Physical Principles II (PHYS 2024) Course Syllabus
Dr. Daniel Bullock
Email: dbullock@atu.edu
Phone: 479.968.0230
WHEN: 10:00AM-11:00AM MWF
WHERE: Doc Bryan Auditorium
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 Physical Principles 2.
COURSE MATERIALS: The textbook we are using is titled, “Physics” by James S.
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 are 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 through Friday 2:00 PM – 3:00PM.
CO/PRE-REQUISITES: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 2010 is required. Due to the
mathematically intensive nature of this course a grade of C or better in MATH 1113
(College Algebra) is required. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Spring, and summer (upon demand). Concurrent
enrollment in PHYS 2010 is required. Prerequisite: PHYS 2014 or permission of
instructor. Continuation of PHYS 2014, covering electricity and magnetism, light,
relativity, particle physics, and quantum effects. 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 charges, forces, and fields.
 Solve problems about electric potential and electric potential energy.
 Understand and solve problems about DC circuits.
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Demonstrate knowledge of magnetism.
Solve magnetic-induction.problems
Demonstrate knowledge of AC circuits.
Understand and apply knowledge of Electromagnetic Waves.
Solve problems involving geometrical optics and Snell's Law.
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.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: Each student will be expected to solve the assigned
homework problems on his/her own time. The homework assignments will be collected
in the form of online computer quizzes. 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. Generally,
weekly homework assignments will be assigned on Monday and turned in electronically
on Friday at the beginning of class.
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. 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
students’ responsibility to understand the grading scheme. If there are any questions you
should ask the instructor. There are TWO grading schemes for the lecture portion of the
course:
SCHEME 1: 0-100. In SCHEME 1 0% will come from the in-class
quizzing/participation, and 100% will come from the exams.
SCHEME 2: 50-50: In SCHEME 2 50% will come from the in class
quizing/participation, and 50% will come from exams.
SCHEME 3: 70-30: In SCHEME 3 70% of your lecture grade will come from the
in-class quizzing/participation, and 30% will come from the exams. Your lecture grade
will be determined from the HIGHEST of the three schemes.
Your lecture grade will then be determined by the LOWEST of the two schemes.
For example, if you score a 90% using SCHEME 1 and a 88% using SCHEME 2 your
lecture grade will be 88%.
The overall course grade will be determined by using a ranking system. Each
student will receive a ranking in the class based on their cumulative (lecture + lab) grade.
For instance the student with the highest grade will receive a rank of 1 and the student
with the lowest grade will receive a rank equal to the number of people in the class. A
letter grade of A will be given to the top 15% of the class, a letter grade of B will be
given to the next 30% of the class, a letter grade of C will be given to the next 25% of the
class, a letter grade of D will be given to the next 15% of the class and a letter grade of F
will be given to the remaining 15% of the class.
Finally, the instructor reserves the right to adjust the grading scale as he sees fit.
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!