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Physics 121

Calculus-based Introductory Physics II - Syllabus

 

General Physics: Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
Instructor: Prof. Y.C. Chen
Office: HN Rm. 1238
Email: y.c.chen@hunter.cuny.edu
Telephone: (212) 772-4526
Lecture: Mon & Wed. 10:10 - 12:00 am   Wednesday 9:10-10:00 am
Office Hours:  The one hour after the class on Mon. and Wed. or by email appointment on other days/times

Textbook:
Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker

10th or earlier editions are equally good.

Online resources at WileyPLUS :
(required - may be purchased as a bundle or separate from text)

Course Description

The course will cover chapters 21-34 as listed in the table below.
There is tutoring available at the Physical Science Learning Center.

The goal of this course is to
make you familiar, at the conceptual and basic problem- solving level, with the physics of electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics.

The Web-based homework covers each week's material. This means you will have the background of reading the text and the experience of two lectures to guide you in finishing each weekly homework assignment. Homework problems are designed to test your understanding of the concepts as well as simple problem-solving skills. Each week you will be responsible for completing a computer-based homework assignment. This assignment is graded and is an integral part of the course. Each homework set must be completed by the time indicated.

Physics 121 Learning Outcomes

  • Understand generalization of Coulomb's Law by Gauss's Law and the concept of a Gaussian surface.
  • Be able to apply Gauss's Law for simple geometries (symmetries) and master the difference between constants and variables of integration (e.g. R, r).
  • Understand the concepts of electric field and electric potential difference and how they are related; be able to calculate one given the other; understand the concept of a line integral.
  • Understand electric current and know how to apply loop rules and charge conservation to solve DC circuit problems.
  • Be able to apply Ampere's Law for simple geometries (symmetries) to compute magnetic field values.
  • Be able to describe the motion of charges moving in electric and magnetic fields.
  • Understand energy storage in DC electric and magnetic fields.
  • Familiarity with basic AC circuit theory - how to compute capacitive and inductive reactance and impedance. Understand the concept of electrical resonance and its mechanical analog.
  • Be able to describe and visualize traveling and time-dependent electromagnetic fields; i.e waves.
  • Know how to construct images formed by lenses and mirrors using ray tracing methods.
  • Understand some of the central topics of physical optics, i.e. interference and diffraction.
  • Apply rules of special relativity to calculate time dilation and length contraction; master the nomenclature of inertial reference frames and how to transform between them.

Course Grade

There are two midterms and a cumulative final exam. The grading point distribution is described.
If you miss a midterm it counts as zero, there are no makeups! The exam questions are problem solving types.

Midterm 1  15%  (lower score)
Midterm 2  20 % (higher score)
Quiz            10%
Homework 10%
Lab             15%
Final           30%

 Credit/No Credit Grading Option

You may choose to be graded in this course on a Credit/No Credit basis. Before selecting this option, check with your departmental advisor and be aware that many colleges, professional schools, and employers may look with disfavor on Credit/No Credit grades and may even convert "Credit" to "C" and "No Credit" to "F" for their purposes, as described in the Hunter Catalog. If you do select the Credit/No Credit option, you must complete all course assignments, including the final examination.

IMPORTANT!
If you choose the Credit/No Credit option, you must do so by the last class, using the official college form (you can obtain it from the Registrar's Office). Credit/No Credit requests will not be accepted after the final examination.

LAB

The lab is an essential part of the course, and no grade is given without completion of the lab.
If a student is repeating the course and has completed the lab in a preceding semester, it is not necessary to repeat the lab: the lab average from the preceding semester will be used in determining the course grade.

Topics Covered (Tentative)

Coulomb's Law
Electric Fields
Gauss' Law
Electric Potential
First Midterm Wed, Oct. 3, 2018
Capacitance
Current and Resistance
Circuits
Magnetic Fields
Magnetic fields due to Currents,
Inductance,
2nd Midterm  Nov. 14, 2018
Electromagnetic Oscillation and Alternating Currents,
Electromagnetic Waves
Images, Interference
Diffraction,
Special Theory of Relativity

Academic integrity: Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The college is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures
"In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of theRehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical and/ or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY located in Room E1124 to secure necessary academic accommodations. For further information and assistance please call (212- 772- 4857)/TTY (212- 650- 3230)."

PHYS 110/120  Laboratory Policy

(The policy supersedes previous announcements and postings.)

No food and drink is permitted in the laboratory.

The lab manuals may be purchased at Shakespeare Bookstore on Lexington Avenue between East 68th Street and East 69th Street.   Due to copyrights issues, photocopies of lab report data sheets will not be accepted.

Do not start the experiment unless the instructor gives you permission to do so.

The lab grade will be based on the average of 10 best lab reports (90%) and instructors' evaluation of students' performance (10%). This grade is then reported to your lecturer for inclusion in the final course grade (15% weight factor).    If a student completes less than 10 experiments, the missing scores are counted as zero in the average. 

The data sheets must be signed by the instructor at the end of each session. Reports without instructor's signature will not be accepted.

At the end of the semester, students can make up one missed experiment.

The list below will give you an idea of the criteria used by your lab instructor in grading your lab report:

1.       Quality of measurements.  Logical presentation of report contents.
2.       Accuracy and correctness of calculations resulting from proper use of data and completion of calculations.
3.       Orderly and logical presentation of data in tabular form, where appropriate.
4.       Good-looking graphs, easiness to read,  good choice of scales and labels.
5.       Comparison with theory.
6.       Answers to Questions; Conclusions.
7.       Clarity, Neatness, Promptness.

The lab reports are due at the next session. The penalty for up to one week late submission is 20%. No report will be accepted after one week.

The schedule of experiments for the semester is posted in the laboratory.

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