PHS 120 - Exploring Physical Science
Course Department: Science
Last Date of Approval: Spring 2023
4 Credits
Total Lecture Hours: 45
Total Lab Hours: 30
Total Clinical Hours: 0
Total Work-Based Experience Hours: 0
Course Description:
This course is a hands-on, inquiry-based course for prospective elementary teachers and non-science majors. Emphasis is on the search for and use of evidence as to the basis for drawing conclusions. This course aims to provide a well-grounded understanding of selected fundamental physical science concepts within electricity, light, heat, and the nature of matter. Critical thinking skills learning in this course will help prepare students for their future careers. This course satisfies a general education requirement in the Math/Science area.
Prerequisites/Corequisites: None
Mode(s) of Instruction: traditional/face-to-face and/or online
Credit for Prior Learning: There are no Credit for Prior Learning opportunities for this course.
Course Fees: Online: 8-week online students will have a per credit hour e-book fee automatically charged to their account.
Common Course Assessment(s): None
Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:
- Become familiar with fundamental physical science concepts within the following areas: mechanics, heat, electricity & magnetism, sound & light, atomic, and nuclear physics.
- Observe and experience examples of these fundamental physical science concepts in the world around them.
- Draw logical conclusions based upon direct observation of physical phenomena.
- Articulate clearly for others an understanding of these fundamental physical science concepts.
- Gain awareness of contemporary advances in the understanding and uses of science and technology in the world.
Course Objectives:
1. Understand Physical Science Terminology, and the importance of Scientific integrity.
Task 1: Understand and distinguish between Scientifically Sound and False Research.
Task 2: Use and distinguish between the following terms: inertia, mass, weight, speed, velocity, acceleration, force.
Task 3: Be able to format a proper Experimental Lab Report.
2. Understand concepts of Motion.
Task 1: Understand and explain Newtons 3 laws.
Task 2: Explain conservation of momentum and it’s real world applications.
Task 3: Understand and differentiate the different Energy Terms including potential, kinetic work, conservation of, power.
3. Understand concepts associated with Gravitational motion.
4. Understand concepts of Fluid dynamics.
Task 1: Identify the relationship between pressure and speed of a fluid.
Task 2: Be able to explain Bernoulli’s Principle.
5. Understand the basic concepts of Electricity and Electromagnetic Induction.
Task 1: Explain the relationship between Coulomb’s Law and Electric Charge.
Task 2: Understand and explain the relationship between Voltage, Current, and Resistance within a circuit.
Task 3: Understand the relationship between electric fields and electric potential.
6. Understand the behavior and relationships of Light and Sound Waves.
Task 1: Identify: Wavelength, Frequency, Amplitude, and Pitch as well as the relationship between them.
Task 2: Explain the Doppler Effect.
7. Understand the behavior of light.
Task 1: Explain how polarization of light works with sunglasses.
Task 2: Identify the differences between reflection and refraction.
8. Understand basic concepts related to Nuclear Energy.
Task 1: Identify the following terms: Radiation, Radioactivity, Half-life, Fission, and Fusion.
Task 2: Be able to explain how Half-life of a radioactive particle works.
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