Physics 106
Physics II - Electricity, Magnetism and
Optics
Spring Semester 2008
Locations and times:
Textbooks and supplies:
Serway
& Jewett, Vol. 2, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 7th Ed. (Thomson)
Optional Resource: Interactive WEB
site for the Serway & Jewett text (useful for test preparation)
Also available is an optional Student Study Guide, Volume 2
for the Serway & Jewett text (useful for test preparation)
Andrew Elby, Portable TA Problem Solving Guide, Vol. 2 (Prentice-Hall), on reserve in Room C005 of CNS and also available in Ames Library
General Physics 106 Laboratory Notes,
available from instructor, updated weekly
A pocket calculator will be useful for problem sets and tests and in the laboratory (it might not hurt in class either).
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Gabe Spalding C006B CNS Office hours: M 2:00 - 3:50 W 2:00-3:50 Th 9:00-9:50 gspalding@titan.iwu.edu 556-3004 |
Course
Overview:
The spring semester, 106, covers the science and technology of Thomas
Edison, Michael Faraday, and James Clerk Maxwell (as well as some more from
Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton). First we will define and discuss electricity
and magnetism (E&M) and explore the rather interesting connections between
the two. Eventually we will branch off from E&M and discuss the wave nature
of light and geometrical optics (light is actually related to E&M, as we
will see). The ideas we learn here are fundamental, and have direct applications ranging from electrical power, to modern electronics and instrumentation, to our understanding of neurons (shown below, interfaced to a silicon chip by Harold Craighead's group at Cornell).
In Physics 106 more of the assignments will come from the "General
Problems" section ending each chapter; identifying the sort of approach required is an essential part of
these homework problems. In our view, the exams involve the same sort of
exercises as these homework sets.
Through this course, you will develop strong problem solving skills,
necessary to apply common scientific concepts in a wide variety of situations.
You will begin to understand technical concepts, some intuitive and some
counter-intuitive, on a deep level. You will hone all of these skills through
experiences in the classroom and in the laboratory, where you will have
first-hand experience with some of the phenomena underlying natural processes.
You will gain further experience in reasoning deductively and mathematically,
using calculus, algebra, trigonometry, and geometry in order to understand
scientific descriptions of reality.
It is important to note that calculus is a part of this course. Students
contemplating a major in physics should take (the calculus-based) Physics 106 and students
interested in our 3:2
pre-engineering program are required to take calculus-based physics. Those intending to become Chemists are
also advised to take Physics 106, while pre-medical students typically take Physics 102.
Course Policies
Attendance:
It is important that you attend all classes and lab
meetings in order to benefit from this course and fulfill your responsibilities
as a participant.
The laboratory will not meet every week (see the
attached schedule). There will be a 20% penalty for any unexcused absence from the regularly scheduled laboratory period.
Assignments and Tests:
I will often send you e-mail and announcements. It is your responsibility to read these. It is also your responsibility to maintain your IWU e-mail account so that your mailbox does not exceed its allotted quota.
Written work must be handed in at the start of the class period at which it is due. This
syllabus also contains reading assignments that are necessary to prepare you for class discussion. Please do the
reading before attending the class related to that material.
There will be four exams
during the term:
· Monday 2/4 (Ch 23-25: Electrostatics)
· Friday 2/22 (Ch 26-28: Basic Circuits)
· Wednesday 3/12 (Ch 29-31: Electromagnetic Theory).
· Wednesday 4/9 (Ch 32-34: Electrodynamics & AC Circuits).
There will be a final exam at 3:30 PM on Thursday,
4/24. The first hour of that exam will
cover Chapters 35-38; the second
hour will review E&M basics.
You will need two lab notebooks. Each must contain
sewn-in pages, rather than spiral-bound pages. In addition to your lab
notebooks, brief lab reports will be due at the start of the next week’s lab
meeting. The report following your final lab section is due one week after that
meeting, by the time your section would normally meet.
Grading procedures:
Written exercises: the following simple scheme
emphasizing understanding over details will be applied to each problem or
substantial part thereof: 4 points will be awarded for a correct numerical
answer, 3 points for correct application of concepts, 2 points for a
significant attempt with conceptual errors, and 1 point for any attempt.
Exams: understanding concepts is key. On the
problem-solving exams, partial credit will be awarded for sensible efforts even
without completely correct answers. No partial credit will be given for the
multiple-choice questions.
Laboratory: to be discussed separately at first lab
session.
Final course grades will be computed using the
following weighting
· Four Exams during the term, each worth 125 points
· Final Exam = 170 points
· Laboratory = 200 points [Note: ALL labs must be completed to pass the course!]
· Written exercises = 80 points
Lateness policies:
Labs must be completed and turned in on the due dates unless cleared in
advance by the lab instructor.
