Department ___PHYS___
AREAS OF INQUIRY
Course Number __143_
Course Name Physics Unveiled: The Magic and The Mystery
INVESTIGATING THE
NATURAL WORLD
This form must be submitted to the Faculty Council on Liberal Learning and Academic Life as part of the submission
process.
Please attach a proposed syllabus for this course and the Undergraduate Curriculum Course Proposal Form.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: 16 September 2005
Please answer the following questions:
Check Only One:
 This course is an existing course (in the current curriculum) that we are now proposing for this Area of Inquiry.
 This is a new course that we are now proposing for this Area of Inquiry.
1. Name and contact information for the department chair administrating this course.
David Doughty, doughty@pcs.cnu.edu, 4-7065
2. In any given semester, how many sections of this course is your department willing to offer?
Two
3. Why is this course being offered/what is it designed to achieve (Course purpose/goal)?
This course is a one-semester introduction to 20th century physics at the algebra-based math level. As the
new curriculum does not require a two-semester science sequence, this course can be taken independently
of other science courses, and matches the existing PHYS103-104 level. This course, along with other
companion courses will replace the existing 103-04 sequence.
4. All courses must address every objective listed below.
Lecture
 Understand the process of science and the strengths and weaknesses of this process
 Understand that our present knowledge of the natural world is the result of the progression of scientific
ideas over time
 Apply scientific knowledge to the definition, understanding, and evaluation of issues of contemporary
society
 Gain an understanding of a body of knowledge in at least one natural science discipline
Laboratory
 Engage in asking and answering questions using the scientific process
 Conduct analyses and evaluation of data from scientific experimentation
 Present results and draw conclusions in both written and oral formats
 Apply the scientific process to present-day questions
5. Briefly explain how this class addresses the above objectives.
a) The dawn of the 20th century saw revolutionary strides in our understanding of the physical world. This
has led to immense strides in transportation, flight, medicine, industry and the creation (and demise) of
career opportunities and made possible activities (e.g. landing on the moon) that were previously in the
realm of magic. While studying these advances in our knowledge of both the macroscopic (e.g. space travel)
and the microscopic (e.g. quantum mechanics) worlds, students will learn about the nature of scientific
progress. They will learn about the nature of scientific revolutions (to paraphrase Kuhn) and explore the
fundamental nature of scientific inquiry and the interplay between theory and experiment.
b) Students will gain an understanding of both classical and modern physics that allowed us to expand our
understanding of the universe during the past century. This will include fundamentals of mechanics and
fluid flow, Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation, sound and electromagnetic waves, quantum mechanics
and relativity up to an exploration of the ‘subatomic zoo’ of particle physics. Students will learn ideas and
concepts as well as how to solve algebraic problems in these areas.
c) This course will also emphasize the application of these principles of physics to the development of
selected areas of modern society : flight, space travel, medicine, communication and industry. Areas such
as space travel (Mission to Mars), medicine (ultrasound, MRI), communication (the Internet) capture
students’ imaginations and are important to understand for their development as critical-thinking citizens.
This course will enable them to develop skills in these areas.
6. Course Assessment: Identify how this course will accomplish the above objectives (choose at least one).
 Participating in class discussion and debate
 Engaging in teamwork and other collaborative exercises
 Writing analytical or evaluative papers, perhaps incorporating original research
 Making oral presentations
 Performing laboratory experiments
 Conducting data analysis
 Participating in fieldwork
 Other means – please identify: Problem solving
7. Attach a proposed syllabus, which includes a statement of purpose, course objectives, and how these
objectives will be accomplished.
8. Please identify and explain if this course contributes to the Foundations of Liberal Learning expectations for:
 Oral Communication Literacy:
 Information Literacy:
This course will involve significant usage of computer visualizations and simulations in lecture,
demonstrations, class participation activities and homework assignments. As a result students will
be required to develop abilities in various aspects of information literacy – including accessing
information, analyzing information and synthesizing information from a variety of computer-based
sources as well as the Internet.
 Writing Literacy:
8. Explain how this course connects to Vision 2010 – the CNU Strategic Plan
This class will directly address goals I.A, I.B, I.C and II.B by presenting a rigorous, intellectually
challenging class which will require significant student initiative in meeting class goals and deadlines and
will require critical thinking in conceptual and mathematical problem solving.
