Phys 212 — Fall 2018
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Instructor Dr. Kevin Beach
Office: 206 Lewis Hall
Email: kbeach@olemiss.edu
Website: https://www.phy.olemiss.edu/~kbeach

Catalog description

A calculus-based introduction to electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, and related topics, including geometrical and physical optics. Second part of a two-semester survey of classical physics.

3 credit hours

Prerequisitites

Phys 211: Physics for Science & Engineering I

Corequisitites

Phys 222: Lab Physics for Science & Engineering II

One-Way Corequisites

Math 262: Unified Calculus & Analytic Geometry II

Where and when

Lectures: T Th 8:00–09:15 in Lewis Room 101 (Auditorium)
Office hours: T W 13:00–14:30 or by appointment
Final exam: Tuesday, December 4 at 8:00

Required course materials

Textbook

University Physics Volume 2 from OpenStax: ISBN-10 1-947172-21-2, ISBN-13 978-1-947172-21-0

We will make use of open-source resources from OpenStax at Rice University. The textbook for this class is available for free online in a variety of formats, including html, pdf, Apple iBooks, and Amazon Kindle. If you prefer, you can purchase a print version from OpenStax via Amazon.com. If you do choose to buy from Amazon, be sure to use the link on the textbook page at openstax.org to ensure that you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)

Expert TA

Weekly assignments for this course must be submitted through the Expert TA online homework system. All students are required to sign up for an account via this registration link. Be sure to provide your student ID and university email address so that your homework scores are properly associated with the correct student.

Top Hat

We will be using the Top Hat classroom response system. You will be able to submit answers to in-class questions using Apple or Android smartphones and tablets, laptops, or through text message.

You can visit the Top Hat Overview within the Top Hat Success Center which outlines how you will register for a Top Hat account, as well as providing a brief overview to get you up and running on the system.

An email invitation should have been sent to you by email (to your go.olemiss.edu address), but if you didn’t receive this email, you can register by simply visiting our Top Hat course website. Note: our course “Join Code” is 574693.

Top Hat will require a paid subscription, and a full breakdown of all subscription options available can be found here. If you’re undecided about this course, you are welcome to hold off on paying and to take advantage of the grace period offered at the beginning of the semester.

If at any time you require assistance with Top Hat, please contact their Support Team directly by way of email (support@tophat.com), the in-app support button, or by calling 1-888-663-5491.

Grading scheme

The course grade will be based on the cumulative points earned from three tests, weekly assignments, in-class response questions, and a final exam, weighted as follows.

Tests: 3 × 15%
Weekly assignments: 20%
Response questions: 5%
Final exam: 30%

The numerical score (out of 100) will be converted to a letter grade with a corresponding grade point value, following the UM +/– grading system adopted in Fall 2011. The conversion is carried out by matching to the ranges shown in the table below.

Letter grade Grade point value Numerical score range
A 4.0 ≥ 90
A– 3.7 [85,90)
B+ 3.3 [80,85)
B 3.0 [75,80)
B– 2.7 [70,75)
C+ 2.3 [65,70)
C 2.0 [60,65)
C– 1.7 [55,60)
D 1.0 [50,55)
F 0 < 50

In-class tests — Tentative test dates are listed on this syllabus. Any changes to these dates will be announced in class and posted on the class web site; students will be given at least one week’s notice. No make-up tests will be given except in cases of verified emergencies. The material students are responsible for roughly corresponds to the following chapters of the textbook: first in-class test (ch. 5–8); second (ch. 9–12); third (ch. 13–16).

Homework — Weekly assignments are to be carried out online using the Expert TA system. Students are responsible for setting up an account and for keeping track of homework deadlines. No extensions will be given. Late assignments will simply be penalized 10% per day. Students will be afforded one drop grade.

Response questions — I will often pose questions during class to evaluate students’ comprehension of lecture material or to test whether they have completed assigned readings from the textbook. Students are expected to respond via the Top Hat mobile app or website. Answers to the response questions count 5% toward the final grade, 2.5% for participation and 2.5% for correctness.

Topics from University Physics Volume 2 to be covered

Chapter 5: Electric Charges and Fields
Chapter 6: Gauss’s Law
Chapter 7: Electric Potential
Chapter 8: Capacitance
Chapter 9: Current and Resistance
Chapter 10: Direct-Current Circuits
Chapter 11: Magnetic Forces and Fields
Chapter 12: Sources of Magnetic Fields
Chapter 13: Electromagnetic Induction
Chapter 14: Inductance
Chapter 15: Alternating-Current Circuits
Chapter 16: Electromagnetic Waves

Learning objectives

Students will learn the foundational concepts of physics and demonstrate proficiency in the standard problem-solving techniques of introductory electricity and magnetism. At the end of this course, students should be able to …

  • articulate the big ideas from University Physics Volume 2 and how they relate to one another;

  • translate a verbal description of a physical problem in electricity and magnetism into the corresponding mathematical formulation;

  • sketch, or otherwise visualize, the physical setup of a problem;

  • find and apply a problem-solving technique that is appropriate to a particular problem—even in novel contexts where the problem does not map directly onto those in the textbook;

  • justify their approach to a particular physics problem and the reasonableness of a solution they have reached; and

  • show mastery of each of the section-specific “Learning Objectives” appearing in chapters 5–16 of University Physics Volume 2.

