Physics 100 Fall 2009
General Information
Kevin Crosby
DSC 204 x5855
kcrosby@carthage.edu
http://personal.carthage.edu/kcrosby
Office Hours: MTWF 11:00
Course Prerequisites
Presidential Work Ethic
Textbooks and other supplies
Required Texts:
- Physics for Future Presidents, Muller, McGraw Hill.
Course Objectives
This course is intended to give pre-service teachers and other future leaders a solid foundation in the physics that underlies the challenges we face in the natural and geopolitical world. We will confront global climate change, energy production and consumption, nuclear arms, and a variety of other topics through the lens of physics. Success in this course will be measured by the extent to which you can:
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identify the physical principles underlying modern technologies and global scientific challenges
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be able to construct reasoned arguments with evidence, quantitative reasoning, and physical inference regarding complex technological and scientific issues
Course Organization
In addition to weekly discussions on the assigned reading materials and exams, there will be three curricular elements important to the course.
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Team-based problem solving and scenario investigation. You will be confront a modern presidential challenge and work in teams to identify the physics that informs the debate.
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End-of-chapter homework assignments - some completed during class in teams of two (for select chapters)
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Executive Summaries: You will write summaries of key topics in the format of a "presidential briefing" designed to give a world leader an understanding of the issue at hand, the nature of the scientific debate, and the consensus of the scientific community if it exists. More on this here.
Grading and Policies
- Scenario Investigations 30%
- Classroom Activities & Chapter Homework 20%
- Executive Summaries 20%
- Three Exams 30%
- In class participation and engagement 100%
Academic Honesty
Students are bound by the terms of the Carthage College Academic Honesty Contract in the Student Handbook. Any act of academic dishonesty is sufficient cause for failure of the course.
Course Calendar
Course Calendar is available here.
Necessary revisions will be distributed in class.
Cell Phone Policy
The cell phone policy (CPP) for the course is available here. It will be strictly enforced.