Submission Checklist:
By the deadline, submit a packet with the following documents to the Assistant Dean for Liberal Learning. Please
submit in electronic and hard copy form.
__X__ Area of Inquiry Course Proposal Form
__X__ Syllabus for the Course
__X__ Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Course Proposal Form
PHYS 143: Physics Unveiled The Magic & The Mystery
Instructor: Dr. S. Raj Chaudhury, schaudhury@cnu.edu, Phone: 594-8857
Office Hours: TBA
Lecture: Course location (TBA)
Class Text: Physics: Concepts & Connections, Art Hobson
Additional reading: Physics of Star Trek, Lawrence Krauss, Six Easy Pieces, Richard Feynman;
The Subatomic Zoo, Cindy Schwarz + select readings online
Introduction: The dawn of the 20th century saw revolutionary strides in our understanding
of the physical world. This has led to immense strides in transportation, flight, medicine,
the creation (and demise) of career opportunities and made possible activities (e.g. landing
on the moon) that were previously in the realm of magic. While studying these advances in
our knowledge of both the macroscopic (e.g. space travel) and the microscopic (e.g.
quantum mechanics) worlds, you will also learn about the nature of scientific progress. This
course will also emphasize the application of these principles of physics to the development
of select areas of modern society: flight, space travel, medicine, communication and
industry. Areas such as space travel (landing on the Moon), medicine (ultrasound, MRI),
communication (the Internet) have captured people’s imaginations and are important to
understand for your development as educated, thoughtful citizens.
Goals: This course is part of the Liberal Learning Core and meets the following criteria:
Students will understand the process of science and the strengths and weaknesses of this
process; Students will understand that our present knowledge of the natural world is the
result of the progression of scientific ideas over time; Students will apply scientific
knowledge to the definition, understanding, and evaluation of issues of contemporary
society.
Physics topics: Students will gain an understanding of both classical and modern physics that
allowed us to expand our understanding of the universe during the past century. This will
include fundamentals of mechanics and fluid flow, Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation,
sound and electromagnetic waves, quantum mechanics and relativity up to an exploration of
the ‘subatomic zoo’ of particle physics. Students will learn ideas and concepts as well as
how to solve algebraic problems in these areas. Thus the course is broken into four thematic
areas: (1) Going Places: From Cars to Mars (2) Looking Inside: X-rays to MRI (3) Mysterious
particles: the Subatomic Zoo and (4) Wireless: From Marconi to WiFi.
Classwork: Participation in classroom activities will be an important part of your learning
process. You should complete the assigned reading before coming to class. We shall be using
interactive learning technologies in class that have been demonstrated to help student
learning. A portion of your course grade will depend on class participation and quizzes.
Homework: Assignments will be given weekly, and in most cases are due 7 days later. In most
cases, homework will not be turned in via hardcopy, but will instead be submitted via WebAssign
(http://www.webassign.net/). Instructions will be provided to you in class. Timely completion and
submission of homework will boost your chances of success in this course.
Exams: Three hour-tests and a comprehensive final. See schedule below.
Grading:
Homework
In-class+quizzes
Three tests
Final exam
25%
15%
30%
30%
If you miss one of the hourly exams because of a valid, documented medical reason, the grade
portion for that exam will be added to your final exam weighting. No make-up exams will be given
under any circumstances. There will be no extra credit in this course.
Final grades will be assigned as follows:
A = 93-100%; A- = 90-92 %
B+ = 87-89 %; B = 83 –87 %; B- = 80 – 83 %
C + = 77-79%; C = 73 –77 %; C- = 70 – 73 %
D + = 67-69%; D = 63 –67 %; D- = 60 – 63 %: F < 60%
Disability Statement: In order to receive an accommodation, your disability must be on record in
the Office of Career and Counseling Services (594-7047 CC146). Once you have this accommodation
letter in hand, please make an appointment to see me, and we can discuss your specific needs.
CNU HONOR CODE: "On my honor, I will maintain the highest possible standards of honesty, integrity
and personal responsibility. That means I will not lie, cheat, or steal and as a member of this
academic community, I am committed to creating an environment of respect and mutual trust." All
work you submit for this course must be your own work. While you are encouraged to work with
other students to learn the material, the assignments, quizzes and exams must be your own work.
