Physics 2B: General Physics II
Spring 2013 Course Syllabus
Instructor Information
Name: Carlos E. Figueroa
Email: carlos.figueroa@cabrillo.edu
Website: cabrillo.edu/~cfigueroa/
Office Hours: see website
Office Location: 211A
Phone: 831.479.6520 & 768.7971 (home)
Course Information
Title: General Physics II
Sections: 79360
Prerequistes:Phys 2A or equivalent knowledge
Meetings: Lecture in Room 205, 8:00 - 9:20 pm, TTh; Lab in Room 208, 9:30-10:50 am, TTh; PLC in Room 209 to TBA
Textbook
Textbook: College Physics: A Strategic Approach (all editions are accepted), Knight, Jones & Field
Laboratory Manual: Posted online at www.cabrillo.edu/~cfigueroa/2B_labs.
Learner Outcomes
1. Analyze and solve problems using the concepts, equations and methods of electromagnetism, optics, relativity, and the atom in both independent and collaborative settings.
2. Investigate physical phenomena experimentally using appropriate equipment and methods, and make valid comparisons with theoretical predictions.
3. Clearly communicate results of scientific inquiries in both oral and written form.
Problem Sets, Quizzes, Exams & PLC Activities
Problem Sets: Problem sets must follow the required format and are due generally every Tuesday at the beginning of lecture. Full credit is given for work that is (i) complete, (ii) correct, and (iii) clearly presented. Problems will be graded using this rubic. I encourage you to work on problems in groups--but you must write up your own solutions individually.
Quizzes: Quizzes are designed to check your understanding of a single topic/problem set. They are taken (generally) every Tuesday after the problem set has been collected. Quizzes are closed book and closed notes, except for a predetermined set of equations from the instructor.
Exams & Final Exam: There will be three exams covering the following chapters: Chapters 17-21, Chapters 22-25 and Chapters 27-30. Each exam will cover material from the lectures, problem sets and quizzes. Exams are closed book, but you will be provided with an “Equation Sheet” for each exam. A written excuse or prior notification must be provided if an exam is missed.
TBA (To Be Arranged) Hours or PLC Activities: The drop-in PLC (Physics/Engr Learning
Community, room 209) will be open every weekday, with PLC tutors who
can help you work on your required PLC activities. Phys 2B requires 1 hour and 5 minutes per week of arranged hours to be fulfilled in Room 209. It is the students' responsibility to record their attendance by signing in each time they attend the PLC. The instructor will collect these hours periodically. These hours are required, tracked, and the assignments graded. Arranged hours are class time and all students are expected to meet this number of hours per week to fulfill the requirements of this course. PLCs are due each week (initialed on sign-off sheet) by 3:00 pm, Thursday. The PLC policies and p procedures are
1.
TBA hours (i.e. PLC assignments) must be worked on cooperatively in small groups of 2 – 4 students.
2.
PLC exercises and experiments must be completed and signed off between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm during the times that an instructor is available. The times are posted online (see PLC schedule) and in the PLC.
3. Students must sign in on the log-in computer when they enter the PLC and sign out when they leave. All PLC exercises and experiments are posted on the Physics 2B website at: www.cabrillo.edu/~cfigueroa/2B/2B_plc. The weekly schedule of topics for TBA assignments is listed below.
| 02.14.13 | No PLC assignment due |
| 02.21.13 | PLC 1: Interference |
| 02.28.13 | PLC 2: Lens Applets |
| 03.07.13 | PLC 3: Microscopes |
| 03.14.13 | PLC 4: Electric Charge |
| 03.21.13 | PLC 5: Electric Fields & Forces |
| 03.28.13 | PLC 6: Electric Potential |
| 04.04.13 | Spring Break - no PLC assignment |
| 04.11.13 | PLC 7: Electric Power |
04.18.13 |
PLC 8: Equivalent Resistance & Capacitance |
| 04.25.13 | PLC 9: Magnetism |
| 05.02.13 | PLC 10: Eddy Currents |
| 05.09.13 | PLC 11: Polarization |
05.16.13 |
PLC 12: Atomic Spectra |
| 05.23.13 | PLC 13: Radiation |
Laboratories: Active participation and attendance in lab is mandatory. If two labs are missed you will be dropped automatically from the course. Weekly lab reports are due each week on Tuesday at the beginning of lab that includes the experimental procedures, data organized into tables or graphs, calculations/results and an interpretation and discussion of the experiment (see laboratory grading rubric).
Grading Polcy
The course grade is based on the following weighted percentages:
| Problem Sets | 12% |
| PLC Activities | 12% |
| Lab Reports | 16% |
| Quizzes | 15% |
| Exams (3) | 45% |
| 100% |