PHYS 2220, Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

Spring 2023      MTWF,  1:30-2:20       GRSC 324

Instructor:  Dr. Larry Smith         GRSC 311           283-7520           Larry.Smith@snow.edu            http://www.snow.edu/larrys          About Me

Goals/Outcomes:  I invite you to come with me as fellow learners on an exciting journey.  We will use physics as a vehicle to learn to apply scientific reasoning and computational skills in a variety of contexts.  Students will learn to think deeply about the physical universe and how reason analytically and critically.  Students will have a fundamental knowledge of scientific laws and principles and will learn that science is a process to gain knowledge. Please read my invitation to A Better Learning Experience.

Text: Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, 4th edition  by Randall D. Knight (ISBN: 9780133953145).  Make sure you get all three parts of the complete bundle (textbook with Modern Physics, the student workbook, and the ModifiedMasteringPhysics web access code).  Get it from the new Snow College online bookstore here. You need legal copies of each component.  Connect to MasteringPhysics through Canvas.   You also need a nice scientific calculator.

Tools: You also need a nice scientific calculator, some colored pencils, and a 6” (15 cm) ruler (or a protractor with an included ruler). The PHeT simulations are free here, but there is also a $0.99 app that is convenient.

Prerequisites:  PHYS 2210, PHYS 2215, Calculus, facility with spreadsheets      Corequisites: PHYS 2225

Course Content:  Second semester in the calculus-based majors/engineering physics sequence.  Topics include wave interference, optics, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction and radiation, and a small intro to relativity and quantum mechanics.  Chapters (un)covered are: 22–38.  This is fun and exciting material. 

Course schedule: See a tentative daily calendar here.       

Homework:  Homework will be assigned every chapter in MasteringPhysics, but get there through Canvas (using the MyLab and Mastering tab on the left). See this page of instructions to register/enroll in ModifiedMastering. You are strongly encouraged to study in groups to achieve understanding, but what you turn in must be your own work––don't turn homework in without understanding it.  Please use the following resources for help, in order: your group mates, the math lab, tutor.com (left nav bar in Canvas course), and my office hours. Please do not use Chegg or other internet sites to look up answers.  The best approach is to work the problems on paper before putting your answers in Mastering.  Write every step neatly.  Draw diagrams and figures.  Communicate well and use the Model, Visualize, Solve, Assess problem-solving strategy outlined in the textbook.  Each chapter’s assignment will be due a day or so after we finish discussing the chapter in class.   

Homework that is less than one week late is worth up to 50%.  No late work will be accepted after April 21 at 5:00 pm.

We also do the student workbook that came with your textbook bundle. The workbook exercises really help cement the concepts in your brain.

Participation:  Ask questions in class, come to office hours, and help other students.  For serious students such as yourself the majority of your learning will take place outside of class time.  A large part of the participation will come from your answering/discussing one of the questions from each chapter in front of the class, and from submitting a written question for me to answer concerning something you didn’t understand from reading the chapter.  Both asking and answering questions should prove you’ve delved deeply into the chapter material.  Please try to learn as much as you can in this class.  Mutual respect, participation, and effort are keys to making our journey as a community of learners succeed.  Please do not wear earbuds, earpods, earphones, or other sound devices during class (even just one).

Help:  You are encouraged to see me during my office hours and at other times by appointment. Email is good too. Please also frequent the math/science lab; use your classmates and Canvas as other resources.  I will do all I can to help you learn physics; please avail yourself of all the resources at your disposal. Stay caught up, and don’t stay lost for more than a few hours at a time.  Please read some thoughts on how to have a Better Learning Experience.

Policies: General policies on ADA, Title IX, FERPA, Triggers, and Academic Honesty are here.  My attendance policy is here, and further elaboration on Academic Honesty is here.  In particular, students are encouraged to work in groups to achieve understanding, but what goes on your paper or online under your name should accurately reflect your own understanding.  The use of on-line homework solutions sites is considered cheating, except as a check on your work after you have finished the problem.  Please come see me to get help on your homework or workbook instead of going to the internet.

COVID and Masks: I would like instruction to be as normal as possible, so I do not plan to broadcast/stream class unless a student specifically requests it for a COVID-related reason. Please contact me via email or Canvas message each time you need me to stream class for a COVID-related reason. 

Thanks for your cooperation, understanding, and flexibility. Thanks also for your insatiable curiosity and drive to get a good education.

Quizzes:  Frequent quizzes will keep you apprised of your progress. You can raise RAQ scores by watching videos; these are due by 5:00 on April 21.

Tests:  Tests are another great opportunity to learn.  There will be five multiple-choice tests before the final exam. 

Final Exam: Wednesday, May 3, 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. in the classroom.  It will be comprehensive and fun.

Grading:           Homework       20%                 Quizzes           20%

                        Tests                25%                 Participation    10%                 Final Exam      25%