We are pleased that you selected this independent study course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Center's large and diverse student body—a student body that comes from all parts of the United States and many parts of the world.
Although the freedom to choose when and where to study is a privilege, it is also a responsibility that requires motivation and self-discipline. To succeed at independent study, you will need to develop a study plan by setting realistic goals and working toward them.
This is an introductory physics course designed to help the student develop a basic understanding of the physics of sound and light, electricity and magnetism, and atomic and nuclear physics. The student will learn about mechanical and electromagnetic waves, and how they are related to electromagnetism and the atom itself.
Catalog Description: The second half unit of this laboratory course explores basic laws of physics, expanding on the information presented in the first half unit. Concepts studied include sound waves, reflection and refraction, direct current circuits, the chemical and magnetic effects of heat, and nuclear reactions.
Time Limit for Course Completion: 9 months. All assessments must be submitted and graded within this time.
Course Keycode: 6687
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Required Textbooks and Other Materials
- Conceptual Physics, Paul G. Hewitt, Prentice Hall (2006)
- Conceptual Physics Lab Manual, Robinson, Prentice Hall (2006)
- Scientific Calculator (A graphing calculator is recommended, but any calculator with trigonometry functions can be used.)
This lab kit can be purchased through CDIS, but you may be able to find these items on your own at a local hardware or electronics store, or from SK Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories.
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- Lab Kit
- 1 light emitting diode
- 150 feet of #26 magnet wire (enameled)
- 40 cm of #20 conducting wire, two 20-cm lengths (may be insulated)
- 2 alligator clips (no leads)
- 2 plastic film cans with lids
- 5 1.5 inch diameter donut disk magnets
- bar magnet
- blank overhead transparency
- Other Required Common Household Materials
- string
- a 5–250 gram mass (to be used as a pendulum bob)
- stopwatch (or a clock with a second hand)
- meter stick
- long piece of chalk
- chalk board
- masking tape
- plane mirror
- sheets of paper
- flat pice of corrugated cardboard
- straight pins
- ruler
- protractor
- magnifying glass
- flashlight
- small radio
- umbrella
- aluminum foil
- clear 12-ounce plastic cup
- paper clip
- balloon
- silky cloth
- furry cloth
- glass rod (such as a stirring rod)
- flashlight "D" cell battery
- flashlightbulb
- cut nail (If a cut nail is not available, another steel nail or steel darning needle may be substituted. A cut nail is a flat nail that is stamped from a sheet of steel by a die, it is very flat.)
- plastic coffee cup lid
- pie pan
- magnetic compass
- transparent tape
- M&M's candies, pennies, or any two-sided group of objects
- a box with a lid (such as a shoebox)
† Materials used in connection with this course may be subject to copyright protection.
About the Lessons
This course is composed of eleven lessons, and each lesson has several components.
The purpose states the author's plan in developing the lesson. The objectives are a list of what you should know and be able to do upon completion of the lesson. For each lesson there will be a reading assignment that is typically a single chapter from the textbook. You will sometimes find questions highlighted in yellow throughout your reading assignments. Take the time to read these questions and formulate answers. The answers to the questions are found at the bottom of the page where they are presented.
Each lesson will have a commentary that explains the important concepts in the lesson. It contains the major points introduced in the text as well as additional insights provided by the course author. As you read the commentary, complete the Review Questions, Plug and Chug Questions, Think and Explain Questions, Think and Solve Questions, and Practice Problems from the textbook when directed to do so. Your answers to these questions are not submitted to the Center, but you should check your answers with those provided. Although you will not submit these questions for a grade, they will help prepare you for the upcoming progress evaluations and exams.
The Laboratory Activities you encounter in the commentary section should also be completed when directed to do so. The interplay between the commentary and the laboratory activities is very important, so be careful to do each activity required when it is required. However, you must hold on to them and submit them for evaluation at the appropriate time. If you fail to complete these activities in the order directed in the commentary you will not score well on the portions that are submitted for a score. Laboratory Activities for Lessons 1–4 are submitted in Lesson 5, and the Laboratory Activities for Lessons 6–10 are submitted in Lesson 11.
