Syllabus for Physics 172
Electricity & Magnetism
Fall 2009
Section 01
MWF 8:00 – 10:50
WDC 1005
Office Hours:
Monday
12:00 – 1:00
Tuesday
8:00 – 9:30
Wednesday
12:00 – 1:00
Thursday
8:00 – 9:30
& by appointment.
Instructor:
Peter Betz
ICB 2405
(309) 268-8643
peter.betz@heartland.edu
Course Information:
Introduction: This is the second course in a calculus-based physics sequence for students in engineering,
mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Laboratory activities stress development of measurement,
observational, and analytical skills, and are based on lecture topics. Students will not receive credit for
both PHYS 172 and PHYS 162.
Topic outline for the course:
1. Coulomb’s Law & Electric Fields
2. Electric Potential
3. Capacitance
4. Circuits
5. Magnetic Fields & Forces
6. Induction & Faraday’s Law
7. Electromagnetic Waves
8. Polarization
9. Geometrical Optics
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes): After completing this course, the student should be able to:
1. Increased skills in problem solving and scientific reasoning.
2. Ability to apply Coulomb’s law to practical problems.
3. Skills to apply the principle of electric potential.
4. Ability to analyze circuits using Kirchoff’s Rules.
5. Skills to apply magnetic field and force principles.
6. Ability to understand the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
7. Ability to describe electromagnetic waves and their behavior.
8. Understanding of geometric optics principles and ability to solve related problems.
9. Ability to clearly describe and present problem solutions in homework, exams, and laboratory
reports.
Prerequisite: PHYS 171 and credit or concurrent enrollment in MATH 163.
Text: Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Fifth Edition, Tipler & Mosca, Freeman-Worth.
Required Technology: A TI-89 graphing calculator.
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Syllabus for Physics 172
Electricity & Magnetism
Fall 2009
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer: PHYS 172 fulfills 4 of the 7(A.A.) or
8(A.S.) semester hours of credit in the Life/Physical Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S. degree. It
also satisfies the laboratory requirement for the A.A. degree. PHYS 172 should transfer as part of the
General Education Core Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois
colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor
for transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information as
well at www.itransfer.org
Grading Policy:
Course grades: The grade you receive will be based on your exam scores 60%, homework 15%, labs 5%,
and final exam score 20%. Note, the final is cumulative.
90% will guarantee a grade of at least A
80% will guarantee a grade of at least B
70% will guarantee a grade of at least C
60% will guarantee a grade of at least D
Exams: Attendance is required at scheduled exams and the final exam.
Make-up of Exams: Students will be allowed to make up a missed exam provided the student may
provide a valid (to be determined by the instructor), verifiable, pre-approved (by instructor) reason
for missing the exam. Students not meeting these criterions will receive a zero for the missed exam.
Homework: Homework will be collected at the start of class on Mondays. Any homework turned in after
that time will receive a zero.
Attendance: Regular class attendance is an important part of educational success and is expected of all
students. Students who miss class are responsible for the material covered that day, including obtaining
the homework assignments and lecture notes. Attendance will not be a calculated part of your grade, but
you are responsible for all announcements made in class. I also reserve the right to give unannounced
quizzes.
Classroom restrictions:
Children will not be allowed into the classroom.
Food will not be allowed into the classroom.
Beverages, except water, will not be allowed into the classroom.
Required Writing and Reading: Students are expected to read the material in the textbook for each section
studied. Required writings will be part of most assignments and exams as students explain how they
found the solution, describe their solution graphically, and interpret their answer in the context of the
problem.
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Syllabus for Physics 172
Electricity & Magnetism
Fall 2009
Homework: You are expected to do the assigned homework. It is expected that, at a minimum, 2 hours of
outside work will be required for each hour in the classroom. This is a minimum. Some students will
require more outside homework time. Also note that nothing precludes you from doing more than the
required work. Extra work may be brought up by you in class or during office hours for questions and
help.
Incomplete grade: An incomplete grade may be given to a student who, by the withdrawal date, can
reasonably be expected to pass the course. Incompletes may be granted only when justified by extreme
circumstances (e.g., serious illness, accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family).
Incomplete grades are not given for such reasons as unjustified failure to appear for the final
examination. A written agreement, outline the requirements to be met, must be signed by the instructor
and the student. The agreed upon requirements must be completed no later than the end of the following
semester (spring semester for incompletes granted during the fall, and the following fall for incompletes
given during the spring and summer semesters). By the agreed upon date, the instructor will assign a
grade or the incomplete will be changed to an ‘F’ if the requirements are not completed.
Beliefs:
Student Learning: Learning is a life-long process. In order to enhance the learning process, students need
to take responsibility for their learning. This means being responsible in completing assignments,
attending and participating in classes, and studying. It also means taking the initiative to ask questions
when something is not understood and seeking assistance outside of class, from the instructor or tutors if
there are further unanswered questions or problems.
Instructor’s Role: The instructor’s role is to aid the students by creating a positive learning environment
where students feel free to ask questions, feel free to learn from mistakes, and are encouraged to develop
their curiosity. The instructor’s role is to help the students develop problem solving skills and to provide
guidance to students in discovering concepts and solutions themselves.
Methods of Instruction will include lectures, discussions, and group work that will emphasize applying
problem solving strategies to discover and reinforce concepts.
Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community
College and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of their
fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious offense
requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion from the
College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far beyond any officially
imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning cheating or
other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification of academic
records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or
systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in the college catalog.
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Syllabus for Physics 172
Electricity & Magnetism
Fall 2009
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a
paper, create a project, do a presentation, or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is considered
a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
 Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
 Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
 Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
 Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
 Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your
own.
 Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were your
own.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for plagiarism may be
severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in the course or expulsion from
school in extreme cases.
Syllabus Disclaimer: This syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class.
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