General Physics II
Current Course Title:
Current Course Number: PHY 102-070
Instructor: Michael Francesco, Adjunct Professor, Rockland Community College
Credits Hours: 4
Contact Hours: 6
Course meets: Mondays, 6:00 – 8:40 PM (lecture) and Wednesdays (lab)
Academic 1 building, Room 1116f or lecture (M. Francesco) and lab in 1209 (M. Siddiqi)
Prerequisite(s): PHY 101
Co-Requisite(s): None
Required Text: Serway, R. and Vuille, C. College Physics. 10 th Ed. Cengage Learning.
Instructor's email: mfrances@SUNYRockland.edu
Course website: http://rccphysics.wikispaces.com
The weekly schedule, lecture notes, announcements, homework policy and
modifications to this syllabus will be posted on the course website
http://rccphysics.wikispaces.com/.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The second semester of a two-semester sequence of a Geometry- and
Algebra-based General Physics Sequence for students pursuing a career in the
sciences, including health sciences, or who want to satisfy their science
requirements. Topics include: Coulomb’s Law; Conservation of charge; Electric
Fields and Gauss’s Law; Electric Potential Energy; Voltage and Current; Capacitors
and Resistances; Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s Laws. Magnetism and Electromagnetic
Induction; Ray and Wave Optics; Characteristics of Waves and wave interactions;
Thin Films; Fundamentals of Modern Physics: Relativity and Quantum Mechanics.
COMPETENCIES AND EVALUATION OF COMPETENCIES
Competencies
Evaluation of Competencies
Define charge, calculation of electrostatic
force, electric field, and electric potential for
point charges and simple geometries with
charge distribution
Define capacitance, calculate equivalent
capacitance and voltage across a capacitor as
well as the energy stored in one.
Perform analysis of resistive circuits,
calculation of currents and determination of
power dissipation through resistors and power
sources.
Perform analysis of capacitor circuits,
calculation of charge and determination of
power storage in capacitors.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Describe the production of magnetic fields and Written and internet based homework
the effect of the magnetic field on moving
charges as well as on a current-carrying wire.
Define magnetic flux and apply Faraday’s law
of electromagnetic induction to explain
induced voltages.
Discuss the production of electromagnetic
waves and their characteristics.
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Written and internet based homework
assignments, exams, problem sets, lab reports
and classroom interaction.
Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and
the laws of reflection and refraction.
Examine wave phenomena for
electromagnetic waves: interference, thin film
interference, diffraction, and polarization.
Describe phenomena that gave way to
modern physics: photoelectric effect,
Compton scattering, blackbody radiation.
Discuss quantization and its successful
application to the hydrogen atom.
Grade determination is based on the degree of mastery of each competency
Each student will be graded on the following:
The lecture portion of the course comprises 70% of the student's grade calculated as follows:

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Tests = 50% *
Monthly problem sets = 10 % (total of 3 for the course)**
Participation = 10% (attendance and engagement in the class)
The lab portion of the course comprises the remaining 30%, to be scored as designated by the
lab instructor. Lab attendance and the performance of each lab with a full written weekly lab
report are required.
*The best 3 of these 4 exams will be used in your average; the lowest one will be dropped. There
are no make-up exams, so any absence for an exam will be a zero. One missed exam can be the
lowest score and can therefore be dropped.
** The homework policy is posted on the website at http://rccphysics.wikispaces.com/.
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DETAILED OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT INCLUDING SPECIFIC LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Detailed Outline of Lecture Content
1) Introduction:
 Charge, conservation and quantization of charge.
 Electrostatic force.
2) Electric Field and Electric Potential:
 Electric field of discrete and continuous distribution of charges.
 Force on a charge placed in an electric field.
 Electric potential of discrete and continuous charge distribution.
 Equipotentials and electric field lines.
3) Capacitance:
 Capacitance and capacitors.
 Parallel plate capacitor with and without dielectric.
 Energy stored in a capacitor.
 Capacitance in series and parallel circuits.
