Physics II (Phys 1215 – Algebra Based)
Spring Semester 2016
INSTRUCTOR:
Mr. Mark Polson
Office: Sciences Complex 225H
Phone: (580) 581 - 2893
Email: mpolson@cameron.edu
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:30 -2:30 PM and Tuesday 4 – 5 PM
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of PHYS 1115. A lecture and laboratory study of the fundamental principles of electricity, magnetism,
optics, and modern physics. Lecture 4 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisite: PHYS 1115.
STUDENT OUTCOMES:
The outcomes of this course are:
1. to learn to reason qualitatively and logically about physics phenomena from the subjects of electricity, magnetism,
optics, and modern physics
2. to become adept at problem solving through applications in these subjects and
3. to acquire an understanding of science as a process.
This class will be different from traditional science classes. Instead of focusing on a set of facts to be memorized, we will
focus on learning to think rationally and coherently about some aspects of the physical world. This means that instead of
paying attention only to results, we will also pay attention to how you get results, how to evaluate results, what constitutes
valid results, and how to relate what we are learning to your intuitions. We're going to learn how to “think science” rather
than just how to collect someone else's results. College
TIME & PLACE:
LECTURE: MTWR 12:30 – 1:20 PM in SC 205
LAB: Tuesday or Thursday 2:00 – 3:50 PM in SC 145
TEXTBOOK & MATERIALS:
College Physics by Serway 10th edition, 2014, ISBN: 9781305367395
Physics II Lab Manual
Scientific calculator, any brand and model (a graphing calculator not needed).
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
You are expected to attend all classes. Each will involve your participation. In class quizzes will count towards 10% of the
grade. If you miss a lecture you are responsible for finding out what you missed.
HOMEWORK:
There will be homework every week. Homework will be submitted through WebAssign. Each homework will usually be a
combination of conceptual and quantitative problems relating to the material from the previous weeks in class. Over the
course of the semester the homework will amount to 15% of the grade.
You can purchase WebAssign from the following link, if you did not purchase WebAssign with the textbook.
http://www.cengagebrain.com/course/1-23NZNLX
Once you have purchased WebAssign or have a key, go to www.webassign.net
You will need the following information to register for the class.
Course Name: PHYS 1215, section CRN 22418
Start Date: 1/6
Instructor Name: Professor Polson
Class Key: cameron 7930 1228
It is important to complete the homework to obtain a good understanding of the material covered (and to practice so you
can do well on the exams). Due dates for the homework will be shown in WebAssign. You are encouraged to work with
others on the homework. However, you are discouraged from letting others do the work and then copying what they did,
or you doing the work and letting others copy. The instructor has observed that for the most part successful students pay
particular attention to the assigned homework and devote considerable effort to it. Feel free to visit the Instructor’s Office
Hours whenever you may need assistance with the homework.
EXAMS:
Midterm exams. -- There will be three midterm exams and a final. All exams will be counted.
Final Exam -- The final exam will be comprehensive, emphasizing subject matter covered in the entire semester. The
Final Exam will be on May 5th from 12:30 – 2:30 PM.
GRADING:
Course Component
% Value
Quizzes
Homework
Lab Participation
Midterm Exam I (Wednesday, Feb 3rd)
Midterm Exam II (Wednesday, Mar 2nd)
Midterm Exam III (Thursday, Apr 7th)
Lab Final (April 26th or 28th, during regular lab time)
Final Exam Thursday, May 5th 12:30 – 2:30 PM
10%
15%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
25%
Total
100%
GRADING SCALE:
A: 90 – 100 B: 80 – 90 C: 70 – 80 D: 60 – 70
A grade of F will be assigned to anyone who has below a 60% OR to anyone caught cheating in this course.
Having trouble?
Your professor should be your first line of defense when you are having trouble.
Other resources include:
your classmates (form a study group!),
the Tutoring Center.
Note: Make-up exams are not given except when a University acceptable excuse (i.e. illness warranting a physician’s
care, death in the immediate family, and sanctioned varsity athlete’s events) is supplied with documentation prior to the
exam. Final grade is FINAL; no work may be handed in for additional credit after the final exam.
Code of Conduct: Any behavior which is disruptive to the classroom, including talking, cell phone use (turn it off), pagers
(turn to vibrate), sleeping or cursing will not be tolerated and will result in being asked to leave the classroom. Police
services will be called if warranted.
Academic Integrity: University policy on Academic Integrity will be strictly followed in this course. Any violations of this
policy will be reported to the academic committee.
Topics Covered (Algebra Based Class)
Topics
Readings
Lab
Week 1&2
Electric Forces & Electric Fields
Chapter 15
Static Charge
Week 3
Electrical Energy
Chapter 16
Mapping Equipotential Lines
Week 4
Current and Resistance
Chapter 17
Ohm’s Law
Week 5
(Exam I, Wednesday, Feb 3rd)
Direct Current Circuits
Chapter 18
Power Transfer
Week 6
Magnetism
Chapter 19
Wheatstone Bridge
Week 7
Induced Voltages and Inductance Chapter 20
Series & Parallel Circuits
Week 8
(Exam II, Wednesday, Mar 2nd)
Alternating Current Circuits
Chapter 21
Kirchhoff’s Circuits
Week 9
Electromagnetic Waves
Chapter 21
Capacitance
Week 10
Reflection and Refraction of Light Chapter 22
Reflection & Refraction
Week 11
Mirrors and Lenses
Chapter 23
Thin Lenses
Week 12
Wave Optics
Chapter 24
Diffraction Patterns
Week 13
(Exam III, Thursday, Apr 7th)
Optical Instruments
Chapter 25
Polarization of Light
Week 14
Relativity
Chapter 26
Spectra of Elements
Week 15
Quantum Physics
Chapter 27
Superconductivity or Holograms
Week 16
Atomic Physics
Chapter 28
Lab Final (Apr. 26th or 28th)
Review for Final Exam on Monday, May 2 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM.
Final Exam Thursday, May 5th, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Martin Luther King Day: Jan. 18
Spring Break: Mar. 14 – 18
The Instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus at a later time. If that happens, an updated copy of the syllabus
will be posted on Blackboard.