Quick information
| Lectures: | MWF 10A.M. or 12P.M. in Duane G-1B20 | |
| Recitations: | Always on Tuesdays in Duane G-2B21 or G-2B47 | |
| Professors: | Prof. John C. Price | Prof. Charles T. Rogers |
| Duane F-635 | Duane F-631 | |
| (303) 492-2484 | (303) 492-4476 | |
| John.Price@colorado.edu | Charles.Rogers@colorado.edu | |
| Web page: | http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1120 | |
Introduction
Physics 1120, General Physics 2, is the second semester of a three semester introductory sequence in physics. We will cover topics in electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, electrical circuits and components, light, optics, and optical instruments. The course is taught with three weekly lectures (you are registered either for the 10AM (Section 100) or 12PM (Section 200) lecture time), and one weekly recitation. You will use the recitation to practice problem solving.
Students in Physics 1120 usually have already taken 2nd semester calculus, MATH 2300 or APPM 1360, or are co-registered in a 2nd semester calculus course. The associated laboratory class, Physics 1140, is recommended but not required as a co-requisite. Students should have a good working knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, first-semester calculus, and first semester physics (General Physics 1).
What we cover and why
The material we will cover is at the foundation of our technological society. Most of the material involves discoveries no more than 150 years old (of course, even the ancients knew some things about magnetism and light). We are so comfortable with technologies like television and home computers, that it is easy to forget just how recent these developments are: Some of you have relatives old enough to remember the days before radio (first licensed broadcast station opened in 1920). We live radically more convenient and perhaps longer and more enjoyable lives due to the revolution in electric-based technology. Modern health-care, industrial, and home tools are almost entirely based upon the existence of electrical power and electronic circuitry. We will cover the physics of electricity, magnetism, and electronics. By the time we are finished, you will have a base of knowledge that will allow you not only to use electromagnetic devices, but to understand how they work.
We will cover Chapters 23 through 37 in "Physics" by Wolfson and Pasachoff at a rate of roughly one chapter per week.
Grading
Your course grade is determined by a combination of your performance on exams, online CAPA homework, and recitation quizzes and written homework.
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Exams
Exams are scheduled as above. You are allowed to bring a single sheet of 8.5in.x11in. paper with whatever information you care to have on it to the exam. Calculators are allowed as well.
The text
The text we will use is "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" 3rd Edition, by Richard Wolfson and Jay Pasachoff. This is the same text that Prof. Paul Beale used in the first semester, Physics 1110, last spring. Several copies of the text will be maintained on reserve at the Math / Physics Library in Duane Physics G-140.
There are many excellent books covering introductory physics. Some of these books are associated with interesting web sites. Prentice Hall maintains a nice web site associated with the texts by Giancoli (not our text). I have provided a link to this site in our course home page. You can also find it directly at http://www.prenticehall.com/giancoli/.
The textbook is one of the best tools you have in the class. READ CHAPTERS BEFORE WE COVER THEM IN CLASS. If you do, you’ll get much more out of the lectures.
Homework
We will be using the Computer Assisted Personalized Approach (CAPA) on-line system for homework assignments. New homework assignments will be available Thursdays in the Physics 1120 homework bins outside of G-2B90. Homework will usually be due eight days later, on Friday evenings at 9PM. The CAPA system is available at http://www.Colorado.EDU/physics/CAPA/Cindex.html, or from the course home page at http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1120. CAPA is a tool that provides you with immediate feedback on your solutions to homework problems. If you take the time to start homework early, there is no reason why you cannot have a perfect homework score by the end of the class. Homework the first week will review the use of CAPA.
In addition to CAPA assignments, there will be a single written homework assignment each week. These assignments are distributed via the course web site. Problems will be available on Mondays and will be due in your recitation session on Tuesday the following week. We will skip these written assignments on exam weeks.
The web page
The web page for Physics 1120 provides information on the class activities, contact information for all the teachers, course notes, access to the CAPA system, etc. We are rapidly reaching the point where essentially all type of service, information, and products are available on the Internet. You are strongly encouraged to use the Physics 1120 web site and provide feedback on course services that you’d like to see included.
How to succeed in this course
The course topics that we will cover in Physics 1120 are among the greatest intellectual achievements of humans. Don’t be surprised if you have to think and work hard to master the material. You can perform very well in this class if you follow this time-tested system: