1.00 Unit(s)
Total: 102.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/204.00 Total hours/4.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course is an investigation of basic principles of physics and chemistry including matter, physical and chemical properties, energy, motion, light, atomic structure, bonding, solutions and chemical reactions. The inter-dependence of chemistry and physics will be emphasized. This course is intended for non-science majors. (C-ID PHYS 140).

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Describe the states of matter and associate phase changes.
Classify matter as elements, compounds, mixtures and describe properties of each.
Describe basic atomic structure including the fundamental particles and electron energy levels.
Explain the history and structure of the periodic table.
Explain and describe different ways atoms combine to form compounds.
Describe the motion of objects as related through the concepts of position, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.
Use Newton’s Laws to predict and explain the motion of an object.
Discuss the type of energy present in a system and use conservation of energy to solve problems.
Explain the requirements for a complete circuit in terms of a model of electric charge.
Describe color perception based on the wave nature of light and its interactions.
Understand fundamentals of taking and recording measurements including measuring length, area, volume, mass, density, significant figures, converting between units and scientific notation. (Lab)
Practical applications to both the chemistry and physics lecture objectives. (Lab)
Drawing conclusions between data and results including constructing graphs and identifying relationships. (Lab)
Utilize scientific methodologies solving a problem.

Course Content

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

Lecture topics and suggested hours
Topics	Lec Hrs
Measurement and Fundamental Properties • Fundamentals of measuring length, area, volume and mass • Density of materials • The Scientific Method	3.00
Structure of Matter • Atomic theory and basic atomic structure including the relationships between sub-atomic particles • Periodic Table of Elements and periodic trends to atomic structure • Characteristics of the atomic, ionic, and molecular classes of matter • Phases of matter (solids, liquids, and gases) and the connections between the properties using a particle model • Classification of matter--elements, substances, compounds, mixtures • Basic characteristics of solutions, including acids and bases, and their relationship to the pH scale	11.00
Matter and its Changes • Phases of matter and associated phase changes • Chemical and physical changes, and classifying chemical and physical properties of matter • Basic principles of chemical bonding and chemical reactivity • Energy changes during chemical reactions	9.00
Motion, Forces and Energy • Motion of objects as related through the concepts of position, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration • Interpretation of distance vs. time and speed vs. time graphs • The relationship between a net force and the motion of an object • Explain how action and reaction forces are related to each other • Basic forces in the universe including electrostatic, gravitational and magnetic • Forms of energy including solar, chemical, magnetic, electric, nuclear, and thermal • The relationship between net force, work, and kinetic energy • Conservation of energy, and how energy is transformed from one form to another • The nature of heat (thermal energy) and heat transfer (conductive, convective, radiant) and their relationship to temperature and temperature measurement	14.00
Electricity and Magnetism • Electric charge and how charge is transferred from one object to another • Models of electric current, voltage, resistance and their interrelationships • The construction and operation of simple electrical circuits and the difference between series and parallel combinations of resistors	7.00
Waves and Light • Longitudinal and transverse waves • Properties of sound • Doppler effect and Interference • Electromagnetic radiation (light), the electromagnetic spectrum and sources of light • Relationship between wavelength (or frequency) and color • Color perception • Reflection and refraction of waves	7.00
Total Hours:	51.00

Lab

Lab topics and suggested hours
Topics	Lab Hrs
Measurement and Fundamental Properties • Fundamentals of measuring length, area, volume and mass • Density of materials • The Scientific Method	6.00
Structure of Matter • Atomic theory and basic atomic structure including the relationships between sub-atomic particles • Periodic Table of Elements and periodic trends to atomic structure • Characteristics of the atomic, ionic, and molecular classes of matter • Phases of matter (solids, liquids, and gases) and the connections between the properties using a particle model • Classification of matter--elements, substances, compounds, mixtures • Basic characteristics of solutions, including acids and bases, and their relationship to the pH scale	9.00
Matter and its Changes • Phases of matter and associated phase changes • Chemical and physical changes, and classifying chemical and physical properties of matter • Basic principles of chemical bonding and chemical reactivity • Energy changes during chemical reactions	9.00
Motion, Forces and Energy • Motion of objects as related through the concepts of position, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration • Interpretation of distance vs. time and speed vs. time graphs • The relationship between a net force and the motion of an object • Explain how action and reaction forces are related to each other • Basic forces in the universe including electrostatic, gravitational and magnetic • Forms of energy including solar, chemical, magnetic, electric, nuclear, and thermal • The relationship between net force, work, and kinetic energy • Conservation of energy, and how energy is transformed from one form to another • The nature of heat (thermal energy) and heat transfer (conductive, convective, radiant) and their relationship to temperature and temperature measurement	15.00
Electricity and Magnetism • Electric charge and how charge is transferred from one object to another • Models of electric current, voltage, resistance and their interrelationships • The construction and operation of simple electrical circuits and the difference between series and parallel combinations of resistors	6.00
Waves and Light • Longitudinal and transverse waves • Properties of sound • Doppler effect and Interference • Electromagnetic radiation (light), the electromagnetic spectrum and sources of light • Relationship between wavelength (or frequency) and color • Color perception • Reflection and refraction of waves	6.00
Total Hours:	51.00

Methods of Instruction

Class Activities
Collaborative Group Work
Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
Laboratory Experiments
Lecture
Reading Assignments

Methods of Evaluation

Exams/Tests
Quizzes
Oral Presentation
Homework
Lab Projects
Written Examinations
Group Participation
Laboratory Activities and Reports, Group Projects

Examples of Assignments

Reading Assignments

Read the chapter on thermal energy. Be prepared to explain the three types of heat transfer and give two examples of each on a quiz.
Read the chapter on speed, velocity and acceleration and be prepared to discuss how they relate to one another and interpret graphs of distance vs. time and velocity vs. time on an exam.

Writing Assignments

Write a 200 word paragraph describing the differences between ionic, metallic and covalent bonding. Include two examples of each.
Write a complete paragraph to explain the concept of conservation of energy using specific examples to show energy being conserved.

Out-of-Class Assignments

Take a photo of one of the physics phenomena we have discussed in class, attach a 250 word explanation of the behavior to be turned in during class time.
Find an article on a chemical reaction in the real world. This could be anything from a new industrial process, to an explosion, to acid rain. Provide a justification for the validity of the source and present a 5 minute overview to the class.

Recommended Materials of Instruction

Hewitt, Suchocki and Hewitt. (2017). Conceptual Physical Science. Pearson Addison Wesley Publishing, 6th. 978-0134060491.

Other Learning Materials

In-house lab manual either from the bookstore or to be printed from the Canvas course.

Simple scientific calculator

Minimum Qualifications

Chemistry (Masters Required)

Engineering (Masters Required)

Physics/Astronomy (Masters Required)