COURSE SYLLABUS, Spring 2009

PHYS 152

General Physics 2

Great Basin College

Instructor: Dr. Gary Hanington

Office: Lundberg Hall Room 123C (in back of 123)

School Phone: (775) 753 – 2330

School Fax: (775) 738 – 8771

School email:

Office Hours: Monday: 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Thursday: 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Friday: 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Class Meeting Times: On-Line

Submission Time: All assignments (homework and lab reports) are normally due in by Sunday NIGHT 11:55 PM using WebCampus. Do not hand in anything late! See the schedule at the end of the syllabus for due dates.

Prerequisite: PHYS 151 (General Physics 1)

Textbook: Physics: Algebra/Trig (3rd Edition) author: E. Hecht

ISBN: 0-534- 37729-7 (combined edition Volume 1 and 2)

Your Lab book: Black Speckled (By Mead for example) or graph type from Walmart or GBC bookstore

Catalog Description: PHYS 152/152L (4 credits)

A continuation of PHYS 151. Topics include fluids, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, relativity, quantum physics, and nuclear physics. Includes a full lab component in these topics.

Rev - B

Course Textbook Lab Notebook

Course Description and Objectives:

Physics 152 is a continuation of the comprehensive General Physics 1. This 4 credit algebra based second semester physics course involves intense problem solving in its structure. The topics to be covered include electrostatics, direct current, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, AC and electronics, EM radiation, light, optics, special relativity, radioactivity, and an introduction to quantum mechanics.

We will perform virtual laboratory experiments to demonstrate the concepts covered above. All labs will be on-line presentations that you can download at your computer. These will consist of a short video taken of an actual lab being performed by the instructor or a student. These files may be downloaded on ones home computer and saved and reviewed again and again to insure that the procedure and instructions are understood. The student will utilize the measurement information taken during the lab demonstration which will be attached as a file along with the video section. The student will perform diligent analysis of the data yielding a detailed conclusion. In a video lab, the student can be more focused to the experiment than operating in an actual lab. Here, no time is wasted by setting up apparatus in incorrect configurations. Taking erroneous data (as happens many times in real experiments) is eliminated. By placing the common data information on-line, a comprehensive laboratory report with proper conclusions may be generated.

The primary objective of this course is for students to understand and be able to solve complicated multi step problems involving physical phenomena using algebra, trigonometry, and geometry based mathematics. Passing this course will qualify individuals to take a university level Modern Physics course.

Expected Course Outcomes (Objectives) AND Course Assessment:

Upon completion of the course, students should meet the following listed expectations. These outcomes will be measured at the end of the semester by specific problems dealing with each item occurring on the FINAL EXAM. From this data an analysis is performed by the instructor to determine the level of learning by the group of these listed outcomes. This will be used as feedback to assess the teaching methods utilized in this course.

1. Calculate the electric field due to a distribution of point charges.

2. Calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.

3. Explain the operation of a battery.

4. Correctly determine the current in an arrangement of resistors using Ohm’s Law.

5. Explain the origin of magnetism.

6. Explain the operation of a generator.

7. Calculate the magnitude of current in an LRC AC excited circuit.

8. Explain the electromagnetic spectrum.

9. Utilize the index of refraction in Snell’s Law

10. Determine the focal point of a lens using the Lens Maker equation.

11. Calculate polarization intensity using Malus’s law

12. Calculate the angle of diffracted light of a certain wavelength.

13. Calculate simple time dilation on a moving clock using Einstein Special Relativity.

14. Describe the implications of the Rutherford Scattering Experiment.

15. Utilize both the Stephan Boltzmann and Weins Displacement equations.

Method of Instruction:

Since this course is on-line, it is expected that the student will read and learn the required material in the proper time frame. We will cover at least one chapter per week from our textbook (and sometimes more).

There will be:

1. Weekly Homework

2. Weekly Tests (Including a FINAL EXAM)

3.. Weekly Lab reports

4. A One Page Term Paper due before the final exam.

New lessons start every week. It is your responsibility to check the schedule (attached to this syllabus) to see what is required and when the assignment is due. You should print out the schedule and constantly refer to it so you do not miss a deadline to turn material in. Everything is turned in using WebCampus. Do not wait until the last minute. The deadlines for this course are immutable.

Homework: (Measurement)

Starting with the first week, weekly homework assignments will be given with WebCampus. These are found in the Homework section of WebCampus. There are important rules governing this aspect of the course:

1. Homework will consist of ten questions from the material being covered that week. These questions may involve some basic algebra. You will use WebCampus to answer the questions. Since you have a week to complete the homework, and it is an open-book environment, no partial credit can be given. You will find the homework listed under the Homework icon in the main page of the course in WebCampus. You answer the questions using your computer. Homework must be turned in by the cutoff time. It cannot be late. The cutoff time is always every week at Sunday Night 11:55 PM (including holidays). Everyone must be able to use WebCampus. There are no exceptions to this rule, do not bring me the homework, do not fax it in, do not email it to me directly, do not turn it in to my mailbox. Only use WebCampus. Only use WebCampus.

2. Homework will be graded by the Monday after the turn-in due date.

3. There is no time limit placed on the homework assignment as long as you turn it in by the deadline. With WebCampus you have the ability to open the homework, close it and open it again. You can do this multiple times. You do not need to leave it open on your computer. However, once you officially submit your homework on your computer, it is gone, it cannot be re-submitted .

