Syllabus for

Physics 138

Spring 2009 Semester


Fundamentals of Physics II:
Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics
Spring 2009

 

Instructor

Soren P. Sorensen

Office

Nielsen Physics Building, room 403

Telephone   (UT)

(865) 974 7805

Email

sorensen@utk.edu

Office Hours

MWF 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Basically after class)

Class Time

MWF 10:10-11:00 AM

Class Location

Nielsen Physics Building 306

Substitute Lecturer

Josh Hamblen

Recitation Instructor

Jim Alsup

Recitation Time

Tuesday  4:40 - 5:30 PM

Recitation Location

Nielsen Physics Building 512

Lab Instructor

Jim Alsup

Lab Time

Tuesday  5:45 - 7:35 PM

Lab Location

Physics 508

Textbook

Randall D. Knight: "Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A strategic Approach", 2nd Edition (Chapter 1-37 without Modern Physics)

“Clicker”

The standard UT clicker from CPS (eInstruction) (purchase it at the UT Bookstore)

                  

Text Assignments

Chapter

Title

20

Traveling Waves

21

Superposition

22

Wave Optics

23

Ray Optics

24

Modern Optics and Matter

25

Electric Charges and Forces

26

The Electric Field

27

Gauss's Law

28

Current and Conductivity

29

The Electric Potential

30

Potential and Field

31

Fundamentals of Circuits

32

The Magnetic Field

33

Electromagnetic Induction

34

Electromagnetic Fields and Waves

 

Lectures:

The most important way for you to learn the physics contained in this course will be to carefully study the textbook and to try to solve as many problems as possible. I will assume that you have studied the material contained in each chapter before the lectures (please see below concerning pre-lecture tests), so during the lectures we can focus on a few particularly important issues. In particular, we will rely heavily on student participation and student discussions aided by the use of a “clicker” system. 

 

Homework:

The homework problems are due Wednesday at 4:00 PM following the day we finish each chapter. The homework should be placed in the Teaching Assistant’s (Jim Alsup) mailbox in the Physics Office. The homework will all together count 15% of the total score.

 

Laboratory:

The laboratory exercises are an important and integral part of this course and have to be completed before a final grade will be assigned. The score assigned by the lab instructor will count 25% of the final score.

 

Recitations:

Recitations will normally be used to focus on how to solve problems. Your recitation instructor will also be your lab instructor. Occasionally when I am unable to be present, a recitation might be swapped with a lecture. You will always be informed about that via email prior to the swap (except in emergencies).

 

Pre-lecture tests:

Before the first lecture on each chapter (with the exception of chapter 1), you will be required to take a brief online test via Blackboard to demonstrate, that you have studied the chapter PRIOR to attending the first lecture on the chapter. These pre-lecture tests are an integral part of the course, since my lectures require that you have studied the material prior to the lecture. Your total score in these pre-lecture tests will count 10% of your final score.

 

Exams and Grading:

There will be given 4 tests, three during the semester and one final, comprehensive test at the end of the semester. Each semester test is counting 12.5% of the final score, but the lowest score of the first 3 tests will be discarded. The final test is mandatory and will count 25% of the final score. If you miss one of the first three tests for personal or medical reasons it will automatically be counted as your lowest score. There is no make-up test, so if you miss more than one of the first 3 tests or the final test you are in deep trouble! If you know that you have potential scheduling conflicts with tests or other parts of the course, please tell as soon as you are aware of this potential conflict, so we together might be able to find a solution.

 

A "curve" might be used to transform your final score into the final grade. You are welcome to discuss and/or complain about the grading of a given assignment up to a week after it has been returned to you. After a week the score will not be changed.

 

During tests you are required to bring a pencil and a pocket calculator and you are allowed 3 or 4 pieces of paper (letter size) with notes and formulas written by yourself. For tests #1 and #2 your will be allowed to bring THREE pieces of paper and for test #3 and the final test you may bring FOUR pieces of paper. In particular, no laptops, cell phones, or other means of communication are permitted. You will receive a handout containing information on Physical Constants, Units, selected tables of physical properties, and selected mathematical formulas.

 

Exam Schedule

Test no.

Date & Time

Main content

1

 Friday, February 6 , 10:10-11:00 AM

Chapters 20 - 24

2

Friday, March 6, 10:10-11:00 AM

Chapters  25 - 29

3

Friday,  April 3, 10:10-11:00 AM

Chapters 30 - 32

Final

Wednesday, April 29, 10:15 AM - 12:15 AM

Chapters 33 - 35  (+ 20 - 32)

 

Summary of weights for scores in the different components of the course

 Final exam

25%

The 2 best of the 3 first tests (12.5% each)

25%

Labs

25%

Homework (each chapter counts equally much)

15%

Pre-lecture online tests

10%

 

Course Material:

This course consists of several components: lectures, laboratories, homework problems, and the text book. The material you will be expected to learn and will be tested on during the exams will be taught to you as part of all these course components. In particular, I will stress the importance of carefully working (not just reading) your way through all the parts of the textbook indicated above under "text assignments". The lectures will NOT just repeat the material in the text book, but will be used to discuss the course material in a variety of ways, some of them following the text book and some of them discussing topics not covered in the textbook, or discussing them in a different manner.

 

Attendance:

You will not be required to attend class (lab attendance is required), but there is in general a very strong correlation between the level of class attendance and the final grade! Furthermore, if an announcement is made in class and you are not present, it will be your responsibility to be aware of the content of the announcement.

 

Email:

You are required to have an official UT email address (name@utk.edu or name@tennessee.edu) and read your email on a daily basis, since much of the needed information for this class that cannot be transmitted to you during the lectures or on this web site, will be given to you via email. In particular, issues like cancellation of classes or last minute changes in assignments. Please remember, that if you are using an existing non-UT email account (AOL, Yahoo, etc.) it is your own responsibility to re-route your UT email to your preferred account.

 

Disabled Students:

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Please contact the Office of Disability Services at 865-974-6087 in Hoskins Library to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.