Matter and Motion

Coordinated Study FWS 2004-2005

Instructors Rob Knapp (Physics) and Laura Michelsen (Chemistry)

Full Time (16 quarter hours each quarter) Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics

Matter and Motion offers a full year of physics, chemistry and calculus, of the kind needed for more advanced study in the biological and physical sciences. It is for students with a keen desire to understand the theory and practice of these subjects.

Texts and gear

• Deborah Hughes-Hallett, et al. Calculus: single variable 3rd Active Learning Edition Wiley
• Moore, T. A. Six ideas that shaped physics 2^nd Edition WCB/McGraw-Hill (This is a modular text; we’ll use Units C and Q in Fall Quarter)
• Silberberg, M. S. Chemistry 3^rd Edition McGraw-Hill
• Graphing calculator (REQUIRED; TI-83 or equivalent)
• Seminar readings:
• Edward Tufte, Visual Explanations
• Oliver Sacks, Uncle Tungsten
• Peter Parnell, QED (a play)
• Berenice Abbott, selected photographs
• Michael Frayn, Copenhagen

Description

Matter and Motion lays a foundation for the real doing of science. This is more than just learning facts and techniques, though that is important. But even more important is to understand science as a conversation. Scientists propose questions, argue over whether they are the right questions, suggest possible answers, realize flaws in them, think up new ways of talking about what they study, misunderstand each other, try again—and so on. Science isn’t all tested, certain, and unchanging. It is a conversation, a worldwide, ongoing conversation.

Our job is to show you how this conversation goes in the physical sciences, and to get you started taking part in it. Program work will include standard introductory topics in a full year of calculus, chemistry and physics (see syllabus for Fall topics). You will do calculations, carry out laboratory experiments, and read about the history and applications of the key ideas. We will get you thinking about concepts and contexts, as well as mastering techniques. We will meet Tuesday through Friday (see weekly schedule) for activities including lectures, labs, workshops and seminar. Before the end of the year, you will do an independent project or research, which we will help set up.

Our seminar readings and discussion will serve two primary purposes. They will shed light on the context of science—the society that contains it and the individuals who conduct it. And they will investigate the processes of discovery and scientific belief. Seminar readings may include history, philosophy of science, literature and primary journal articles as well as other sources. Expect frequent short writing assignments.

While a formal exam is not required for entrance to the class, you must have a solid background in high-school algebra and some trigonometry. A summer routine of review and reawakening of these math skills is a good idea for most students. You must have at least sophomore standing and be prepared to work intensely for 40-45 hours per week. We expect you to attend all classes. Taking a portion of the class is strongly discouraged, and requires faculty permission.

Fall syllabus

In the following chart, notice that we will present an integrated treatment of chemistry and physics topics, and that there will be no new mathematics material after week 7.

Week	CHEMISTRY & Physics lecture, workshops and lab (weeks 1–7, 4.5 hours per week plus lab; weeks 8-9, 10 hours per week plus lab)	Calculus lecture and workshops (weeks 1–7, 6 hours per week)	SEMINAR
1	Matter and measurement	Functions	historical, biographical, and cultural readings and weekly discussion
2	Stoichiometry/moles	Functions
3	Momentum	Concept of derivatives
4	Energy	Concept of derivatives
5	Enthalpy	Concept of integrals
6	Thermochemistry	Shortcuts to differentiation
7	Interaction of light	Shortcuts to differentiation
8	Quanta and waves
9	Chemical bonding
10	Review and Closure

Expected quarter-hour equivalencies for Fall: calculus 4, university physics 5, university chemistry 5, humanities 2.

Tentative weekly schedule (NOTE: homework will require an average of 15-20 additional hours each week; please make specific arrangements in your weekly schedule for this.)

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9:45–11:45 Chemistry/Physics	9:00 am - 1:00 pm Lab	9:45–11:45 Calculus*	9:45–11:45 Seminar
2:00–4:00 pm Calculus* (optional phys/chem/calc help session 4:15–5:30)	1:00-2:00 pm Student Program Governance	2:00–4:00 pm Chemistry/Physics (optional phys/chem/calc help session 4:15–5:30)	2:00–4:00 pm Calculus*

* = (calculus weeks 1-7, then chemistry/physics)

Contact information

Rob Knapp Sem II D-3112 // 867-6149 knappr@evergreen.edu

Laura Michelsen Sem II D-3110 // 867-6410 michel@evergreen.edu