SCI 203: Physics of Modern Technology II

Overview

(SCI202 is a prerequisite) This course examines items of modern technology, including radios, microwaves and nuclear weapons, to understand their behavior based on the underlying principles of physics. You will learn how the world around us is predictable, once you develop quantitative problem-solving skills. Easily understood visual models assist in attaining a conceptual understanding of physics and its application to the real world.

Goals and Principles

The general goals of this course are to:

• Provide an interesting course that covers physics
• Enable you to see science in everyday life
• Show how modern technology and the world around us are predictable (rather than incomprehensible)
• Develop quantitative problem-solving skills.

The two guiding principles behind the design of the course are:

• Everyone understands concepts best by seeing them in action and thinking about them, rather than by hearing those concepts explained.
• Understanding that physics (and solving problems that test that understanding) is a learned skill, like playing golf or the violin. It takes time, effort, and practice to master such a skill.

Prerequisite Knowledge

You must be competent in basic algebra to understand the material and solve problems, but no math beyond algebra will be used. Specifically, you need to be comfortable with basic algebraic operations, such as:

• Isolating and solving for the unknown quantity in an equation exponents
• Scientific notation
• Basic rectangular-coordinate graphing

Additionally, you should be familiar with the metric system of measurement.

Tools for Success

SCI203 features a math primer to aid you in understanding the mathematical concepts used throughout the course.

Likewise, access to a scientific calculator will be helpful — there are a number of calculators available for free online.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to explain many everyday phenomena and technologies in terms of basic physics principles, and will be capable of applying that understanding to predict and explain behavior in novel situations. To a limited extent, you will also be able to evaluate whether proposed technologies are possible or not, according to the laws of physics.

Specific performance outcomes for the course are:

• Predict the behavior of simple electrical circuits as they are used in several technologies such as incandescent lights, heaters, electric power generation, and electric power distribution.
• Relate the characteristics of electromagnetic waves to the design and performance of radios, lights, and microwave ovens.
• Relate the structure of atoms to the design and performance of fluorescent lights and nuclear weapons.

Required Texts
SCI 203 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore