Assignments for PHSC 1001, Introduction to Physical Science

Please complete the listed assignments, using the course text, posted lectures, and learning resources. Assignments may be submitted as email file attachment, in MS Word, HTML or PDF format.

(Hint: Be sure to read the lectures.)

Assignment 1 (Reference Lecture 1)
If you have not already done so, acquire the course textbook. It is the basis of everything we will be doing.

Read the book's introductions and prefaces to get some sense of the character of Richard Feynman and the esteem in which he is still held in the scientific community.

Read the Chapter One, Atoms in Motion, twice. The first time, just read through it start to finish. The second time, read carefully and note at least five things you learned about atoms that you did not know before your first reading.

In a document, write a letter, as if sending it to a high school student about to study physics for the first time (length: 1-2 pages, max). Be sure to tell her or him about atoms, their importance, their roles, and things she or he should watch out for in the discussion on atoms.

Discussion Questions (Send as separate file; combine answers into one file.)
Comment on Feynman's "expanding frontier of ignorance." Why do you suppose the "frontier of ignorance" is expanding? What is the Bible's perspective on this?

How does Feynman define or describe an "atom." Does this definition make sense to you? Could something else be added that would help your understanding?

Feynman describes the constant atomic activity taking place in a glass of water. He then contends that we do not see the activity because, essentially, it is balanced (as much is coming as is going). What are the implications of that statement, to you?

How is a "scent" created, according to Dr. Feynman? And how does that knowledge influence your perception of the scents you encounter today?

Assignment 2 (Reference Lecture 2)
Read Part Two in "Six Easy Pieces," "Basic Physics." Concentrate on pages 23-38. Part Two is divided into sections: Introduction, Physics Before 1920, Quantum Physics, and Nuclei and Particles. We will focus our attention on the first three sections (Nuclei and Particles gets a bit technical for our purposes.) and the conclusions. As with last week's chapter, it may be necessary to read Part Two slowly and more than once (or twice).

Feynman uses word pictures very effectively. His descriptions (of the cork floating in the pool to illustrate wave energy, for example) make difficult concepts a little easier to comprehend. Because our objective is to understand the physical world at a deep, scientific level, this is very helpful to us.

For this week's assignment, please read Part Two, making note of the following "basics" of physics. In a document, please capture your understanding of these "basics" by providing either a word picture or an illustration of each concept. Make sure that your entry and explanation relate closely to the world of physical science. (Length: 1 page or so, each, max)

Particles
Waves
Gravity
Electricity (as Feynman describes it)
Oscillation

Assignment 3 (Reference Lecture 3)
Read Part Three in "Six Easy Pieces." Explain how an understanding of physical science promotes a better understanding of chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology (especially weather) and psychology (or brain science). (Length, with examples, 4-5 pages)

Assignment 4 (Reference Lecture 4)
Someone once said, "Christians have the same problem with God that physicists have with energy. They know He is there, but they cannot define him."

Read Part Four of "Six Easy Pieces" and develop a commentary on this statement. Are Christians better able to "define" God? Do they understand more about God, than physicists do about energy? How does the comparison stand up; where does it fail? (Length: 4-5 pages)

Discussion (Send as a separate file)
A logic question: Professor Feynman, and physicists generally, claim that energy is never lost as a result of human forms and processes. It only changes forms. And yet, Professor Feynman, and physicists generally, acknowledge that we really know very little about energy itself. In your opinion, is it safe, scientifically speaking, for physicists to draw strong conclusions regarding a thing (energy) about which they know so little?

Assignment 5 (Reference Lecture 5)
Read Part Five in "Six Easy Pieces." Feynman's lectures were delivered early in the modern space program's development, before we had evidence that we could loose "the surly bonds of earth" to visit the outer atmosphere and even other planets. However, his explanation of gravitational theory helps us understand the basics of space travel, and specifically of orbits.

Based on Feynman's explanation of Kepler's Laws, and Newton's Laws, please develop a simple explanation for the orbit of a rocket (or satellite or space station) in space, in view of the force of gravity.

Write your assignment as if you were presenting an introductory pamphlet for six graders entitled "How Rockets Fly." (Length: 2-3 pages, max)

Assignment 6 (Reference Lecture 6 )
Read Part Six in "Six Easy Pieces." Evaluate Professor Feynman's assertion that "things behave on a small level much differently than they do on a large level." What evidence does he present to support his statement? What evidence contradicts it? Does his assertion--related, as it is, to physical science--also apply to human behavior? That is, do people tend to behave in small settings or groups the same way they do in large settings or groups? If not, might Feynman's principles of physical science apply to human behavior? How? (Length: 3-5 pages)

Final Paper Assignment
From the very beginning, the premise of "Six Easy Pieces" is that the world around us is governed by very specific principles or laws. In our secular society, it was for some time popular to cite "science" as a way of denying the importance, and even the existence, of God.

However, lately, some outstanding work has been done to align the principles of Christianity with the principles of science. Links to some of those are posted in the "Resource" section of the course Web site.

For your final paper, develop a short article (8-10 pages) on the current state of the "debate" between science and religion. Focus on physical science (or physics). Write the article as if it were going to be submitted to a secular publication. Be sure to employ scientific rigor in researching and citing sources. Be sure to provide both (or all) sides of the story.