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PHYS 111 General Physics II (Calculus)

Students apply their understanding of Newton’s laws of motion and conservation of energy to systems involving ideal gases, electric charges, and magnetic fields. Topics include ideal gas processes; thermal properties of matter; the laws of thermodynamics (including heat engines); electric forces, fields, and potentials for discrete and continuous charge distributions; AC and DC circuits (including resonance), magnetic forces and fields; and induced electromotive force (EMF). Students apply their knowledge from Calculus I to evaluate trigonometric and polynomial integrals and derivatives with particular emphasis on physical interpretations of integrals. Students refine their understanding through small group and whole class discussions, class demonstrations, laboratory experiments, computer simulations, practice problems and tutorials (involving calculus as needed), and self-reflection. In the laboratory portion of the class, students learn to use common physics equipment (including microcomputer-based sensors), design experiments, analyze data and uncertainty, develop empirical models of phenomena and communicate their results through written lab reports. 

Credits

4

Prerequisite

PHYS 110 and eligible to enroll in ENGL 121. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 182

Hours Weekly

3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab weekly

Course Objectives

  1. Recognize one’s intuitive ideas about the behavior of the physical world and refine those
    ideas through class discussions and by comparing and contrasting them with results from
    experiments and computer simulations.
  2. Determine when it is appropriate or necessary to replace a sum or simple multiplication with
    an integral and determine the integrand and limits of said integrals.
  3. Develop and demonstrate, using appropriate symbols, notation, and vocabulary, explanatory
    and predictive models by applying Newton’s laws and conservation of energy (including heat)
    to systems involving electric charges, magnetic fields, and fluids.
  4. Relate, mathematically and conceptually, current, potential difference, resistance
    (impedance), and power for AC and DC circuits involving power supplies, resistors, light
    bulbs, capacitors, inductors, and switches.
  5. Construct AC and DC circuits based on their circuit diagrams and make current, voltage
    difference, and resistance measurements using a digital multimeter and current and voltage
    sensors.
  6. Identify and operate common laboratory equipment and computational tools such as digital
    multimeters; temperature, pressure, current, and voltage sensors; graphical analysis
    programs; spreadsheets; and computer simulations to gather information about a system or
    phenomenon.
  7. Design experiments, analyze uncertainty, and use experimental results to assess models
    and/or to develop empirical equations to describe phenomena, and communicate these
    findings through written reports.
  8. Solve problems accurately by: identifying or estimating essential information and questions,
    formulating a solution strategy, applying appropriate analytical and computational techniques
    (e.g. spreadsheets, simulations), interpreting the solution physically, and assessing the
    reasonableness of the solution (e.g. sign, order of magnitude).

Course Objectives

  1. Recognize one’s intuitive ideas about the behavior of the physical world and refine those
    ideas through class discussions and by comparing and contrasting them with results from
    experiments and computer simulations.
  2. Determine when it is appropriate or necessary to replace a sum or simple multiplication with
    an integral and determine the integrand and limits of said integrals.
  3. Develop and demonstrate, using appropriate symbols, notation, and vocabulary, explanatory
    and predictive models by applying Newton’s laws and conservation of energy (including heat)
    to systems involving electric charges, magnetic fields, and fluids.
  4. Relate, mathematically and conceptually, current, potential difference, resistance
    (impedance), and power for AC and DC circuits involving power supplies, resistors, light
    bulbs, capacitors, inductors, and switches.
  5. Construct AC and DC circuits based on their circuit diagrams and make current, voltage
    difference, and resistance measurements using a digital multimeter and current and voltage
    sensors.
  6. Identify and operate common laboratory equipment and computational tools such as digital
    multimeters; temperature, pressure, current, and voltage sensors; graphical analysis
    programs; spreadsheets; and computer simulations to gather information about a system or
    phenomenon.
  7. Design experiments, analyze uncertainty, and use experimental results to assess models
    and/or to develop empirical equations to describe phenomena, and communicate these
    findings through written reports.
  8. Solve problems accurately by: identifying or estimating essential information and questions,
    formulating a solution strategy, applying appropriate analytical and computational techniques
    (e.g. spreadsheets, simulations), interpreting the solution physically, and assessing the
    reasonableness of the solution (e.g. sign, order of magnitude).