PHYSICAL SCIENCE 101
PHYS/CHEM101 - SYLLABUS – SPRING 2016
INSTRUCTOR
Name: Dr. Joseph W. Howard – “Joe”
Office/Phone: Henson Science Hall 305E, 410-548-5393
eMail: jwhoward@salisbury.edu
Office Hours: MWF 1 – 2:00p.m., TR 10:30 – 11:30a.m.
TEXTBOOK
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Physical Science: “Conceptual Understanding of Chemistry & Physics” – The 101 Group;
Salisbury University, Dept. of Physics & Chemistry (Spring 2016 Edition).

Physical Science: Laboratory Manual – The 101 Group, Salisbury University, Depts. of Physics &
Chemistry (Spring 2016 Edition).
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The text and the required lab packet are available at the Salisbury University Bookstore.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to fundamental concepts of physical sciences. The
course will emphasize practical applications, especially those that integrate all of the natural sciences. The
topics covered are listed under “Tentative Schedule of Lecture Topics” at the end of the syllabus. This course
satisfies Group IV General Education Requirements. This course is cross-listed with CHEM 101.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY
I want you to enjoy Chemistry/Physics 101. The material we will be covering is fascinating and applicable.
Its implications can be observed in almost everything you interact with everyday. In order to make this class as
interesting and useful as possible, I will need to get feedback from you. Please feel free to ask questions in
class and to come by my office during office hours.
Howard
Physical Science 101 Syllabus
Fall 2016
POLICIES
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Attendance: Attendance is required at all lecture and lab classes. You must notify your laboratory
instructor in advance if you are unable to attend a lab. Although formal attendance will not be taken in
lecture, students are expected to attend class. Students are responsible for material covered and
announcements made in class.
Cell Phones: Please turn off your cell phones during the class lecture. You may not talk or text on the
phones in the classroom during lecture. Having a cell phone out during a quiz or exam (even if it is turned
off) will not be allowed.
Writing Requirement: Students will be required to complete writing assignments given as homework and
in laboratory. The University requirements of “writing across the curriculum” will be met by many of the
activities during the semester and we expect the students to demonstrate proficiency in writing logically,
legibly, and lucidly.
Calculators: You will often need to use a calculator for quizzes and exams. You will need a nonprogrammable calculator that you should bring to every class. Using a programmed calculator in a quiz
or exam to store information not available to the entire class, including solutions or equations, is
considered cheating. A cell-phone calculator is not allowed.
Students with Disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her
from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact us personally as soon as possible so that we
can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation in this class and facilitate educational
opportunities.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic integrity is at the heart of education because there is no doubt that honor and the quest for
knowledge are inexorably intertwined. Salisbury University is an academic community dedicated to the
achievement of intellectual growth where the pursuit of freely exchanged ideas and active study is an essential
element of academic excellence and development. Students and faculty are expected to meet the highest
possible standards of personal, ethical, and moral academic conduct. These standards require personal
integrity, a commitment to honesty without compromise, as well as truth without equivocation. Academic trust
means respecting these truths and principles, without which no university can exist.
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Academic Dishonesty: This instructor adheres to the policy of academic dishonesty as it appears in the
college catalog and outlined in the student handbook.
Important Notice: Although you may discuss the coursework with your classmates, all work handed in
must be your own. Copying another person’s work is plagiarism, and will be considered cheating. I
encourage you to talk with others in order for you to get a general understanding of the work. However,
each person must work out detailed solutions individually.
Howard
Physical Science 101 Syllabus
Fall 2016
EXAMINATIONS
Exams will be given during regular class periods and will cover material from the lecture, textbook, and
laboratory. If a student has a legitimate excuse for missing an exam, s/he must notify the instructor
in advance.
EXAM I
EXAM II
EXAM III
FINAL EXAM
Friday, February 19th
Friday, April 1st (no fool’n)
Monday, May 2nd
Thursday, May 12th, 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
QUIZZES
Quizzes will be given at the discretion of the instructor. These quizzes will be entirely unannounced,
however, you can count on roughly a quiz every week. In computation of the final grade, the lowest (or one
missed) quiz will not be counted. There are NO make-up quizzes. A quiz can be given at the beginning,
middle, or end of a class period. In addition, a quiz can be given both at the beginning and end of a class.
Always arrive to class prepared to experience a quiz on current class content.
LABORATORY
Laboratory work will be handed in each period for grading of that week’s lab activity. For further details
regarding the laboratory experience, consult with your laboratory instructor.
***Important Note: LABORATORY ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. You may make-up one missed lab at the
end of the semester. A missed lab, unless made-up, will be graded as a zero for that day. Each additional
lab that you miss beyond two lab activities will result in 10 percentage points (10%) being deducted from
your final COURSE grade. For further details about this policy see your laboratory syllabus and instructor.
