PHYSICS II

 

Class:

PHY112A, Spring 2009

Instructor:

Dr. David Burgess

Office:

ST239  (Office hours are posted on my door.)

Phone:

603-897-8264

E-mail:

dburgess@rivier.edu

Web

http://www.rivier.edu/chemistry

Required Texts: Physics Algebra/Trig 3rd Edition, by Eugene Hecht

This course will provide an opportunity for each student to learn about electricity and magnetism, nuclear physics, and how light interacts with matter (QED, optics, etc.). Details about these topics and how they will be covered are clearly presented in the text. These topics have been carefully chosen to provide an introduction the basic concepts in second semester physics and to provide an opportunity to sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills. Indeed, the main objective of this course is not to learn all of physics, but to learn how to investigate and approach problems in a sound, logical manner.

Physics II is an excellent opportunity to work on the college-wide competencies. The nature of physics requires you to apply an understanding of course content to solve a variety of problems. In the process you will need to think critically and synthesize concepts. It is also an opportunity to make judgments about the appropriateness of solutions, not only in a physical sense, but often in more global ways.

Quizzes will be given over the homework problems at the beginning of laboratory periods. Five exams will be given. The lowest quiz score and the lowest exam score will be dropped when calculating the quiz and exam averages. Exams will not include true-false or multiple choice questions but will include problems similar to homework problems and exercises done in class and in the laboratory. There will also be a comprehensive final exam.

Final grades will be determined using the following weighting scale:

Quiz Average

15%

Exam Average

65%

Final Exam

20%

Raw scores will be converted to letter grades as established by the college. For example, if a student had a quiz average of 86%, an exam average of 82%, and earned a 77% on the final exam, she would have an overall score of

(.15)(86) + (.65)(82) + (.2)(77) = 81.6

and receive a B- for the course.


 

Course Schedule

 

 

19 Jan

Martin Luther King Holiday

21 Jan

-

2 Feb

Electric Charge, Electric Field, and Electric Potential (Ch. 15 - 16)

 

 

2 Feb

Exam 1

4 Feb

-

2 Mar

Current, Resistance, and DC Circuits (Ch. 17-18)

 

 

2 Mar

Exam 2

9 Mar

-

13 Mar

Spring Break

4 Mar  

-

23 Mar

Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction (Ch. 19 - 20)

 

 

23 Mar

Exam 3

25 Mar

-

6 Apr

Nuclear Physics and Elementary Particles (Ch. 30 - 31)

 

 

6 Apr

Exam 4

10 Apr

-

13 Apr

Easter Break

8 Apr

-

4 May

Light, Geometrical and Physical Optics (Ch. 23 - 25)

 

 

4 May

Exam 5

 

 

8 May

Final Exam

 

Homework

Text: Physics Algebra/Trig 3rd Edition, by Eugene Hecht

Chapter 15:

7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 41, 45, 51, 57, 61

Chapter 16:

1, 3, 9, 11, 13, 29, 31, 35, 43, 45, 47, 55, 89, 91, 93, 97, 107

Chapter 17:

5, 7, 11, 17, 29, 39, 81, 83

Chapter 18:

1, 5, 7, 9, 17, 19, 21, 23, 31, 37, 39, 41, 49, 53, 55, 59, 63, 67, 83, 85, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 105

Chapter 19:

5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 25, 31, 53, 55, 57, 89, 91, 103

Chapter 20:

1, 5, 9, 13, 15, 31

Chapter 23:

49, 51, 53, 59, 63, 71

Chapter 24:

17, 21, 23, 27, 45

Chapter 30:

1, 3, 5, 33, 37, 39, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 79, 81


 

PHYSICS II LABORATORY
PHY112AL, SPRING 2009

Dr. Burgess, dburgess@rivier.edu

The second semester physics laboratory will provide each student the opportunity to re-enforce the topics covered in lecture and extend their physics knowledge base by:

Doing hands-on experimentation
Doing research from a variety of mediums
Presenting a physics topic to the class

Experiments will be assigned as the semester progresses as was done last semester.

A research activity on some topic in physics resulting in an "extended bibliography" will be required. This will include at least eight references. The references will include, at a minimum, two from the Internet, two from an online data base (like EbscoHost), two from printed books, two from magazines or journals. A short summary of the information found in each reference and the answers to the following questions (with some explanation, not yes or no answers) should be handed in.

  1. Where can the source be found?
  2. Is the source reliable? How do you know?
  3. Is the information helpful?
  4. Was finding this reference easy or difficult?

The topic of this activity could be the same as the topic for the oral presentation, but doesn't have to be. This assignment will be due the same day as the oral presentation (see below).

A 10 minute oral presentation on a topic in physics that was not covered in class will also be required for this course. A concept outline (explained on the Physics homepage) will be required as part of the oral presentation. Specific criteria will be used to grade these presentations as described on the class web page. These presentations will take place on the 20th of April.

Late assignments: There will not be any penalty for up to three late lab assignments. If there are four or more late assignments at the end of the semester, all of the late assignments, including the first three, will be penalized 20% when calculating the final grade. Only the late assignments will be penalized and this will be done when final grades are calculated, after the assignments have been graded (all assignments will be graded as if they came in on time).

The laboratory grade will be determined by averaging all assignments, each carrying equal weight.