PH 122
PH
122
General
Physics
II
General Physics II
Spring,
2015
Spring, 2009
Brian Jones
Physics Department
Colorado State University
Introduction
If you are taking this course, you are not a physics major. You are not a physical scientist. You are probably
majoring in a biological science of some sort. But you do know some physics. You should have had another
physics course, most likely our PH 121 course, at some point.
I will be making certain other assumptions about you:
•
This is the last physics course you will ever take.
•
You aren't here by choice; someone is requiring you to take this class.
•
You will be pursuing a career in something other than physics.
Given this, I have some definite goals for this course:
•
I want you to learn enough physics that you can confidently take the MCAT, if you do so, or to handle
whatever physics comes your way in your future career.
•
I want you to see some of the truly remarkable elements of physics that everyone should know. This
is your last chance to experience this material, so we’ll need to make the best of it.
Ultimately, I want you to finish the course with a deeper appreciation for the workings of this world we
inhabit, and a practical sense as to how to solve problems like a physicist.
The material of this second semester of physics may seem more foreign than that of the first semester course.
The first semester course is largely about motion. Motion is something you had a good conceptual
understanding of before anyone ever taught you any physics. The second semester course is about a wide
collection of topics—electricity, magnetism, light, nuclear physics—that you may not have had experience
with. You have known for a long time what velocity is. But you probably don’t have a good feeling for what
an electric field is. (You will. Oh yeah... You will.)
As strange as the material may seem, everything we will study will have wide-ranging applications to things
that you use on a daily basis. We will discuss why there are three holes in a standard electrical outlet, how the
antitheft strips on books at the library work, and how an x-ray machine works. We will learn how to make an
MRI image, how your eye detects colors, and how radiation kills cancer cells.
In the second half of the course, we will talk about things that seem like science fiction but which really exist.
There is such a thing as antimatter; in fact, particles of it are going through your body as you read this. Our
brief jaunt into the quantum world will not shy away from all the weirdness it entails. How can you not be
intrigued by a subject about which one of the creators, Erwin Schrödinger, said, “I don’t like it. I’m sorry I
ever had anything to do with it.”? Of course, if you know about Schrödinger’s cat (and you will) you can see
why he was upset.
Success in this class depends on how you approach it. As a rule, someone who comes to lecture, lab and
recitation regularly, who does all the homework problems, who studies for the tests, and who asks
questions when necessary, will pass with a decent grade. People who do not come to class, who do not do
assignments regularly, will not. It’s that simple. There are no tricks.
I’ll make one final, personal, comment. I enjoy the material of the course, as you will no doubt realize. I enjoy
teaching at this level, and I really enjoy working with students from disciplines other than physics. I asked to
teach this course. I am hoping to share what I know about physics with you, how fascinating and powerful it
can be, but I am hoping that you will share things with me. I am very interested to learn about what other
subjects you are studying, how the material of this course relates, and about anything I can do to make this
course more relevant, interesting, or successful for you.
Brian Jones
January 2015
2
Course Calendar
Each week in PH 122 will more or less go like this:
•
Monday
Finish reading chapter, complete reading quiz. We’ll introduce topics in lecture.
•
Tuesday
Recitation, with recitation quiz
•
Wednesday
Hand in homework assignment. We’ll discuss problem solving in lecture.
•
All week
Lab. Hands-on exploration of concepts in the lab.
•
Friday
We’ll discuss applications and extensions in lecture.
A detailed calendar with topics, dates and full details is posted here:
http://goo.gl/L5IjrV
Here is an overview of the information from the calendar:
Week
Topics
1
Introduction and overview This includes a review of material from PH 121.
2
Ch. 20: Electric fields and forces This is important stuff; understanding of the field model and
electric fields in particular is an important basis for the rest of the course.
3
Ch. 21:Electric potential Electric fields give rise to differences in electric potential—voltages.
4
Ch. 22: Current and resistance A voltage can cause charges to flow in a circuit—a current.
5
Ch. 23: Circuits We’ll put together resistors, capacitors and other elements to create and
analyze complex electric circuits.
6
Ch 26: Applications & Exam #1 [Friday, Feb. 27] We’ll use what we’ve learned to discuss
electricity in the body, household electricity and safety. This finishes our first set of material.
7
Ch. 24: Magnetic fields We’ll extend the field model to magnetic fields.
8
Ch. 25: Induction & AC circuits A changing magnetic field creates a potential difference.
We’ll use this to understand AC circuits.
9
Ch. 25/6: Induction & electromagnetic waves Induction gives rises to electromagnetic waves,
a very important topic that we’ll discuss in detail.