Near the end of each lesson you will find a checklist of all the study questions and laboratory questions that you should complete before taking the progress evaluation.
Additional Study Hints
- Submit your first progress evaluation early. For university courses, a minimum of six weeks must elapse between the date you submit your first progress evaluation and the date you take your final exam.
- Know how you will be assessed. Look at the grading scale and read all the information on any assignments, projects, and exams.
- Review the exam information page before taking any exam. This page includes descriptions of the exam(s), if any, required for this course. Keep in mind that, unless otherwise stated on the exam information page, CDIS exams are supervised and must be taken at an approved site. Approved sites will be listed when you are prompted to request an exam during the course.
- Be able to do all lesson objectives. Learning is active, and courses at any level are often designed with objectives or actions that can be done as evidence that you have learned something. One advantage of independent study is that learning objectives are clearly written for each lesson.
- Review the hints for independent study. This is an independent study course and is likely different from other courses you have taken. Begin by reviewing these hints, which will help you adjust your computing and study habits so you will have the best chance of earning the grade you want.
- Download an "Independent Study Planning Sheet" (pdf) to track your progress. The number of lessons, progress evaluations, and exams will directly affect how long it takes to complete any given CDIS course. As you work through this course, check your schedule often to make sure you're on track. Keep in mind that all progress evaluations and exams must be submitted and graded within the course time limit.
Dennis Nickelson is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Physics at William Woods University and a Clinical Associate at the University of Missouri. He was a science teacher in the public schools of Missouri for 30 years, teaching primarily physics along with chemistry and earth science. The last 28 years at Jefferson City High School. In addition he is an adjunct professor at The University of Missouri and Lincoln University. Dr. Nickelson has served as a member of the faculty of the Missouri Scholars Academy and as an instructor at Linn Technical State College and Columbia College. He is a Physics Teaching Resource Agent for the American Association of Physics Teachers and has received numerous state and local awards. Among these awards are the Monsanto Science Teaching Award, the Missouri Academy of Science Outstanding Teacher Award, Teacher of the Year for Jefferson City Public Schools and finalist for Missouri Teacher of the Year and the Central Missouri State University's Sigma Xi Chapter award for excellence in guiding students with independent research.
To complete this course, you will need access to a computer with a modern Web browser (see recommended browsers below), a working Internet connection (56k dial-up or broadband), word processing software, and disk space to save your work.
Recommended Web Browsers
- Windows: Internet Explorer (version 7 or 8) or Firefox 3.5.
- Mac OS: Safari 4 or Firefox 3.5.
Your browser should support graphics at a screen resolution of 800 × 600 or higher, run JavaScript (the browsers above do by default), and accept cookies, which are used solely to verify your login. This course has been designed to be accessible to all students, including those using assistive technologies.
Portions of this course may require Adobe Flash Player.
Word Processing Software
You will be required to upload documents in Word 97–2003 (.doc) or Rich Text (.rtf) format. These documents can be created in Microsoft Word or another office suite that saves in the .doc or .rtf format, such as the open-source OpenOffice online. The Center does not provide or support any word processing software; however, OpenOffice is available free-of-charge at the above link.
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You may need to view PDF documents as part of this course.
Virus Protection
It is suggested that you have virus protection software on your system. Virus protection software will help to protect your system (and ours) against computer viruses. Students can visit the anti-virus software page from the Division of IT for more information.
Additional Technical Specifications
Graphing Software
If you want to upload your laboratory activity reports in Lessons 5 and 11, you will want to use graphing computer software, such as GeoGebra, to create graphs or illustrations to embed in your laboratory reports. If you choose to draw your graphs, illustrations, and diagrams yourself, you will need to mail your laboratory reports to the Center. Instructions for either uploading or mailing your reports are found in Lessons 5 and 11.
Starting with the first lesson, study the lesson's purpose, objectives, and commentary. Then complete the reading assignment and any recommended study activities. Take notes and make sure you understand all the material presented in the readings. Follow this procedure for each lesson. Complete progress evaluations and exams in the order they are presented in this course.