SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
South Portland, Maine 04106
Title: College Physics II
Credit Hours: 4 with required lab
Instructor: Earl Lamoreau, Jr.
Office: 205 Hildreth Hall, S. Portland Campus
Telephone: (207) 741 – 5577
Catalog Number: PHYS 155
Total Contact Hours: 45/30
Email: elamoreau@smccme.edu
Office Hours: Th 12-1 S Portland,
or by appt.
Course Syllabus – College Physics II
Course Description
The second part of a two semester series, this course represents a non-calculus, but rigorously
algebraic, approach to the analysis of the concepts and relationships for Elasticity, Properties of
Solids and Fluids, Heat and Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Wave Properties for Sound
and Light. Topics from Modern Physics may be added if time permits. Emphasis will be placed in
understanding natural phenomena and solving numerical problems in both Metric (SI) and British
Engineering (US) systems of units. Weekly laboratory experiments help the student develop a feel for
realistic measurements and meaningful calculations in the topics studied.
pre-requisite:
PHYS 150 or equivalent
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Apply both the British Engineering (US) and SI (metric) systems for measurements.
Describe properties of matter and distinctions between solids, liquids, gases and plasmas.
Analyze Hooke’s Law problems.
Calculate stress, strain and moduli of elasticity for compression/tension, shear and bulk
situations.
5. Solve density and specific gravity problems.
6. Determine pressure using hydrostatic, kinetic and Pascal’s principle.
7. Distinguish between gauge and absolute pressure.
8. Calculate buoyancy using Archimedes’ Principle.
9. Analyze fluid flow dynamics using Bernoulli’s Principle.
10. Distinguish between temperature, heat and internal energy.
11. Express and convert temperature using different scales.
12. Use the Ideal Gas Law to determine pressure, volume and temperature of gases for given
initial and final states.
13. Solve thermal expansion problems for solids and liquids.
14. Calculate specific heat and sensible heat.
15. Solve calorimetry problems using the method of mixtures.
16. Find the latent heat required for phase changes of solids, liquids and gases.
17. Distinguish between the methods of heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation.
18. Analyze thermodynamic cycles for isothermal, isobaric, isometric and adiabatic processes.
19. State and understand the implications of the Laws of Thermodynamics.
20. Calculate efficiency and coefficient of performance of heat engines and thermal pumps.
21. Describe the nature of electric charges and electric fields.
22. Use Coulomb’s Law to find the force between charges.
23. Define EMF, voltage, current, resistance, power, and efficiency in simple DC circuits.
24. Analyze electrical flow using Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Rules for series, parallel and
combination circuits.
25. Explain magnetism and electrical induction using Ampere’s, Faraday’s and Lenz’s Laws.
26. Distinguish between generators and motors.
27. Perform power transmission calculations with transformers.
28. State the characteristics and properties for mechanical, electromagnetic and acoustic waves.
29. Analyze sound waves, calculate decibel level and explain the Doppler Effect.
30. Distinguish between the Law of Reflection and the Law of Refraction of light.
Learning Outcome Competences:
Critical Thinking: Upon completion of this course a student will be able to evaluate information to
make educated decisions based on the fusion of experience, reason and training.
1. A student can interpret information logically by selecting and organizing relevant facts and
opinions and identifying the relationships among them.
2. A student can analyze an issue or problem by separating it into it component parts and
investigating the relationship of the parts to the whole.
3. A student can synthesize information by combining ideas from multiple sources to come to an
independent conclusion.
4. A student can evaluate information by making informed judgments as to whether the
information is accurate, reliable or useful.
5. A student can apply theory to practice.
Quantitative Methods: Upon completion of this course a student will be able to logically analyze
and solve quantitative problems.
1. Recognize problems that can be solved by quantitative methods.
2. Identify the quantitative components of a problem.
3. Select an appropriate mathematical method to solve a problem
4. Demonstrate accurate computational and/or algebraic skills to solve a problem.
5. Estimate reasonableness of answers to problems.
6. Record data accurately using appropriate methods, tools, and technology.
7. Interpret information presented in charts and graphs
8. Use measurement concepts and correct labels to solve problems
9. Convert between English and Metric units.
Science and Technology: Upon completion of this course a student will be able to apply the
Scientific Method and employ the technological skills necessary to function effectively in an increasingly
complex world.
Topical Outline of Instruction
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Solids and Fluids; Elasticity, Pressure
Lab: Hooke’s Law of Elasticity
Archimedes’ Principle; Fluid Dynamics
Lab: Density of Solids and Liquids
Temperature vs Heat; The Gas Laws
Lab: Archimedes’ Principle of Buoyancy
Thermal Expansion of Solids and Liquids
Lab: Coefficient of Linear Expansion
Chapter 9.1 - 9.2
Chapter 9.3 – 9.4
Chapter 10.1 – 10.3
Chapter 10.4
EXAM 1 Solids, Fluids, and Gases Chapters 9 and 10
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Heat, Specific Heat and Calorimetry
Lab: Specific Heat Capacity
Phase Changes, Latent Heat; Heat Transfer
Lab: Latent of Fusion and Vaporization
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Lab: Thermal Conductivity
Heat Engines, Thermal Pumps, and the Carnot Cycle
Lab: Absolute Zero
EXAM 2 Heat and Thermodynamics Chapters 11 – 12
Chapter 11.1 – 11.2
Electric Charge, Forces, Fields and Potential Difference
Coulomb’s Law and Capacitance
Lab: Joule’s Law (electrical version)
Voltage, Current, Resistance and Power
Lab: Mapping Electric Field Lines
Basic Electric Circuits and Kirchhoff’s Rules
Lab: Series and Parallel Circuits
Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
Ampere’s, Faraday’s and Lenz’s Laws
Lab: Electric Motors and Generators
Chapters 15.1 – 15.5
16.1 – 16.3
Chapter 11.3 – 11.4
Chapter 12.1 – 12.4
Chapter 12.5 – 12.6
Chapter 17.1 – 17.4
Chapter 18.1 – 18.5
Chapters 19.1 – 19.7
20.1 – 20.4
EXAM 3 Electricity and Magnetism Chapters 15 – 20 (selected sections only)
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
SHM Vibrations and Waves; Standing Waves; Resonance
Lab: Transverse Standing Waves
Sound; Intensity and Decibels; Doppler Effect
Lab: Speed of Sound in Air
Light and Electromagnetic Waves
Lab: Reflection and Refraction of Light
Mirrors and Lenses
Chapter 13.1 – 13.5
Chapter 14.1 – 14.6
Chapter 22.1 – 22.5
Chapter 23.1 – 23.3
EXAM 4 Waves, Sound and Light Chapters 13, 14, 22, 23, and 24
(selected sections only) will be held during last lab period
Course Requirements
This course meets for three 1 hour or two 1.5 hour lecture/demonstration/problems solving
sessions and one 2 hour laboratory session each week. Attendance is expected and required at
all sessions unless a valid reason, satisfactory to the instructor, is provided. Individual
instructors will state their particular specification beyond school policy which may mean
providing supporting documentation for the absence. It is always the students’ responsibility to
make up and complete missed coursework on their own time and due upon their return.
Excessive absences will result at the instructor’s discretion in an administrative failure.
Both class and lab work will require a reasonable facility in the use of basic algebra and right
triangle trigonometry. Students not proficient in mathematics should plan to seek out additional
assistance beyond class time through the Academic Achievement Center, Math Dept., Physical
Science Dept. help sessions, instructor’s office hours or a private tutor.
Student Evaluation and Grading
Homework in the form of reading, questions, and problems is assigned daily and reasonable
effort is expected prior to the next class. A notebook check or pop quiz can happen at any time.
Laboratory reports are due at the beginning of the next lab period following the previous
week’s experiments. Late reports will have points deducted. There will be 4 major exams over
the course of the semester, usually after completion of two or three text chapters. All exams are
announced well in advance and consist of multiple choice concept questions and mathematical
problem solving.
The final course grade will be computed as follows:
Exam Average
60%
Laboratory
20%
Attendance, Homework, Quizzes
20%
Text, Tools, and/or Supplies
COLLEGE PHYSICS (required) by Wilson, Buffa, and Lou, 7th (or earlier) edition,
Pearson / Prentice-Hall, 2010 with Student Study Guide
Notebook (required, spiral or preferably loose leaf and dedicated to physics)
Scientific calculator (required)
End-of-Course Evaluation
In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC.
Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal site. Students can access the course
evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs 24
hours after the last day of classes each semester. Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation is available.
ADA Syllabus Statement
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more
information, please call 207-741-5798.
If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs
and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the disability services coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be
reached at 741-5923. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is
available upon request at this number. Course policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual’s
accommodations.
SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy
Students can print 150 pages per semester free of charge. If you print over 150 pages, you will be charged 10 cents per page
to your student billing account for tuition and fees. Leftover pages from each semester will not be rolled over to the
following semester. The College’s pay-for-print system monitors printing on all public printers (i.e. those in general access
labs, library printers, the Academic Achievement Center, Noisy Lounge and technology labs). Each time you log-in to the
system, the print station displays the remaining print quota. Once the printing quota has been exceeded, users will be
charged $ 0.10 per page or $.05 per side if the printer prints on both sides on their student accounts on a monthly basis.
Color printouts will be charged at 11 page units. This means each color printout will count as 11 pages toward the quota
and will cost $1.10.
Add-Drop Policy
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three days
of summer sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that
meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for
non-attendance.
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal
period is the second through twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week of twelveweek summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must
complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls,
please). The designation “W” will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is
an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does
not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal.
Plagiarism Statement
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for
work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or
writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as
well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly
committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s Disciplinary Officer and
appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and
a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms
outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.