...Preparing for College Physics David Murdock TTU October 11, 2000 2 Preface! To the Instructors: This booklet is free. You may download, copy and distribute it as you wish. . . if you find it to be of any value. It can be gotten from the URL: http://iweb.tntech.edu/murdock/books/PreSci.pdf so you will need the (equally free) Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it and print it. This piece of software is on many institutional computer systems, and if you don’t have it on your machine, go get it at http://w1000.mv.us.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html The pages are in a format which looks best when printed double-sided. I’m giving it away to anyone in the same situation as me: You have many students in your introductory science courses who don’t have adequate preparation in basic mathematics, and you want to give them something simple and friendly to read. Preferably something that gets right to the point and which costs no more than the paper it’s printed on. I didn’t know where I could get a document like this, so I wrote one. You’ll notice that “significant figures” have not been rigidly observed in the numerical examples. That’s because this book is directed at students who need help in getting any correct numbers to round off. If you find this booklet to be useful or else worth exactly what it costs and/or have any suggestions, please write to me at murdock@tntech.edu To the Students: Your college science courses may very well require you to do some mathematics (algebra...
Words: 12710 - Pages: 51
...3. What is genetics? How is it a unifying theme in biology? Genetics is the scientific study of heredity. 4. What is plate tectonics? How is it a unifying theme in earth science? Plate tectonics is the theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. 5. What is the Big Bang theory? How is it a unifying theme in astronomy? The theory that the universe originated 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small mass of matter at extremely high density and temperature 6. How are the following branches of science integrated, connected, and related? • Chemistry and biology- any living thing has a chemical makeup, so the study of any living thing involves studying its chemistry. • Physics and chemistry- one explains why an object has certain properties and the other explains how the objects move and use those properties. One is the world at a distance and the other is the world up close. You cannot have one without the other • Physics and astronomy- physics grew from the study of our natural world in astronomy. These two re-unite to uncover origins of the universe and its evolution. • Earth science and physics- geology looks to physics to model the earths currents and magnetic field. • Earth science and chemistry- earth science depends on chemistry to determine what the earth is made...
Words: 302 - Pages: 2
...Conforming our beliefs to the evidence of reality is a hard transition for most. Unraveling the deep truths about our origins in this universe is confronting the very foundations of our society’s historic religious establishments. Could modern science bring us closer to a true pantheistic god of beauty, or destroy all notions of a sense of purpose (Krauss, 2012)? Regardless of your faith, the laws of physics are proving every day that something can come from nothing. A god of the gaps is probably the most common, as well as most elementary, argument for debating science vs. religion. This idea is simply employing a divine meaning to things that science has no answer to. It is often a question of why, and assumes purpose to everything. One thing that science cannot refute is a purpose to our world. It is scientifically inert, that is to say that there is no plausible way to test its predictions. The scientific method is just field testing the observable world we see around us. We are all naturally inquisitive; we thrive to find our “purpose” in the world. But this, I believe, is simply a limit to our senses. When there are questions that science cannot answer, such as why we came to be, skeptics often say that it is outside the bounds of our universe. This, to me, is just a lazy answer. The god of the gaps is a “fill in the blank” answer to everything that has been so far, untestable. This does not mean that anybody has the right to invoke a spiritual...
Words: 1937 - Pages: 8
...Is Science the only sure path to Truth? Physics is “the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. The subject matter of physics includes mechanics, heat, light and other radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of atoms” (Oxford Dictionaries). Till the first half of the eighteenth century, physics was a branch of natural philosophy. It “became widely used in its modern sense (i.e., excluding the life sciences, geology, and chemistry) during the second half of the eighteenth century” (Olson, 2002, p. 301). Olson (2002) explains how physics is divided into two main categories. He states that topics treated before the middle of the last decade of the nineteenth century are said to be parts of classical physics. On the other hand a group of topics that emerged after about 1895 is said to make up modern physics. Since physics is a broad area, in this essay, I specifically focus on one topic from modern physics, namely quantum physics. I will evaluate whether quantum physics can lead us to ‘Truth’. In this paper, ‘Truth’ refers to quantum events. First, I will portray how quantum events are filled with uncertainties; I will then list three answers given by physicists to explain why uncertainties are present. I will then move on to show how quantum physics offers conceptual parallels to ideas in religion. I will mainly discuss the role of holism character in quantum systems. Finally I will evaluate whether god is the reason...
Words: 2244 - Pages: 9
...Research Paper Part I: Physics strives to identify fundamental principles governing the build and deportment of matter, the engenderment and movement of energy, and the interaction of matter and energy. Some physicists use those principles in theoretical areas, such as the nature of time and the beginnings of our universe, while some work in practical areas such as the development of advanced materials, optical and electrical devices, and medical equipment (BLS, para. 2). I chose physics for my career research paper because I have an intellectual curiosity for the world, the universe, and everything in between. I want to understand how matter moves through spacetime, and how the universe behaves. Understanding physics also means understanding many other scientific areas of study, thus providing an intimate knowledge for reality as we know it. Many physicists work in laboratories, where they design and perform experiments with sophisticated equipment. Some of that equipment includes lasers, particle accelerators, electron microscopes, and mass spectrometers. Although much research may be conducted through experiments in the lab, physicists still spend much time in offices planning, recording, analyzing, and reporting on research. Many who are deeply involved in research way also work very long or irregular hours. For basic research positions, independent research in industry, faculty positions, and advancement to managerial positions, a Ph.D in physics or related field is...
