Physics 205: Concepts of Physics

     Spring 2007

 

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Meeting Times/Location:

      
       
Lecture:

    

HRBB 113, Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

 
Laboratory:  HELD 219, Wednesday & Friday
  Section 501: 8:45 – 10:00 AM       Section 502: 10:20 – 11:35 AM
     

Instructor:

    
         
Joel A. Bryan, Ph.D.:   BLOC 512A; office hours daily by appointment
  Phone numbers: office (979) 845-1301; cell (979) 219-1942           E-mail: jabryan@tamu.edu
  vita
 
Textbook: "Conceptual Physics" - an inexpensive CD text from Kinetic Books.  Purchase through TAMU Bookstore or order online here.
   

Useful Links:

 

Course Objectives:

This course is designed and recommended for preservice teachers seeking a middle grades math and science teaching specialty.  Students seeking other elementary and middle grades teaching specialties will also benefit from this course.  Credit in this course may not satisfy your science requirement if you are in another degree program.  Please consult your advisor if you have questions about if/how this course may apply toward your degree.

The goals are that students who complete this course will obtain:

 

  • an awareness and a conceptual understanding of the physics concepts that are included in Texas’ K-8th grade Science and Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) TEKS

 

  • confidence in his/her ability to teach/explain these concepts to others using a variety of instructional methods (e.g., lecture, demonstration, discovery, computer simulations, etc…)

 

  • an awareness of “hands-on” laboratory activities that could be used to teach/explain these concepts to others, including those classified as "inquiry"

 

  • an awareness of how computer technology may be used in teaching/explaining these physics concepts to others

 

  • a better understanding of how instructional materials are used by students when learning physics concepts

 

  • a basic understanding of commonly accepted attributes of the “nature of science” and limitations of science

These goals reflect the desire that you gain experience in investigating physics topics that you may encounter when you become a classroom teacher.  As such, it is understandable that you may not obtain a "deep understanding" of these topics.  As a result, the major portion of your course grade is dependent upon these experiences, rather than performance on assessment instruments (i.e., major exams).

 

Attendance:

You are expected to attend ALL class sessions and arrive ON TIME.  You should bring your textbook and a calculator to all class and laboratory sessions.  Bring a blank writable compact disk or other storage device to EDCT 216 for LoggerPro video analysis lab sessions and the light bulb circuit lab.  It would also be beneficial for you or someone in your lab group to bring a laptop computer to lab.  Data you collect in the lab can then be placed in a spreadsheet and graphs made during class, which will save time for all of you.

The majority of the work counting toward your point total and final grade will be performed in class and/or lab meetings.  Much of it will be “group work” that would be inconvenient, if not impossible, to make up as an individual.  Points will be deducted for assignments handed in late.  You are allowed and encouraged to make up work missed due to absence; however, points will be deducted for laboratories missed without a university authorized excuse.                

** Perfect or near perfect attendance is the best way to ensure success in this course **

PLEASE RESPECT YOUR CLASSMATES AND INSTRUCTOR BY SILENCING ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (CELL PHONES, PAGERS, ALARMS, ETC...) DURING CLASS AND LAB MEETINGS

 

Grading: 

Your grade in this course will be based on the total points you obtain in relation to the total points available on all work.  The following table gives the approximate number of total points available and how they are divided among types of assessments.

Weight Category Description
420 points

(62%)

 Lab Activities

Quizzes

Assignments

  • A mixture of “hands-on” and computer simulated data collection and exploration activities serving to aid in the development and/or understanding of physics concepts

  • Will include both group and/or individual reports, due the lab session following the session in which the lab was performed, unless otherwise stated by the instructor

  • Many of the lab activities will use commonly available inexpensive materials in a procedural level appropriate for use with middle school students

  • Periodic quizzes given during lecture sessions  (10 quizzes @ 5 pts each = 50 pts )

  • Includes periodic student collection and distribution of lesson plan resources relating to physics topics of study (8 @ 5 pts each = 40 pts)
260 points

(38%)

 Exams
  • Three (3) short answer, multiple choice, true/false, essay, discussion format exams (point totals for each exam on schedule)

Letter grades will be assigned according to the customary grading scale (A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, etc…), but may be “relaxed” at the discretion of the instructor after careful examination of the final distribution of student point totals.

 

Schedule:  

Physics topics chosen for this course reflect content areas that are included in the K-8 & IPC TEKS.  You are responsible for downloading and printing your own copies of laboratory instructions, class notes, and any other documents linked to this chart.  Please check this schedule table regularly for updates and/or changes.

