Physics 212
General Physics
Spring 2021
Office Hours:
Monday 4:00-5:00pm by Zoom - Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83121991638?pwd=V05oVGtaUUpkMjc3alVERTllQkNvQT09
Wednesday 2:30-3:30pm by Zoom - Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83121991638?pwd=V05oVGtaUUpkMjc3alVERTllQkNvQT09
Additionally, a help "room" will be staffed to answer homework related questions. This will likely be by zoom.
Formula
sheet Final Exam (PDF)
Links to Web info (to help with your project)
Videos of Class HW/Review sessions (Available on Blackboard under Media Gallery)
Extra Videos of Class (videos of the online classes and extra videos)
Link to Auroral Forecast at the GI
This syllabus is located at: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/212_spring_2021.html
Course Syllabus
In approaching this (and all) classes, please note the following ancient Chinese proverb:
Teachers
can open the door,
but you must enter by yourself.
Course Content: In the first part of the course you will learn basic thermodynamics including the 3 laws of thermodynamics and applications to such diverse problems as temperature, the efficiency of engines and the ultimate fate of the universe. Then the course will explore electricity and magnetism. We will start by discussing electrostatics followed by DC circuits and magnetostatics. Then we will talk about the interactions between electric fields and magnetic fields which will lead to AC circuits. We will then end the semester with an introduction to Electromagnetic waves. Most importantly, you are also very likely to learn to impress your friends with your knowledge of the universe (or bore them to tears), so be prepared for being introduced to "The Power of Physics".
Prerequisites: Calculus, high school physics and Physics 211. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus will be used extensively.
Materials Needed:
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Required Text: |
Physics for Sci & Engrg w/Mod Physics 4th Ed.,
Knight |
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Calculators: |
No calculators may be used during exams or quizzes. Otherwise, buy yourself a nice one. A basic, simple scientific calculator with trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions is all that you need. |
Lectures: Important
note: The first week of class (or two, to be decided) will be
online by zoom during both the 9:15-10:15 and 10:30-11:30 class
times. The zoom class will also be recorded and posted. The
link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83121991638?pwd=V05oVGtaUUpkMjc3alVERTllQkNvQT09
(F01) 10:30am MWF in 201 Reich or (F02) 9:15-10:15 MWF in 201 Reich. You must attend the section you are supposed to attend due to room capacity limits. The lectures supplement but do not substitute for the reading. Lectures will cover the major topics, emphasizing and discussing the important points. They are not sessions to regurgitate material already written in the text. Your personal participation is important, and it is critical that you read the assigned material before lecture. Time permitting, several Friday lectures will cover special topics beyond the scope of the text. These will be announced before hand.
Homework: There will be
approximately one homework assignment per week. The assignment will be
given out online on Wednesdays and will be due in on the following
Friday by 11:40AM (right after class). We will use google classroom
for submitting homework. You are encouraged to work with others on the
homework, but make sure the paper you turn in is not simply copied
from someone else. These assignments help me assess your understanding
of the material, and will count toward your final grade.
Late problem sets will not be accepted in
general.
Only a selection of problems will be graded each week, totaling about
25-30 points each.
Project: There will be a project due worth a maximum of approximately 10% of the course grade. The project will be in the form of a web page on a topic in physics that you find interesting and we agree on together. These topics could include biographies of important scientists, scientific projects and scientific ideas. The topic must be agreed to by Feb 5th and must be competed by April 14th moved to April 19th They will be graded both for presentation and content. More details will be discussed in class and on the web project link above.
Labs: There is a lab associated
with this course. ALL labs and
reports must be completed to get a passing grade for the lab.
A PASSING GRADE IN THE LAB IS NECESSARY TO
PASS THE COURSE.
Labs may only be made up if excused and with permission of the course
instructor. Questions about the lab should be directed to the teaching
assistant in charge of your lab or as a last resort me.
Hour Exams: Exams will be given during the Friday lecture as follows:
Feb. 19, approx. Chapters 18-21 and 22-23 April 2, approx. Chapters 23-29
The exams will be closed-book, but you will be given one side of an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet with most of the needed equations and will be allowed one sheet (double sided) of whatever notes you wish. No calculators are allowed. The exams will be graded and handed back as soon as possible. Solutions will be discussed.
For the exams and quizzes the following honor code will be followed:
Honor code: I promise to do my own work, not use internet sources, the text book or other books, help from friends, family (or enemies for that matter) etc, email or text messages, notes beyond those allowed, or calculators.
Final Exam: The final exam will be: for F02 (the 9:15-10:15 section) at 8:00-10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 27, and for F01 (the 10:30-11:30 section) 10:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Thursday, April 29. It will cover the entire course (Chapters 18-32), with some emphasis on the more recent material. The final will be closed-book, but you will be given two sides of an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet with most of the needed equations and you will be allowed two sheets (double sided) of whatever notes you wish.
Grading: The course grade will
consist of the following components (though I reserve the right to
make grade adjustments based on performance trends):
2 hour exams 30 % Final exam 25 % Homework 10 % Quizzes 10 % Project 10 % Lab 15 %
I grade on a curve however to satisfy university requirements, above
95% will be at least an A, above 85% will be at least a B above 75%
will be at least a C, above 65% will be at least a D (in most cases
the actual curve is significantly lower!).
Contacting Me: I have office hours as listed above. You can drop by at other times if I'm not busy, or make an appointment. I am (almost) never available before class.
COVID-19 statement: Students should keep up-to-date on the university’s policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website: https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/coronavirus/uaf/uaf-students?authuser=0 Further, students are expected to adhere to the university’s policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply.
Special Needs: The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. We will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.
Plagiarism etc: Plagiarism and cheating are matters of serious concern for students and academic institutions. This is true in this class as well. The UAF Honor Code (or Student Code of Conduct) defines academic standards expected at the University of Alaska Fairbanks which will be followed in this class. (Taken from the UAF plagiarism web site, which has many links with good information about this topic)
Complaints and Concerns: You are always welcome to talk to me about anything, however, if you have a non-subject matter question or concern that cannot be resolved by me, contact the department chair, Dr. Truffer, Physics Department Office, room 102 REICH.
Alternate References: To see the
same topics explained differently, try the following:
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Serway and Jewett. Fundementals of Physics, 8th edition, Halliday Renick and Walker. The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Richard Feynman ( a great set of books...but rather deep) Here is a good web site on how to study physics which might be of interest and use: How to study physics
General Advice: Physics is not
something you read and memorize, rather it is something you learn how
to do. Try the following study procedure: