General Science 101

Physics, Chemistry, and the Human ExperienceHHS 2210

SyllabusProfessor: Dr. Jason T. HaraldsenOffice: HHS 2104 Office Phone: 540-568-4173Office Hours: Tuesdays/Thursdays 9:30am – 10:30pm and Tuesdays 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Wednesdays 1:00pm-2:00pm or by appointmentE-mail: haraldjt@jmu.eduText: Physics and Technology for Future President, Richard Muller, ISBN 0691135045

I will also be at the Science and Math Learning Center

What are the exams Like?Making up 70% of your overall grade, exams are critical. You have four exams that are weighed equally. They’re mainly multiple choice (a, b, c, d), but will also have a few longer problems, and possibly some short answer.The final exam will be cumulative with an emphasis on the last series of chapters. This isn’t the SAT’s - I don’t deduct points for wrong answers, so make sure you put something down for everything.Make sure you bring a pencil or pen, as well as a calculator!

Attendance is not mandatory except for exams. While attendance is otherwise not required, it is highly recommended as there is a strong correlation between doing well on the exams and regularly attending class.

Keep in mind that all information discussed in lecture is fair game for the exams. All material in the textbook is fair game for the exams regardless of whether or not it is discussed in lecture.

James Madison University has many computer labs, learn them and use them. Remember Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong, will!” Your computer is fallible and can easily turn on you. Therefore, know where the computer labs are located, because your computer is not reliable and you may need them sometime. Also, backup your files on a flash drive, CD, 3.5” Floppy, tape drive, or stone tablet (not recommended!).  Arrive on time! If you must be late, come in quietly! Don’t chat/text or disturb the class in any ways!

Syllabus

SyllabusSchedule of Classes and Tentative Topics This is a general guide. Topics may shift due to time and availability.Dates Content and Events14-Jan Introduction, Scientific Method, Ch. 116-Jan Ch. 1: Energy and Power and the Physics of Explosions21-Jan Ch. 2: Atoms and Heat23-Jan Ch. 3: Gravity, Force, and Space28-Jan Ch. 3: Gravity, Force, and Space30-Jan Review Chapters 1, 2, and 3 – Research Hypothesis Due4-Feb Exam #16-Feb Ch. 4: Nuclei and Radioactivity11-Feb Assessment Day (No Class)13-Feb Ch. 5: Chain Reactions, Nuclear Reactors, and Atomic Bombs18-Feb Ch. 5: Chain Reactions, Nuclear Reactors, and Atomic Bombs20-Feb Ch. 6: Electricity and Magnetism25-Feb Ch. 6: Electricity and Magnetism27-Feb Review Chapters 4, 5, and 64-Mar Exam #26-Mar Planetarium (Miller Hall – Dr. Virani)11-Mar Spring Break13-Mar Spring Break18-Mar Ch. 7: Waves including UFOs, Earthquakes, and Music20-Mar Ch. 8: Light – Preliminary Research Data Due25-Mar Ch. 9: Invisible Light 27-Mar Review Chapters 7, 8, 91-Apr Exam #33-Apr Ch. 10: Climate Change8-Apr Ch. 11: Quantum Physics10-Apr Ch. 11: Quantum Physics15-Apr Ch. 12: Relativity17-Apr Ch. 12: Relativity – Research Projects Due22-Apr Ch. 12: Relativity24-Apr Ch. 13: The Universe29-Apr Ch. 13: The Universe1-May Review Chapters 10, 11, 12, and 138-May Final Exam - Cumulative with an emphasis on Ch. 10, 11, 12, and 13 (8:00 am)

Scientific MethodAsk a question – Observe the world and question those observations. Do some background research – Investigate what could occur.

Construct a hypothesis – Determine a testable explanation for the question you pose.

Test your hypothesis – Construct an experiment that will test your hypothesis.

Analyze your data – Examine your results.

Report your Results – Write a report detailing the what, why, and how your experiment worked. Answer what you conclusions are and how they relate to your hypothesis. It is okay to be wrong!

x is multiplied by the factor m.The terms mx and b are added together.

bmxy Definitions:

x is multiplied by the factor 1/a or x is divided by the factor a. The terms x/a and c are added together.

caxy

Example:

Percentages:

Example: You put $10,000 in a CD for one year. The APY is 3.05%. How much interest does the bank pay you at the end of the year?

