Physical Science / Environmental Science and Technology

Unit I - Measurement, Units and Density

Image source: Frédéric BISSON via Flickr (Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• Scientific Notation
• Measurements
• Significant Figures
• Units and Conversion (Unit Analysis)
• Density

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]
• Scientific Math Bingo [HTML]

Videos

• SI-Prefixes
• Unit Conversion - Introduction
• Unit Conversion - Example
• Introduction to Significant Figures
• Counting Significant Figures
• Calculation rules for Significant Figures
• Units of Volume
• Measuring the Density of Beer
• The water replacement method

Unit II - Matter

Image: Stefan Bracher

Topics

• Matter, Elements, Compounds
• Pure substances
• Mixtures
• Physical Properties
• Chemical Properties

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Videos

• The three states of matter
• Classification of Matter

Unit III - Atoms and Isotopes

Image source: Atomium by Kevin Christopher Burke (Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• Law of conservation of mass
• Law of definite proportion
• Atomic Structure
• Isotopes

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit IV - Periodic Table and Chemical Bonding

Image: Saturn V Rocket by Stefan Bracher

Topics

• Periodic Table
• Lewis Notation
• Chemical Bonding

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Videos

• Why elements bond to form compounds

Unit V - Nomenclature

Image: Forum Romanum by Stefan Bracher

Topics

Nomenclature of:

• Diatomic molecules
• Covalent Compounds
• Ionic Compounds
• Acids

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit VI - The mole concept

Image: “Mole Problem” by Stephan Caspar via Flickr(Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• The mole
• Molar mass

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit VII - Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry

Image: Stefan Bracher

Topics

• Chemical changes
• Chemical equations (Stoichiometry)

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Videos

• Chemical Equations
• Balancing Chemical Equations

Unit VIII - Solutions

Image: Saline solution by Kathleen de Asis

Topics

• Solute, Solvent and Solution
• Solution process
• Concentration and Molarity

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit IX - Acids and Bases

Image: Red Cabbage by Stefan Bracher

Topics

• Acids, Bases
• pH
• Acid Reactions

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit X - Radioactivity

Topics

• Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation
• Nuclear equations, Half-Life
• Biological effect
• Fission and Fusion

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit XI - Transformation of Energy

Image: "Energy" by Sander van der Wel via Flickr(Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• Units
• Some forms of Energy
• Work
• Endothermic/Exothermic

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit XIIA - Electrostatics

Image: "Electric Slide" by Ken Bosma via Flickr(Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• Charged Objects
• Elementary Charge
• Coulombs Law
• Electric Fields
• Conductor / Insulator

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit XIIB - Electrodynamics

Image: "Power line" by Karim D. Ghantous via Flickr(Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• Current, Voltage and Power
• Ohm's Law and Resistance
• Simple Circuits

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit XIIC - Magnetism

Image: “Aurora Borealis Alaska” By United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Topics

• Magnets
• Magnetic Fields
• Applications of Magnetism

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]

Unit XIII - Genetics

Image: "Pink Sweet Peas" by Steven Depolo via Flickr(Creative Commons 2.0 License)

Topics

• DNA, Chromosomes
• Genes, Alleles
• Genotype, Phenotype
• Dominance and Recessivity

Lecture Material

• Presentation [PDF]