10
Ch. 28: Quantum mechanics You’ve seen it in chemistry; we’ll explore the details here.
11
Ch. 30: Nuclear physics The physics of the nucleus, radioactivity, and radiation exposure.
12
Applications & Exam #2 [Friday, April 17] We’ll consider applications of the concepts we’ve
seen, wrapping up our second set of material.
13
Ch. 17: Wave optics Diffraction and other optics that rely on the wave nature of light.
14
Ch. 18: Ray optics The physics of lenses, mirrors, and images.
15
Ch. 19: Optics of the eye & review A great capstone topic for our final set of material.
16
Exam #3 [Tuesday, May 12] The cumulative final exam will be held during final exam week.
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Instructor
Brian Jones
Physics Department
Colorado State University
Ft. Collins, CO 80523
Engineering 209
491-5131 (w)
Brian.Jones@ColoState.edu
http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu
Not a Doctor, not a Professor—but nationally recognized for teaching excellence.
I have an MS in Physics from Cornell University and over 30 years of teaching experience.
Communication
PH 122
website
Homework solutions, quiz solutions, exam solutions, announcements, course grades and
other material relevant to the course will be posted here:
littleshop.physics.colostate.edu/ph122
University
e-mail
General course announcements will be distributed via e-mail. It’s important that you have
an updated e-mail address in the University system. Keep an eye out for class e-mails.
Canvas
I will post reading quizzes on Canvas.
Piazza
Piazza is a great platform for hosting discussions online. I’ve set up a course that anyone
can join. If you have homework questions, post them here, and I and others will weigh in.
piazza.com/colostate/spring2015/ph122/home
Text
College Physics, by Knight, Jones & Field (Third Edition)
This is a required text. I will assign readings, and I will assume you have read them before class. I will
assign online reading quizzes based on the chapter. Lecture won’t duplicate the book; it will complement it.
The book has 30 chapters. We covered chapters 1-16 in PH 121, we’ll cover chapters 17-30 in PH 122. You
can buy the full hardbound version which has all 30 chapters and covers both courses or just Volume 2,
which contains chapters 17-30.
The third edition was newly published in 2014. The coverage of the material has changed somewhat
between the second and third editions, but the big change you'll notice is in the end-of-chapter problems.
Many, if not most, of the problems I'll assign will be new in the third edition.
Maxwell’s Demons for PH 122, by Brian Jones & Kenn Lonnquist
This is the laboratory manual for the course, and is required. It contains background material and
instructions for performing the experiments that you will do in the course. The manual is sold by the
Society of Physics students in an office downstairs from the lab room. Details will be provided.
Office Hours & Group Study Sessions
Monday:
5:00 - 7:00
Location TBA
Tuesday
3:00 - 4:00
Location TBA
Wednesday:
1:00 - 2:00
Location TBA
Friday:
11:00 - 12:00
My office
The Friday time is a traditional “office hour”; I will make a point of being in my office (or nearby, at a
location specified by a note on my door) at this time. The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday time slots are
group study sessions; I will reserve a room, and will answer questions for whoever attends. The sessions will
extend beyond the times shown; feel free to stay and work with others even if I am not present.
Please do not hesitate to contact me outside these time if you have questions; if I have time, I will be happy to
speak with you. If I don’t, I will be happy to make an appointment.
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Lecture
Attendance at lectures is very important. You will be responsible for all material covered in lecture, not all of
which will be in the text. Lectures will deal with concepts, applications, and techniques of problem solving.
Lecture will be interactive. You will often work in small groups, answer questions and test your knowledge.
If you are in lecture, you are expected to take part. If you take part, you will learn.
The 3:00 and 4:00 lecture sections will cover the same material, but you must attend the section for which you
are registered. Please discuss any special circumstances with me.
Reading Quizzes
I will make regular reading assignments, to be finished by Monday of each week, before we discuss the
material in class. Reading quizzes on Canvas will ask you what you learned from the book, what things are
you still confused about. I’ll use this information to guide class presentations. The answers aren’t right or
wrong, so I won’t grade the quizzes, but I will give you a point for completion.
Quizzes will be posted well in advance of the due date: 3:00 PM on each Monday of the semester.
There will be 15 quizzes. You will receive +1 point for each quiz you complete. Your final score will be the
total of the points you receive, plus one point, up to a maximum of 15.
I’ll add a point to your score, so you can miss one reading quiz with no penalty. There will be no
opportunity to make up missed reading quizzes, and I will not give excused absences for them.
Essays
On six occasions I will ask people to complete an in class writing assignment called a “One-Minute Essay.”
At the end of class, I will ask folks to write for one minute on a topic related to the material of the class.