305,10$0305.1000,10$ The bank pays you $305 in interest.

The general rule is to multiply by

1001 n

where the (+) is used if the quantity is increasing and (–) is used if the quantity is decreasing.

Proportions:

BA

BA 1

A is proportional to B. The value of A is directly dependent on the value of B.

A is proportional to 1/B. The value of A is inversely dependent on the value of B.

Example: The area of a circle is .2rA

The area is proportional to the radius squared. 2rA

The proportionality constant is .

Scientific Notation & Significant Figures

This is a shorthand way of writing very large and/or very small numbers.

Example: The radius of the sun is 700,000 km.Write as 7.0105 km.

Example: The radius of a hydrogen atom is 0.0000000000529 m. This is more easily written as 5.2910-11 m.

When properly written this number will be between 1.0 and 10.0

Significant Figures• My height is 6’ 5.37694365833893” (right, I know

my height to the 14th decimal place)• The methodology of sig figs lets you report values

that are correct to the accuracy that you know• One set of rules applies to addition and

subtraction• Another set of rules applies to multiplication and

division

Significant Figures• Nonzero digits are always significant.• Final or ending zeros written to the right of the decimal

point are significant.• Zeros written to the right of the decimal point for the

purpose of spacing the decimal point are not significant.• Zero written to the left of the decimal may be significant,

but the could be insignificant space holders.• Zeros written between significant figures are significant.

Significant Figures

44.56005 s + 0.0698 s + 1130.2 s= 1147.82985 (Not correct!)= 1147.8 (Round to the proper decimal)

45.26 m/s x 2.41 s = 109.0766 m (Not correct!)= 109 m (The smallest number of sig figs!)

45.26 m/s x (2.41 s +1.1 s) = 158.863 m (Not correct!)= 160 m (Correct…sort of!) -> 1.6 x 102 m (correct!)

Scientific Notation• We will have some pretty crazy-looking

numbers at certain times in this course (e.g., the Earth’s mass is 5.98 x 1024 kg)

• Scientific notation has three advantages:• 598000000000000000000000 can be written

much more conveniently (see above)• 0.0000000000667 can be written much

more conveniently (as 6.67 x 10-11)• The number of significant figures can be

determined more easily

Beware the Metric Prefixes:yotta (Y): x 1024

zetta (Z): x 1021

exa (E): x 1018

peta (P): x 1015

tera (T): x 1012

giga (G): x 109

mega (M): x 106

kilo (k): x 103

centi (c): x 10-2

milli (m): x 10-3

micro (m): x 10-6

nano (n): x 10-9

pico (p): x 10-12

femto (f): x 10-15

atto (a): x 10-18

zepto (z): x 10-21

yocto (y): x 10-24

Importance of Units

Dimensions are basic types of quantities that can be measured or computed. Examples are length, time, mass, electric current, and temperature.A unit is a standard amount of a dimensional quantity. There is a need for a system of units. SI units will be used throughout this class. The quantities in this column

are based on an agreed upon standard.

Example: The SI unit of energy is the joule.

1 joule = 1 kg m2/sec2

Derived unit Base units

A derived unit is composed of combinations of base units.

Units can be freely converted from one to another. Examples:

12 inches = 1 foot1 inch = 2.54 cm

ApproximationsApproximations are sometimes need in everyday life.

It depends on how accurate you need to know something.

Bowling Ball vs Beach Ball

Problem Solving Techniques

•Read the problem thoroughly.•Draw a picture.•Label the picture with the given information.•What is unknown?•What physical principles apply?•Are their multiple steps needed?•Work symbolically! It is easier to catch mistakes.•Calculate the end result. Don’t forget units!•Check your answer for reasonableness.

Example ProblemsAn asteroid is moving at approximately 25 km/s. Express in m/s and mile/hr. How many m in km?

1000 m = 1 km

Therefore, 25 km/s *(1000m/1km) =

25000 m/s or 2.5 x 104 m/sHow many miles in km?

0.621371 miles = 1 km

How many seconds in hour?3600 s = 1 hr

Therefore,

25 km/s * (0.62371 miles/ 1 km) * (3600 s/1hr) = 56133 mph = 5.6 x 104 mph