Physics 125          General Physics II        Spring 2009         Syllabus

 

Instructor:  Dr. Brian M. Davies

Instructor's office:  Currens 532 (top floor, NW corner)

Phone:  309-298-1307

Office Hours:  MWF 11:00 a.m. – noon and MW 2:00 –3:00 p.m. or by arrangement

Instructor's e-mail address:  BM-Davies@wiu.edu

Instructor’s web site:  http://frontpage.wiu.edu/~bmd111/

Required textbook:  College Physics, Wilson, Buffa, and Lou, 6th edition. 

Laboratory book:  Physics 125 Lab Manual, available at the Union bookstore

Class Schedule:
Lecture:  M W F  10:00 – 10:50 a.m.,  Room:  Currens 205
Discussion sections: Tues. 8:00 – 8:50 or 9:00 – 9:50 p.m., Room:  Currens 205
Laboratory sections: Wed. 3:00 p.m.-4:50 p.m. or Thurs. 10:00 – 11:50 a.m. or 1:00 – 2:50 p.m.,
Laboratory room:  Currens 302 (or in Currens 314 for Lab # 9)
            Instructor for Wed. 3 p.m. and Thurs. 10 a.m. sections:  Dr. Mallur (office: Currens 305)
            Instructor for Thurs. 1 p.m. section: Dr. Babu (office: Currens 426)

Course Objective: To introduce the student to basic concepts in electricity and magnetism, electric circuits, light and optical instruments, modern physics including quantum physics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Principles and concepts will be emphasized, and active classroom participation will be encouraged by use of reading quizzes, in-class worksheets, and other “active-learning” techniques. 

ADA policy: “In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation.  For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Support Services and provide it to the instructor.  It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students.  Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency.  Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.” 

Point Breakdown:
4 exams:  15 % each, for a subtotal of 60%
Homework sets and quizzes:  20 %
10 Laboratory exercises:  2 % each, for a subtotal of 20%

Assignment of Grades:
A    100%     - 85 + 5%
B    85 + 5% - 75 + 5%
C    75 + 5% - 65 + 5%
D    65 + 5% - 55 + 5%

   Physics 125               Class Schedule                      Spring 2009

 

   Class Day                   Content

 

     1, 2, 3                     Chapter 15  Electric charge, forces, and fields
     4, 5, 6, 7                 Chapter 16  Electric potential, energy, and capacitance
     8, 9, 10, 11             Chapter 17  Electric current and resistance
     12                           Exam 1         February 16  (Ch. 15-17)
     13, 14, 15, 16         Chapter 18  Basic electric circuits
     17, 18, 19, 20         Chapter 19  Magnetism
     21, 22, 23, 24         Chapter 20  Electromagnetic induction and waves
     25                           Exam 2         March 25  (Ch. 18-20)
     26, 27, 28               Chapter 22  Reflection and refraction of light
     29, 30, 31               Chapter 23  Mirrors and lenses
     32, 33, 34               Chapter 24  Physical optics:  the wave nature of light
     35                           Exam 3         April 17  (Ch. 22-24)
     36, 37, 38               Chapter 27  Quantum Physics
     39, 40, 41               Chapter 28  Quantum mechanics and atomic physics
     42, 43, 44               Chapter 29  The Nucleus
     45                           Final Exam     May 11,  10 a.m.  (Ch. 27-29)

 

 

Physics 125                  Laboratory Schedule

 

    Date                 Content

 

    Jan. 21-22                No lab

    Jan. 28-29                Introduction to the Oscilloscope

    Feb. 4-5                   Electric Fields and Equipotentials

    Feb. 11-12               No lab (Lincoln’s birthday)

    Feb. 18-19               Joule Heat

    Feb. 25-26               Ohm’s Law

    Mar. 4-5                  Resistances in Series and Parallel

    Mar. 11-12              No Lab

    Mar. 18-19              No Lab, Spring Vacation

    Mar. 25-26              Reflection and Refraction

    April 1-2                  Geometric Optics Kit

    April 8-9                  Spherical Mirrors and Lenses

    April 15-16              No Lab
    April 22-23              Nuclear radiation:  Half-life

    April 29-30              The Geiger Counter, Inverse Square Law, and Absorption of Radiation

    May 6-7                   Makeup labs (only one allowed per student)