The essays will not be graded; if you hand it in, you will receive +1 point. I will assign 6 essays and give
credit for up to 5, for a maximum of 5 points.
You can only earn up to 5 points, so you may miss one essay with no penalty. There will be no opportunity
to make up missed essays, and I will not give excused absences for them.
Homework
Most Wednesdays, a homework assignment will be posted. Homework assignments will be due the following
Wednesday in lecture, and will be graded and handed back via the homework return box in the lab.
You will hand in 11 assignments over the course of the semester. We will grade two problems on each
assignment; each problem will be given 0, 1 or 2 points. In addition, we will assign 1 “completeness point” if
you have made a good try at all of the problems. This gives a total of 5 points possible per assignment.
Your final grade will be the sum of your 10 highest homework grades, for a maximum total of 50 points.
We will count your 10 highest homework grades, so you may miss one homework assignment with no
penalty. No late homework submissions will be accepted unless you give me an explanation in writing for
the delay when you hand your paper in. There are no excused absences for homework assignments. If you
miss class when an assignment is due, hand it in on your return.
Recitation and Recitation Quizzes
Each week, you will attend a 50-minute recitation section. The main purpose of the recitation section is to
give you a chance to learn problem solving skills. Recitation will proceed as follows:
•
Past quizzes will be handed back.
•
A quiz will be given (most weeks, 11 times during the semester). The quiz consists of problems
similar to those you will see on the homework. You'll complete recitation quizzes in groups; you will
work with two or three other students, and submit your results together.
•
You will have time to ask your instructor questions about homework and other topics.
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Recitation quizzes are graded out of 3 points. Your final recitation score is the sum of your highest 10 grades.
Your final recitation grade will be the sum of your highest 10 recitation grades, so you may miss one
recitation quiz with no penalty.
If you miss a recitation section, you may make up the quiz in another section. Let the instructor know that you
are registered in another section, and we’ll transfer your grade. If you miss recitation for a valid reason and
can’t make it up, explain your circumstances in writing to me. If I accept your explanation, you will be given
an excused absence, and your grade will be figured on the basis of the recitations that you did complete.
Laboratory and Laboratory Reports
There is a certain feeling for physics that you only get by working hands-on with real equipment and making
measurements. You are expected to go to lab each week, to be prepared, and to work in lab for the full one
hour and fifty minutes for which the lab is scheduled. Please do not attempt to “finish” and leave early; there
is always more work that could be done.
As you work in lab, keep a record of the work that you are doing: Records of predictions, data, calculations,
insights. Collect this into a single report that you submit, as a group. Lab grades will be assigned based on
your work in lab as well as the written report. Labs will be given one of three grades: √+, √, or –. Most
students will get a √ grade on most labs. A √+ grade means that your work stood out in some way, and was
deserving of a higher grade. A – grade means that your work was not up to the standard that we expect.
Lab grades will be converted to numerical scores as follows:
√+
√
–
7 points
6 points
4 point
Your final lab grade will be determined as follows:
Final lab grade = (average score on all labs) × 7 + 1 point
The maximum final grade for the labs is 50 points; most students will get between 43 and 48 points.
There are no “dropped” labs; any missed lab will involve a penalty:
First missed lab (unexcused): grade of 0, no additional penalty
Second missed lab (unexcused): grade of 0, 20 point penalty
Third missed lab (unexcused): grade of F for the entire course
If you must miss a week of lab, you can make up the lab in another section; please do so. You don’t need
clearance in advance—just show up. Explain your situation to the instructor for the section that you are
attending, then fill out a form to transfer your grade to your regular lab instructor.
If you must miss lab for a valid reason and cannot make up the missed lab in another section, explain your
circumstances in writing to me. If I accept your explanation, you will be given an excused absence, and your
average grade will be figured on the basis of the labs that you did complete.
Exams
There will be three exams during the semester. Two will be during the term. They will be held in class, and
will be 50 minutes long. The third exam will be held during the final exam period; details will be announced.
It will be a cumulative exam with problems from all sections of the course, but otherwise will be similar to
the other exams; it will have the same length and the same mix of problems.
Exams will be a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer problems based on 4 scenarios. In completing the
exam, you may use a calculator and a study sheet. Exams will be returned in the next class period or in lab.
There will be no “dropped” exam grades. If you miss an exam and I have no written excuse from you as to
why you missed the exam, you will receive a grade of F for the course.
If you must miss an exam due to an illness or other unforeseen circumstance, let me know as soon as possible
so that we can work out a time for you to make up the exam.
