PHYS 001: The Science of Physics

 

Sample Syllabus

Sample Lesson

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Course Schedule

Lesson 01: Getting Started

Readings:

• Read materials in Lesson 01: Getting Started folder.
• Read materials in Exam Information folder.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 01 Assignment.

Lesson 02: Scientific Language

Readings:

• Read Lesson 02 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 1, pp. 2-18, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 02 Assignment.

Lesson 03: Measurement and the Structure of Matter

Readings:

• Read Lesson 03 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 11, pp. 210-224, and Chapter 33, pp. 634-657, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 03 Assignment.

Lesson 04: Chemistry

Readings:

• Read Lesson 04 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 11, pp. 210-224, in your textbook. (This is the same reading assignment as in Lesson 03 but you should read it again from another perspective as indicated in this lesson.)

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 04 Assignment.

Lesson 05: Exam #1

Assignments:

• Complete Exam #1.

Lesson 06: Waves and Vibrations

Readings:

• Read Lesson 06 Commentary.
  Read Chapter 20, pp. 380-387, and Chapter 26, pp. 496-499, in your textbok.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 06 Assignment.

Lesson 07: Waves and Nature

Readings:

• Read Lesson 07 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 19, pp. 362-373, Chapter 20, pp. 383-397, and Chaper 21, pp. 399-408, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 07 Assignment.

Lesson 08: Practice Quiz on Waves

Assignments:

• There is no reading assignment for this lesson.
• Complete Practice Quiz #1 (non-graded).
• Schedule for Exam #2.

Lesson 09: The Interaction of Light with Atoms and Molecules

Readings:

• Read Lesson 09 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 26, pp. 496-502, Chapter 27, pp. 515-526, and Chapter 30, pp. 582-596, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 09 Assignment.

Lesson 10: Practice Quiz #2

Assignments:

• There is no reading assignment for this lesson.
• Complete Practice Quiz #2 (non-graded).

Lesson 11: Exam #2

Assignments:

• Complete Exam #2

Lesson 12: Quantum Mechanics

Readings:

• Read Lesson 12 Commentary.
  Read Chapter 31, pp. 600-615, and Chapter 32, pp. 620-631, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 12 Assignment.
• Schedule for Exam #3.

Lesson 13: Relativity

Readings:

• Read Lesson 13 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 35, pp. 686-715, and Chapter 36, pp. 720-731, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 13 Assignment.

Lesson 14: The Universe

Readings:

• Read Lesson 14 Commentary.
• Read Chapter 9, pp. 161-179, and Chapter 34, pp. 661-681, in your textbook.

Assignments:

• Complete and submit Lesson 14 Assignment.

Lesson 15: Exam #3

Assignments:

• Complete Exam #3.

Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.

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Grading

There are three examinations in this course. You are allowed to bring in scrap paper, blank, lined paper, and pens/pencils. The first exam covers Lessons 2 through 4; the second concentrates primarily on material presented in Lessons 7 through 10, although some concepts introduced in previous lessons cannot be excluded altogether; similarly, the third examination concentrates on material from Lessons 12 through 14, but again previously introduced concepts can appear. The examinations will be multiple-choice and 90 minutes in length. The final grades for the course comprise:

Lesson assignments	25%
Examination 1	25%
Examination 2	25%
Examination 3	25%

Letter grades are assigned based on the following:

A	93-100
A-	90-92
B+	87-89
B	80-86
B-	77-79
C+	74-76
C	68-73
D	60-67
F	0-59

Please refer to the University Registrar's information about University grading policies.

If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.

For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.

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Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity (for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy GCAC-805 Academic Integrity (for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.� Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity or GCAC-805 Academic Integrity as appropriate). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.

In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedures allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the aforementioned policies.

All academic integrity violations are referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.

Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page.

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University Policies

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Students with disabilities participating in internship, practicum, student teaching, or other experiential learning opportunities as part of their degree requirements may also be eligible for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity. These accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, their University supervisor, and the site supervisor. Student Disability Resources can assist students with identifying potential barriers, facilitating accommodation requests, and coordinating with University supervisors to promote inclusive learning experiences.

For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.

In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.

1. Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor.  As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
2. Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
3. Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
4. Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
   1. Instructors may require students to provide documentation with the class absence form or other written notification for events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
   2. Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
5. Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
6. Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
7. For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
   1. Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
   2. Penn State Values.

The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.

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