General Physics II (PHYS 2124) Course Syllabus
Dr. Daniel Bullock
Email: dbullock@atu.edu
Phone: 479.968.0230
WHEN: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM T-Th
WHERE: McEver 15
COURSE INFORMATION: General course information can be found on the course
website. The website can be found at pls.atu.edu/physic/people/bullock. Follow the link
titled: "Teaching". Finally click on the link for General Physics 2.
COURSE MATERIALS: The textbook we are using is titled, "Fundamentals of
Physics" by Halliday/Resnick/ Walker. Additionally, each student will need to purchase a
H-ITT transmitter from the bookstore.
CLASSROOM RULES: Each student is expected to show mutual respect for one
another. Most food and drinks are allowed however food that has a definite odor is NOT
allowed (e.g. hamburgers, fries, tacos, etc.). If a student has any questions they should
ask the instructor.
OFFICE HOURS: My office is located in McEver 03. Phone: 479.968.0230 I have an
"open door policy" meaning that anytime I am in my office you can stop by for help. My
designated office hours are Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 8:30AM - 10:00AM and
Tuesday-Thursday from 8:30 – 9:30 AM
CO/PRE-REQUISITES: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2000 is required. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 2924 (Calculus I).
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Fall. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2000 is required.
Pre- or co-requisite: MATH 2924. Introductory mechanics, heat and thermodynamics,
kinetic theory, and sound. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours. $10 laboratory fee.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this introductory physics course are:
 Provide the student with a clear and logical presentation of the basic concepts and
principles of physics.
 Strengthen an understanding of the concepts and principles through a broad range
of the interesting applications to the real world.
This course attempts to motivate students by presenting practical applications that
demonstrates the importance of physics for other disciplines. The course will cover
fifteen chapters from the text. Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of electric charge and Coulumb’s Law.
 Understand and apply Gauss’ Law.
 Demonstrate knowledge of electric field lines, electric force lines and electric
potential lines.
 Understand the idea of capacitance and their function in electric circuits.
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Demonstrate knowledge of current and resistance and be able to apply Ohm’s
law.
Understand and apply knowledge of Magnetic Fields, Induction and Inductance.
Solve problems based on electromagnetic oscillations and alternating current.
Understand the origin of electromagnetic waves.
Solve geometric optics problems, and be able to due ray trace diagrams.
GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES: Students who consider this course to
complete one of their science requirements of the General Education courses, will receive
a more detailed coverage of some of the concepts of physics. This course will particularly
help students to "show competence in reasoning and handling of abstract and quantitative
ideas and be able to create mathematical models and use mathematical techniques to
solve the problems which they encounter."
IN-CLASS QUIZZING: In an effort to engage the class during the lecture period, each
student will be expected to participate in class. This will be accomplished both by inclass quizzing and each student being called on to answer questions during the lecture.
WEEKLY HOMEWORK QUIZZES: At the beginning of class on Fridays there will
be a closed book, closed note, essay style quiz over the topics covered in the assigned
homework.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: Each student will be expected to solve the assigned
homework problems on his/her own time. Some of the homework problems will be used
as examples in class and regular help sessions will be scheduled during the semester to
accommodate the majority of students. Additionally, students should come by my office
and ask for help if they are having problems with the homework assignments.
EXAMS: There will be four exams during the semester. Each exam will be a closed book
exam. No notes or equation cards/sheets will be allowed. Additionally, programmable
calculators will NOT be allowed, this rule will be strictly enforced. Each student is
responsible for pre-approving his or her calculator with the instructor BEFORE each
exam. Each exam will count toward your overall course grade.
LAB: Each student is required to attend the weekly labs (according to your schedule).
The lab reports and quizzes in the lab will count 25% toward your overall course grade.
GRADING: The grading for the lecture portion of this course is very unique. It is each
student's responsibility to understand the grading scheme. If there are any questions you
should ask the instructor. There are THREE grading schemes for the course:
SCHEME 1: 0-100. In SCHEME 1 0% of your lecture grade will come from the in-class
quizzing/participation and weekly homework quizzes and 100% will come from the
exams.
SCHEME 2: 50-50. In SCHEME 2 50% of your lecture grade will come from the in-class
quizzing/participation and weekly homework quizzes, and 50% will come from the
exams.
SCHEME 3: 65-35. In SCHEME 2 65% of your lecture grade will come from the in-class
quizzing/participation and weekly homework quizzes, and 35% will come from exams.
Your lecture grade will be determined from the HIGHEST of the three schemes.
****NOTE: The lecture grade accounts for only 75% of your overall course grade,
the other 25% comes from your lab grade.
The overall course grade will be as follows:
A : 100-90%
B: 89.999-80%
C: 79.999-70%
D: 69.999-60%
F: 59.999-0%
COURSE CONTENT:
Electric Charge
Electric Fields
Gauss’ Law
Electric Potential
TEST #1
Induction and Inductance
Electromagnetic Oscillations and
Alternating Currents
Maxwell’s Equations; Magnetism of
Matter
Electromagnetic Waves
TEST #3
Capacitance
Current and Resistance
Circuits
Magnetic Fields
Magnetic Fields Due to Currents
TEST #2
Images
Interference
Diffraction
Relativity
TEST #4
POLICY ON ABSENCES AND CHEATING: Any absence will be excused if the
student presents the instructor with a letter from the doctor (NOTE: This letter must
contain the doctor's contact information). If an absence has occurred due to a death in the
family the student must present the instructor with a copy of the obituary. If a student
misses class because he/she is attending a professional school related meeting, the student
must present the instructor with a program from the meeting. Any student caught
cheating will be reported to the appropriate University authorities.
SUMMARY: This syllabus is meant to be a guideline for the course and the instructor
reserves the right to make modifications as he sees fit.
This course will be a challenge but I guarantee that if you do the work you will learn
some fascinating material. I look forward to having each of you as my student! GOOD
LUCK!