PHYS 2212 Principles of Physics II

                                                      Fall 2010

Instructor:      Dr. Julie Talbot

Office:                       Boyd Building 215                                                                                        

Office Hours: MWF 1-2, TR 1-4:30, and by appointment

Phone:            (678) 839-4093                                              

Email:             jtalbot@westga.edu

Website:         www.westga.edu/~jtalbot

Textbook:       Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 7^th Edition, by Serway and Jewitt

Course Description and Objectives:  Students who take Principles of Physics II should expect

to gain a deeper understanding of basic physical phenomena, including thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, circuits and optics.  Students should be able to relate these concepts to what they see in their everyday surroundings.  Additionally, students should develop and improve their problem solving skills, and be able to use a variety of methods and skills to solve problems.

Prerequisites:  In order to be enrolled in this course, you must have successfully completed

Math 1634 and Phys 2211.  Additionally, you must be concurrently taking PHYS 2212L (the lab corresponding to this course.)

Course Policy and Evaluation:

      Attendance:  The class will meet three days a week.  Regular attendance at all class meetings is expected.  Students will be held responsible for informing themselves of all announcements and assignments made in the classroom.  Students must advise the instructor in writing during the first week of class of any scheduled athletic, music, or other college activities that will require their absence during the semester.  Such written notice does not imply a waiver of course requirements.  Permission to make up a missed exam after the fact will be at the discretion of the instructor.

      Homework:  Homework will be assigned and graded on a regular basis (approximately once a week.)  Most or all homework will be done through Webassign.net.  You are responsible for having access to a working computer throughout the semester, as well as knowing your password and paying the registration fee.

      Group Problems:  I will regularly expect you to work in groups on an in-class assignment.  These will be graded on a pass/fail basis, depending on effort and willingness to cooperate, not on correctness or completing the problem quickly.  There will be no make-ups for group problems.

      Exams:  There will be five one-hour exams and a two-hour final exam.  The exams will consist of a mix of questions and problems in various formats.  Partial credit will be given.  To receive full credit, all solutions must show all of the logical steps involved in the problem, including the equation(s) used, the numbers filled in, and the correct answers with the correct units.

      Reading Quizzes:  A reading assignment will be given almost every day.  You will not be expected to understand all of physics from reading the text, but comprehension of basic concepts, definitions, and units will be necessary.  The reading quizzes will be given at the beginning of the class period, and make-ups will not be given if you are late, regardless of reason.

      Academic Honesty:  While students are encouraged to cooperate as they learn, study, and do homework, the final product--be it a test, lab report, or homework assignment--is expected to be the individual work of the student.  Cheating (False representation of another’s work as one’s own) will not be tolerated, and the repercussions of cheating will range from receiving a zero on that assignment or test, to receiving a failing grade in the course.

      Extra Credit:  If there is a lecture on a physics related topic, I may give extra credit for attendance at such an event.  Otherwise, there will be no extra credit given to individual students. 

      Cell Phones:  Disrupting class is discourteous to both the instructor and the rest of the class.  Please turn off your cell phone before the beginning of class.  Cell phones, MP3-players, and other electronic devices may NOT be used for any reason during tests, and must be turned off and put away during the test.

      Students with Special Needs:  If you need special accommodations, you are encouraged to meet with me as soon as possible to discuss them.

      Incompletes:  A grade of incomplete will only be given when course require­ments are not completed due to circumstances beyond the control of the student.

      Evaluation: 

                Reading Quizzes:            10%

                Group Problems:             10%

                Homework:                     20%

                Exams:                            40%

                Final Exam:                     20%

      Final grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

                A       90-100

                B       80-89

                C       70-79

                D       60-69

                F        < 60

Course Schedule