Tentative schedule

T Aug 21 Lecture 1
R Aug 23 Lecture 2
T Aug 28 Lecture 3
R Aug 30 Lecture 4
August 31: Last day to register or add classes
T Sep 4 Lecture 5
R Sep 6 Lecture 6
September 10: Automatic drop date for non-attendance
T Sep 11 First in-class test
R Sep 13 Lecture 7
T Sep 18 Lecture 8
R Sep 20 Lecture 9
T Sep 25 Lecture 10
R Sep 27 Lecture 11
October 1: Deadline for course withdrawal
T Oct 2 Lecture 12
R Oct 4 Second in-class test
October 8: Midterm grades due
T Oct 9 Lecture 13
R Oct 11 Lecture 14
T Oct 16 Lecture 15
R Oct 18 Lecture 16
T Oct 23 Lecture 17
R Oct 25 Lecture 18
T Oct 30 Lecture 19
R Nov 1 Lecture 20
T Nov 6 Third in-class test
R Nov 8 Lecture 21
T Nov 13 Lecture 22
R Nov 15 Lecture 23
November 17–25: Thangsgiving holidays
T Nov 27 Lecture 24
R Nov 29 Lecture 25
November 30: Classes end
T Dec 4 Final examination

Attendance

The university requires that all students have a verified attendance at least once during the first two weeks of the semester for each course. If your attendance is not verified, you will be dropped from the course and any financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. Please see http://olemiss.edu/gotoclass for more information.

Regular attendance is strongly encouraged. During class, I will sometimes present worked problems, give hints and tips about the homework, and provide guidance about where to focus your studies for the tests and exams. In addition, a portion of your grade is derived from responses to questions posed during lectures.

Academic integrity and honesty

Students are expected to adhere to the University of Mississippi Creed and the Standards of Honesty as described in Policy Code ACA.AR.600.001 and the M Book.

Students are reminded that cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Performance on all tests and assignments shall represent the individual work of the student. Those who violate the Standards of Honesty will be reported and subject to the appropriate sanction, which may include expulsion from the University.

Intellectual property

All materials distributed electronically and in hard copy in this class are protected under intellectual copyright. Any attempt to upload these documents to a file sharing service or to profit from their distribution by any means constitutes theft and will be in violation of intellectual property law and the UM Academic Conduct Code unless expressly permitted for by the instructor.

Nondiscrimination policy

The University complies with all applicable laws regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity in all its activities and programs and does not discriminate against anyone protected by law because of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran.

Disability Access and Inclusion

The University of Mississippi is committed to the creation of inclusive learning environments for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your full inclusion and participation, or to accurate assessment of your achievement, please contact the course instructor as soon as possible. Barriers may include, but are not necessarily limited to, timed exams and in-class assignments, difficulty with the acquisition of lecture content, inaccessible web content, and the use of non-captioned or non-transcribed video and audio files. If you are approved through SDS, you must log in to your Rebel Access portal to request approved accommodations. If you are not yet approved through SDS, you must contact Student Disability Services (at 662-915-7128 or sds@olemiss.edu) so the office can (i) determine your eligibility for accommodations, (ii) disseminate to your instructors a Faculty Notification Letter, (iii) facilitate the removal of barriers, and (iv) ensure you have equal access to the same opportunities for success that are available to all students.

Examinations and last week of class

Regulations governing all examinations — A student’s failure to appear for an examination without an acceptable excuse,inability to present valid identification,absence from the room during the course of an examination without the consent of the examiner, or attempting any portion of an examination without submitting his or her answers shall result in failure of the examination. Tardiness beyond 15 minutes forfeits a student’s right to an examination.

Final examinations — A final examination, to be given at the time posted in the examination schedule, is required in each undergraduate course, unless the appropriate chair and dean have approved an exception. A student who has three or four final examinations in one day may arrange with the course instructor to take the noon or 7:30 p.m. examination at another time. In order to give a final examination at any time other than that shown in the posted examination schedule, an instructor must have prior approval of the department chair and dean.

Last week of class — The following guidelines exist to allow sufficient time for students and instructors to prepare for final examinations. These guidelines apply to the week preceding final examinations for undergraduate courses held during Fall and Spring semesters.

  • During the period of Wednesday through Friday of the last week of class, instructors are not to give exams, tests, or quizzes that contribute more than 10% of the final grade for a class. An instructor can obtain approval of the department chair and dean to give an exam, test, or quiz, of this weight, during this three day period. Instructors should return graded work and/or inform students of their grades on exams, tests, or quizzes prior to the beginning of finals week.

  • Exceptions to the above statement are automatically made for lab-based courses, technical writing courses, seminar courses that assign a term paper, and senior design courses that assign a multi-faceted project in lieu of a final exam. Major projects of the above types, which contribute more than 10% of the final grade and which are due during this Last Week period, should be assigned in the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and any substantial change in the assignment should be made known to students before the drop deadline.