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Extra Credit
You can earn small amounts of extra credit in three ways:
1) Taking part in “Physics Theater.” We will do Physics Theater exercises occasionally throughout the
semester, and participants will receive +2 points for their efforts. Forms will be distributed for those who
wish to take part. Put your name in the box, and you might be chosen.
2) Answering a question in class. You may also put your name in a box to have your name called in class to
answer a question. From time to time, I will draw a name from the box, and ask you to answer a question.
You will receive +2 points if you answer, correctly or not.
3) Volunteering. Folks may choose to assist with a program of the Little Shop of Physics. There’s no better
test of your understanding of science than explaining it to a young person. People who participate will
receive a small amount (+3 points) of extra credit. There will be three special events for which we’ll need
many volunteers:
• Little Shop of Physics Open House. A full day of science for the community on Saturday, February 28.
We expect 7,000 visitors; we’ll need over 100 volunteers.
• Weather and Science Day. The world’s largest practical science lesson, to be held at Coors Field on
Thursday, April 23. I’ll need well over 100 volunteers.
• Visits to campus during finals week. We’ll host several hundred students in our teaching labs, and we’ll
need many volunteers to keep things running.
You can receive at most 5 points of extra credit from all sources.
Tutoring
There are many opportunities for additional tutoring, and for you to work with other students in small groups:
•
I will host weekly problem sessions, as noted above.
•
The Physics Department staffs a tutor room with graduate students who are free to answer questions.
The room is staffed during most hours of the week.
•
There is tutoring available in the TILT great hall on most evenings.
•
TILT will sponsor a regular supplementary instruction session. This is a great choice for someone
who needs regular, consistent work on problem solving skills.
Details will be provided in class and on the PH 122 web page.
Excused Absences
If you know that you will miss a recitation or lab, please let me know in advance. There may be arrangements
that can be made. I generally prefer that a recitation or lab be made up rather than excused.
But if you must miss a lab or a recitation for a good reason (illness, etc.) you can ask for an excused absence:
•
Consider what constitutes an excused absence. I will accept excuses for illness, family
emergencies, special events, and other special cases. Absences for events such as weddings and
funerals are generally acceptable; absences due to work schedules are generally not.
•
Fill out the form from the PH 121 website. The form includes basic information and a summary of
your reasons for missing recitation or lab. Fill it out and hand it to me in person.
•
You need not include supporting documents. I don’t require a doctor’s note or other official
documentation. I will trust you to tell me the truth about your circumstances.
•
Please be prompt. Get me a note as soon as you can.
7
Grading
You’ll earn points as the semester progresses:
Item
Description
Max Points
Exams
Recitation Quizzes
Homework
One Minute Essays
Reading Quizzes
Lab
3 exams, 50 points each
10 quizzes, 3 points each
10 assignments, 5 points each
5 essays, 1 point each
as described above
as described above
150 points
30 points
50 points
5 points
15 points
50 points
Total Points Possible
300 points
Your final grade in the course will be figured according to the following scale:
A:
265 - 300 points
B:
230 - 264 points
C:
195 - 229 points
D:
180 - 194 points
F:
less than 180 points
I will assign “+” or “-” to grades for persons within 5 points of a grade boundary, at my discretion.
Some things to note about the grading scale:
•
It is an absolute scale, with a point total built up from regular performance on homework, quizzes,
labs, and tests. If you want a good grade in this course, you can get one.
•
Exam grades count for half the point total in the course. Even if you don't do as well as you would
like on the exams, you can get a good grade. But you can't miss homework assignments, quizzes and
labs and count on the exams to “save” you.
Academic Honesty
University and Department policy is quite clear on matters of academic integrity.
It is very important that you do your own work in this class. I expect you to work with other students, but the
work that you hand in must be in your own words. Discuss a problem with others, but write it up yourself.
You shouldn’t look at someone else’s written work.
You know where the line is. Stay on the right side of it.
I make a point of trusting my students. If you violate that trust, I will pursue the matter.
•
•
•
•
If I receive two copies of an assignment that are too similar, I will follow up.
If I suspect cheating on tests, I will follow up.
If you hand in an essay with someone else’s name on it, I will follow up.
If I suspect that your name is on a recitation quiz that you didn’t take, I will follow up.
This is a very serious matter. Dishonest behavior can lead to significant negative consequences.
Talk to Me
You might have special circumstances that lie outside the parameters of the syllabus. You might have
a disability. You might have life circumstances that interfere with your studies. I can be flexible on
most details. I am willing to work with you. Please get in touch with me to discuss your situation.
I am also happy to meet with students to discuss things beyond the material of the course. There is
nothing I like better than talking about physics or other topics of mutual interest.
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