EXERCISES & PROBLEMS
I have prepared exercises and problems (E&P) to help you prepare for your quizzes and exams. In fact, a
substantial portion of each weekly quiz will come directly from these E&P. To succeed in the course you will
need to keep up with this work!! The E&P related to each day’s material are listed on the tentative schedule.
You should work the E&P after we cover the material in class and before the following class period. If you
have problems with them, seek help! You may discuss the problems with your classmates, with the SI group,
and with the instructor during office hours. Occasionally E&P will be collected to count as a quiz grade. Due
dates will be announced in class at least one class period before the assignment is due. Here are some
suggestions for how to get the most knowledge and help out of the Exercises & Problems:
Howard
Physical Science 101 Syllabus
Fall 2016
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Read the problems as soon as you get them. You don’t have to spend any time working on them;
just think about them as you read and study the material.
Don’t procrastinate!! Don’t wait until the last minute to do E&P questions. In particular, you will have
an opportunity to ask questions in class to help you further understand the work. Many students find
that it is very helpful to attempt the problems even before the material is discussed in the class lecture.
Ask Questions!! If you are having problems with the E&P questions, seek help!! You may discuss the
problems with your classmates as well as with me during office hours.
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is offered for this course and provides you with the opportunity to attend up
to 3 hours of structured study sessions per week. SI sessions are facilitated by an undergraduate student who
has taken this course and excelled in the course material. Your SI leader will facilitate discussions and
activities that encourage you to practice, discuss, and ask questions about the most recent lecture material.
Your SI leader will supply you with dates and times of each SI session. You can also find out more information
about your SI leader and session information at http://www.salisbury.edu/achievement/SI/sihome.html, or by
stopping by the Center for Student Achievement (GUC 213).
GRADING
Course grades will be calculated as follows:
Three Semester Exams (15 % each)
Final Exam (comprehensive)
Laboratory
Quizzes
In class work
45%
15%
20%
15%
5%
------ Total = 100%
GRADE SCALE**:
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA WILL BE USED FOR DETERMINING LETTER GRADES:
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90 -100% = A: Superior Work. Student demonstrates a thorough and complete understanding of
the subject.
80 - 89% = B: Excellent Work. Student demonstrates an above average understanding of the
subject.
70 - 79% = C: Good Work. Student demonstrates an average understanding of the material.
60 - 69% = D: Fair Work. Student demonstrates below average understanding of the material and
has completed most of assignments.
0 - 59% = F: Unsatisfactory Work. Student does not demonstrate and adequate understanding of
the subject and has not turned in all assignments.
**The instructors reserve the right to lower some, or all, of these cut-off grades.
Howard
Physical Science 101 Syllabus
Fall 2016
IMPORTANT NOTICE
If your grade will affect any of the following: 1) whether you receive or retain a scholarship (athletic or
otherwise); 2) your eligibility to participate in any university sponsored activity; 3) your continuing progress
within an academic track; 4) your standing within the education department and/or student teaching
requirements; 5) your standing with your fraternity, sorority, the university, or any other student organization; NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME CONCERNED - NOT AT FINAL EXAM OR AFTER FINAL GRADES HAVE
BEEN DETERMINED!! Please do not wait until the last minute, when it will be too late for anyone to help you!
Also remember, we are here to learn and most of all have FUN!!
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF WEEKLY L ECTURE TOPICS
Date
Week One:
Mon. 1/25 – Fri. 1/29
Week Two:
Mon. 2/1 – Fri. 2/5
Week Three:
Mon. 2/8 – Fri. 2/12
Week Four:
Mon. 2/15 – Fri. 2/19
Week Five:
Mon. 2/22 – Fri. 2/26
Week Six:
Mon. 2/29 – Fri. 3/4
Week Seven:
Mon. 3/7 – Fri. 3/11
Week Eight:
Mon. 3/14 – Fri. 3/18
Week Nine:
Mon. 3/21 – Fri. 3/25
Week Ten:
Mon. 3/28 – Fri. 4/1
Week Eleven:
Mon. 4/4 – Fri. 4/8
Howard
Topics
Readings
E&P
Lab for week
1 Intro
M
Science, scales,
pp. 2 – 14
W
Fundamental particles Units, sci. notation,
pp. 15 – 22
E&P#1: 1-5
F
Prefixes, factor label method
pp. 15 – 22
E&P#2: 1-7
M
Motion, acceleration pictures
pp. 31 – 38
E&P#3: 1-2
W
Acceleration pictures and free fall
pp. 31 – 38
E&P#3: 3-5
2 Meas., units
F
M
KMT
Freefall
pp. 23 – 30
pp. 48 – 56
W
Forces & Newton’s laws
pp. 64 – 84
E&P#4: 1-3
3 Speed
F
Forces & Newton’s laws
pp. 64 – 84
E&P#4: 4-7
M
Conservation of momentum
pp. 85 – 97
W
Conservation of momentum
pp. 85 – 97
E&P#5: 1-5
M
Collisions
pp. 85 – 97
W
Energy
pp. 98 – 114
F
Energy conservation
pp. 98 – 114
E&P#6: 1-4
5 Forces
E&P#7: 1-4
M
Energy conservation
pp. 98 – 114
E&P#7: 1-4
W
Heat and Temperature
pp. 115 – 126
E&P#7: 5-6
F
Heat and phase change
pp. 127 – 1134
E&P#8: 1-3
M
E&P#8: 4-6
SHM and waves
pp. 135 – 148
W
Density, Charge
pp. 149 – 165
E&P#9: 1-4
F
Physical & Chemical changes
pp. 166 – 171
E&P#9: 5-7
M
W
F
Spring Break (Woot!)