Words: 954 - Pages: 4
...Physics is all around us. It is what causes the lights to buzz with electricity, the car on the streets to go from point A to point B, and our televisions to run so we can watch our favorite shows. According to Webster dictionary, physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. In all physics consists of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, velocity, acceleration, mass, force, and gravity. Without physics many things would not be possible. In fact, when a person is driving their car they are suing momentum (the quantity of motion of a moving object) and acceleration. Over time our general understanding of physics has helped us develop greater technology than society thought possible. For example, many years ago society believed that flight was impossible until two brothers, the Wright brothers, invented the aircraft. Now of course that was with many trial and errors. According to Bernoulli principle an increase of a flow results in a decrease of pressure. When air hits the leading edge the airflow above the wing travels faster than the flow below the wing. So therefore, the pressure below the wing will be higher than the air pressure above the wing. Because of this difference in pressure, lift is created, and pushes the wings upward. Be that as it may, this is not the only physics principle at work One must also apply Newton’s 1st (every body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced...
Words: 295 - Pages: 2
...formula that is known by almost everyone. This famous formula, of course, belongs to the most famous scientist Albert Einstein. I am pretty sure many of you, if not all, has heard of this formula at one point of your lives. Because I have a passion for both science and physics, I have been studying Einstein’s theories and his life for the last couple of years. Today, I am going to talk about early years of Einstein’s life and some of his discoveries which changed the way we look at the world. Body: 1) Einstein was born in Germany and his passion for science started at a young age. A. Einstein was born in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg in the German Empire on March 14th 1879. B. In Einstein’s early ages, his father showed him a pocket compass; Einstein realized that there must be something causing the needle to move. This event sparked the passion inside Einstein for science and later on he began to build mechanical devices for fun. C. Unlike a general thought, he never struggled to pass the exams or talk. It was just his family who thought he had a learning disability. D. Even though being remarkably good at physics and mathematics, he was not as successful in other subjects such as foreign language and social sciences. This is due to fact that he always had a passion to follow what he liked, not for what school wanted to teach him. He kept criticizing the disciplinary system of the schools and said that school were destroying the passion inside students. According to book...
Words: 1198 - Pages: 5
... GE 253 Physics Albert Einstein’s Contribution to Quantum Mechanics Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds in world history. Einstein is known as a brilliant physicist who contributed more to the scientific world than any other person. His theories on relativity paved the way for how science currently views time, space, energy, and gravity. Einstein was so advanced in his thinking that his studies and work set the standards for the control of scientific energy and space explorations currently being studied in the field of astrophysics. Albert Einstein's most noted contribution to the world is his theory of relativity. By 1902, Einstein was working on combining time and space, matter and energy. In 1905 when he was only 26 years old, he published a paper on relativity. This paper showed mathematically that the speed of light is constant and not relative to its source or to the viewer. Einstein had actually written an essay when he was only 16 years old on relativity, which became the basis for his published paper. The greatest result of relativistic physics was Einstein's famous relation, E=mc2. In this, he was able to prove that any increase in the energy, E, of a body must lead to a corresponding increase in its mass, m, these increases being related by a factor c2 , where c represents the velocity of light squared. In conclusion, Albert Einstein ranks as one of the greatest people for his contributions towards physics and his part...
Words: 315 - Pages: 2
...Final Paper Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were both very influential figures concerning science. They both discovered ground breaking things in the physics world. Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity. This is one of the biggest parts of physics alongside with quantum mechanics. Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician who are commonly referred to as one of the most influential scientists of all time as well as a key figure in the scientific revolution. Newton formulated the laws of motion and the universal gravitation that dominated scientists’ view of the physical universe for over the next three centuries. He also has demonstrated that the motion of objects on the Earth and that the celestial bodies could be described by the same principles. When he was deriving Kepler’s laws of planetary motion from his mathematical description of gravity, Newton removed any of the people’s last doubts about the validity of the model of the cosmos that was heliocentric. Near the start of Albert Einstein’s career he was beginning to think that Newtonian mechanics was no longer enough to reconcile the laws of classical mechanics with the laws of the electromagnetic field. While he was doing this it led him to his special theory of relativity. Thus he realized that the principle of relativity could also be extended to the gravitational fields, and this sparked his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916...
