Chabot College
Fall 2010
Course Outline for Physics 4C
GENERAL PHYSICS III
Catalog Description:
4C - General Physics III
5 units
Oscillations, fluids, sound waves, thermodynamics, electromagnetic spectrum, optics including reflection,
refraction, diffraction, interference, polarization. Prerequisite: Physics 4B and Mathematics 3 (both
completed with grade of “C” or higher). 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 70, laboratory 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course the student should be able to:
1. analyze and solve a variety of problems often using calculus in topics such as:
a. mechanical waves;
b. electrostatics;
c. electric potential and potential energy;
d. electric currents and DC circuits;
e. magnetism;
f. electromagnetic induction;
g. alternating circuits;
2. operate standard laboratory equipment;
3. analyze laboratory data;
4. write comprehensive laboratory reports;
5. transform points and equations among rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates and
sketch their graphs as well as quadric surfaces;
6. parametrize curves using vector functions of one variable and analyze them (e.g. find unit
tangent, unit normal, curvature);
7. sketch the graphs of functions of two variables using level curves, traces in coordinate planes,
symmetry, etc;
8. extend the concepts of limits, continuity, differentiability and differential of single variable
functions to functions of two variables;
9. compute limits, partial derivatives, total differential, gradient, directional derivatives and interpret
them geometrically and in terms of rate of change;
10. apply partial derivatives and/or gradients to problems involving tangent planes and linear
approximation, and optimization, especially using Lagrange multipliers;
11. compute double and triple integrals directly or using change of variables and explain the
geometric interpretation of Jacobians;
12. apply differential operators gradient, divergence, curl and Laplacian to scalar and vector field and
interpret the results;
13. compute line integrals using parametrizations for curves;
14. parametrize surfaces using vector functions of two variables, and compute their areas;
15. compute surface integrals of scalar functions and vector functions using parametrization for
surfaces;
16. interpret the theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss physically as well as mathematically (as the
generalizations of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus), and use them to compute line and
surface integrals;
17. find scalar potentials for conservative vector field.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. analyze and solve a variety of problems often using calculus in topics such as:
a. oscillations;
b. fluids;
c. sound waves;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Physics 4C, page 2
Fall 2010
d. thermodynamics;
e. optics;
2. operate standard laboratory equipment;
3. analyze laboratory data;
4. write comprehensive laboratory reports according to published lab report standards.
Course Content (Lecture):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Oscillations and Wave behavior
Fluids
Sound Waves
Temperature
Thermal expansion and conduction
Kinetic theory
Ideal gases
Laws of thermodynamics
Heat Engines & Refrigerators
Light & Radio waves
Reflection & refraction
Interference
Diffraction
Polarization
Course Content (Laboratory):
1. Laboratory experiments, simulations, and activities exploring the lecture content that may include
the following concepts
a. Oscillations and Wave behavior
b. Fluids (Archimedes & Bernoulli Laws)
c. Sound Waves (Speed of Sound, Resonance)
d. Temperature (Newton’s Law of Cooling, Temperature Scales, Absolute Zero)
e. Thermal expansion and conduction of materials
f. Kinetic theory
g. Ideal gases
h. Laws of thermodynamics
i. Heat Engines & Refrigerators
j. Light & Radio waves (Speed of light, Microwaves)
k. Reflection & refraction (Basic optics of lenses and mirrors, Telescopes, Microscopes)
l. Interference (Interferometry)
m. Diffraction
n. Polarization
2. Experimental Technique, Manual and Computerized Collection and Analysis of Data, Error
Analysis.
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lecture and discussion.
Problem solving.
Demonstrations.
Laboratory experimentation.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Physics 4C, page 3
Fall 2010
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Weekly homework/question sets: 10+ discussion and/or numerical problems taken from the
textbook and online homework systems. Example: An object is placed 15 cm from a
certain mirror. The image is half the height of the object, inverted, and real. How far is the
image from the mirror, and what is the radius of curvature of the mirror?
b. Laboratory reports (individual and group), including computer-based data acquisition and
analysis. Example: Demonstrate the wave nature of light, including reflection, refraction,
polarization, interference, and diffraction, using microwaves. Along the way, experimentally
test and verify the inverse square law, Snell’s Law, and the physics of Young double-slit
experiment as well as the physics of interferometers. Using microwaves, measure and
compare your values for the indices of refraction for wax and plastic, and the wavelength of
microwaves, with known values, and discuss errors and uncertainties in your results.
c. Written assignments that encourage critical thinking and writing skills by including essays
which involve analytical reasoning; Special exercise worksheets; computer simulations and
tutorials; individual and group activities, research papers, long-term individual and group
projects. Example: Research an application of physics related to a topic from our class, and
write a 5+ page paper, including at least 5 current outside references. Present your work to
the class in a 10-minute presentation, and develop a handout to support your presentation.
d. Participation in email and web-based instruction, discussion, homework assignments, and
tutorials, including web-based research on topics dealing with physics and its applications to
technology.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Homework
b. Quizzes
c. Written Laboratory reports (individual and group) based on the Physics Department
Laboratory Standards and graded on criteria that may include the following:
1) Description of experimental procedures
2) Completeness of data collected
3) Quality of data collected
4) Computational precision and accuracy
5) Accuracy and precision of experimental laboratory results
6) Proper use of symbolic notation
7) Quality of analysis of scientific principles explored
8) Quality of narrative explanations and reasoning
9) Representation of data in tables or diagrams
10) Evaluation of the experiment overall, including accuracy and error
d. Midterm examinations
e. Final examination
f. Research papers
g. Student projects
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Giancoli, Pearson/Addison Wesley , 2009
Special Student Materials:
None.
SH:sh
Revised: 11/2009