 

Week

Date

Class/Lab Topics

Text Sections

"Physics Classroom" & other links

Lab/Class Activities & Notes; PowerPoint Slides; TEKS; etc
1 1/16 NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...
1/17 NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...ICE...NO CLASS...
1/18 Th What is science?...physics?     Surveys...Science...Physics; VARK (Due 1/23)
1/19 F Nature of Science (NOS)     NOS Activities (Due 1/26); NOS_ppt; NOS TEKS
2 1/23 Tu Technology and Motion Graphs     Motion_ppt; Motion TEKS; Multiple Representations; CBR Graph Matching;
1/24 NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...
1/25 NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...
1/26 F Technology and Motion Graphs     CBR continued (Due End of Class); Measurement TEKS; Measurement_ppt;
3 1/30 Tu Motion     Motion Graphs (due 2/6)
1/31 W 1D Motion 2 link; link Constant and Relative Velocity (Due 2/2); Excel Graphing
2/1 Th Acceleration     Freefall Simulation (Due 2/14); Measurement Activity Due; Quiz 1
2/2 F Accelerated Motion 2 link Acceleration Down an Incline (Due 2/7); Precision of Lab Measurements (Due 2/9)
4 2/6 Tu Algebraic Representations of Motion     Quiz 2
2/7 W Constant and Accelerated Motion 2 link LoggerPro Video Analysis: 1D Motion (EDCT 216)
2/8 Th Newton's Laws of Motion     Newton's Laws_ppt; Motion Activity Due
2/9 F Inertia and Mass 5 link; link Inertial Balance (Due 2/15)
5 2/13 NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...
2/14 W Falling Objects 2 link LoggerPro Video Analysis: Falling Objects (EDCT 216)
2/15 Th Newton's Laws of Motion     Quiz 3
2/16 F Forces & Newton's Laws of Motion 5 link Newton's Laws Demos
6 2/20 Tu Newton's 3rd Law 5   3rd Law Demos; Work, Energy, Power ppt
2/21 W Conservation of Energy 6 link LoggerPro Video Analysis: Energy Conservation (EDCT 216)
2/22 Th Rotational Motion 8,11 link Torque and Balance (Due 2/23)
2/23 F Periodic Motion 14 link; link Periodic Motion (Due 2/27)
7 2/27 Tu Exam I - Motion, Forces, Newton's Laws, Energy, etc... (100 points)
2/28 W

Wave Properties and Characteristics

 15, 17 link; link Waves_ppt; Wave Modeling (Due End of Class); Virtual Ripple Tank (Due 3/9)
3/1 Th Wave Properties and Characteristics 15, 17 link; link Slinky Waves (Due End of Class)
3/2 F

Standing Waves

 16 link Standing Waves on a String (Due 3/7)
8 3/6 Tu

Wave Properties and Characteristics

 15, 17 link Quiz 4
3/7 W

Sound

 16 link Speed of Sound (Due 3/9); Sound_ppt
3/8 Th Sound 16 link Palm Pipes & Chimes; BoomWhackers; Wave Activity Due
3/9 F Light and Reflection 30, 31 link; link Plane Mirrors (Due End of Class); Reflection_ppt
SPRING BREAK...SPRING BREAK...SPRING BREAK...SPRING BREAK...SPRING BREAK...SPRING BREAK...
9 3/20 Tu Light and Reflection     Quiz 5
3/21 W Reflection 31 link Full Length Mirrors (Due End of Class)
3/22 Th Curved Mirrors   link; link Sound Activity Due
3/23 F

Refraction

 32 link; link Magic Straw; Index of Refraction (Due 3/28); Refraction_ppt
10 3/27 Tu Refraction   link Quiz 6
3/28 W

Refraction and Lenses

 33 link Converging Lenses (EDCT 216; Due End of Class)
3/29 Th Diffraction and Interference 34 link; link Diffraction_ppt; Slit Interference; Interference Patterns; Light Activity Due
3/30 F Light and Color   link Color_ppt; Spectroscopes
11 4/3 Tu Exam II - Waves, Sound, and Light (80 points)
4/4 NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...
4/5 Th Static Electricity 22 link; link Electricity_ppt; TEKS;  Static Electricity Demos (Due 4/10); Periodic Table
4/6 NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...
12 4/10 Tu Storing Charge 23, 24 link Electrophorus & Film Canister Leyden Jars (Due 4/13)
4/11 W Sources of Continuous Current 25 link; link Batteries (Due 4/13)
4/12 Th Definitions of Electrical Terms 25    
4/13 F Resistance 25 link; link Ohm's Law (Due 4/18)
13 4/17 NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...NO CLASS...
4/18 W Light Bulb Circuits 27 link Light Bulb Circuits I (EDCT 216)
4/19 Th Series, Parallel, and Combination Circuits     Quiz 7
4/20 F Light Bulb Circuits 27 link; link Light Bulb Circuits II (Due 4/25)
14 4/24 Tu Circuits and Kirchhoff's Laws     Quiz 8
4/25 W Electromagnetism 28, 29 link; link Magnetism_ppt; Electric Motors
4/26 Th The Nucleus 38 link; link Modern Physics_ppt; Periodic Table; Decay Equations (Due 5/1); Quiz 9
4/27 NO CLASS...SCIENCE OLYMPIAD...NO CLASS...
  5/1 Tu Redefined Friday: Radioactive Decay 38 link; link Radioactive Decay Simulation (Due Exam III)
           
5/7 M Exam III - Electricity, Magnetism, and Radioactivity (80 points)          1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
           

University Policies: 

Academic Integrity Statement:  “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate university rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from The University.  Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of The University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.  Please refer to the Honor Council Rules and Procedures on the web at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor for more information.

Plagiarism: As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, writing, etc., which belong to another.  In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person.  Plagiarism is one of the worst academic ailments, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely committed.

Americans With Disabilities Act: The American With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all class members with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building.  The phone number is (979) 845-1637.