Physical Science 100 Syllabus

Fall Semester 2009

Welcome to Physical Science 100.  This is a general science course intended to help you gain an appreciation for how science is done and a conceptual understanding of many of the fundamental scientific ideas on which modern scientific theory is based.

Purpose

The purposes that we try to achieve in this course are:

1. To gain a conceptual understanding of most of the fundamental principles that govern the physical universe.
   
   
2. To understand how these few principles, and models that are consistent with them, explain much of what we observe directly in nature and some of what is observed when modern technology expands our view to include things that are very small and also things that are very large.
   
   
3. To understand how science works by assuming "self-evident truths," postulating or guessing what might be, experimenting and using the measured results to test for consistency between what is guessed and what is observed. To understand the hope of scientists that as errors are discovered and rejected, it is possible to come closer to the "truth."

We believe that a study of the natural universe can increase faith in our Heavenly Father and the Savior, who organized the earth and heavens as a part of the plan that makes it possible for us to gain immortality and eternal life.

Course Basics

Text:   Our text, Physical Science Foundation (edition 2.5), is available in the bookstore.  We will  discuss one chapter from the book each class session, and you should read that chapter before coming to class. You can find the reading assignments for each day listed on the class schedule page.

Class Sessions: During class, your instructor will use demonstrations and discussion to help illustrate ideas from the reading. You will also have short in-class quizzes to help you stay engaged and learning.  You will respond to the quizzes using an electronic clicker, and everyone needs to have their own clicker (available at the bookstore) to receive credit for the quizzes.

Homework: Each week you have a homework assignment.  Homework assignments consist of short written responses, hands-on experiments, or vocabulary building exercises.  Assignment are listed on the homework assignments page and the deadline for submission is 5:00pm on the days listed on the class schedule (usually on Fridays).

TA Review Sessions: You have a scheduled review session with a teaching assistant (TA) each week.  Your TA can give you  personalized help understanding concepts and completing homework assignments.  Your TA grades the homework and can answer questions about course policy and material.

Exams: There are four midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam.  See the class schedule for exam dates and the Exams Section for details on how and why the exams are administered.

Walk-in Lab: Several teaching assistants (TAs) are available in a walk-in lab located in room N252 of the Eyring Science Center to help with individual questions about course material or policies. See the Walk-in Lab Schedule for hours of operation. No appointments are necessary. The walk-in lab will be closed during reading days and the final exam period.

Grading

You will be graded on your performance in the following learning activities:

There are 400 possible points, and final grades are assigned according the following scale :

If your percentage score on the final exam is higher than your total percent score (including quizzes, homework, etc.), your grade will be based solely on the final exam score. For example, if you score 90% or above on the final, you will receive an A, even if your percentage including homework, etc. is less than 90%.  If you take the exemption exam, you can also choose to use your score from the exemption exam as your course grade.  The exemption exam needs to be taken before the drop deadline. See the Exemption Exam Page for details.

Quizzes

Description: During class you will answer questions about the assigned material for that day. The answers to these quizzes are submitted using  an RF response device (clicker), which can be obtained from the bookstore. The clicker is your personal property. If you lose or break your clicker you will have to buy a new one.

Purpose: These quizzes provided added incentive for good study habits by giving you credit for doing your reading before class. They also provide your instructor with a quick way to judge whether the class has understood an important point and is ready to move on.

Format: Your teacher will include interactive questions in their lectures and you will respond to these questions using your clicker. Some questions are graded for correct responses and others strictly on participation. The status light on your clicker turns green when your answer has been recorded. If it turns red, you need to respond again.

Clicker Registration: To have your clicker's responses associated with you, you need to register you clicker at http://ps100.byu.edu. If you cannot read your clicker's ID number, contact a TA in the walk-in lab and they can determine the ID number electronically. You can use your clicker before it is registered and we will associate your clicker's responses with you after you register.

Grading: You are assigned an in-class quiz score out of 2 points each lecture. No late or substitute work is allowed for quizzes. However, we count only the 30 best quiz scores in your final grade (out of 42 lectures) to allow for things such as forgetting your clicker, personal emergencies, or technical difficulties with the clicker system. It is your responsibility to check your scores at http://ps100.byu.edu to make sure your clicker is registering and report any problems promptly.

