PHYS-104 Fundamentals of Physics II
This algebra/trigonometry
physics course is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of the
elementary principles of vibrations and waves, electricity and magnetism, light
and optics, and some modern physics; discuss applications to everyday phenomena
(esp. life sciences); enhance conceptual understanding of physical laws; and increase
problem-solving abilities as applied to physical systems. Topics investigated
include: vibrations and waves, sound, electrical forces and fields, electric
potential and capacitance, resistance and DC circuits, magnetic forces and
fields, induced EMF, E-M waves, light with geometric and physical optics, plus
quantum and atomic physics. This course is designed mainly for life science
majors and pre-professional students. In the laboratory portion of the course,
students learn to use common physics equipment (including microcomputer-based
sensors), analyze data, develop empirical models of phenomena, and communicate
their results through written and oral lab reports.
Hours Weekly
3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab weekly
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify physics misconceptions and support scientific models through class discussions and
by comparing and contrasting your ideas with results from demonstrations, experiments, and
computer simulations. - 2. Develop problem-solving techniques as well as methods using various representations
including diagrams, graphs, equations, vector and ray techniques, etc. to become a creative
and practical problem solver.
- 3. Apply physics principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate math techniques as needed to
answer questions and solve quantitative problems related, but not limited, to: vibrations and
waves, electric plus magnetic forces and fields, electrical potential with capacitance,
resistance and DC circuits, induced EMF, E-M waves, geometric and physical optics, plus
quantum and atomic physics. - 4. Explain the fundamental concepts in physics using appropriate vocabulary, units, symbols,
and notation.
- 5. Solve a problem by identifying the essential parts, formulating a strategy to solve it, applying
appropriate techniques (including trigonometry) to solve it, verifying the solution’s correctness
(e.g. sign, order of magnitude), and interpreting results. - 6. Identify and operate common lab equipment and data-gathering tools such as motion and
current sensors; analog and digital meters; graphical analysis programs; and computer
simulations to gather information about a system or phenomena. - 7. Develop and analyze models and/or empirical equations to predict and describe physics
phenomena using experiments (some self-design) working with different lab partners and
experimental results, and communicate these findings through written formal lab reports.
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify physics misconceptions and support scientific models through class discussions and
by comparing and contrasting your ideas with results from demonstrations, experiments, and
computer simulations. - 2. Develop problem-solving techniques as well as methods using various representations
including diagrams, graphs, equations, vector and ray techniques, etc. to become a creative
and practical problem solver.
- 3. Apply physics principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate math techniques as needed to
answer questions and solve quantitative problems related, but not limited, to: vibrations and
waves, electric plus magnetic forces and fields, electrical potential with capacitance,
resistance and DC circuits, induced EMF, E-M waves, geometric and physical optics, plus
quantum and atomic physics. - 4. Explain the fundamental concepts in physics using appropriate vocabulary, units, symbols,
and notation.
- 5. Solve a problem by identifying the essential parts, formulating a strategy to solve it, applying
appropriate techniques (including trigonometry) to solve it, verifying the solution’s correctness
(e.g. sign, order of magnitude), and interpreting results. - 6. Identify and operate common lab equipment and data-gathering tools such as motion and
current sensors; analog and digital meters; graphical analysis programs; and computer
simulations to gather information about a system or phenomena. - 7. Develop and analyze models and/or empirical equations to predict and describe physics
phenomena using experiments (some self-design) working with different lab partners and
experimental results, and communicate these findings through written formal lab reports.