Physics 21 Introductory Physics II [4]

Instructor: Robert Folk
 

Current Course Catalog Description

Continuation of Physics 11. Electrostatics and magnetostatics, DC circuits, Maxwell's equations, waves, physical and geometric optics; introduction to modern  physics. Two lectures and two recitations per week.

Textbook

Douglas C. Giancoli, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Volume II, Upper Saddle River, N.J. (2000). Chapters 21 through 38. and Notes on Waves, Robert Folk (2003), Chapters 1 and 2.      

References  

Course Goals

By lectures and discussions in recitations, supplemented  by demonstrations, laboratory experiments and homework,  the students are to become familiar with the basic principles and laws of electromagnetism, waves, optics,  and the quantum theory of atoms.   In working 30 graded homework assignments, six quizzes,  two hour tests and an exam, the students are required to  derive their solutions starting with the basic laws,  rather than using intermediate equations from the book. In  order to work realistic, non-textbook problems, we build  on their computer programming experience in the freshman  Engineering 1 course or a computer science course. They may not use canned programs.  By the end of the course, most of the students  understand the basic principles, how to apply them, and  how they relate to other topics in engineering and  science. In the laboratory and on paper, they understand topics ranging from DC and AC circuits to atomic spectra.  On the practical side, they build an amplifier, send signals optically through a glass pipe, learn how motors  and generators work, and many examples of applying science.

Prerequisites by Topic

Physics 11; Math 23, 32, or 52, previously or concurrently.

Major Topics Covered in the Course

1. Introduce Coulomb's law to define and to determine the  electric field and potential due to point and distributed  charges. Define capacitance.

2. Introduce electric current, resistance, and emf.Use Kirchhoff's laws to analyze DC circuits.

3. Determine the magnetic force on current carrying wires. Use the Biot-Savart and Ampere's laws to determine the magnetic field due to currents.

4. Define and calculate self and mutual inductance.

5. Study Faraday's law and its many surprises.

6. A.C. circuits.

7. Introduce the displacement current and Maxwell's  equations. Show how electromagnetic waves are due to    charges and currents.

8. Study mechanical waves and the mathematics of waves. Relation of wavelength, frequency, and velocity of   waves.

9. Assuming that light is an electromagnetic wave, we study  the polarization of light, derive the laws of reflection   and refraction, and the interference and diffraction of   light.

10. Study the formation of images by lenses and mirrors,  including systems of lenses and mirrors in telescopes,   microscopes, fiber optics and other optical equipment.

11. In class and in lab, we study the interference and  diffraction of light and its applications and   consequences.

12. Using the optics just learned, the students study atomic spectra, the photoelectric effect, Compton    scattering, Rutherford scattering, and other phenomena that introduce the dual wave-particle theory of atoms, light, and their interaction.

Laboratory projects (specify number of weeks on each)

Most students are concurrently taking Physics 22, which is laboratory course that meets three hours a week .

Estimate CSAB Category Content

CORE     ADVANCED

Data Structures
Computer Organization and Architecture
Algorithms Software Design
Concepts of Programming Languages
 
 
Oral and Written Communications

Every student is required to submit at least thirty homework assignments, which are graded and returned with comments of typically two pages each and to make presentations as part of the recitation sections that meet twice  a week. 

Social and Ethical Issues

Not applcable.

Theoretical Content

1. Nine weeks on electromagnetic theory.

2. One week on waves.

3. Three weeks on geometric and physical optics.

4. One week on atomic physics.

Problem Analysis

All thirty homework assignments and all quizzes, hour tests and the exam involve the analysis of physical problems using calculus and numerical solutions using computers.

Solution Design

This is part of Physics 22.

Class Schedule

There are two lectures and two recitations per week. The sequence is lecture, recitation, lecture, and recitation. Homework on the previous topic is collected in lecture and new material is introduced. The homework is graded and returned with a copy of our solutions in the following recitation. The returned homework is then discussed and examples of the new material are worked.

Six quizzes are given in the recitation periods. The two hour tests and the exam are scheduled at times so that the students in all the recitations take the same tests at the same time.
 
Most of the students are concurrently taking our Physics 22 laboratory course that is supervised by the lecturer in Physics 21. Thus, the experiments can be designed and scheduled to supplement the material in the lectures and recitations. Furthermore, several of the laboratory experiments are repeated as lecture demonstrations.