6 Energy
7 Heat
No Lab
M
Physical & Chemical changes
pp. 166 – 171
E&P#9: 5-7
W
Structure of atom, isotopes
pp. 166 – 171
E&P#9: 5-7
F
Structure of atom, isotopes
pp. 166 – 171
M
Mass and moles
pp. 171 – 173
E&P#10: 1-4
W
Introduction periodic table
pp. 174 – 187
E&P#10: 5
F
4 Newton’s Laws
EXAM #1 (2/19) : E&P #1 – #4
F
8 Problem Solving
9 SHM
EXAM #2 (4/1) : E&P #5 – #9
M
Bohr Model, Light
pp. 174 – 187
E&P#11: 1-3
W
Electron configurations
pp. 187 – 199
E&P#11: 4-6
F
Periodic trends
pp. 200 – 213
E&P#12: 1-3
Physical Science 101 Syllabus
10 Periodic Table.
Fall 2016
Week Twelve:
Mon. 4/11 – Fri. 4/15
Week Thirteen:
Mon. 4/18 – Wed. 4/22
Week Fourteen:
Mon. 4/25 – Fri. 4/29
Week Fifteen:
Mon. 5/2 – Fri. 5/6
M
Compounds and Lewis structures
pp. 214 – 233
E&P#12: 4-6
W
Compounds and Lewis structures
pp. 214 – 233
E&P#13: 1-2
F
VSEPR
pp. 234 – 239
M
VSEPR
pp. 234 – 239
E&P#13: 3-6
W
Polarity and forces
pp. 244 – 253
E&P#13: 4-6
F
Intermolecular Forces
pp. 256 – 261
M
Intermolecular Forces
pp. 256 – 261
E&P#13: 4-6
W
Consequences
pp. 262 – 263
E&P#13: 7-8
F
Solutions
pp. 253–255, 264–268
E&P#14: 1-4
Chemical reactions
Chemical reactions
Week Sixteen:
Thurs 5/12
13 Molec. Models
pp. 273 – 290
pp. 273 – 290
Make-ups
Review Review Review
Mon. 5/9
Final Exam:
12 Precip
EXAM #3 (5/2) : E&P #10 – #13
M
W
F
11 Acids
FINAL EXAM: Thursday 5/12 at 8:00 – 10:30 am
SEMESTER’S LECTURE TOPICS
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Scales
o Macro, Micro, Nano
Motion
o Speed
o Acceleration
Kinetic Molecular Theory
o Solids, Liquids, Gases
Newton’s Laws of Motion
o Newton’s First Law, Newton’s Second Law,
Newton’s Third Law
Momentum & Energy
o Momentum
o Conservation of Momentum
o Work & Energy
o Power
Thermal Energy
o Temperature
o Absolute Zero
o Heat & Thermal Energy
o Specific & Latent Heat
Periodic Motion
o Vibrations & Waves
o Wave Motion
o Longitudinal & Transverse Waves
o Sound Waves
o Resonance
Electricity
o Charges
o Charge Interactions
o Forces Between Charges
Structure of the Atom
o The Elements
o The Electron
o The Atomic Nucleus
Howard
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o Protons & Neutrons
o The Quantum Model
o Electron Configuration
Light Waves
o Electromagnetic Spectrum
Elements of Chemistry
o Phases of Matter
o Physical & Chemical Properties
o Classification of Matter
The Periodic Table
o Organizing the Elements
o Metal, Nonmetals, & Metalloids
o Atomic Groups & Periods
o Periodic Trends
Chemical Bonding
o Metals & Alloys
o Ionic Bonds
o Lewis Structures
o Covalent Bonds
o Molecular Polarity
Molecular Mixing
o Solutions
o Surface Tension Solubility
o Units of Conversion
Chemical Reactions
o The Chemical Reaction
o Energy & Chemical Reactions
Acid & Base Reactions
o Acids & Bases Defined
o Acid Strength
o Acid, Basic, or Neutral
o The pH Scale
o Acid Rain & Basic Oceans
o Buffers
Physical Science 101 Syllabus
Fall 2016