This book is written to support a one-semester general
education course in physical science. The course is
required of virtually all non-science students at our university
(about 2500 per semester) although some satisfy
the requirement by examination.
The course is meant to be a broad exposure to physical
science. The students who take the course are primarily
freshman who are not science majors, but who
will follow the course with an elective which pursues
some area of science in greater depth. The course is
conceptual rather than mathematical. It is meant to be a
presentation of some of the most significant ideas in science,
as they might be presented to a lay audience by
specialists. The course is supported by faculty lectures
which include live demonstrations and audiovisual presentations
without which the course would be much different
and incomplete.