Principles of Physics II Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Course

PHYS-2426-001 Principles of Physics II

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: PHYS 2425 and MATH 2414

Course Description

Principles of physics for science, computer science and engineering majors, using calculus, involving the principles of electricity and magnetism, including circuits, electromagnetism, waves, sound, light and optics. Laboratory experiments supporting theoretical principles presented in lecture involving the principles of electricity and magnetism, including circuits, electromagnetism, waves, sound, light and optics; experimental design, data collection and analysis, and preparation of laboratory reports.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Lecture: Physics for Scientists and Engineers 9th edition, Serway & Jewitt (optional, the WebAssign access includes an ebook version)

Lab: Laboratory Manual for PHYS 2426, on Blackboard.

Homework: You will need to get a code for WebAssign if you do not already have one.  If you took Principles of Physics I from Professor Van Domelen, your old code should still work.

Supplies

Calculator: You will need a calculator that is not your phone that can handle scientific notation, exponents, and trigonometric functions.

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Graph Paper: If you find you need this for any lab reports,

Student Performance

After completing the lecture part of this course, students should be able to:

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1. Articulate the fundamental concepts of electricity and electromagnetism, including electrostatic potential energy, electrostatic    potential, potential difference, magnetic field, induction, and Maxwell’s equations.
\ 2. State the general nature of electrical forces and electrical charges, and their relationship to electrical current.
\ 3. Solve problems involving the inter-relationship of electrical  charges, electrical forces, and electrical fields.
\ 4. Apply Kirchhoff’s laws to analysis of circuits with potential sources, capacitance, and resistance, including parallel and series capacitance and resistance.
\ 5. Calculate the force on a charged particle between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor.
\ 6. Apply Ohm’s law to the solution of problems.
\ 7. Describe the effects of static charge on nearby materials in terms of Coulomb’s law.
\ 8. Use Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws to find the electromotive forces.
\ 9. Describe the components of a wave and relate those components to mechanical vibrations, sound, and decibel level.
\ 10. Articulate the principles of reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference and superposition of waves.
\ 11. Solve real-world problems involving optics, lenses, and mirrors.

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After completing the lab part of this course, students should be able to:

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1. Prepare laboratory reports that clearly communicate experimental information in logical and scientific manner.
\ 2. Conduct basic laboratory experiments involving electricity and magnetism.
\ 3. Relate physical observations and measurements involving electricity and magnetism to theoretical principles.
\ 4. Evaluate the accuracy of physical measurements and the potential sources of error in the measurement.
\ 5. Design fundamental experiments involving principles of electricity and magnetism.
\ 6. Identify appropriate sources of information for conducting laboratory experiments involving electricity and magnetism.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

The lecture meetings will include class discussion and some activities, so students will not be expected to sit quietly the entire time.  Students will be expected to exercise good judgement regarding when to speak and when to listen, however, both with Dr. Van Domelen and their fellow students.

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To avoid disruption and potential embarrassment, please silence all electronic devices.  Outside of quizzes and exams, portable electronics will be allowed.  However, unless they are part of an assistive system (see Disability Services if in doubt), please remove any earpieces or headphones.

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Academic dishonesty will at a minimum be punished by a score of zero on the relevant task.  This includes cheating on exams, and turning in lab reports for a lab that was not actually attended.  (The online homework is harder to cheat than to just do honestly, but please do not take this as a challenge.)  Additional sanctions at the College level may be applied if the situation merits.

Grading Criteria

Three hour-long exams will together compose 30% of the class grade, while the final exam will count as 20%.  Homework will count for 20% of the grade, as well Laboratory writeups.  Quizzes given during non-exam weeks will make up the remaining 10%.

If it will raise your average, the lowest regular exam grade (unless it is a zero given for cheating) will be replaced by the percentage score of the final exam.

The laboratory grade will use the best 9 reports out of 10 assigned.  A bonus of one full lab's worth of points will be given if all 10 reports are completed (or any absences is excused, which is at Dr. Van Domelen’s discretion).

An extra credit math skills quiz will be given during the first week, and will be worth up to one quiz's worth of extra points.

 

The harshest grading scale that will be applied will be as follows: 89.5% = A, 79.5% = B, 69.5% = C, 59.5% = D.  Dr. Van Domelen reserves the right to adjust the curve to be more forgiving, but will not make it harsher.  The final analysis will consider the grades of all students: a few very high scores will not prevent a relaxing of the curve if most of the class struggled.  The final curve will probably be uneven-looking, for instance the numerical range of a B not being the same as the numerical range of a C.

Attendance

Student attendance in lecture and lab is expected. 

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There is only one section of this course, but the grading criteria include making allowances for a few absences.

Calendar

Additional Information

If weather or illness will prevent you from attending class, be sure to contact Dr. Van Domelen by email as soon as you can.  Quizzes and tests (other than the final exam) can be taken at a later date in most cases, and lab absences can be marked as excused.