Honors 227-001

Fall 2005

Scientific Thought and Processes

with Taylor and Geller

 

Syllabus

 

This course explores and integrates the principles of physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, biology and environmental sciences.  The intent is to present many of the dominant theories and laws that underlie how the natural world operates, with a focus on the scientific methodology used for the discovery process.  Subsequently, we explore how the theories and laws have relevance in every day life.  The labs for the course include computer simulations and hands-on experiments to demonstrate cardinal features of natural systems, including the (i) scientific methods, (ii) concepts of physics and astronomy, (iii) concepts of chemistry and geology, and (iv) concepts of biology.

 

Instructors:     Professor George Taylor

School of Computational Sciences

Office: Science & Technology I, Room 103

Phone: 703-993-4039

Email:   gtaylor@gmu.edu

Office hours by appointment

 

Professor Harold Geller

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Office:  Science & Technology I, Room 363A

Phone:  703-993-1276

Email:   hgeller@gmu.edu

Office hours by appointment

 

Lectures:         Tuesday & Thursday @ 10:30-11:45 AM in S&T II, Room 7

 

Laboratories:              Section 201 - Monday 1:30 - 4:15 PM, Robinson A410

                                                Ms. Sara Clark sarabclark@aol.com

                                    Section 202 - Tuesday 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Robinson A410

                                                Ms. Sara Clark sarabclark@aol.com

                                    Section 203 - Wednesday 8:30 - 11:45 AM, Robinson A410

                                                Ms. Sara Clark kgarnet@gmu.edu

                                    Section 204 - Wednesday 1:30 - 4:15 PM, Robinson A410

                                                Ms. Sara Clark sarabclark@aol.com

 

Instructors’ Web Site:           http://physics.gmu.edu/~hgeller/HONORS227/

                                                (website for lecture notes, labs, etc.) (Check above site often for any changes)    

 

Honors’ Web Site:                 http://www.honors.gmu/hnrs227/f2004/index.html

                                                (website for syllabus and general information only)        

 

Textbook:       Tillery B.W., E.D. Enger and F.R.Ross.  2003.  Integrated Science.  2nd Edition, McGraw Hill, Boston, MA. 650 pp.

 

Grading Policy

 

There will be four in-class examinations and one comprehensive final examination.  The in-class examinations will be worth a total of 40% (10% each) of your final grade.  The final examination will be worth 25% of your final grad and will be comprehensive in nature.  The laboratory reports will be due weekly and graded by your lab instructor.  The in-class quizzes/exercises will be given weekly and will be short answers or multiple choice; the quizzes/exercises will count 10% of your grade.  The lowest quiz/exercise grade will be dropped in determining your cumulative quiz/exercise grade.

 

Quizzes/exercises can NOT be done except at the class period in which they are given.

 

            Number                        Activity                           Per Cent Grade

                4                  In-Class Examinations                           40%

                1                  Comprehensive Final Exam                               25%

               10                 Laboratory Reports                                          25%

                7                  In-Class Quizzes/Exercises                               10%

 

Honor Code

 

Students are expected to follow the George Mason University rule of student conduct, as note in the catalog:

 

“George Mason University shares in the tradition of an honor system that has existed in Virginia since 1842.  The Honor Code is an integral part of university life.  On the application for admission, students sign a statement agreeing to conform to and uphold the Honor Code.  Therefore students are responsible for understanding the provisions of the code.  In the spirit of the code, a student’s word, is a declaration of good faith acceptable as truth in all academic matters.  Therefore, cheating and attempted cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing of academic work and related materials constitute Honor Code violations.  To maintain an academic community according to these standards, students and faculty must report all alleged violations of the Honor Code to the Honor Committee.  Any student who has knowledge of, but does not report, an Honor Code violation may be accused of lying under the Honor Code”.

 

In evaluating your performance in this course, the instructors operate under the assumption that the work you submit is yours and yours alone.

 

Course Format – Lectures

 

Lectures will consist of various forms of presentation materials, including videos, computer displays, demonstrations and Power Point.  Questions are acceptable and encouraged at any time during the lecture.  Students should be alert during the lecture and prepared to answer queries posed as they arise.  The lecture notes, in Power Point format, will be posted on the web site for the course.  Students are expected to have command of the lecture material and the text information.

 

Course Format – Text

 

The text covers the breadth of the natural sciences and provides a systematic and well-illustrated survey.  In addition, it does an excellent job of integrating the sciences and provides a host of examples to help you understand the information and its application to life.  Finally, at the end of each chapter is a well developed list of questions (short answer and discussion) that are an excellent study aid for the quizzes and examinations.  You are encouraged to view the text as a parallel reference to the lectures, and each (lecture and text) are viewed as being equally of value as a reference.