Due Dates: Reading is to be done before class on the dates listed in the course schedule. You are responsible to complete quizzes corresponding to the class for which you registered. If you attend a different lecture, and that teacher does not have a quiz that day, but your section did have a quiz, you will lose the points for that quiz.

Homework

Description: You are expected to turn in written answers to the homework questions and experiments each week. Homework responses should be discussed with your study group during the time allocated in your TA recitation section. Some assignments indicate that they may be turned in as a group, but unless otherwise indicated, assignments should be turned in individually.

Purpose: Homework is designed to require students to think through and apply the main concepts of the chapters and discuss these concepts with other students. These assignments give you an opportunity to apply some of the more difficult concepts and receive feedback from TAs before you are tested on the material.

Format: Answers are to be neatly written or typed on an 8½" x 11" piece of paper. Do NOT email assignments. If you have obtained permission to work with students outside your own section, you are responsible to make sure that your TA receives a copy of your work. Make sure you write your section number, your TA’s name, your name, and your BYU ID number on top of the assignment so you can receive credit for your work.

Grading: Homework questions will be graded on a 4 point scale. You will be graded primarily on the correctness and completeness of your answers, but neatness, grammar and spelling can also affect your grade. Graded questions can be picked up in your recitation sections or in the walk-in TA lab. We will count the highest 25 homework scores.

Due Dates: Homework is due in to your TA's box by 5:00 PM on the due date (usually Friday). No late work is accepted. If you find yourself in a situation that you feel warrants special consideration, please discuss this with your instructor and TA.

Examinations

Description: The exams are designed to test your ability to apply science concepts. The exams contain multiple choice questions requiring you to use your knowledge of science to analyze physical situations.  Midterm exams also contain essay questions that require you to provide more extended analysis of scientific concepts. 

Purpose: These tests are intended to evaluate your knowledge and understanding of the course material.

Format: The midterm exams are 30 question multiple choice questions and your choice of one out of four essay questions. The final exam is 100 multiple choice questions, 25 from each unit.  The deadlines for the exams are listed on the class schedule.

Exams are given in the Testing Center (Grant Building) and you will need a pencil and a picture ID (preferably your BYU activity card) to take the exams. The testing center hours are available on the testing center's web page. A student who gets to the Testing Center line after the "last test distributed" time on the last day of a test will not be allowed to take the test. The Testing Center is generally less crowded before the last day and during morning hours.

All exams are subject to the following rules.

1. Exams are closed book and closed notes. You are not allowed aids of any kind, with the exception of a foreign language dictionary for those whose native language is not English. (A Periodic Chart will be provided when needed.)
   
   
2. The exam questions are confidential and are not to be discussed with anyone, other than the class instructors or assistants, at any time.

Grading: Multiple choice questions are worth 1 point each. There is no penalty for guessing. On midterms, you will choose among several essay questions and answer one. An essay question is worth 5 points.

Reviewing Exams: You may review a copy of the exam with a teaching assistant in N252 ESC before the next exam. The deadlines for reviewing exams 1, 2, and 3 are the same as the deadlines for taking exams 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Exam 4 may only be reviewed on the last day of the semester or term.

BYU Policy

Honor Code:

We fully support the church program of which BYU is a part. It is our intention and commitment to support and uphold the honor system, the standards of dress and appearance, the highest level of personal integrity, and all other University traditions, rules and guidelines. If you observe any actions on our part which you think are inconsistent with this commitment, please let us know in a forthright but confidential way. We will treat you with the same courtesy.

Harassment:

Harassment of any kind is inappropriate at BYU. Specifically, BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well. If you encounter sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, or other inappropriate behavior, please talk to your professor, contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 367-5689, or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

Special Arrangements

BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may adversely affect your success in this course, please contact the University Accessibility Center at 422-2767. Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with the student and instructor by that office.

Incompletes ("I" grades)

An I (Incomplete) grade is given by arrangement with your professor when extenuating circumstances (serious illness, death in the immediate family, etc.) occur after the twelfth week of a semester, or sixth week of a term. In case of such extenuating circumstances prior to this, you should apply directly to the Registration office, B-130 ASB, to officially withdraw from the class. An I is never given when you are failing or have failed the course. If you think you qualify for an I, contact your instructor. There is a $10.00 fee for an I. An I is not counted in your grade point average until four months after you receive it. Thereafter, it becomes a failing grade in your grade point average until it is cleared.