The second in a three-quarter calculus-based sequence in introductory physics intended for students majoring in science or engineering. Course content includes waves, optics, thermodynamics, and may include a unit on gravitation.
Prerequisites
Quarters Offered
Winter
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Apply problem-solving techniques learned in Engineering Physics I (PHYS& 221) to gravitation, simple harmonic motion, pendulum motion, waves, geometric optics, physical optics, and elementary thermodynamics.
- Apply conservation of energy principles to simple harmonic motion and pendulum motion.
- Apply the mathematical equations of periodic waves to sound waves and waves on strings.
- Apply the mathematical equations of geometric optics to simple situations involving mirrors, thin lenses, and refracting surfaces.
- Apply the mathematical equations of physical optics to multiple-source interference, thin-film interference, and diffraction.
- Analyze situations involving thermal expansion, calorimetry, and heat transfer.
- Use the ideal gas law to solve simple problems and analyze systems.
- Perform simple calculations employing the kinetic-molecular model of an ideal gas.
- Apply the first law of thermodynamics to elementary situations.
- (If time permits) Apply the second law of thermodynamics to elementary situations.
- Present clearly explained problem solutions.
- Present experimental results in clearly written laboratory reports.
Institutional Outcomes
IO2 Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to reason mathematically.
Course Content Outline
- Gravitation
Newton’s law of gravitation
Weight
Gravitational potential energy
The motion of satellites
Kepler’s laws
Spherical mass distributions
Apparent weight and Earth’s rotation - Oscillations and Waves
Simple harmonic motion
Displacement, velocity and acceleration in simple harmonic motion
Energy in simple harmonic motion
Pendulum motion
(Optional) Damped and forced oscillations
Periodic waves
Sinusoidal waves
Wave speeds and energies
Superposition and interference
Standing waves and normal modes of oscillation
Sound waves
(Optional) Sound intensity
Standing sound waves and normal modes
Beats
The Doppler effect - Optics
The nature of light
Reflection and refraction
Dispersion
Total internal reflection
Polarization
Huygen’s principle
Reflection and refraction at plane and spherical surfaces
Thin lenses
(Optional) Cameras, telescopes, microscopes, magnifiers, the eye
Constructive and destructive interference
Two-source interference and intensity in interference patterns
Thin-film interference
(Optional) The Michelson interferometer
Single-slit diffraction
Multiple-slit diffraction and the diffraction grating
(Optional) X-Ray diffraction
Circular aperture diffraction and resolving power - Thermodynamics
Temperature
Thermal expansion
Heat and calorimetry
Heat transfer
The ideal gas law
Kinetic-molecular theory of gases
First law of thermodynamics
Second law of thermodynamics
Department Guidelines
Exams and Quizzes 50-60% Homework 20-30% Laboratory Reports 20%
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.