PHYS 251 SYLLABUS

Summer Session I (June) 2006

Dr. Johnny B. Holmes

Basics (course description, goals, topics, grading, etc.)

Collected (written) Homework (introduction, format, assignments, example)

Computer Homework (introduction, assignments, download programs)

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Basics

Description, goals, topics

Grading

Tentative Test Schedule

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Description, goals, topics

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: PHYS 251 Physics II
A second course in physics covering electric forces, electric fields, voltage, capacitance, current, resistance, magnetic forces, magnetic fields, induction, oscillations, and waves. Prerequisite: PHYS 150. Corequisite: PHYS 251L.

TEXT: PHYSICS for Scientists and Engineers / with Modern Physics, any edition, by Serway

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Johnny B. Holmes, Professor of Physics

office: S202; office phone 321-3448; home phone: 383-9045; e-mail: jholmes@cbu.edu

GOALS: The course is designed to:

  1. Teach the fundamental aspects of electric and magnetic fields
    1. since these form the basis for understanding atoms, molecules and solids;
    2. since these form the basis for understanding electrical circuitry and power systems;
    3. to provide a foundation for future courses;
    4. to provide a fund of concepts, images, and metaphors that can be utilized to image how other things in the world might work; and
    5. to provide the basic knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis of our technological society so that you may become an informed and effective citizen.
  2. Demonstrate how physical phenomena can be organized and described both qualitatively and quantitatively by theory.
  3. Reinforce the application of analytical reasoning.

PREREQUISITES BY TOPIC:

  1. Basic algebra, solution of simultaneous equations, and trigonometry
  2. Definition of the derivative and basic rules of differentiation
  3. Definition of the integral and basic rules of integration
  4. Newton's Laws of Motion and Newton's Law of Gravity.
  5. Concepts of kinetic and potential energy, and law of conservation of Energy

TOPICS:

  1. Electric forces and electric fields, Gauss' Law (4 classes)
  2. Electric potential, resistors, capacitors and circuits (4 classes)
  3. Magnetic fields and Ampere's law (4 classes)
  4. Induction and magnetic properties (4 classes)
  5. Waves and oscillations, Maxwell's equations (3 classes)

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GRADING: grades (each based on 100 points) description

  • 5 . . . 5 tests each worth 1 grade (see tentative schedule below)
  • 1 . . . 9 collected homework assignments, together worth 1 grade (see below)
    You MUST HAVE A 65% OR BETTER on the collected homework to pass the course!
  • 2 . . . 13 computer homework assignments in two sets (see below)
  • 3 . . . the final exam counts as three grades
    --
    11 . . . TOTAL (final average based on average of these ten grades)
  • -1 . . . I will drop your lowest grade (not counting regular or computer homework) if you have 2 or fewer absences.
    --
    10 . . . ADJUSTED TOTAL The average of these ten (or eleven) grades will determine your final average. Your final grade will be given based on the following ranges of your final average:

A: 93­ to 100; B: 82 to ­93; C: 70­ to 82; D: 65 to ­70; F: 0­ to 65.


The tests will come essentially from the homework (both collected and uncollected - see the study guides), the computer assignments, and material covered in class. The final exam will come essentially from the five previous tests.

The course emphasizes problem solving rather than memorization. You will be permitted to bring in one 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper with whatever you wish on one side for each test. You may bring in two sheets (or one sheet both sides) for the final exam. However, the information on it must be in your own handwriting. No duplicated material will be permitted. Calculators are permitted, and even recommended.

ABSENCES:
You are expected to attend class since important concepts will be discussed in ways the text will complement but not duplicate. If you have more than two absences I will not drop your lowest test score as mentioned above.

If you miss a test, then you may request a make-up test. If I grant the request, a 10% penalty will be imposed. (If you have less than three absences you may drop this test from your average.) However, if you know you will miss a test, you may arrange to take the test early with no penalty. I do need at least 24 hours notice so that I have time to prepare the test.

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TENTATIVE TEST DATES:

June 9

Fri

Test 1 over Electric forces and electric fields

June 16

Fri.

Test 2 over Electric Potential

June 23

Fri.

Test 3 over Magnetism

June.30

Fri.

Test 4 over Electromagnetism

July 6

Thurs.

Test 5 over Electromagnetic Waves

July 7

Fri.

Final Exam (comprehensive)

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COLLECTED HOMEWORK

Introduction

Format

Assignments

An Example

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Introduction

The purpose of the collected homework is two­fold: (1) to enhance your problem solving skills; and (2) to enhance your communication skills.

You must get at least a 65% on the collected homework to pass the course!

