Course Prerequisite: Physics 201, Physics 201A, Math 185 or Equivalent (Algebra/Pre-Calc)

Course Corequisite: Physics 202A

Professor: Mark Fischer, SC 23, Phone 244-4781, Email: mark_fischer@mail.msj.edu

Office Hours: Monday 1-3 pm, Tuesday 10-12 pm, Wednesday 1-3 pm, or by appointment.
 

Course Catalog Description of PHY 201 and PHY 202:

Fundamental principles, laws and theories of mechanics, relativity, heat, sound, electricity and light.
 

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

• To give students an overview of the discipline of physics, allowing them to recognize and explain many physical phenomena observed in their environment.

 
• To help students become comfortable with the basic laws of physics through the systematic analysis of model systems as presented in the textbook examples and problem sets.

 
• To nurture in students the scientific method, which is to conceptually model, analyze, and meaningfully interpret new physical scenarios that may be encountered, specifically in the laboratory section, but also in every activity of life.

 
• To encourage in students the ability to effectively communicate their physical understanding.

 
• To forge in students an appreciation of the myriad connections between physics and other fields of study (see Connections), an understanding of how physics fosters the specific learning outcomes of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (see Learning Outcomes), and a realization that physics undergirds the very purposes of education in general (see Purpose Statement).

• Homework: There is only one way to pass this course…know the physics. The only way I know to achieve that is to work problems until they make sense. I’ll do everything I can to help you, but I can’t do it for you. Your classmates with whom you study can help you, but they can’t do it for you. You have to make sure that you have the understanding. Approximately eight homework assignments (problem sets) will be assigned during the weeks of the course. As incentive, points will be awarded for completing these assignments. I will not, however, carefully grade or correct them…the responsibility of knowing how to do the problems lies with you.

 
• Attendance: Class attendance is expected of all students. Although I will not directly award points for attendance, it will never help you to miss class.

 
• Cooperation…is GOOD. Students are encouraged to work together on problem set assignments. Remember, however, that you need to make sure thatyou can do all the problems. The fact that your study group worked out a problem in no way guarantees that you can.

 
• Cheating…is BAD. The Mount has a published policy concerning academic honesty (see the Student Handbook).

More importantly, cheating is--
-> Wrong. You know it and I know it.
-> Rarely effective. Cheating usually winds up hindering those who attempt it or rely on it.
-> Usually very obvious. Ask any of your teachers…they almost always know.
-> Personally hurtful and insulting to me.

        Grades will be weighted as follows:

            Homework (= 8 @ 3% each)                    25%
            Hour Exams (= 4 @ 12.5% each)             50%
            Final Exam (Cumulative)                         25%

            Total                                                     100%
 

        The standard grading scale will be used to assign final grades:

Tentative (and Optimistic) Course Schedule for General Physics Lecture — 202:
 
 

Approximate Dates	Topics — Chapters from Hecht to have read:
16 Jan.-19 Jan.	Monday — No Classes.  Chapters 10 and 11—Simple Harmonic Motion, Waves and Sound
22 Jan.-26 Jan.	Chapters 10 and 11—Simple Harmonic Motion, Waves and Sound. Friday: EXAM, Chapters 10, 11
29 Jan.-2 Feb.	Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25—Light and Optics
5 Feb.-9 Feb.	Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25—Light and Optics
12 Feb.-16 Feb.	Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25—Light and Optics
19 Feb.-23 Feb.	Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25—Light and Optics.  Friday: EXAM, Chapters 23-25
26 Feb.-2 Mar.	Chapters 12 and 13—Heat and Thermal Energy
5 Mar.-9 Mar.	Chapters 12 and 13—Heat and Thermal Energy .  Friday: EXAM, Chapters 12-13
12 Mar.-16 Mar.	Spring Break
19 Mar.-23 Mar.	Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20—Electricity and Magnetism
26 Mar.-30 Mar.	Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20—Electricity and Magnetism
2 Apr.-6 Apr.	Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20—Electricity and Magnetism
9 Apr.-13 Apr.	Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20—Electricity and Magnetism. Easter Break Starts Thursday Noon.
16 Apr.-20 Apr.	Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20—Electricity and Magnetism. Friday: EXAM, Chapters 15-20
23 Apr.-27 Apr.	Chapter 26, Special Relativity
30 Apr.-4 May	Chapter 29,  Quantum Mechanics
7 May-11 May	FINAL EXAM from x:xx-x:xx pm

Suggested Problems