COURSE SCHEDULE ON NEXT PAGE
Schedule
Week of
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Topical area
Assignment
Thematic Area
HW 1
Going Places:
From Cars to Mars
Nature of Science
How Things Move
Tacoma Narrows & other
Mysteries
Getting Into Space
HW 2
Test1
Week 5
World of the atom
HW 3
Week 6
Spectra and Energy
HW 4
Week 7
Physics of the Solid State
Week 8
Modern Medical Miracles
HW 5
Test 2
Week 9
Radioactive dating
HW 6
Week 10
Energy, mass & strangeness
HW 7
Week 11
20th
century cooking
Mysterious particles: the
Subatomic Zoo
HW 8
Week 12
Talking at the speed of light
Test 3
Week 13
Satellites in the sky
TBA
Week 14
Star Trek and beyond
Thanksgiving
Week 15
Wrap-up
Finals
Looking Inside:
From X-rays to MRI
FINAL EXAM
Wireless: From Marconi to
Wi-Fi
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
NEW COURSE PROPOSAL FORM
Does this proposal affect Liberal Learning requirements? Yes __X__ No _____
1.
Title of Course: Physics Unveiled: The Magic and The Mystery
Proposed Course Number (cleared with Registrar): PHYS 143
Prerequisite Courses:
(if you require a minimum acceptable grade greater than the default of D- , please indicate the grade
you require) _________
Catalogue Description (including credits, lecture, and lab hours):
(3,3,0) This course provides an introduction to the revolutionary developments in our understanding of
the magical mysteries of the physical world that evolved during the 20th century. It is intended for nonscience majors and provides a background for other courses in physics and astronomy. Basic physical
concepts in mechanics, electromagnetism and quantum physics will be applied to investigations of topics
such as flight, space travel, medicine, communication and industry. Course topics will cover both the
macroscopic world and microscopic phenomena. The course will focus on concept development with
simple problem solving, appropriate for undergraduates in all majors.
Is the course cross-listed? If so, what is the number of the other course? No
**A proposed syllabus, including complete text and/or reference information, as well
as any relevant information to this decision, must be appended.
NOTE: All affected department chairs must sign approval on last page.
2.
For whom is the course primarily intended? Explain why it should be added to the curriculum.
This course is intended for undergraduates who are not science majors. This course will satisfy 3 credits
in the Natural World Area of Inquiry.
3.
If this course is required, append a description of how the course fits into the curriculum. Indicate how
it affects hours required for graduation. This course is not required
4.
Has this course been offered previously as a special topics course? If so, when? What course number was
used? No
5.
Has this course, or one closely related to it, been offered at CNU previously?
If so, is that course currently being offered? How does the proposed course differ? When is the last term the
old course will be offered?
No, this course has not been offered previously.
6.
What is the anticipated enrollment per offering for the next three years? 30-45
During which term will this course first be offered?
Fall _2006__
Spring 20___
Summer 20___
During which semesters will this course regularly be offered?
Fall 2006___
Spring 2006___
Summer 20___
Print in the _2006_______ (academic year) Undergraduate Catalog.
7.
How will the course be staffed? This course can be taught by many faculty members in the PCSE Dept.,
including Dave Doughty, Ed Brash, Randy Caton, S. Raj Chaudhury, John Hardie, Peter Knipp and
Raouf Selim.
8.
Does the course involve a particular classroom, special equipment, or costs beyond those usually associated
with a course at CNU? If so, please explain.
No
9.
Is the course repeatable for additional credit? If so, is there a limit to the number of times the course can be
repeated? (e.g., applied music courses) No
10.
If this course is for an Area of Inquiry
a. Identify the Area of Inquiry _____Investigating the Natural World____
b. Demonstrate how your course will meet the objectives of this Area of Inquiry
See attached AOI proposal.
This course was approved by:
(Liberal learning core courses must be reviewed by BOTH academic Deans.)
|
Department(s): (1)
Date: ________
(2)
Date: ________
College Curriculum
Committee:
Date: ________
Dean:
Date: ________
Dean:
Date: ________
Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee:
Date: ________
Concur
Changes to the Liberal Learning requirements must be reviewed by the Faculty Senate.
Faculty Senate President:
Date: ________
Provost
Date: ________
Distribution by Provost Office following approval:
Department Chair(s), UCC Chair, Deans, Registrar
** If “Do Not Concur” is checked, please attach a statement of explanation.
Rev. 03/20/05
Do Not
Concur**