The collected homework (which counts as one of your nine [or ten] grades) consists of a set of 9 problems of which one problem will be due most every Tuesday and Thursday (see schedule below). Each problem will be worth 11 points giving a total of 9 x 11 = 99 points. If you get the required 64 points (or more), I will add a point to your grade to make the homework grade be based on 100 (like all the others).

If you do not turn in the problem by the due date, you may turn it in before the last day of class but there will be a late penalty of 2 points.

If minor errors (e.g., dumb algebra mistake, incomplete units, occasional grammar error) are detected, points will be subtracted. If major errors are detected (e.g., few if any units, unclear diagram, start with specialized equations rather than basic equations), the problem will be marked REDO and no credit will be awarded unless it is redone in an acceptable manner and resubmitted by the last class (on July 6). Problems will normally be returned to you at the next class so that you have time to correct the major errors. If you get any grade less than 9 on any problem, you may re-submit that problem before the last class for up to 9 points credit.

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Format for regular collected homework:


The collected homework must be done according to the following format: [BE SURE TO NUMBER EACH OF THE SEVEN STEPS FOR EACH PROBLEM.]

1) I want to and I can: State this at the beginning of the problem. Questions you should ask yourself to confirm this attitude include: Do I want to pass the course? Do I want to learn something? Do I want to see how well I know something and understand the concepts? Have I read the chapter? Have I reviewed my notes from class? Am I willing to seek help?

2) Define the situation:

  1. State what you are given (for each piece of information define a symbol and then set that symbol equal to the value you are given).
  2. Draw a diagram and put your knowns and unknowns on the diagram. I consider this VERY IMPORTANT!

3) State the objective:

  1. State what you are looking for (use a symbol or symbols that will be found in the equations you will use and define those symbols).
  2. State what units the quantity or quantities should have.

4) Explore the options:

  1. State the basic equations or principles (by name only) that could be used. Note: only definitions or equations on the study guide are allowed.
  2. State any other way you might accomplish the objective.

5) Plan your method of attack: Outline the procedure you intend to follow. Write down only the major equations to be used. Do not include all the individual steps that it will take.

6) Show the algebra (or trig or calculus) work to solve the problem. Be sure to show units in your calculations!

7) Look back:

  1. State your answer with the appropriate units.
  2. Check your units to see if they match those you listed in part 3b above.
  3. Compare your answer to known benchmarks whenever possible.

If there is more than one part to the problem, do the above for each part. Sometimes the problem will have parts a,b,c that actually involve finding different quantities in the same problem, and sometimes the parts a,b,c will actually be different problems. It is up to you to distinguish the two cases!

Be sure your homework is neat and legible. Points may be taken off or the homework may not even be accepted if the work is not neat and easily legible!

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The Assignments:

NUM

day

date

Problem

1

Tues.

June 6

S-1

2

Thurs.

June 8

S-4

3

Tues.

June 13

S-9

4

Thurs.

June 15

S-16

5

Tues.

June 20

S-23

6

Thurs.

June 22

S-27

7

Tues.

June 27

S-31

8

Thurs.

June 29

S-33

9

Wednesday

July 5

S-41

[S­ indicates a letter problem from the study guides.] Alternative problems may be assigned in class if the pace of the class does not match the one anticipated.

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SAMPLE COLLECTED HOMEWORK PROBLEM

1) I want to and I can.

2) Define the situation:

  1. Given: length of person, yperson = 6 ft; mirror.
  2. Diagram:

diagram

3) State the Objective:

  1. Looking for useful length of mirror, yuseful
  2. Units: length should have units of feet.

4) Explore the Options:

  1. Equations: qincident = qreflected (law of reflection) Eq. (1)
    tan q = opposite/adjacent (trig def.) Eq. (2)
    yfloor + ytop = yperson (def. from diagram) Eq. (3)
  2. Other ways: obtain a long mirror and have someone mark on the mirror where you see your shoes and where on the mirror you see the top of your head.

5) Plan the method of attack:
Draw lines from eyes to mirror and back to shoes such that qincident = qreflected. Find position on mirror where ray of light from shoes (on the floor) strikes on way to eye; repeat procedure for top of head. Measure distance between these two points. (Any portion of mirror below the first point or above the second point is not useful for present purposes.)

6) Take action:

  1. draw lines from eye to mirror and from mirror to shoes;
  2. identify qincident and qreflected; note that qincident = qreflected;
  3. extend normal line used to specify q's to create two triangles;
  4. from diagram, note that since qincident = qreflected (Eq. 1) that
    tan qincident = tan qreflected ; therefore y1 /x = y2 /x (using Eq. 2);
  5. therefore, y1 = y2; and since y1 + y2 = yfloor , y2 = 1/2 yfloor;
  6. the same procedure can be used for the distance needed for the top of the head;
  7. therefore, yuseful = 1/2 yperson = 1/2 6 ft = 3 ft.

7) Look back:

  1. Answer: yuseful = 1/2 yperson = 3 ft.
  2. Units are in feet which corresponds to 3b.
  3. The useful length depends on the height of the person which is reasonable.
  4. Note: the useful length does NOT depend on the distance (x) from the object to the mirror. Is this correct? If this surprises you, check it out for yourself to see if you or the theory is correct!

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COMPUTER ASSIGNMENTS

Introduction (purpose, how to get and use the programs)

Assignments

download programs (this takes you to another CBU site)

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Introduction to Computer Homework Assignments

The purpose of the computer assignments is two­fold: (1) to give you (graded) practice applying the concepts taught in class (with immediate feedback as to whether you are correct or not), and (2) to encourage you to be accurate in your calculations (no partial credit given for wrong answers ­ instead a chance to do the whole set again [but with different numbers]).

The two computer homework sets, which will each count as one of your ten (or eleven) grades, consist of 13 separate computer programs (schedule is below).

To do any of the programs

  1. Download your own copy from the web, or see your instructor about making your own copy on a floppy, CD, or stick.
    1. If you have copied the programs onto your own memory device, then connect the memory device (in drive “x”) and from Windows go to the START, choose RUN, then type x:\PV1 (and Enter) for Vol. 3 or type a:\PVn (and Enter) for Vol. n (see schedule below).
    2. You may download the programs from the net: download , and do them on your own computer.
  2. The computer will ask you to verify the drive and directory that the answers will be written to. If you want to save this on your memory device, make sure that destination is x:\ . If you want to e-mail the responses to me, note in which directory the program will write the responses. You will need to attach the file called: STRES.DAT to an e-mail message, and you will need to know where to find it. It is at this point in the process that you tell the computer where to put this file.
  3. Enter your course number [PHYS 251, choice d], then your instructor [Dr. Holmes, choice h], then your section [X, choice e], then enter your name: Last First (use no commas). The computer will then ask you to verify your course and name - if it is correct as displayed, simply press return; if not, re-enter in the course or name.
  4. The computer will then display the menu of programs on the volume you have chosen. Simply type in the number of the program you wish to run and then press Enter to confirm your choice. From here on out, simply follow the directions on the screen.
  5. How I read your responses:
    You will have to submit the answer file either on diskette or by attaching the file to an e-mail message by the due date so that I can read your responses and give you the appropriate credit. Click here for instructions for e-mailing computer homework response file to me
  6. I will indicate to you your current computer score on your written homework and on your tests when I hand these back to you. There will be a CH followed by a number on the written homework or test to indicate your computer homework score.

Each of the programs asks questions or allows you to do certain things. Your answers or results are recorded on the diskette as you do them. This allows me to grade your computer homework.

Each assignment may be performed as often as you like. I will only count your best effort, so feel free to do it over and over until you get it perfect. If you get the first 9 questions correct but miss the tenth one, you need to redo the whole program and get all 10 questions correct for full credit. The reason behind this is so that you will consider whether your answers to the questions are correct before you enter them in (step 7 of the problem solving paradigm).

The due date indicates when it should be completed if you are to remain on schedule and wish full credit. If you do the assignment after the due date but before the last day of classes, you will get 80% credit. No credit will be awarded for anything submitted after the last class.

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Schedule of Computer Assignments

SETS #1 and #2  (for two grades)

NUM

Program

due date

Vol-Prog

points

1

Exponentials

T June 6

0-5

10

2

Electric Fields

W June 7

3-1

20

3

Gauss’ Law

F June 9

3-2

20

 

Test #1 on Friday, June 9

 

 

 

4

Logarithms

M June 12

0-6

10

5

Electric Potentials

T June 13

3-3

10

6

Electric Deflection

W June 14

3-4

10

7

Capacitors

R June 15

3-5

10

8

Resistors

F June 16

3-6

10

 

Test #2 on Friday, June 16

 

 

 

 

TOTAL for set #1

 

 

100

9

Magnetic Deflection

W June 21

4-1

20

10

Magnetic Fields

F June 23

4-2

20

 

Test #3 on Friday, June 23

 

 

 

11

Induction (Lenz's Law)

W June 28

4-3

20

12

Inductors

F June 30

4-4

20

 

Test #4 on Friday, June 30

 

 

 

13

Waves/Doppler Effect

R July 6

4-5

20

 

Test #5 on Thursday, July 6

 

 

 

 

TOTAL for set #2

 

 

100

NOTE: BONUS - If you get 100/100 on either or both of the computer assignment sets, 10 points will be added to your score giving you 110 points for this grade.

 

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