4) Electric Current and Resistance:
 Charge flow and electric current
 Resistivity and resistance, Ohm’s law
 Kirchhoff’s rules and circuit analysis
5) Magnetism:
 Production of magnetic fields
 Magnetic fields of simple geometries
 Magnetic force on moving charges and current carrying wires
6) Electromagnetic Induction:
 Magnetic flux, Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction
 Inductance and self inductance
 LR, LC and RLC circuits
7) Waves
 Common characteristics of waves
 Wave interaction
 Longitudinal vs. Transverse
8) Sound
 Doppler effect
 Resonance
 Open ended vs. closed end instruments
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9) Electromagnetic Waves:
 Basic characteristics of electromagnetic, EM, waves
 Speed of wave propagation, average intensity, and power of EM waves
 Spectrum of EM waves
 Red and Blue shift
10) Geometrical Optics:
 Ray optics, mirrors, and the mirror equation for spherical mirrors
 Snell's Law
 Thin lenses; the lens maker’s equation
 Simple optical instruments
11) Interference and Diffraction:
 Double slit interference, thin film interference
 Single slit diffraction
 The diffraction grating and optical resolution
12) Introduction to Modern Physics:
 The wave-particle duality
 The photoelectric effect, Compton scattering
 Color and Florescence
 Blackbody radiation
 The hydrogen atom, quantization of energy, and spectroscopy
Detailed Outline of Laboratory Content
Ten to twelve experiments are to be performed from the list provided below; some lab sessions
are to be used for problem solving as preparation for tests,
1. Electric Field and Equipotentials
2. Capacitance and Capacitors
3. Joule Heat
4. Resistance and Resistivity
5. Introduction to the Oscilloscope
6. Measurement of the Time Constant of an RC Circuit
7. Magnetic Field of the Earth
8. Electromagnetic Induction
9. Reflection and Refraction
10. Thin Lenses
11. Interference and Diffraction, Young's Double Slit
12. Polarization
13. Apectroscopy
See lab instructor for more specific details or modifications
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DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC LEARNING ACTIVITIES
The student will:
1. Participate in class discussions related to topics discussed in class.
2. Participate in the setting up of the experimental apparatus, make measurements of
physical quantities, and perform calculations on the data obtained.
3. Write experimental reports, including simple description of experimental materials and
procedures, diagram of apparatus, graphs, calculations, and conclusions.
4. Reinforce the concepts introduced in class through the solving of homework
assignments (problem sets from the textbooks and online University of Texas problems).
5. Attend class and avail themselves of office hours.
6. Complete reading assignments in textbook including worked out examples.
7. Attend daily lecture sessions and participate in classroom discussion.
8. Attend weekly laboratory session and actively participate in the laboratory
activities for that week.
9. Read assigned material in textbook and view material found online.
10. Take examinations.
11. Complete monthly problem sets.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
A scientific calculator is required.
1. Any examination not taken will receive a grade of zero. There are no make up exams, but one
exam grade will be dropped (it could be your lowest grade or one you miss. The exception is
for cheating…see below)
2. Any student caught cheating (including using unauthorized formula sheets of any kind) will
receive a grade of zero on that particular examination or paper. That zero cannot be dropped or
replaced by any other examination grade or extra work. Please read The Rockland Community
College policy on academic integrity.
3. Late work one day late is for 80% maximum credit. Work more than 1 day late is not
accepted. It can be emailed to make the deadline.
4. Instructors may make small modifications to the grading policy. Changes are updated on the
instructor's website.
ATTENDANCE/LATENESS POLICY: All students are expected to attend punctually every
scheduled meeting of each course in which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies
and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each section of each course. These will
be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance will be kept by the
instructor for administrative and counseling purposes. There are no make-up exams; missing an
exam is a zero. The lowest of the 4 exams grades will however be dropped.
Electronic Devices: The use of portable electronic devices such as pagers and cell phones is not
permitted while class is in session. Please silence these devices before entering class so that they
are not a distraction.
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