Physical Science 100

Professor Grant W. Mason

College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Brigham Young University

COURSE INFORMATION
Table of Contents
Purposes of the Course
Course Description
Help Resources
Study Suggestions
Examinations
Testing Center Procedures
Special Activities
Credit and Grades
Exemption Examinations
BYU Standards
Lecture Topics



Purposes of the Course

  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 scientist that as errors are discovered and rejected, it is possible to come closer to the "truth."


We believe that a study of the universe, done in the proper spirit, can increase faith in the Savior who, under the direction of our Eternal Father, organized the earth and heavens in harmony with Divine Law as part of the plan that would make it possible for us to gain immortality and eternal life.
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Course Description

The ideas you will study in this course are selected from the most profound now understood about the physical world. They have had an enormous impact on our culture, history, and ways of thinking. We will focus on concepts more than problem solving, so you can understand the ideas regardless of your background in mathematics and science. However, serious study is required to master these concepts.

The course material is contained in 34 topic areas grouped into four parts as follows:

Part 1Chapters 1-9Exam 1
Part 2Chapters 10-17Exam 2
Part 3Chapters 18-25Exam 3
Part 4Chapters 26-34Exam 4


The Lecture Topics are listed as a separate section of this document (see Table of Contents).

If you are majoring in the physical or biological sciences, elementary education, or engineering, please see your college advisement center counselor before continuing with Physical Science 100.
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Help Resources

Lecture-demonstration discussion: Your professor will present and discuss with you assigned topics at the times listed in the Class Schedule. Your questions will be welcome.

Study Guide: A Study Guide is provided at the end of each chapter of the text. It provides you with an outline of the fundamental principles, models, main questions, and terms that you will be expected to understand, answer, or use appropriately.

Text: Physical Science Concepts, 2nd Edition by Mason, Griffen, Merrill, and Thorne.

Teaching Assistants: Several Teaching Assistants (TAs) are available in a walk-in lab on a regular schedule to help with individual questions and problems. No appointments are necessary. The teaching assistants can help you best if you visit them regularly throughout the term. Help is not available while examinations are being read and no individual help will be available during reading days and the final exam period.

Walk-in Laboratory Location: N252 Eyring Science Center. Phone Number: 378-3307.
The walk-in lab is open daily, some evenings and half-days on Saturday during Fall and Winter semesters. Hours are more limited during Spring and Summer terms.

Focus Questions: Focus questions are included in the Study Guide sections of the text. All of the essay questions in your examinations will be taken from these questions.
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Study Suggestions

Successful students in this course study each chapter in the following way:

  1. They read both the outline of the chapter in the Study Guide and the corresponding chapter material before it is discussed in class. They read the Focus Questions for the chapter very carefully before coming to class.
  2. They listen carefully to the lecture/demonstration discussions. They take very brief notes. They ask questions or record questions to ask later.
  3. They study the chapter carefully before the next class. They write out answers to the Focus Questions in the Study Guide.
  4. They go to the TAs in N252 ESC to review their answers to the Focus Questions and to ask questions.

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Examinations

All exams will be taken in the Testing Center (Heber J. Grant Building) on or before the deadline established for each examination. The exams will be available at least three days before the deadlines given.

Format of Exams:

Exams 1-3 18 multiple choice questions; 4 essay questions.
Exam 4 34 multiple choice questions.
Final Exam 60 multiple choice questions; 8 esssay questions.


You must take the final examination! All essay questions for the exams will be taken from the Focus Questions given to you in the Study Guide sections of the text.

Scoring Procedures: Your score on the multiple choice questions will reflect the number of correct responses. There is no penalty for incorrect choices.

Essay questions must express the main ideas without serious error and demonstrate an acceptable writing skill level. Partial credit will sometimes be given for answers which do not meet all of these criteria.

If questions are phrased in parts, answer them in parts. For example, your essay might look like this:

  1. _______________
  2. _______________
  3. _______________


Rules: All exams will be closed book and closed notes. You will need only a pencil and a picture I.D. (preferably your BYU activity card) to take the exams. A Periodic Table, a list of elements, and various tables and figures will be provided when necessary. A foreign language dictionary may be used by those whose native language is not English. The exam questions are confidential and are not to be discussed with anyone, other than the class instructors or assistants, at any time.

The scored answer booklets will be distributed in boxes just outside N252 ESC. They are usually available about one week after the exam deadline. You may review a copy of the exam with a teaching assistant in N252 ESC. The deadlines for reviewing Exams 1, 2, and 3 are the same as the deadlines for taking Exams 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Final exams are not returned but may be reviewed in N252 ESC.
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Testing Center Procedures

The Testing Center is open daily and evenings and half-day on Saturdays during the Fall and Winter semester. Hours are more limited during Spring and Summer terms.

General Information: The deadline to pick up a test is one hour before closing time. You then have one hour to complete the exam. The Testing Center is generally crowded during afternoon hours on exam deadline dates. You will find the morning hours less crowded.
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Special Activities

A limited amount of credit is earned by completing the "Special Activities" sheets found in the course packet (obtained from the BYU Bookstore).

Each "Special Activity" is worth 8 points. You are required to select and complete at most one activity from each of the four quarters of the class. Each of these four must be reviewed with a Teaching Assistant in N252 ESC before the deadlines established in each semester or term.
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Credit and Grades

General Education credit for Physical Science (Arts and Science Core) requirement is given to students enrolled in Physical Science 100 who pass the course with a D- grade or better.

