General Science 115, Science and Society
Spring 2009
Syllabus (3 Credit hrs)
January 5, Monday – April 28, Tuesday
Instructor: Ling
Jun Wang, EMCS 235, Phone:
425-5248, //www.utc.edu/~lwang/
Textbook: Energy and the Environment by Reza
Toossi, Second Edition
Prerequisites: Mathematics Placement Level 20 or
Math 106
Class meets: Tue. and Thur.
12:15-1:30 in Grote 129.
Office
hours: Tuesday
9:30-12:00
Wednesday 9:00-2:00
Thursday 9:30-12:00
Objective: Explore the
interrelationship of science and society through discussion of
scientific
issues vitally important to our society and our everyday lives. Topics
include:
energy crisis and possible solutions;
space science
Upon completion
of this course, a student are expected to be able to:
1. identify
and understand the fundamental
scientific laws in the scientific issues which have been presented in
class. These laws provide a sound
science background on the issues or projects involved.
2. Cultivate
an understanding of scientific
methods of thought and a broad view of scientific achievements.
3. understand
the importance of advanced
technologies to industry and the
4. calculate
the fundamental relationships involved in the
scientific issues studied (such as the fuel consumption of a
nuclear
reactor, the required orbital speed of a satellite, heat-energy
conversion,
efficiency of heat engine, U.S. energy consumption, etc.).
6. understand
the environmental concerns of fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
7. carry
out internet and literature research,
write a research paper and present the results.
The following guidelines will
be integral parts
of the lectures:
1. Develop
an historical perspective that
includes the contributions of scientists to the understanding of
scientific
principles.
2. Emphasize
the demand for evidence as the
ultimate test of scientific validity.
3. Analyze
the advantages and limitations of
empirical approaches to understanding and influencing the world around
us.
4. Promote
an understanding of the roles of
imagination and logical reasoning in the development of scientific
thought.
Schedule:
1/6
Chapter 1, Energy: Past, Present,
and Future - an Introduction
1/8 – 1/20 Chapter
2, Mechanical Energy
Reading assignments:
Chapter 3, Wind Energy
Chapter 4, Hydro Energy
1/22
First Exam
1/27 – 2/5
Chapter 5, Thermal Energy
2/10
Chapter 7, Fossil Fuels
Reading
assignment:
Chapter 8, Air
Pollution from Combustion Sources.
Chapter 10, Solar Energy
2/12 Second Test
2/17 - 24
Chapter 11, Nuclear
Energy
2/26 - 3/3
Chapter
12, Nuclear Radiation
Reading Assignment:
Chapter 14, Transportation
Chapter 15, Economics of Energy
3/5
Third Exam
3/9
– 3/15 Spring
Break
3/17
– 3/26 Chapter 13 ,
Electricity
3/31 - 4/2
Supplement, The Solar
System
4/7 - 4/9
Supplement,
The
Universe and Space Science
Chapter 16, Economics of the Environment
Chapter 17, A Blueprint for a Sustainable Future
4/9
Term Paper due
4/14 – 4/16
Term
paper presentation
Presentation
will add up to 10 extra points to the term paper
4/21
Reading Day
4/23 (Thursday), 2:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Final
Exam (Comprehensive)
Grading
Policy:
Three Tests @ 18% = 54%
Final Exam
26%
Research term paper: 20%
Course grade is assigned as follows:
90-100
80-90
70-80
60-70
<60
A B C D F
Attendance: The
students are expected to attend the
class regularly. There will be a penalty
of 1 point on the semester average score for every unexcused absence
(out of
100 points total). Habitual absence (25% or more) will be grounds for
an F
grade for the course.
Missing
a test:
If a student can not take a
test at the scheduled time, he or she should notify the instructor and
get
approval for a make-up at least 24 hours in advance.
In case of emergency, a copy of a police
report, a registration record from a hospital emergency room, etc., is
required
for arranging a make-up test. There
shall be no more than one make-up test for a student.
Attention:
If
you are a student with a disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric,
vision, hearing, etc.) and think that you might need special assistance
or a
special accommodation in this class or
any other class, call the Office for Students with Disability/College
Access
Program at 425-4006 or come by the office - 110 Frist Hall.
Guidelines for term paper
1.
Suggested topics for term paper
. The
current energy consumption in
. A
comparison of nuclear and fossil fuel
. Watts
bar lake: a polluted beauty
.
Furniture or firewood ? -- Coal and
petroleum as natural resources
. Fusion
research and public policy
. Energy
conservation and public transportation
. A gallon
saved is a gallon earned -- frugality as a solution
. The day
the last drop of gasoline is burned out
. From the Manhattan Project to the Super Collider -
triumphs and failures
. How much should we spend on space programs, if at all?
. Are we alone in the universe?
. Colonize another star system -- review of an on-going
program
. Scientific and social implications of cloning
. Public transportations in the
. Solar energy in 21st century
. Biomass as a solution to crisis
. NASA and space research
The above list
is meant to
give examples of appropriate topics, but not meant to be an exhaustive
list of
good topics. If you decide to work on some other topics, please discuss
with me
first and get my approval. Basically, a good topic should be about a
scientific
issue with significant social implications.
2. Length and
typographical requirements
The main text
typed in plain
Times New Roman font 12 should be at least 6 pages, not including
figures,
footnotes and references. More than one type of references are better
than a
single type of references such as articles from the websites only. All
the
references should be cited in the main text and a list of references
should be
appended at end of the paper. Each reference include the title and the
author
of the paper, name of magazine and year of publication, volume and page
numbers, or website address. All the quoted texts need to be put in the
quotation marks. You are encouraged to discuss the subject with your
own idea
and language, and discouraged to construct a paper by simply using
copy-and-paste technique.
3. Structure
and format
of the paper
A scientific
term paper need
to include but not limited to the following parts:
1.
Introduction and
historical background of the subject under discussion. This part explains why the issue or
subject is
important and what was the historical development of the issue. What
are the
current situation about the issue.
2. Analysis
of the issue.
In this part the different
aspects
of the issue are fully explored and analyzed quantitatively, supported
with
figures, charts and tables. Controversy is analyzed and your opinion
and
solutions are fully explained. Depending on the nature of topics, this
part is the
most dynamic and may be organized and presented in vary different way.
It is up
to your knowledge and skill to present a strong case with a convincing
analysis.
3. Conclusion. The last but not the least important part
of your
paper is the conclusion. You need to offer a concise summary of what
conclusions you can draw from your discussion and analysis. What are
the
problems related to the issue at the present, and what are the possible
solutions to the problem.
Suggested
Reference Magazines
Scientific American
Astronomical News
NASA Space Science and Astronomy News
Nature
Discover
Physics Today