Passaic County Community College
Science Department
SC 004 – General Science
Syllabus Fall 2010
I. Course Code: SC 004
II. Course Title: General Science
III. Prerequisites: EN 001, RD 001, MA 001
IV. Number of Credits: 3
V. Instructor's Information:
Name: Brian Holton
Phone: (973) 684-5213
E-mail: bholton@pccc.edu
Office: E 503
Office Hours: Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
Friday
10:30-11:30
4:00 pm–5:30 pm
4:00 pm–5:30 pm
10:00-11:00
VI. Catalog Description:
Survey of basic topics in high school science for students at the RD 004, EN 004, and MA 004 skill level or
higher. Includes applications of basic math for solving scientific problems, data analysis, and SI unit system.
Laboratory exercises reinforce basic concepts in applied science, including observation and analysis of variables
and care/operation of basic scientific equipment. Recommended for students requiring a 100-level or higher
science course, but have not taken high school biology, chemistry and/or physics.
VII. Course Objectives:
At the end of this General Science course students will be able to accomplish the following:
 Interpret and apply concepts related to motion.
 Discuss the nature and affects of fundamental forces.
 Explain and apply momentum and energy concepts.
 Understand heat and energy transmission.
 Describe the components of atoms and interactions between atoms.
 Recognize and classify chemical reactions.
 Understand processes involved with chemical reactions.
 Explain the components of living cells.
 Describe the function of genes.
VIII. Course Outline:
Week
Class
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
5
6
4
7
5
8
9
10
6
11
12
7
13
14
8
15
9
16
17
18
10
19
20
11
21
22
12
23
24
13
25
26
14
27
15
28
29
Topics
The Scientific Method
The Natural Sciences
Mass, Inertia, Weight, Density
Force, Equilibrium, Friction
Speed, Velocity
Acceleration
Newton’s First Law
Newton’s Second Law
Newton’s Third Law
Momentum, Impulse
Conservation of Momentum, Collisions
Energy, Work, Power
Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Conservation of Energy
Newton’s Law of Gravity, Inverse Square Law
Weight and Weightlessness
Projectile Motion, Satellite Orbits
Exam 1
Temperature, Temperature Scales, Heat
Laws of Thermodynamics
Heat Capacity, Expansion
Conduction, Convection, Radiation
Charge, Electric Force, Conductors, Insulators
Voltage Sources, Current, Circuits
Magnetic Force, Fields, Domains
Electromagnetic Induction
Elements, Atoms
Protons, Neutrons, Isotopes
Atomic Spectra
Electron Waves, Atomic Orbitals
Chemistry, Phases of Matter, Phase Changes
Physical and Chemical Properties
Periodic Table, Compounds
Electron Shells
Ionic, Metallic, and Covalent Bonds
Exam 2
Polar Bonds, Interparticle Attractions
Solutions, Solubility
Chemical Reactions, Chemical Equations
Acid-Base Reactions, Salts
Acids, Bases, The pH Scale
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Corrosion and Combustion, Reaction Rates
Endothermic, Exothermic, Entropy
Life, Cell Types, Prokaryotic, Eukaryotic
Cell Membrane, Transport Mechanisms
Cell Communication, Reproduction, Energy Use
Photosynthesis, Respiration, Life Span
Genes, Chromosomes, DNA Replication
Transcription, Translation, Meiosis
Genetics, Inheritance, Human Genome
Genetic Mutations, Cancer
Exam 3
Textbook Reading
Chapter 1, Sections 1–11
Chapter 2, Sections 1–8
Chapter 2, Sections 9, 10
Chapter 3, Sections 1, 2
Chapter 3, Sections 3, 4, 6
Chapter 4, Sections 1–4
Chapter 4, Sections 5, 6, 8, 10
Chapter 5, Sections 1–4, 6
Chapter 5, Sections 7–12
Chapter 6, Sections 1–5
Chapter 6, Sections 6–10
Chapter 7, Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, 10
Chapter 7, Sections 12–15
Chapter 9, Sections 1–4
Chapter 9, Sections 5–8
Chapter 11, Sections 1–4
Chapter 11, Sections 5–9
Chapter 12, Sections 1–4
Chapter 12, Sections 5–6
Chapter 13, Sections 1–3
Chapter 13, Sections 4–6
Chapter 13, Sections 7–10
Chapter 15, Sections 1–5
Chapter 15, Sections 6–11
Chapter 16, Sections 1–5
Chapter 16, Sections 6–10
IX. Required Texts and Materials:
Textbook:
Conceptual Integrated Science by Hewitt, Lyons, Suchocki, and Yeh
Addison-Wesley, 1st Edition, ISBN: 0805390383
X. Methods of Evaluation:
Homework: Homework will be assigned and graded. It is due the next class after it is assigned. Since your
understanding of the material depends on out of class preparation, late homework is frowned upon.
Lab Attendance: Attendance of lab is compulsory and will count toward your class grade.
Lab Reports: During each lab you will write answers to questions posed in lab worksheets. Your answers must be
written into a notebook that you bring to lab each week. Make sure your answers are thorough and that you
include any associated graphs and tables in your notes. Your lab report will be graded near the end of the lab
period.
Lab Quizzes: During the first ten minutes of each lab you will be given a short quiz about the material covered in
the previous lab period. This is an open-notes quiz. You may use your notes from the previous lab to help you
answer the questions. If you are late for the lab period and miss the quiz time you will be given a grade of zero
for the quiz.
Exams: Three exams will be given for this course as indicated in the Course Outline. All exams carry the same
weight in counting toward your grade.
Make-up Work: There will be no make-up work for missing homework or lab quizzes. Make-ups for exams may
be given if you consult the instructor prior to missing the exam.
Your class grade will be based on the following components in the proportions indicated:
Homework
Lab Attendance
Lab Reports
Lab Quizzes
Exams (3)
20%
5%
5%
10%
60% (20% each)
Grade Scale:
Grade
A A- B+ B B- C+ C D F
Breakpoint (%) 90 86 82 78 74 70 62 50 Below 50
Expectations:
Attendance of class is not a part of your grade but class attendance is mandatory. You must inform the instructor
of any planned absences at least one day prior to your absence.
If you do miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain any work that was missed from a colleague.
You are expected to have the required textbook reading completed prior to attending each class.
You are encouraged to see the instructor during office hours when you have difficulties understanding the
material covered during the course.
Students that require any special educational needs must notify the instructor and show the requisite
documentation prior to the end of the second week of class.
Academic Conduct:
You must abide by the rules listed in the Passaic County Community College Academic Bulletin Student Code of
Conduct with regards to academic dishonesty and plagiarism.
The Passaic County Community College Academic Bulletin Student Code of Conduct policies on your rights and
responsibilities as a student all apply to this course. Make sure you have read and understand all those policies.
All work you submit must be your own.
Every instance of academic dishonesty and plagiarism will be dealt with as described in the Passaic County
Community College Academic Bulletin Student Code of Conduct.
I endorse group discussion of homework problems and lab work. If you do discuss problems with other students
then credit them in the work that you submit by writing their names at the end of your work. Do not take this to
mean that copying someone else’s work is allowed. If any part of your work looks very similar to that of another
student then it will be considered plagiarism.
Disabilities:
If you have a disability and believe you need accommodations in my classroom, please see a counselor in the
Center for Student Success. If you require testing accommodations, you must notify me at least one week in
advance of the test.