4. Homework problems will be multiple choice format. Homework questions will be selected from a database on a random basis. In other words, the questions on your homework assignment will be different from those of the next student.

Hopefully Helpful Hints:

Make sure that your computer configuration is compatible with a WebCampus class. Go over the information provided by WebCampus. If you have technical questions go to the Technical Help Desk at your facility (e.g. High Tech Center in Elko). The phone number of the Elko HTC is: (775) 753-2160. It is a good idea to start the homework early in the week and turn it in by Friday. If a problem occurs, at least you have two days to solve the computer error. There is nothing that can be done if you have computer trouble at the last minute before the assignment is due and cannot turn it in. If you do not turn it in on time it will be recorded automatically as a zero.

Tests: (Measurement)

Weekly TESTs will be given on-line after the homework is graded. They will be multiple choice questions. They must be turned in by the cutoff time.

1. Tests will be five problems of increasing hardness from the material we covered two weeks prior. You will use WebCampus to take the TEST. Since TESTs are open-book and open notes - no partial credit can be given. You answer the questions using your computer. TESTs will be 120 minutes long. You just use the WebCampus function. TESTs must be taken by the cutoff time. They cannot be late. The testing window will run from Thursday night 6:00 PM until Sunday night 11:55 PM. The cutoff time is always every week at Sunday Night 11:55 PM (including holidays) – but you only have 120 minutes to complete the TEST. If you do not complete the TEST within the time frame (120 minutes), WebCampus will not allow you to turn the TEST in. You must be prepared to take the weekly TEST. You cannot just halt the TEST after you start it. Look in the TEST section on WebCampus for the TEST to take. Everyone must be able to use WebCampus. There are no exceptions to this rule, do not bring me the TEST in, do not fax it in, do not email it to me directly, do not turn it in to my mailbox. Only use WebCampus. Only use WebCampus.

2. I will grade the Test turned in by Monday.

3. Once you submit the Test on your computer, it is gone, it cannot be re-submitted.

4. Test problems will be multiple choice format. Test questions will be selected from a database on a random basis. In other words, the questions on your Test will be different from those of the next student.

5. As mentioned earlier the time limit placed on the Test is 120 minutes. Once you begin taking the Test you must finish within the 120 minutes allotted. You can begin the Test at anytime but you only have 120 minutes to complete it. You must take and turn in the Test by the cutoff time for that particular week. The cutoff times are listed at the end of this syllabus.

6. The FINAL EXAM will be taken during FINAL EXAM week and will also be on-line. It will be comprehensive and cover all chapters. It will be 20 questions. The rules about missing the FINAL EXAM are the same as missing a TEST.

Labs: (Measurement)

As mentioned earlier, there will be labs due every week. These will serve to teach the method of scientific investigation and to demonstrate physics concepts being discussed that weeks lesson. Instructions and procedures for Lab Reports are found under a Lab icon in the home page for the course in WebCampus. You will need to be able to utilize a spreadsheet program (such as EXCEL) to print charts and extract information from data. There are important rules governing this aspect of the course.:

1. Your lab report must be turned by the cutoff time using WebCampus. It cannot be late. The cutoff for the lab report is Sunday night 11:55 PM (including holidays). Everyone must be able to use WebCampus. There are no exceptions to this rule, do not bring me the lab report, do not fax it in, do not email it to me directly, do not turn it in to my mailbox. Only use WebCampus.

2. I will grade the lab report turned in using the WebCampus function.

3. Please insure that you provide everything that is asked for in the procedure. The procedure will list the point structure of the report grading. If you leave out required sections you can rest assured that you will not get the credit for those sections. You should check every listed requirement prior to handing in your report.

4. Please turn in all assignments in Microsoft WORD. If you send it in any other format I cannot download and grade it. If I cannot grade it, you will get a zero. Remember, do not use WordPerfect, do not use any other program other than Mircosoft WORD. The college officially uses WORD. Do not turn your report in in EXCEL. If you use EXCEL to plot a chart, copy and paste the chart into your lab report. If you use POWERPOINT to draw a picture, copy and paste that picture into your report. Do not give me a POWERPOINT file to look at.

5. Please save the lab report file with a filename that has your name in it as well as the assignment.. For example: “PHYSICS152LAB1.2009JillSmith”. This makes it easier for both you and I. If you just send it in as a file called: “Lab1.doc” it may get lost or be discarded. Put your name in the file so I can see who sent it. You send in your lab report using WebCampus.

6. Once you submit the lab report on your computer, it is gone, it cannot be re-submitted.

7. If you do not download the video lab you cannot submit a lab report.

8. You cannot just copy your friends lab report and submit it. Data presented with the video labs may be different for you. I know who is getting what data what your results should be.

TERM PAPER: (Measurement)

In addition to the above, a One Page Term paper will be required. It is to be written about any current investigation in science that you select. This One Page Term paper will count as 5 points toward your final grade. It is due at the end of the course, one the day of the FINAL EXAM. You can turn it in earlier to get it out of the way. The Term Paper instructions are located with an Icon in the main page of the course in WebCampus. You will have to turn this in using, as with your lab reports, WORD format.

Grading: