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Instructor: Dr. J Croom, M.S., M.S., Ed.D. Office Hours:  Directly before or after class by appointment
E-Mail: john.croom@scranton.edu Office:  TBA




General Physics II - PHYS 121

Course Description:

        In this course, we will explore the underlying, governing physical principles of our universe through the use of the scientific method.
        Key topics to be discovered and discussed are as follows: Electric Forces, Electric Fields, Capacitance, Current, Resistance, Circuit Design, Magnetism, Reflection, Refraction, Interference, Diffraction, Polarization, and Optical Instrumentation.


Requirements

  • Textbook: Serway and Vuille, (2009) College Physics. Cengage Learning, ISBN:9780495386933
  • A scientific calculator

Other References:


Grading Procedures


Grading will be done on a percentage system with each graded assignment providing a specific number of points towards each category. A 60% minimum average is needed to pass.Your grade will be comprised of:

  • 30% Cumulative Final
  • 25% for Test Highest test
  • 20% for Test Middle test
  • 15% for Test Lowest test
  • 10% Homework Quizzes

Final class letter grades will be earned as follows:

95-100    A
90-94      A-
87-89      B+  
83-86      B 
80-82      B-
77-79    C+   
73-76    C
70-72    C-
65-69    D+
60-64    D
Below 60    F

Tests
  • You may bring one 4" x 6" index card (both sides) of formulas to exam 1. You may bring two cards to exam 2. You may bring three cards to exam 3, and 3 cards to the final.You can put anything you want on the 4"x6" index card. I will provide you with all physical constant you will need for each exam.

    NOTE to students taking the MCATs: You will NOT have formulas given to you during the MCATs. You are expected to memorize them.
Homework
  • Each chapter MUST be read for detail and comprehension before lecture.
  • Homework must be completed by the date specified in class. Quizzes will be given based on homework, if your homework is not done, you will struggle on the quizzes. These include your homework to read each chapter before the lecture.

Absence

  • Please note that attendance is very important to the success of a student particularly in a science or math course. As a result, the following policy will be in effect regarding attendance in this course. Each student is permitted one unexcused absence with no penalty. (That should cover the unforeseen emergencies that could come up without warning.) After that one unexcused absence, however, each hour of additional unexcused absence will result in a loss on 2 percentage points from the course average.

Missed Assignments due to absence

  • Any assignment you miss because of absence is your responsibility to make up within 1 week. This may require you to spend some time after class to make up assignments. Make-ups are always more challenging then the originally scheduled assignment.

Additional Information

  • Leaving the classroom in the middle of a test, quiz, or other formal assignment is discouraged. Take care of all personal issues before entering the classroom. A consistent pattern of leaving during an assignment will be viewed as giving the test taker an unfair advantage and points may be deducted. Follow the rules provided for the SATs found at http://www.collegeboard.com/html/sat_terms_conditions.html
    • It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of your grades. All graded assignments will be returned to you. If you question your average, you must be able to prove your grades so keep your assignments.
    • Do not ask for extra credit. Only the assignments above will be provided. Spend your time preparing for these assignments.

Academic Honesty

            Your integrity should be very important to you. Copying homework or assignments is cheating, and when caught you will be given a 0%. Working together is different than copying. Any quiz, test or project you are caught cheating on will result in an automatic 0% with no opportunity for a retake. I will give different versions of test/quizzes and move students around during testing to ensure you are doing your own work. Ultimately however, it is you who must determine how you want to succeed, on your own merits or dishonestly through the work of someone else.

Students with Disabilities

In order to receive appropriate accommodations, students with disabilities must register with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and provide relevant and current medical documentation. Students should contact Mary Ellen Pichiarello (Extension 4039) or Jim Muniz (Extension 4218), 5th floor, St. Thomas Hall, for an appointment. For more information, see http://www.scranton.edu/disabilities.

Writing Center Services

The Writing Center focuses on helping students become better writers. Consultants will work one-on-one with students to discuss students' work and provide feedback at any stage of the writing process. Scheduling appointments early in the writing progress is encouraged.

To meet with a writing consultant, stop by during the Writing Center's regular hours of operation, call (570) 941-6147 to schedule an appointment, or complete the Writing Assistance Request Form online. You can also schedule an online appointment using Google Docs and Google Talk.

This syllabus may be changed or amended by the instructor

Projected Class Calendar

Day Date   Lecture Problems PhET Resources
T 2/1/11 -- Chapter 15.1 - 15.3 Conceptual Problems: 1-7

Problems: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15
Balloons and Static Electricity
R 2/3/11 -- Chapter 15.4 - 15.9 Conceptual Problems:  9-15

Problems: 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 31, 33, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46
Electric Field Hockey
T 2/8/11 -- Chapter 16.1 - 16.5 Conceptual Problems: 1-7

Problems: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 25-39, 31
Charges and Fields
R 2/10/11 -- Chapter 16.6 - 16.10 Conceptual Problems:  8-10, 13, 14

Problems: 33, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52
Capacitor Lab
T 2/15/11 -- Chapter 17.1 - 17.4 Conceptual Problems: 1-3

Problems:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Ohm's Law
R 2/17/11 -- Chapter 17.5 - 17.8 Conceptual Problems: 5-11

Problems: 33-, 38, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47
Resistance in a Wire
and
Semiconductors
T 2/22/11 -- Chapter 18.1 - 18.3
Conceptual Problems: 1, 3-8

Problems: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8-10, 13, 15
Battery Voltage
and
Battery-Resistor Circuit
R
2/24/11 --
TEST 1 Chapter 15-17

   
T 3/1/11 -- Chapter 18.4 Problems: 16-21, 25, 27, 29 Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only)
R 3/3/11 -- Chapter 18.5 - 18.8 Conceptual Problems:  9-12

Problems: 32, 34, 35, 36, 37-43
Circuit Construction Kit (AC+DC)
T 3/8/11 -- Chapter 19.1 - 19.4 Conceptual Problems:  3, 4, 6

Problems: 1, 3, 5, 7-10, 12-14, 16-18, 22, 24
Magnet and Compass
R 3/10/11 -- Chapter 19.5 - 19.8 Conceptual Problems: 9, 13

Problems: 25, 27, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 41
Magnets and Electromagnets
T 3/15/11 -- Chapter 19.9 - 19.10 Conceptual Problems: 15, 17

Problems: 43-47, 55, 56, 59-61
Not phET
Ampere's Law Simulation
R 3/17/11 -- Chapter 20.1 - 20.4 Conceptual Problems:  1-8

Problems: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23
Faraday's Law
and
Generator
T 3/22/11 --
SPRING BREAK

   
R 3/24/11 --
SPRING BREAK

   
T 3/29/11 -- Chapter 20.5 - 20.8 Conceptual Problems:  11, 13, 14

Problems: 25, 28, 31, 33-35, 37, 38, 40-44, 45-49, 51-53
Radio Waves & Electromagnetic Fields
R 3/31/11 -- Chapter 21.1 - 21.7 Conceptual Problems: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15,

Problems:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 31, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40
Circuit Construction Kit (AC+DC), Virtual Lab

T

4/5/11 -- TEST 2 Chapter 18-21.7    
R 4/7/11 -- Chapter 21.8 - 22.1 Problems: 43-47, 49-54, 59-65 Radio Waves & Electromagnetic Fields
T 4/12/11 -- Chapter 22.2 - 22.7 Conceptual Problems: 1-4, 7-13

Problems: 1-5, 9-11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 28-31, 32-38
Not phET
Optics Simulation
R 4/14/11 -- Chapter 23.1 - 23.3 Conceptual Problems: 1, 5-8

Problems: 1-4, 6-11, 14, 15, 18-20,
Not phET
Optics Simulation
T 4/19/11 -- Chapter 23.4 - 23.7 Conceptual Problems: 11, 13

Problems:  21-24, 29-31, 33, 36-39, 41, 43, 44, 58
Not phET
Optics Simulation
T 4/26/11 -- Chapter 24.1 - 24.5 Conceptual Problems:  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

Problems: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16, 19, 21, 26, 29, 31-34
Wave Interference
R 4/28/11 -- Chapter 24.6- 24.9 Conceptual Problems: , 9, 11, 13

Problems: 38, 39, 41, 42, 47, 51, 52, 54, 56, 61
Wave Interference
T 5/3/11 -- Chapter 25 Conceptual Problems:  2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

Problems: 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 28, 33, 34, 37, 40, 44, 47, 49
Neither are phET-
Eye Simulation
and
Microscope Simulation

R 5/5/11 --
TEST 3 21.8-25

   
T 5/10/11 -- Chapter 26 Conceptual Problems:  1-10

Problems: 1, 2, 4, 6, 13, 16, 17, 18
Photoelectric Effect
and
Blackbody Spectrum
and
Lasers
R 5/12/11 -- Chapter 27 Conceptual Problems: 1-14

Problems: 1, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 33, 34

Neither are phET
Special Relativity Simulation
and
Spacetime Curvature and Gravitation Simulation

R 5/19/11 --
FINAL EXAM 3PM