ASC1609

Basic physical science

Mr Wayne Kirstine

6 points
* Full year
* 4 hours per week (two 1-hour lectures, two hours of practical/tutorial activity)
* Distance only
* Prohibitions: GAS1080, CHM1616

Objectives On completion of this subject students should have an awareness of the basic scientific concepts applied in the areas of motion, atomic structure and bonding, properties of matter, radioactivity, light, electricity and magnetism, inorganic and organic chemistry; improved their scientific literacy by developing a basic vocabulary of frequently-used scientific terms; improved their understanding of natural phenomena and of modern technology; acquired skills in the use of simple measuring instruments and scientific equipment; collected and tabulated numerical data, plotted and interpreted graphs, and organised scientific reports.

Synopsis This subject is intended to introduce the student with limited scientific background to the physical sciences, and to develop the student's scientific literacy, knowledge and skills. Areas of study include measurement, Newton's laws of motion, gravity, work, energy, properties of matter, introduction to the atom, molecules and the mole concept, stoichiometry and chemical equations, radioactivity and the nucleus, electromagnetic radiation, the nature of light, modern atomic theory, chemical bonding, the periodic table, electricity and magnetism, chemical equilibrium, basic inorganic chemistry, acids and bases, and an introduction to organic chemistry. Detailed study guides are provided, and experiment kits are available to allow distance education students to conduct experimental activities at home. A detailed experiment manual and supporting videos are supplied.

Assessment Assignments/reports: 50%
* Semester examinations: 50%

Prescribed texts

Payne C A and others Physical science 6th edition, W C Brown, 1992