Words: 1068 - Pages: 5
...German-born American theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein, often regarded as the father of modern physics, had exceptional intellectual ability and unprecedented insight. Many believed him to be one of the most influential people in both science and mathematics, and quite possibly the most famous scientist of the 20th century (Severance, 1999). As cited by Fingon and Fingon, Einstein was well known for being a brilliant physicist and abstract thinker, applying his creativity and imagination in his scientific thought process (Parker, 2003). He received the 1921 Nobel Prize for his contribution to the study of physics, namely his special (1905) and general (1916) theories of relativity. The name “Einstein” is often thought of as being synonymous with the word genius. Einstein was not always thought of as a genius, however. His unique intellectual abilities as a young boy created challenges for him in his everyday home and school life, but his sense of wonder paired with persistence and determination led him to be the successful prodigy people know him as today. Abraham Maslow’s humanistic approach of self-actualization provides significant explanation for Einstein’s behaviors and achievements throughout his life. Heredity and environment played vital roles in Einstein’s psychological development. Einstein’s parents and teachers observed his early childhood developmental delays and had doubts regarding his intelligence. His parents worried about his intellectual development...
Words: 1251 - Pages: 6
... Pages 1-60 A Briefer History of Time is a book aimed at explaining our universe It was written by Steven Hawking, and as the title suggests is a 'briefer' version of the original book. Steven hawking is incredibly famous for his contributions to the world of physics, this was all achieved while constantly battling a motor neurone disease. His first book a brief history of time was incredibly successful but many people found it to be too complex and some key concepts were hard to understand, Thus this version was released. Its aim is to make the difficult scientific theory's more accessible to the general public. The book is an attempt to explain everything we know, or think we know about the universe and cosmology. The first few chapters of the book are aimed at explaining the basics of physics and how it has progressed over time, It goes on to talk about Newton's laws and explain what a scientific theory is. This is a great move by the authors because it helps to explain the complex material by first going through the foundations of physics, this in turn makes the book far more accessible to the public . This is perfect as the book is aimed at ordinary people with an interest in science. The language used in the book is fairly technical but has been simplified to make the book easier to understand, this has been done well because they haven't made it patronising. The style of explanation really opens up the theory's to everyone, for example they have used cleaver...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...Chemist and physicist Ernest Rutherford was born August 30, 1871. Ernest, a pioneer of nuclear physics and the first to split the atom was awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his theory of atomic structure. He was named “Father of the Nuclear Age.” Ernest Rutherford was very intelligent and responsible for remarkable discoveries. Ernest Rutherford was born on August 30,1871 at Spring Grove in rural Nelson. He was the fourth of twelve children in his family; James and Martha were his parents. Martha believed that knowledge was power, and placed a strong emphasis on her children’s education. He grew up helping on the farm after school. Ernest’s parents and teachers had a major impact on his life. Mr. Ladley, one of Ernest’s teachers,...
Words: 392 - Pages: 2
...Astronomy is a natural science that is the study of celestial objects (such as moons, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies), thephysics, chemistry, mathematics, and evolution of such objects, and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth, including supernovae explosions, gamma ray bursts, and cosmic background radiation. A related but distinct subject, cosmology, is concerned with studying the universe as a whole.[1]Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. Prehistoric cultures left behind astronomical artifacts such as the Egyptian monuments andNubian monuments, and early civilizations such as the Babylonians, Greeks, Chinese, Indians, Iranians and Maya performed methodical observations of the night sky. However, the invention of the telescope was required before astronomy was able to develop into a modern science. Historically, astronomy has included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, and the making of calendars, but professional astronomy is nowadays often considered to be synonymous with astrophysics.[2]During the 20th century, the field of professional astronomy split into observational and theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of astronomical objects, which is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. The two fields...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...Honor means to regard with great respect. Honor to me, means being true to a set of personal ideals, or being a man of integrity. Stephen Hawking was a famous scientist who was honored throughout the world. He had many accomplishments that he was honored for. For example, he won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Wolf Prize in Physics, the Copley Medal, the Albert Einstein Medal, and so many more. He was honored for the work he had accomplished in the science world. Some of the work that Stephen Hawking has done to be recognized by the scientific community was developing a mathematical proof for black holes, proving Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and redefining the Big Bang theory. He even wrote different books, ranging from...
Words: 405 - Pages: 2
...This participant-oriented evaluation aims to discover and understand the lived grading practices of mathematics faculty teaching first-quarter calculus by placing the evaluator in the role of learner and the stakeholders in the role of participants helping the evaluator understand their lived experiences, realities, and views in its natural environment. Previous studies on the grading practices of tenured and tenured-track physics education faculties conducted by Henderson et. al (2004) and later extended to include chemistry education and earth sciences education faculties by Petcovic et. al (2012) found significant discrepancies between instructors’ stated values and actual grading practices on QFR student solutions in these courses. Both studies used inputs from faculty who had taught calculus-based introductory physics or chemistry within the last five years of their study. For this evaluation, the participants are primary stakeholders of varying ranks at state- and private universities and community colleges who have instructed first-quarter calculus within the last five years. The participant-oriented evaluation model assumes that if those persons instrumental in creating program objectives and modifications seek feedback on program quality and performance, they will use those outcomes to ensure the program’s success through better work and addressing important issues. Naturalist evaluation, put forth by Guba and Lincoln’s (1985, cite in Fitzpatrick et. al, 2011), focuses...
Words: 272 - Pages: 2