The weighting of exam items for grade computation is as follows:

Exams 1,2,318 multiple-choice questions2 points each
4 essay questions8 points each
(68 points/exam)
Exam 434 multiple-choice questions2 points each
(68 points)
Final Exam60 multiple-choice questions2 points each
8 essay questions8 points each
(184 points)
Special Activities4 activities8 points each
(32 points)
TOTAL POINTS488 points


Exam grades are assigned to overall exam performance according to the information given in class and the following schedule:

A90% or above
A-86-89%
B+83-85%
B79-82%
B-75-78%
C+70-74%
C65-69%
C-60-64%
D+56-59%
D53-55%
D-50-52%
EBelow 50%


Final Grade Computation: We will compute your letter grade from the above scale in two ways:

  1. Using only your score on the final exam.
  2. Using your score on the final exam + the four interim exams + Special Activities (184 + 4x68 + 32 = 488 points possible).


Your final letter grade will be the higher of the two.

A UW (Unofficial Withdrawal) is assigned to those who take no exams. If any exam is taken, the semester grade will be determined as described above, with zero scores for the exams which are not taken. A UW affects your grade point average the same as an E does.

An I (Incomplete) is given by arrangement with your professor. An I is only given when extenuating circumstances (serious illness, death in the immediate family, etc.) occur after the twelfth week of the 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, please contact your instructor. There is a $10.00 fee for an I.
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Exemption Examinations

The exemption exam for this course is the equivalent of a final exam. It is comprehensive and will include 60 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each and 8 short essay questions worth 8 points each. A grade will be assigned according to the schedule listed under "Credit and Grades" in this description. The exam is offered in the Testing Center for a short period at the beginning of the semester.

There is a $10.00 fee assessed at the Testing Center for taking the exam. If you are registered for Physical Science 100 and take the exemption exam, the fee will be waived. (You will need a test authorization form from your instructor.) Deadlines for taking the exam are established each semester and term.

What is a passing grade?

  1. (75-100%) You receive GE credit on your transcript and have the option of having the letter grade posted to your transcript.
  2. (60-74%) You may receive GE credit by filling out a blue credit form at the Testing Center and having the appropriate letter grade posted on your transcript. GE credit is only given for this lower level of performance when the letter grade is posted to your transcript.


If you are registered for Physical Science 100 and fit either category above, be sure to drop the course.

Two other options are available if you are registered for the course and are satisfied with your exemption exam score:

  1. You may have that score posted as your final exam score and take the corresponding grade at the end of the semester.
  2. You may continue in the course and try to improve your grade by taking all of the exams and the final again. If you choose this option and your final score is lower than that from the exemption exam, you would still get the higher grade.

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BYU Standards

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.
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Lecture Topics

Lecture Hour 1Chapter 1Introduction and Prologue
Lecture Hour 2Chapter 2Science and the Universe
Lecture Hour 3Chapter 3Laws of Motion
Lecture Hour 4Chapter 4Fundamental Interactions
Lecture Hour 5Chapter 5Applications
Lecture Hour 6Chapter 6Internal Forces
Lecture Hour 7Chapter 7Conservation Laws
Lecture Hour 8Chapter 8Motion Symmetry
Lecture Hour 9Chapter 9Special Theory of Relativity I
Lecture Hour 9Chapter 9Special Theory of Relativity II
Lecture Hour 10Review for Exam 1
Lecture Hour 11No class (Exam)
Lecture Hour 12Chapter 10Physical Properties of Matter
Lecture Hour 13Chapter 11Molecular Model
Lecture Hour 14Chapter 12Law of Increasing Disorder
Lecture Hour 15Chapter 13Waves
Lecture Hour 16Chapter 14Properties of Light
Lecture Hour 17Chapter 15The Nuclear Atom
Lecture Hour 18Chapter 16Duality of Matter
Lecture Hour 19Chapter 17Wave Model of the Atom
Lecture Hour 20Review for Exam 2
Lecture Hour 21 No class (Exam)
Lecture Hour 22Chapter 18Periodic Table
Lecture Hour 23Chapter 19Molecules and Compounds
Lecture Hour 24Chapter 20Metals and Their Compounds
Lecture Hour 25Chapter 21Compounds of Nonmetals
Lecture Hour 26Chapter 22Chemistry of Living Things
Lecture Hour 27Chapter 23How Life Works
Lecture Hour 28Chapter 24The Nucleus
Lecture Hour 29Chapter 25Nuclear Forces and Energy
Lecture Hour 30Review for Exam 3
Lecture Hour 31No class (Exam)
Lecture Hour 32Chapter 26Cosmology
Lecture Hour 33Chapter 27History of a Star
Lecture Hour 34Chapter 28Planet Earth
Lecture Hour 35Chapter 29,33Geologic Time and Fossils
Lecture Hour 36Chapter 30Interior of the Earth
Lecture Hour 37Chapter 31Evidence of Plate Tectonics
Lecture Hour 38Chapter 32Plate Tectonics
Lecture Hour 39Chapter 34Earth's Changing Face
Lecture Hour 40Review for Exam 4
Lecture Hour 41Review for Final Exam

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