 

Course Format – Laboratory Sessions

 

Labs are a collaborative effort of 2-4 students working as a team.  Each student will hand in her/his own laboratory report for each week’s exercise.  The labs will consist of computer simulations and hands-on experiments.  Laboratory reports will be turned in at the close of that week’s lab unless your lab instructor has requested a different submission date.  Of the 10 lab exercises, the grade for the lowest laboratory will be dropped.  Information from the labs will be part of the weekly quizzes, in-class examinations, and the final examination.

 

Laboratories are NOT an optional part of the course.  Because of the effort involved in setting up each lab, it is impossible to provide opportunities for make-up labs.  Labs begin at the stated time and being late is disruptive and not acceptable.  In the event that you are unable to attend laboratory for a legitimate reason (to be determined by Professor Taylor), you need to notify Professor Taylor in writing.  In the event of an absence (legitimate or otherwise), you are still responsible for the information.

 

An absence form any lab carries an automatic zero for that lab unless you have cleared the absence with Professor Taylor.

 

Course Format – In-Class Quizzes

 

On most weeks during the semester, short quizzes/exercises will be given, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and problems to solve.  The quizzes will last no more than 10 minutes.  The lowest quiz grade for the semester will be dropped from the grading scheme.  Absences from quizzes cannot be made up.

 

Course Format – Examinations

 

The four examinations will include short answer (multiple choice, fill in the blank) and problem solving questions.  These exams will last ~ 60 minutes, and we will continue with lecture for that day.  As a study guide, you should work through the questions at the end of each chapter.  Examinations can NOT be made up unless Professor Taylor provides a variance; variances are only granted for legitimate excuses.  Any make-up exam will not be the same as that given in class.

 

Entry Level Competencies

 

The course is mostly conceptually-based, using some high school level algebra and geometry.  The only prerequisite is acceptance into the Honors Program.

 

Course Objectives

 

  • Describe the scientific method and philosophy of science
  • Explain how Newton’s Laws of motion and gravity predict the behavior of objects on earth and in space
  • Describe physical laws that govern the interaction of matter, energy, time, and space in the cosmos
  • Comprehend the different forms of energy and their interchangeability
  • Appreciate the magnitude of the scientific problem of the search for extraterrestrial life in the Universe
  • Explore biochemical and molecular properties of living systems
  • Explore the intricacies of the living cell
  • Understand the theory of evolution of life on earth
  • Comprehend the chemistry of matter
  • Understand the geology of the earth and other earth-like planets
  • Comprehend the electromagnetic spectrum and the nature of light
  • Appreciate how cells operate  at the molecular and genomic level and how genetic engineering is a viable tool for addressing diseases
  • Understand the genetics of inheritance and why you exhibit the attributes (physical and physiological) that you do

 

Major Topics to be Addressed

 

  • Scientific method
  • Origins of the universe
  • Origins of our solar system and planets
  • Physics of light, gravity, matter, magnetism, radioactivity, nuclear energy, and relativity
  • Geology of volcanism, plate tectonics, and erosion
  • Birth and death of stars and galaxies
  • Big Bang theory of universal creation, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes
  • Origin of life on Earth
  • Biochemical and molecular attributes of all living systems
  • Evolution of life on Earth and the interplay of genetics and ecology
  • Principles of genetics, role in evolution, and the nanoscale aspects of molecular biology
  • Biotechnology, genetic engineering and your future
  • Revolutions in the sciences: how they evolve

 

Fall 2005 Schedule (subject to change)

 

Syllabus Honors 227 Fall 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week No.

Dates

Topics

Chapters

Lab

Lecturer

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

30-Aug

Course Introduction

 

NO LAB

Taylor &

 

 

World Around You

1

 

Geller

 

 

Physics:  Motion

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

06-Sep

Physics: Motion

2

Newton and Motion

Geller

 

 

Physics: Energy

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

13-Sep

Physics: Heat, Temperature and Waves

4 & 5

Heat

Geller

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

20-Sep

Physics: Electricity and Light

6 & 7

Electricity

Geller

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

27-Sep

Exam No. 1

 

 

 

 

 

Chemistry: Atoms & Elements

8

NO LAB

Taylor

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

04-Oct

Chemistry: Reactions

9

Spectral Lines

Taylor

 

 

Chemistry: Compounds & Solutions

10

 

Taylor

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

11-Oct

No Class (Tuesday)

 

 

 

 

 

Chemistry: Nuclear Reactions

11

Evaporation

Taylor

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

18-Oct

Exam No. 2

 

NO LAB

 

 

 

Astronomy: The Universe

12

 

Geller

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

25-Oct

Astronomy: Universe and Solar System

13

Origin & Evolution

Of Stars

Geller

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

01-Nov

Geology and Geochemistry: The Earth

14 & 15

Spectral Signatures

Geller

 

 

 

16 & 17