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INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS II
                                                           

- WELCOME! -

This is the web-page for Physics 102, Introductory Physics II (sections 9-10, spring 2019). Materials on this webpage are meant to supplement information given to you in class itself. I'm not a big fan of OAKS, therefore any on-line supplementary material for the course you need can be found here. To the left, you'll find important links/syllabi/etc.

If you'd like to find out more about me or the research we do in my lab, check out my main webpage.

- Suggested Homework Assignments -

Homework will not be collected for grading. However, problems listed here are likely to be similar to quiz problems and I will eventually supply answer keys to some of these problems to aid you in your study. History suggests that you get far more out of the answer keys if you have tried to do the homework in advance of looking through the key. (When I work a problem, everything seems obvious -- until you start to try it yourself and realize the many places things can get confusing).

I've been a professor for 12 years and this is the first time I'm experimenting with the no graded homework approach. Success requires you to take responsibility for your own learning in this class; if you don't do any outside of class work, you will almost certainly struggle on quizzes and exams.

Unless specified otherwise, all problem numbers for suggested homework assignments are from Serway and Vuille.

Coulomb Forces:
Conceptual questions (p. 520-521): 4
Problems (p. 521-526) 1,2,3,4,7,9,13,15

Electric Fields and Gauss' Law:
Conceptual questions (p. 520-521): 8,10
Problems (p. 521-526) 17,19,20,25,27,31,50,54,57,66,69

Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy:
Conceptual questions (p. 559): 1,2
Problems (p. 560-565) 1,2,6,9,13,17,21,23,28

Capacitors and Stored Energy:
Conceptual questions (p. 559-560): 5,7,10,13
Problems (p. 560-565) 27,29,30,32,33,38,45,52,64

Current, Resistance, and DC Circuits:
Conceptual Questions, Chapter 17 (p. 585-586): 2,3,6; Chapter 18 (p. 612-613): 1,5,8,9
Problems, Chapter 17 (p. 586-589): 4,5,10,11,20,40,45,46,49,56,59; Chapter 18 (p. 613-619): 1,4,7,11,15,39,50,54

Magnetic Fields, Magnetic Forces on Moving Charges and Currents, and Magnetic Torque:
Conceptual Questions (p. 647-648): 1,4,5,9
Problems (p. 648-652): 3,5,6,9,11,13,16,18,23,26,29,30,34,36,37

Magnetic Fields Created by Currents, Electromagnetic Induction -- Faraday's and Lenz's Laws:
Conceptual Questions, Chapter 19 (p.647-648): 11; Chapter 20 (p. 680-681): 3
Problems, Chapter 19 (p. 648-655): 43, 44, 46, 49, 50, 53, 60, 61, 63, 65, 68, 72; Chapter 20 (p. 681-687): 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 18, 20, 21, 29, 31

Electromagnetic Waves and Reflection and Refraction
Conceptual Questions, Chapter 21 (p. 717-718): 8, 19; Chapter 22 (p. 743-744): 2, 3, 5, 9, 13, 14
Problems, Chapter 21 (p. 718-722): 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 68, Chapter 22 (p. 744-749): 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, 18, 19, 21, 24, 38, 45, 50, 57

Mirrors and Lenses
Conceptual Questions (p. 774-776): 2, 4, 5, 13, 14
Problems (p. 776-781): 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 31, 33, 36, 39, 42, 43, 66

Physical Optics (aka Wave Optics)
Conceptual Questions (p. 808-809): 2, 3, 8, 13
Problems (p. 809-813): 1, 2, 4, 9, 15, 17, 22, 29, 32, 37, 39, 43, 46, 52, 62, 70, 73

Special Relativity
Conceptual Questions (p. 860): 3, 4, 6, 7, 15, 16
Problems (p. 860-863): 5, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 23, 29, 32, 34, 37, 50

Quantum Physics
Conceptual Questions (p. 882): 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16
Problems (p. 883-885): 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 24, 29, 31, 43

Atomic & Nuclear Physics
Conceptual Questions, Chapter 28 (p. 904): 7, 13; Chapter 29 (p. 928): 1, 3
Problems, Chapter 28 (p. 905-907): 1, 3, 7, 17, 31; Chapter 29 (p. 928-931): 1, 3, 9, 17, 21, 27
Note: This last homework set only includes odd problems so that all answers are in the back of your text. It is possible we won't end up talking about all of these topics in class and/or that we will talk about topics that do not include suggested homework problems. As always, you are responsible for the content discussed in class -- even if there is no homework on the topic.


- About This Course -

This course is a continuation of Introductory Physics I. Topics discussed will include Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Optics, and basic Modern Physics (which includes the topics of Special Relativity, basic Quantum Mechanics, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics.)

This course is less mathematically demanding than PHYS 112 (General Physics II), but a mastery of basic algebra and trigonometry is assumed and will be needed. (The language of Physics is Mathematics; there's just no way around this).

- Step by Step Guide in How to Succeed in PHYS 102 -

Like all classes, what you ultimately will get out of taking this class is directly related to how much effort you put into the course. This material is challenging -- especially for a 100 level course -- but it CAN be done, if you put in the necessary effort.
  1. Attend class daily, pay attention, and be an active participant. (Take notes, ask questions, etc.)
  2. Complete all homework (including reading the text!). Work extra problems beyond those suggested if you are still having difficulties. You can never do too much Physics problem solving! (Physics is a skill and, like any skill, it takes practice to become decent. If you walk into class and try to take a quiz or a test without practicing the skill, you will almost certainly fail).
  3. When confused or lost, seek help right away! (Via office hours -- normally scheduled or by appointment, sessions at the tutoring center, attending and participating at the regularly scheduled problem solving sessions, or through help from private tutors. There are many resources available for extra help if you need it, but you can't wait until the end of the semester to turn things around!)
  4. When preparing for tests, rework problems you've seen before -- the ones done in class, during problem solving sessions, or non-assigned odd-numbered questions in the text (that have answers in the back of the book). Get help on any questions you do not understand.

Important Dates:

Tentative test dates (subject to change with at least 1 week's notice) are:
  • 21 Feburary 2019, 4-5:15 PM -- Test 1
  • 28 March 2019, 4-5:15 PM -- Test 2
  • 25 April 2019, 4-7 PM -- Comprehensive Final Exam (with emphasis on material following Test 2)



updated: 11 April 2019