Physical Science I Lab Syllabus – Study Guide and Course Structure

Course Overview

Introduction to Physical Science I Laboratory

This syllabus outlines the structure, requirements, and policies for the Physical Science I Laboratory (PHYS 1115) at El Paso Community College. The course is designed to provide hands-on experience with fundamental concepts in physics, complementing the lecture component (PHYS 1315). Students will engage in laboratory activities that reinforce theoretical principles through experimentation, data analysis, and scientific reporting.

Course Structure and Requirements

Course Components

• Lab Work/Reports: 80% of the final grade. Each lab involves completing a worksheet or report based on the experiment conducted.

• Lab Semester Project: 20% of the final grade. Details are provided on Blackboard.

• No Final Exam: There is no cumulative final exam for the lab component.

Required Materials

• Scientific Calculator

• Pivot Access Code: Required for accessing lab activities online. Registration must use the official student name as recorded by the institution.

Lab Report Structure

• Cover Page: Student name, team members, lab activity name, date, course name, and CRN.

• Header: Course abbreviation and lab number, student ID, and name.

• Introduction/Background: Brief explanation of the physical theory or principle observed.

• Description: Summary of the lab experiment or activity.

• Procedures: Description of materials, methods, data collection, and analysis.

• Results and Conclusions: Comparison of thesis and results, interpretation of findings.

• Footer: Date (bottom left) and page number (bottom right).

Grading Policy

Grade Distribution

Component	Percentage
Lab Work/Report	80%
Lab Semester Project	20%
Total	100%

Final Grade Scale

Letter Grade	Score (%)
A	89.6 – 100
B	79.6 – 89.5
C	69.6 – 79.5
D	59.6 – 69.5
F	Below 59.6
I (Incomplete)	See policy
W (Withdraw)	See policy

Attendance and Submission Policies

• Attendance: Three consecutive weeks of inactivity result in an automatic 'F'. Students are responsible for catching up on missed content.

• Lab Submission: Labs A and B are submitted on Blackboard; all subsequent labs are submitted via Pivot Interactives.

• Late Work: Not accepted, except for one make-up lab allowed during the last week of the semester.

• Technical Issues: Students must contact the Blackboard Help Desk for technical support and obtain a ticket number for assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity and Conduct

• Cheating: Any evidence results in a zero for the assignment and possible further disciplinary action.

• Communication: Use official school email and Blackboard messaging for all correspondence. Include full name, assignment details, course, and CRN in all emails.

• Disability Services: Support is available for students with documented disabilities.

• Drop Policy: Students are responsible for initiating withdrawals. The last day to drop with a 'W' is July 2nd.

• Six Drop Rule: Texas state policy limits students to six drops for undergraduate courses.

Instructional Calendar and Lab Topics

Weekly Lab Schedule

Week	Dates	Lab Topic
1	May 26 – 29	Syllabus Review, LAB A – Metric System
2	Jun 1 – 5	LAB 1 – Kinematics of Constant Velocity
3	Jun 8 – 12	LAB 2 – Analysis of Motion Graphs
4	Jun 15 – 19	LAB 3 – Laws of Motion
5	Jun 22 – 26	LAB 4 – Conservation of Energy
6	Jun 29 – Jul 3	LAB 5 – Laws of Conservation of Momentum
7	Jul 6 – 10	LAB 6 – Calorimetry
8	Jul 13 – 17	LAB 7 – Wave Basics and Wave Equation
9	Jul 20 – 24	LAB 8 – Color Addition
10	Jul 27 – 31	Lab Semester Project Due, Make-up Lab, Finals Week (No Final Exam)

Lab Topics and Related Physics Concepts

• Metric System: Understanding SI units and measurement standards.

• Kinematics of Constant Velocity: Motion in one dimension, velocity, and displacement.

• Analysis of Motion Graphs: Interpreting position, velocity, and acceleration graphs.

• Laws of Motion: Newton's Laws and their applications.

• Conservation of Energy: Energy transformations and conservation principles.

• Conservation of Momentum: Linear momentum and collisions.

• Calorimetry: Heat transfer and specific heat calculations.

• Wave Basics and Wave Equation: Properties of waves and mathematical description.

• Color Addition: Principles of light and color mixing.

• Lab Project: Application of experimental design and scientific reporting.

Success Tips

• Use the same computer throughout the course to avoid technical issues.

• Register on Pivot and other platforms with your official name as recorded by the institution.

• Monitor Blackboard and Pivot for grades and assignment updates.

• Contact the instructor promptly with any questions or concerns, following the specified communication guidelines.

Additional Info

• Students are encouraged to attend the optional orientation session for course overview and requirements.

• All lab activities, due dates, and project details are available on Blackboard under the “Lab Activities and Due Dates” tab.