SCIENCE AND SOCIETY PROGRAM

College of Science
University of the Philippines

SYLLABUS FOR NATURAL SCIENCE I

Course Description: FOUNDATIONS OF NATURAL SCIENCE I

Course Objectives:

1. Develop a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the physicochemical world

on a micro, as well as macro level.

2. Develop an appreciation for the natural world within the context of the basic
concepts, principles and theories of physics and chemistry.

1. Introduction to the Natural Sciences

1.1 The Nature and Functions of Science

1.2 The Basic Ideas and Methods of Sciences
1.3 The Interconnections of Science and Technology

2. Ancient Views About Nature

2.1 Ancient Genesis Myths and Cosmological Beliefs

2.2 Ancient Notions About Matter and Motion
2.3 Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model and the Copernican Revolution

3. The Emergence of Physics

3.1 The Motion of the Planets: Kepler’s Laws
3.2 Galileo’s Concepts of Motion: Velocity, acceleration,
Free Fall, Relativity
3.3 Galileo and the New Scientific Method

4. Newton’s Mechanical Synthesis

4.1 Newton’s Three Laws of Motion: Mass and Force

4.2 Newton’s Theory of Gravity: Action at a Distance
4.3 Absolute Space and Absolute Time; Inertial and Non-
Inertial Reference Frames
4.4 Physical Laws: Universality, Relativity, Invariance
4.5 Momentum, Energy, and Conservation Laws
4.6 Newton’s Clockwork Universe and the Rise of
Mechanistic Philosophy

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5. The Unification of Electricity, Magnetism, & Light

5.1 Electrical Phenomena: Coulomb’s Law

5.2 Magnetic Phenomena: Experiments of Oersted and Ampere
5.3 Electromagnetic Phenomena: Faraday’s Law of Induction
5.4 The Field Concept and Maxwell’s Electromagnetic Synthesis
5.5 Electromagnetic Waves, Light, and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
5.6 Waves and their Properties; the Ether Concept

6. Einstein’s Relativistic Revolution

7.1 The Search for the Ether: the Michelson-Morley Experiment

7.2 Postulates of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity
7.3 Space, Time, Mass, and Energy According to Einstein
7.4 Foundations of Einstein’s General Theory
7.5 Four-Dimensional Space-Time: the Geometrization of Gravity
7.6 Experimental Tests of General Relativity

7. FIRST EXAMINATION (PHYSICS)

8. The Quantum World of Uncertainties

8.1 Blackbody Radiation and Planck’s Quantum Hypothesis

8.2 Wave Particle Duality: Photons and de Broglie Waves
8.3 The Rutherford Model of the Atom; Atomic Spectra
8.4 Bohr’s Theory and Quantization of Angular Momentum
8.5 Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle; Bohr’s Complementary Principle
8.6 Quantum Probabilities, Indeterminism and Randomness
8.7 Schroedinger’s Contributions
8.8 Concepts of Spin and Anti Matter: Dirac’s Electron Theory
8.9 Concepts of Fermions and Bosons

9. Probing and the Subatomic World

10.1 Nuclei: Protons, Neutrons, Atomic Masses, Isotopes
10.2 Nuclear Reactions: Radioactivity, Fission, Fusion
10.3 Particle Accelerators: Probe to Subatomic World
10.4 Quantum Fields, Virtual Quanta, and the Vacuum
10.5 The Strong Force and the Family of Hadrons
10.6 The Weak Force and the Family of Leptons
10.7 Quarks: their Flavors and Colors
10.8 Gluons and the Four Fundamental Forces of Nature
10.9 The Search for a Unified Theory

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10. The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

11.1 The Cosmic Scenery: Planets, Stars, Galaxies, Quasars

11.2 The Expanding Universe: Hubble’s Law
11.3 Relativistic Cosmology: The Big Bang Theory
11.4 The Birth and Death of Stars: White Dwarfs, Neutrons Stars, Black Holes
11.5 The Synthesis of Matter
11.6 The Ultimate Fate of the Universe: Continuous
Expansion or Eventual Contraction?

11. The Structure of Atoms

13.1 Atomic Orbitals and Quantum Numbers

13.2 Electronic Structure and Distribution
13.3 Electron Spin; Paramagnetism

12. SECOND EXAMINATION (PHYSICS)

13. The Elements of the Universe

14.1 Mendeleev’s Arrangement of the Elements

14.2 Build-up of Atoms and the Periodic Table
14.3 Periodic Properties of Elements: Atomic and Ionic Sizes
14.4 Ionization Energy and Electronegativity: Pauling and Mulliken
14.5 Metallic and Non-Metallic Elements: Filled Shells ad the Rule of Eight

14. The Ties That Bind: Chemical Bond

15.1 Formation of Molecules: G.N. Lewis Electron Dot Formula

15.2 Electron Transfer and Electron Sharing
15.3 Compounds: Polarity of Bonds, Geometry of Polar Molecules
15.4 Carbon, Silicon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Hydrogen and their Molecules
15.5 Hybrid Orbitals and Molecules of C, S, N, O, and H
15.6 Physical and Chemical Properties of the Molecules of C, S, N, O, and H
15.7 Occurrence of the Molecules of C, S, N, O and H
15.8 Metals: their Bonding and Properties

15. The Three States of Matter

17.1 Intermolecular Forces

17.2 Gases, Liquids, and Solids: Molecular Structures and Properties
17.3 Energies Involved in Phase Changes
17.4 The Kinetic Molecular Hypothesis: The Model
17.5 The Observed Behavior of Gases: Boyle and Charles
17.6 Mixtures, Solutions, and Colloids
17.7 Elemental Composition: Universe, Earth, Life

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16. Making and Breaking Ties: Chemical Reactions

18.1 Conservation of Electrons

18.2 Conservation of Mass: Stoichiometry
18.3 Spontaneous Reactions: Gibbs Free Energy
18.4 Thermodynamic Laws: Enthalpy, Entropy
18.5 Entropy in the Universe and in Life
18.6 Rates of Chemical Reactions: Molecular Collisions
and Factors Affecting Collisions

17. Environmental Chemistry

19.1 Catalysts and the environment

19.2 Combustion: fuels, energy sources, and the environment
19.3 Concept of Limitation (renewable vs. Nonrenewable resources)
19.4 Pollution: soil, air, and water

18. Materials Science

20.1 Conductors/semiconductors (doping)

20.2 Liquid crystals
20.3 Organic polymers (plastics, etc.)
20.4 Lahar (pyroplastics, zeolties, etc.)

19. Chemistry of Life

21.1 The beginnings of organic chemistry

21.2 The building blocks of life
21.3 Giant molecules
21.5 Biochemistry

20. CHEMISTRY EXAM

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READING MATERIALS

Part I

1. The Value of Science

2. Ancient Science
3. The Harmony of the Worlds
4. Science in the Age of Faith
5. Galileo
6. God Said, “Let Newton Be!”
7. The Law of Gravitation, An Example of Physics Law
8. The Story of Electromagnetism
9. The Inertial Reference Frame
10. Conservation of Energy

Part II

1. Relativity
2. Inventing General Relativity
3. Relativistic Revolution
4. The Law of Quantum
5. The Road to Quantum Reality
6. The Last Classical Physicist
7. Probability and Uncertainty
8. The Privilege of Being a Physicist
9. Uncertainty and Complementarity

Part III

1. Classical and Modern Cosmology

2. The Standard Model
3. The Big Bang
4. The Birth Life and Death of the Stars
5. The Origin of the Universe
6. The Origin of Our Galaxy
7. Cosmology: Man’s Place in the Universe
8. Atomic Nucleus

Part I, II, III readings may be purchased from the Office of the Science and Society Program,
College of Science)

Part IV and V
CHEMISTRY Readings – ( Pav. I Rm. 1203)

Other Reference Materials:

1. Introduction to College Physics and Chemistry, LRC, UP Diliman, 1999.

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2. Instant Physics from Aristotle to Einstein, and Beyond, by Tony Rothman, A Byron Preiss
Book, 1995.

COURSE POLICIES FOR NATURAL SCIENCE I

1. Minimum Passing Score

The minimum passing score for the course is 50%

2. Students who stop attending classes without officially dropping the course will be given a
grade of “5”.

3. Examinations

There will be 3 to 4 long examinations and a final examination.

4. Exemption from the Finals

A student who gets an average score of at least 50% will be exempted from the final
examination.

5. Failure to take the Examinations

A student who fails to take two (2) long examinations shall automatically incur the
grade of “5” unless he drops the subject. No student may be exempted from the finals if he/she
fails to take one (1) long examination. A student who fails to take the finals shall be given the
grade of “5” unless his/her absence is strongly excusable. Excuse slips for missed exams should be
presented not later than three days after the examination.

6. Weights of the Examinations

All the long examinations and final examination have equal weights.

7. Questions about the examinations will be entertained only within one week after graded
examinations have been returned.

8. Computation of Grades

a. Physics Part is 50%; 90% of which may come from long examination and 10% from
class performance (e.g. recitation, project, etc.) The professor may opt only for long
examinations, in which case these examinations will constitute 100% of the physics grade.

b. Chemistry Part is 50%; 100% of which may come from long examination and 20% from
a special project.

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9. Grading Scale

Final Weighted Score Final Grade

90 - 100% 1.0
85 - 89% 1.25
80 - 84% 1.5
75 - 79% 1.75
70 - 74% 2.0
65 - 69% 2.25
60 - 64% 2.5
55 - 59% 2.75
50 - 54% 3.0
45 - 49% 4.0
44 - 0% 5.0