Homework: You are permitted a single one week
extension without any penalty
during the semester when you are stressed out with work; however, in order to receive the extension you must, at the
time the homework is due, turn in a dated sheet of paper indicating that you
are giving yourself a "free extension." Save it for when you really
need it.
Otherwise, work turned in by the start of class following
the due date will be assessed a modest 15% penalty. Work handed in anytime
after that, but before the end of the semester deadline, will not be graded but
will be given about 1/3 credit for a reasonable effort. Please do not split up
the assignments.
Exams must be taken at the stated times, except by prior
agreement, with plenty of advance
notice.
Advice
The following suggestions are based on the experience of previous students:
Stay up to date
on the reading; preferably read the assigned material twice; for example, once before
the relevant lecture, and once after.
Read with pencil in hand to work through your reading. Ask yourself, "What
is the main point of each section?" and answer that question.
When you take notes in class, don't just write
down equations! Qualitative information is
often essential. Be thorough!
Review your
class notes between lectures, and come prepared to ask questions. Annotate your class notes as you read them.
Use the posted solutions to problems and exams as a study aid.
If you are interested in more resources, look at
the materials on reserve for the course in the library.
Feel free to ask for advice from any students who
have taken either Phys 102 or 106 before.
Don't prejudge your ability to master the
material. Generations of students have done it before you.
There is no magic method of presenting the material
that we can use to make it easy.
There are many resources available to assist and guide you. These include
the office hours of the course instructor and a "Discussion Workroom"
or Physics Help Clinic run by students on Monday through Thursday evenings. In
addition to the posted office hours, you may try dropping in on your instructor
or you can arrange a meeting time at any class or by e-mail.
Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor and ask for help. No
question or topic is too small! If you are having a lot of trouble with the
homework, please be sure to meet with your instructor as soon as
possible. Even if you are not having difficulty with the homework, it may be
useful to have others monitor your approach and to offer generalized feedback.
Feedback: If you have concerns about
the course or ideas about how to make it better, please let your instructor
know immediately, either in person or by e-mail. We are very
happy to implement suggestions, and we have had great success with student
suggestions in the past.
Honor code:
The important guiding principle of academic honesty is that you must never
represent the work of others as your own. The following guidelines should
govern your behavior in the course; please request clarification if you find
yourself in any doubtful situations.
You may seek assistance from the instructor, or at the Physics Help Clinic
or from your fellow students with the assigned exercises and with preparing for
class discussions. You may also work together with other members of the class
on these assignments, and this is often quite beneficial. However, for your own
good, avoid situations in which you contribute either too much or too little to
such collaborations. Just copying someone else's work is clearly a
representation of another's work as your own and is a violation of the
community. [This includes copying the homework solutions when preparing
your extension homework.] Your textbook gives the answers for most of the
odd-numbered exercises. These are given so that you will know if you have
solved problems correctly. It is not sound learning procedure to try to work
backwards from given answers, but doing so is not a violation of the honor code
for this class.
Solutions to the written exercises will be placed
in a binder in the Physics Reading Room (C005). If you are doing a late set for
1/3 credit, you may consult the solutions, but you may not copy them.
Exams must be entirely your own work.
Detailed instructions will be given on the exams themselves and discussed in
advance. You will be allowed to use a page of notes prepared in advance and a
calculator, but no other materials will be permitted. No collaboration of any
sort is allowed once an exam begins.
Tentative Schedule
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Problems of the Week |
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HW Set#1 Due W: Ch 23 # 6, 10, 18, 42 |
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Introductory Lab Meeting: |
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HW Set#4 Due W: Ch 24 # 3, 4, 6, 54; |
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Motion of Charged Particles in a Uniform Electric Field (p. 661-664): |
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Ch 25: |
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HW Set#10 Due W: Ch 26: 16, 17, 25, 29 |
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Combinations of Capacitors: |
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HW Set#13 Due W: Ch 27: 29, 37; Ch 28: 5; |
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HW Set#16 Due W: Ch 28: # 27, 31, 32; |
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HW Set#19 Due W: Ch 29: # 23, 61; Ch 30: # 3, 15; |
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HW Set#22 Due W: Ch 30: 17, 25, 27, 39; |
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Magnet Demos + Use of Hall Probes |
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HW Set#25 Due W: Ch 31: 25, 59, 66; |
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Ch 32: Read worked examples! |
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None |
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None |
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HW Set#28 Due W: Ch 33: 6, 11, 23; |
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HW Set#31 Due W: Ch 34: 15, 16, 53; |
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HW Set#34 Due W: Ch 36: Q6, 27; |
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HW Set#37 Due W: Ch 37: 9, 57; |
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FINAL EXAMINATION:
Thursday, April 24, 3:30 PM. The first hour of that exam will cover Chapters 35-38; the second hour will review E&M basics.