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PSCI 1421: Physical Science I

PSCI 1421: Physical Science I. The Rules of the Universe Martha Casquete UTPA Lecturer. Einstein. Newton. Digression: Why are you here?!. “Because I was born.” “My parents made me come .” “ It’s just what you do after high school …” “My parents hate me…” “I want to get a job, man”

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PSCI 1421: Physical Science I

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  1. PSCI 1421: Physical Science I The Rules of the Universe Martha Casquete UTPA Lecturer Einstein Newton

  2. Digression: Why are you here?! • “Because I was born.” • “My parents made me come.” • “It’s just what you do after high school…” • “My parents hate me…” • “I want to get a job, man” • “I’m here to learn—to think—to build my brain.” • College is an opportunity: do your best to seize it! • What I wish for each of you to come out with: • Ability to think critically (not afraid to think indep.) • Skepticism about information given to you (agenda?) • Willingness to see complexity/multiple sides of issue

  3. About Me • BA and MS in Physics from the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) • Coordinator of Student Development for 8 years at UTB • Adjunct Faculty at UTB (for 6 years –until 2010) • High School Math Teacher at Donna School District (2010 - 2013) • Math Adjunct Faculty at Ashford University (Summer 2013 ) • Physics Lecturer at UTPA (Fall 2013)

  4. About Me I love traveling!! Grand Canyon -Spring 2013

  5. About Me • I love the outdoors: walking, bicycling and swimming. • Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

  6. Course Objectives Physical Science is the general study of natural laws and includes areas such as Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology and Physics

  7. Course Objectives, continued 1. Explore the approach that physics brings to bear on the world around us • Appreciate the influence physics has on us all • Begin to see physics in the world around you • Develop your natural intuition, stimulate curiosity • Think into the unknown (ooh that’s scary!) • Understand basic laws of physics • Newton’s laws of motion, gravitation (even relativity) • Concepts of mass, force, acceleration, energy, momentum, power, etc. • Work and energy • Temperature

  8. Course Objectives, continued • Map out the hierarchy of the Universe • The cosmos • Earth, Moon, Sun, Solar system • Stars, our Galaxy, other galaxies • Cosmological scales: clustering, accelerating Universe • The microcosmos • Molecules, compounds, atoms • Subatomic particles, fundamental forces

  9. Enhance your scientific literacy • know the difference between science and the supernatural • feel encouraged to read popular science articles/books

  10. Course Structure for PSCI 1421.01 • Full class meets 2 times per week in ACSB 1.106 • MW 2:35–3:50 PM • Lectures • PowerPoint presentations • Lecture materials will be made available on the web (write it down) • http://marthacasqueteutpa.weebly.com • Demonstrations (lots of these!) • Discussion • HW • Exams: 3 • Presentation • Final

  11. Course Structure for PSCI 1421.03 • Full class meets 2 times per week in HSHW 1.402 • MW 2:35–3:50 PM • Lectures • PowerPoint presentations • Lecture materials will be made available on the web (write it down) • http://marthacasqueteutpa.weebly.com • Demonstrations (lots of these!) • Discussions • HW • Exams: 3 • Presentation • Final

  12. Resources • Your Fellow Students! • Encouraged to work together on homework, exercises (but not on exams!) • Lecturer: Martha Casquete Office in SCNE building, Room 3.136, office hours T R 11:00–1:00 PM, or by appointment, 956.665.2171, casquetem@utpa.edu • Web: • marthacasqueteutpa.weebly.com • Text • An Introduction to Physical Science, 13th Edition, Shipman/Wilson/Higgins • used text to save you guys $$

  13. Expectations • Attend lectures and discussion section • Participate! • If it doesn’t make sense, ask! Everyone learns that way. • Don’t be bashful about answering questions posed. • In-class voting system should make this fun • Do the work: • It’s the only way this stuff will really sink in • exams become easier • Explore, think, ask, speculate, admire, enjoy! • Physics can be fun, enriching, beautiful

  14. Does it Pay to Come to Lecture? • No one who came more than 80% of time did very poorly • Few who came infrequently got more than a low B

  15. Grading

  16. Where can I find more info? Blackboard • http://marthacasqueteutpa.weebly.com

  17. Homework!! • You are expected to answer all the problems/questions. • Only one or two questions will be selected. • Questions and Observations -It will be part of HW.

  18. Class Participation and Attendance • All students are expected to prepare for and actively participate in class. I do not expect ‘perfect’ questions or answers. • Excellence means being prepared, involved, and taking responsibility for your own learning. • Mondays’ Questions /Observations

  19. What are these questions/observations? (Monday) • Science is as much about questions as answers. • Every Monday, you’ll submit a question or observation about the physical world around you . • Something you’ve always wondered about • Something you recently noticed • Something that class prompted you to think about • I will choose one submission & you will need to research the topic which will be part of the HW and discussed the following Monday. • Goal is to increase your awareness, observational skills • We’re immersed in physics: easy to ignore, but also easy to see! • You’ll begin to think more deeply before shoving problem aside • Allow your natural curiosity to come alive

  20. Questions/Observations, continued • How do you present your question? In one side of an index card (4 X 6 in) you will write Date Name Course and session And below you will write your question or observation From the questions that have been submitted we will choose one question to be investigated.

  21. Questions/Observations, continued • What kind of question/observation? • Questions • What makes velcro stick? • Why do my cheerios attract each other into little flotillas? • Where do trees get their mass? Out of dirt? Why aren’t there holes in the ground around trees if this is the case? • Why is the sky blue? Why not purple? • Observations • I’ve noticed small rainbow patches in the sky way off to the sides of the sun on hazy winter days. What are those? • I’ve heard that toilets flush the other way around in the southern hemisphere, but on my trip to New Zealand, they flushed the same way as they do here! What’s up with that?!

  22. Let’s try it!! In the piece of paper that the teacher gave you, write on the top left write the following information: Date Name Course and session Question/observation: I have heard that I could open a jar that is tightly closed by applying hot water. Why is that possible?

  23. Let’s discuss it!! • You will have 3 minutes to discuss this subject with one or two of your classmates near you. • I will place music and when the music stop, you will return to your seats. • Then, you will have two minutes to sit down and write down your ideas Now, STAND UP and find a partner.

  24. What can you tell me? • QUESTIONS?

  25. Clickers • We will use infrared transmitters in every lecture • As a check on understanding • To give practice on quiz-like questions • Instant feedback (for me and for you) • Surveys/opinion gathering • Class Participation!!! • You will need to go to the Physics and Geology Department (PSB 1.118) to pick up your clicker. • You’ll register your clickers through blackboard site • Through blackboard you will sign in and go to this class. In the left side there is a tab that reads: clicker registration . There you just need to enter the clicker’s number.

  26. How Much !? Math • This course will largely focus on qualitative, conceptual content • That does not mean the ideas are trivial! • We will be using • Simple graphs • Occasional basic algebra • Averages • Don’t let it psych you out when you see it…

  27. Can I text or use my cel. phone during class?

  28. What will happen?

  29. Any Questions on Course Structure?

  30. QUIZ # 1 Date: Name: Major: Course and Session: In the paper provided by the instructor you will answer three questions from the following: 1) Where is Instructor Casquete’s office located? 2) Where do you need to pick up the clickers? 3) When will be the final? 4) What will happen to you if you are found texting? 5) When do you need to submit the question/observation? 6) What percentage of your grade is the lab? 7) What percentage of your grade is participation?

  31. Mapping the Intellectual Frontier • One (but by no means the only) way to organize our ignorance is in terms of length scales • Our intuition and everyday experience spans only a very small range of this scale Really small “ordinary” Really big Subatomic you Observable Particles Universe

  32. HW • You will need to solve for a variable • Let’s see some examples

  33. 1) Solve r + 16 = -7 To solve, you must get the variable by itself. What number is on the same side as r? 16 To get r by itself, we must undo the “add 16”. What is the opposite of addition? Subtract 16

  34. 1) Solve r + 16 = -7 • Draw “the river” to separate the equation into 2 sides • Subtract 16 from both sides • Simplify vertically • Check your answer by substituting your answer back into the problem - 16 -16 r = -23 -23 + 16 = -7

  35. Answer Now 2) Solve x + 2 = -3Get the variable by itself. What is your first step? • Add 2 to both sides • Subtract 2 from both sides • Add 3 to both sides • Subtract 3 from both sides

  36. 2) Solve x + 2 = -3 - 2 - 2 x = -5 -5 + 2 = -3 • Draw “the river” to separate the equation into 2 sides • Subtract 2 from both sides • Simplify vertically • Check your answer by substituting your answer back into the problem On homework, be sure to check your work!! There is no reason why you should miss a problem!

  37. YOUR TURN Answer Now 3) Solve 8 = m - 3 • m = 5 • m = 11 • m = 24 • m = 8/3

  38. 3) Solve 8 = m - 3 + 3 + 3 11= m 8 = 11 - 3 • Draw “the river” to separate the equation into 2 sides • Add 3 to both sides • Simplify vertically • Check your answer by substituting your answer back into the problem

  39. 4) Solve. 3x + 2 = 4x - 1 You need to get the variables on one side of the equation. It does not matter which variable you move. Try to move the one that will keep your variable positive.

  40. 4) Solve 3x + 2 = 4x - 1 - 3x - 3x 2 = x - 1 + 1 + 1 3 = x 3(3) + 2 = 4(3) - 1 9 + 2 = 12 - 1 • Draw “the river” • Subtract 3x from both sides • Simplify • Add 1 to both sides • Simplify • Check your answer

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