SCIENCE AND SOCIETY PROGRAM

College of Science

University of the Philippines

 

SYLLABUS FOR NATURAL SCIENCE I

 

Course Description: FOUNDATIONS OF NATURAL SCIENCE I

Course Objectives:

    1. Develop a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the physicochemical world on a micro, as well as macro level.

    2. Develop an appreciation for the natural world within the context of the basic concepts, principles and theories of physics and chemistry.

1. Introduction to the Natural Sciences

1.1 The Nature and Functions of Science (0.5-1.0 hr)

1.2 The Basic Ideas and Methods of Sciences

1.3 The Interconnections of Science and Technology

2. Ancient Views About Nature (1.5 hrs)

  1. Ancient Genesis Myths and Cosmological Beliefs

  2. Ancient Notions About Matter and Motion

  3. Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model and the Copernican Revolution

3. The Emergence of Physics (1.5 hrs)

  1. The Motion of the Planets: Kepler’s Laws

  2. Galileo’s Concepts of Motion: Velocity, acceleration,

Free Fall, Relativity

  1. Galileo and the New Scientific Method

  1. Newton’s Mechanical Synthesis (3.0 hrs.)

  1. Newton’s Three Laws of Motion: Mass and Force

  2. Newton’s Theory of Gravity: Action at a Distance

  3. Absolute Space and Absolute Time; Inertial and Non-

Inertial Reference Frames

  1. Physical Laws: Universality, Relativity, Invariance

  2. Momentum, Energy, and Conservation Laws

  3. Newton’s Clockwork Universe and the Rise of

Mechanistic Philosophy

5. The Unification of Electricity, Magnetism, & Light (3.0 hrs.)

  1. Electrical Phenomena: Coulomb’s Law

  2. Magnetic Phenomena: Experiments of Oersted and Ampere

  3. Electromagnetic Phenomena: Faraday’s Law of Induction

  4. The Field Concept and Maxwell’s Electromagnetic Synthesis

5.5 Electromagnetic Waves, Light, and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

5.6 Waves and their Properties; the Ether Concept

6. FIRST EXAMINATION (PHYSICS) (1.0 hr.)

7. Einstein’s Relativistic Revolution (3.0 hrs.)

  1. The Search for the Ether: the Michelson-Morley Experiment

  2. Postulates of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity

  3. Space, Time, Mass, and Energy According to Einstein

  4. Foundations of Einstein’s General Theory

  5. Four-Dimensional Space-Time: the Geometrization of Gravity

  6. Experimental Tests of General Relativity

8. The Quantum World of Uncertainties (4.5 hrs.)

  1. Blackbody Radiation and Planck’s Quantum Hypothesis

  2. Wave Particle Duality: Photons and de Broglie Waves

  3. The Rutherford Model of the Atom; Atomic Spectra

  4. Bohr’s Theory and Quantization of Angular Momentum

  5. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle; Bohr’s Complementary Principle

  1. Quantum Probabilities, Indeterminism and Randomness

  2. Schroedinger’s Contributions

  3. Concepts of Spin and Anti Matter: Dirac’s Electron Theory

  4. Concepts of Fermions and Bosons

9. SECOND EXAMINATION (PHYSICS) (1.0 hr.)

10. Probing and the Subatomic World (4.5 hrs.)

  1. Nuclei: Protons, Neutrons, Atomic Masses, Isotopes

  2. Nuclear Reactions: Radioactivity, Fission, Fusion

  3. Particle Accelerators: Probe to Subatomic World

10.4 Quantum Fields, Virtual Quanta, and the Vacuum

    1. The Strong Force and the Family of Hadrons

    2. The Weak Force and the Family of Leptons

    3. Quarks: their Flavors and Colors

    4. Gluons and the Four Fundamental Forces of Nature

    5. The Search for a Unified Theory

11. The Origin and Evolution of the Universe (3.0 hrs.)

  1. The Cosmic Scenery: Planets, Stars, Galaxies, Quasars

  2. The Expanding Universe: Hubble’s Law

  3. Relativistic Cosmology: The Big Bang Theory

  4. The Birth and Death of Stars: White Dwarfs, Neutrons Stars, Black Holes

  1. The Synthesis of Matter

  1. The Ultimate Fate of the Universe: Continuous

Expansion or Eventual Contraction?

  1. THIRD EXAMINATION (PHYSICS) (1.0 hr.)

13. The Structure of Atoms (3.0 hrs.)

13.1 Atomic Orbitals and Quantum Numbers

13.2 Electronic Structure and Distribution

13.3 Electron Spin; Paramagnetism

14. The Elements of the Universe (1.5 hrs.)

  1. Mendeleev’s Arrangement of the Elements

  2. Build-up of Atoms and the Periodic Table

  3. Periodic Properties of Elements: Atomic and Ionic Sizes

  1. Ionization Energy and Electronegativity: Pauling and Mulliken

  1. Metallic and Non-Metallic Elements: Filled Shells ad the Rule of Eight

15. The Ties That Bind: Chemical Bond (3.0 hrs.)

  1. Formation of Molecules: G.N. Lewis Electron Dot Formula

  1. Electron Transfer and Electron Sharing

  2. Compounds: Polarity of Bonds, Geometry of Polar Molecules

  1. Carbon, Silicon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Hydrogen and their Molecules

  1. Hybrid Orbitals and Molecules of C, S, N, O, and H

  1. Physical and Chemical Properties of the Molecules of C, S, N, O, and H

  1. Occurrence of the Molecules of C, S, N, O and HHH

  1. Metals: their Bonding and Properties

16. FOURTH EXAMINATION (CHEMISTRY) (1.0 hr)

17. The Three States of Matter (3.0 hrs.)

17.1 Intermolecular Forces

17.2 Gases, Liquids, and Solids: Molecular Structures and Properties

17.3 Energies Involved in Phase Changes

17.4 The Kinetic Molecular Hypothesis: The Model

17.5 The Observed Behavior of Gases: Boyle and Charles

17.6 Mixtures, Solutions, and Colloids

17.7 Elemental Composition: Universe, Earth, Life

 

18. Making and Breaking Ties: Chemical Reactions (4.5 hrs.)

  1. Conservation of Electrons

  2. Conservation of Mass: Stoichiometry

  3. Spontaneous Reactions: Gibbs Free Energy

  4. Thermodynamic Laws: Enthalpy, Entropy

  5. Entropy in the Universe and in Life

  6. Rates of Chemical Reactions: Molecular Collisions

and Factors Affecting Collisions

19. Environmental Chemistry (1.5 hrs.)

  1. Catalysts and the environment

  2. Combustion: fuels, energy sources, and the environment

  1. Concept of Limitation (renewable vs. Nonrenewable resources)

  1. Pollution: soil, air, and water

20. Materials Science (1.5 hrs.)

  1. Conductors/semiconductors (doping)

  2. Liquid crystals

  3. Organic polymers (plastics, etc.)

  4. Lahar (pyroplastics, zeolties, etc.)

21. Chemistry of Life (3.0 hrs.)

  1. The beginnings of organic chemistry

  2. The building blocks of life

  3. Giant molecules

    1. Biochemistry

22. FIFTH EXAM (CHEMISTRY) (1.0 hr.)

 

 

READING MATERIALS

Part I

  1. The Value of Science

  2. Ancient Science

  3. The Harmony of the Worlds

  4. Science in the Age of Faith

  5. Galileo

  6. God Said, "Let Newton Be!"

  7. The Law of Gravitation, An Example of Physics Law

  8. The Story of Electromagnetism

  9. The Inertial Reference Frame

  10. Conservation of Energy

Part II

  1. Relativity

  2. Inventing General Relativity

  3. Relativistic Revolution

  4. The Law of Quantum

  5. The Road to Quantum Reality

  6. The Last Classical Physicist

  7. Probability and Uncertainty

  8. The Privilege of Being a Physicist

9. Uncertainty and Complementarity

Part III

  1. Classical and Modern Cosmology

  2. The Standard Model

  3. The Big Bang

  4. The Birth Life and Death of the Stars

  5. The Origin of the Universe

  6. The Origin of Our Galaxy

  7. Cosmology: Man’s Place in the Universe

  8. Atomic Nucleus

Part I, II, III readings may be purchased from the Office of the Science and Society Program, College of Science)

Part IV and V

CHEMISTRY Readings – ( Pav. I Rm. 1203)

Other Reference Materials:

  1. Introduction to College Physics and Chemistry, LRC, UP Diliman, 1999.

  2. Instant Physics from Aristotle to Einstein, and Beyond, by Tony Rothman, A Byron Preiss Book, 1995.

COURSE POLICIES FOR NATURAL SCIENCE I

 

  1. Minimum Passing Score

The minimum passing score for the course is 50%

  1. Students who stop attending classes without officially dropping the course will be given a grade of "5".

  1. Examinations

There will be five (5) long examinations and a final examination.

  1. Exemption from the Finals

A student who gets an average score of at least 50% will be exempted from the final examination.

  1. Failure to take the Examinations

A student who fails to take two (2) long examinations shall automatically incur the grade of "5" unless he drops the subject. No student may be exempted from the finals if he/she fails to take one (1) long examination. A student who fails to take the finals shall be given the grade of "5" unless his/her absence is strongly excusable and his/her average grade for the five (5) long examinations is passing. Excuse slips for missed exams should be presented not later than three days after the examination.

  1. Weights of the Examinations

All the long examinations and final examination have equal weights.

  1. Questions about the examinations will be entertained only within one week after graded

    2. examinations have been returned.

     

  2. Computation of Grades

  1. Physics Part is 55%; 90% of which may come from long examination and 10% from class performance (e.g. recitation, project, etc.) The professor may opt only for long examinations, in which case these examinations will constitute 100% of the physics grade.

  2. Chemistry Part is 45%; 100% of which comes from the long examinations.

 

 

  1. Grading Scale

 

 

Final Weighted Score Final Grade

90 - 100% 1.0

85 - 89% 1.25

80 - 84% 1.5

75 - 79% 1.75

70 - 74% 2.0

65 - 69% 2.25

60 - 64% 2.5

55 - 59% 2.75

50 - 54% 3.0

45 - 49% 4.0

44 - 0% 5.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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