General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism,

Wave Motion and Optics

PHY 162.001/.002 --- Fall 2001 Syllabus

Physics Department --- Mercer University

 

 

This course is the second in the two-semester sequence PHY 161 & 162 General Physics I & II, which is a calculus-based introduction to physics. The two main themes in this course are electricity and magnetism, and waves. Following a brief introduction, we will consider a series of topics: electric charges and fields, Gauss’ law, electric potentials; magnetic fields and their sources, induction, magnetic materials; and wave phenomena, including sound, interference, and diffraction. Students will learn to think scientifically about the physical world, analyze mathematically various situations, reach qualitative conclusions, and compute accurately numerical answers to specific questions. Although we will cover a number of topics and physical systems, the students’ goal should be to learn to think about nature and solve problems as physicists do.

 

This course is intended primarily for physical science majors, engineering majors, but ia also recommended for others with good mathematical aptitude (including pre-med students and life sciences majors). Pre-requisites are PHY 161 and an introductory calculus course such as MAT 191. In addition to basic physical concepts such as the kinematics of point particles, forces, momentum and energy, work, and angular momentum, students must have a working knowledge of basic calculus including differentiation and integration, as well as geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. Co-requisite are PHY 162L, the laboratory counterpart of this course, and MAT 192, a second semester of calculus: Students must be concurrently enrolled or have equivalent prior academic credit.

 

Quizzes (20% of the total grade): There will be about thirteen of these, roughly one per week. Each one may contain a conceptual part, or a numerical problem part, or both. The conceptual part will be based on a new reading assignment. The numerical problem part will be based on material previously covered in class. They will be simple but closed-book. Each student will answer the quiz working alone. Then the entire class will consider the quiz as a whole, and complete answers will be provided. Each quiz will be about 10 minutes long.

 

Lectures: After the quiz for a particular reading assignment, I will discuss the material, do examples, answer questions, ask questions to stimulate thinking and discussion, and try to get the class interested in physics. We will also go over solutions to homework problems. When possible, I will include classroom demonstrations.

 

Group Homework (20% of the total grade): For each chapter there will be a list of problems for students to solve, working together as groups. Students will be assigned to groups by the instructor at the beginning of the course, and may not change groups unless there is a very good reason, subject to instructor approval. On the day the homework is due, each group must hand in solutions to these problems to be graded. I will then provide a complete solution set as a handout. Note that some of these problems, or similar ones, will appear on tests and the final exam: If you do not master them, as a group and as individuals, you will probably not do well in the course overall. Peer evaluation: At the end of the course, each group will receive a final group homework grade. For each individual within the group, the homework grade will be modified to reflect the evaluation of that individual’s contribution to the group effort, provided by the other group members. Therefore it is important that each group member contribute to working the homework problems to the best of their ability.

 

Tests (45% of the total grade): There will be three of these which will cover electricity, magnetism, and waves. They will also include both conceptual and numerical questions. They will be 50 minutes long and closed-book, but students may bring a formula sheet with anything handwritten on it, front and back, and a calculator.

 

Final Exam (15% of the total grade): There will also be a comprehensive final exam, which will be 3 hours long and closed-book: Students may bring up to four handwritten formula sheets, and a calculator. It will be similar to the other tests, but will cover all the material in those tests.

 

Grading: How much weight is given to each activity, in percentages of the final grade, is shown in the left table below. The final grade will be determined using the scale shown in the right table below.

 

 

Miscellaneous policies:

 

1.       All parts of this syllabus are tentative and subject to revision.

2.       Tests and quizzes for which no alternate arrangements were made beforehand may be made up only if the student has an official excuse: e.g., a note from a Dean's office, or a doctor’s note.

3.       Late homeworks will not be accepted.

4.       There will be no dropped grades. All the work done in the course will be counted. There will be no extra-credit work.

5.       The College of Liberal Arts' academic misconduct policy will be followed. In addition, all students are bound by the Mercer University Honor Code.

6.       Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with the instructor all their work during the course, regardless of their grades. Questions about point awards should be brought up as soon as possible, as all grades will be final one week after the materials are graded and returned to the students.

7.       Students who believe that they possess disabilities for which reasonable accommodation is required must so inform the instructor at the close of their first class meeting. They must then identify their disability and the accommodation requested. The instructor will refer them to the office of the Dean of Students for evaluation, documentation of their disability, and a recommendation as to the accommodation, if any, to be provided. Students who do NOT consult with the instructor and follow up at the office of the Dean of Students, as provided above, will thereby waive any claim to a disability and the right to any accommodation pertaining thereto.

8.       All requests for reasonable accommodation are welcome also in regard to absence from class for school representation (i.e., athletic or other events) or personal/family problems. Let's talk about it...