Syllabus for PHYS 152 – General Physics II, 4CR,
Great Basin College
Section numbers: There are live and online sections in the same course – at the time of the first day of
class the sections were not established. Please consult the GBC schedule and registration system.
Instructor: Dr. David Freistroffer
Office: LUND 109 “The Fishbowl”
Phone: 753-2018 (Don't call me. Use email instead if you actually want a response.)
Email: david.freistroffer@gbcnv.edu
Office hours: Mon. & Wed. 9-11AM, Mon. 3-4PM
Course catalog description: A continuation of PHYS 151. Topics include electrostatics, circuits,
magnetism, induction, AC circuits, electronics, light optics, special relativity, and an introduction to
quantum theory.
Additional course description: This course is primarily used by biology-related majors and geologyrelated majors who will not likely use physics in their careers. This course is also a prerequisite for
some professional schools (like medical school). Many professional schools include physics questions
on their entrance exams. This course should not be taken by students planning on becoming
geophysicists, molecular biologists, biochemists, chemists, physicists, mathematics-related fields (like
applied math), or engineers. In my professional opinion it will not prepare you adequately for a future
in these fields. You should take the calculus-based physics courses instead (PHYS 180, 181, 182).
Required text: Walker, Physics, 4th Ed., 2014, Pearson, ISBN: 9780321903037 (note: this ISBN is for
the package including MasteringPhysics – for this semester the bookstore is selling a different version
that integrates with WebCampus – please consult the bookstore and GBC Help Desk before buying).
You need to have MasteringPhysics online homework along with the textbook. I will attempt to help
you (no guarantees!) to find alternative packages and used books for this class. The bottom line is that
you are responsible for having the correct book and online homework by the beginning of the course.
Required weekly online homework: You must purchase MasteringPhysics. You are required to have
the correct version of MasteringPhysics that works with the edition of the textbook that we are using
this semester. In order to use the online homework you will need to go to www.masteringphysics.com
and enter the unique course code for this course: MPFREISTROFFER56676 when prompted to do so.
This should bring you to a home page identifying the correct instructor, course, and semester at GBC.
If you need to purchase online homework (because you bought a used text, for example) please contact
me. Note: This semester, we are attempting to integrate WebCampus and Mastering. I will make
an announcement regarding what we should expect on the first day of class.
The four exams (including a comprehensive final) will be given in MasteringPhysics, not
WebCampus and not in-class.
PHYS 152, Spring 2014
Great Basin College
Dr. David Freistroffer
Learning outcomes and measurements (see far below for general ed outcomes)
Outcomes (with examples)
Measurements
Calculations involving electrostatics
Exams
Calculations involving circuits
Exams
Calculations involving magnetism
Exams
Calculations involving induction
Exams
Calculations involving AC circuits
Exams
Calculations involving electronics
Exams
Calculations involving light optics
Exams
Calculations involving special relativity
Exams
Calculations involving introductory quantum
theory
Exams
Note: The lab reports and online homework measurements will also assess the students' understanding
of the material in the outcomes above. These measurements will only be used for student grading
purposes and not for course assessment. My reasoning for doing this is that online homework is a
formative assessment and the level of understanding required to complete the lab reports successfully
is low and students are able to work together extensively on the lab reports (they do not definitively
assess anything, really). The discussions and term paper are only used to assess these outcomes.
Method of instruction
All sections are being taught recorded lecture capture, but live from Elko. Elko sections have live
weekly labs. The sections outside of Elko will have the same labs delivered online. These are the same
labs that the live section does.
Tools used in this course include GBC WebCampus, MasteringPhysics homework, extra
readings, discussion groups, and four exams, including a comprehensive final.
A typical week will consist of 2 lectures and one MasteringPhysics homework assignment (due
at 5:00PM on Sunday – always). Some weeks have discussion posts (WebCampus) and/or exams
(MasteringPhysics) – due Sunday at 11:55PM. Weekly lab reports are due on the dates and times listed
in the schedule. There is one term paper due near the end of the semester (see schedule).
Course requirements and grading system
Weekly online homework
(Almost) weekly lab reports
Term paper on a famous physicist
Discussion posts and additional reading
Exams and comprehensive final
20%
20%
5%
5%
50%
Grading scale:
A=100-90
B=89-80
C=79-70
D=69-60
PHYS 152, Spring 2014
Great Basin College
Dr. David Freistroffer
F for anything below 60
The W policy at GBC has changed. Instructors will not be able to give a 'W' after 60% of the course is
completed. This means that you will be completely responsible for issuing yourself a 'W' in any of my
courses by withdrawing from the course by the 'W' deadline. You are responsible for knowing this
policy, knowing when the deadline is, and actually completing the course withdrawal yourself. Instead
of issuing a 'W', GBC instructors will generally issue an 'F' that contains a footnote that the 'F' is for
non-attendance (if you stopped attending). This has the dual effect of being an 'F' and also signaling
financial aide, etc. that you did not attend. This is an adaptation to Nevada State policy.
Further explanation of the course requirements
Weekly online homework: There is online homework every week, including the first week of
class. Plan on spending 5-10 hours on the homework per week. The homework is due each
Sunday at 5:00PM. You must turn in it in using MasteringPhysics to get credit.
(Almost) weekly lab reports: Lab reports are due at the dates and times listed in the schedule.
The procedure of each lab report will list the point structure and contain the required elements
for the report. You must turn in the report in a single file in MS Word format using
WebCampus to get credit. No attached plots. No pieces of paper. Use the correct format!
Term paper: A one page (12 pts., single-spaced, MS Word format) term paper is required. You
can write it on a physicist of your choice. The instructions are located in the assignment section
of WebCampus. The due date for this assignment is located in the schedule.
Discussion posts and additional reading: From time to time (but at least four times during the
semester) I will post additional documents (fun stuff!) for you to read and discuss online. The
discussions will be posted for one or two weeks and require your participation according to the
grading rules posted with the assignment on WebCampus. Note: I plan to use the discussions,
readings, and term paper as “grade padding”. Make sure that you do them, as I anticipate that
the average grades on these assignments will be higher than the average grades on the exams.
Exams (including a comprehensive final): There are 3 exams and one final exam given during
the semester at the times listed in the schedule. The subject matter for the exams is listed in the
schedule. The final exam is a “combo”. It contains a section of new material that will look just
similar to the 3 exams given throughout the semester. It also contains a section that is
cumulative for the entire semester. The length and point distribution of these two sections will
be about 50:50. This final exam will take you twice as long as a standard exam to complete.
Attendance policy: Attendance is not required in lecture. Attendance is required in the weekly live labs
for the students in the live sections – otherwise you will have trouble getting your data...
Policy on missed/late exams, homework assignments, labs, etc.: Late work is not accepted – it gets
you a 0 on the assignment, etc. These course elements can only be made up with an approved (by me –
ie. completely at my discretion) written excuse. The student must make every effort to contact me
before the assignment, etc. is actually due. My preferred method of communication is email – but I do
understand that emergencies sometimes warrant a phone call.
PHYS 152, Spring 2014
Great Basin College
Dr. David Freistroffer
Late/missing lab reports: I am listing this one twice because it is the most common problem in the
course. Due dates/times for lab reports are listed in the schedule. Late submissions are not accepted
(see above for details on possibly making them up). Don't use someone else's data if you didn't go to
the lab. Do the honorable thing and take the 0.
Extra credit policy: No extra credit is given in this course.
ADA statement: Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students
with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student
must furnish current verification of disability. The Students with Disabilities Office, located in Berg
Hall, will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable
accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please call
775.753.2271.
Student conduct:
GBC's student conduct policy will be enforced in this course. This includes, but is not limited to
reporting all plagiarism, other forms of cheating, and any behavior that the instructor that the
instructors deems disruptive.
PHYS 152, Spring 2014
Great Basin College
Dr. David Freistroffer