PHYSICS 272: GENERAL PHYSICS II

FALL 2008

Physics 272 is calculus-based physics course covering 
Electricity & Magnetism and Light.
                                   
COURSE GOAL:   Understand the basic laws of Electricity and 
               Magnetism and Optics and learn how to apply them 
               to solving problems.

INSTRUCTOR:    Prof. Harris, Wat. 223
               email: fah @ phys.hawaii.edu
               phone: 956 2940

LECTURE:       10:30 - 11:45, TR in Wat. 112

OFFICE HOURS:  9:30 - 11:00 MWF,  and by appointment.  In a pinch, 
               just stop by.  

TEXT:          "University Physics", Young and Freedman, 12th Edition,
               Volume 2.  
               Also available Activ Online Physics 
               (http://media.pearsoncmg.com/aw/aw_activephysics
	       /aw_young_physics).

PREREQUISITES: Physics 151/151L or 170/170L and Math 242 or 252A.
               Math 216 may be substituted with consent.

READING:       Reading is assigned each day, and the assignment is
               to be completed BEFORE that day's lecture so that 
               you may ask questions and participate in class
               discussion.  Surprize quizzes may be given on the
	       reading. 

CLICKERS:      To promote active learning, "iclicker" clickers will
               be used in class. A coupon for $10 off the price of 
	       the clicker comes with your textbook.  You will receive
	       a point for each correct clicker response.  The points
	       will account for a bonus 5% towards your final grade.  

PROBLEM SETS:  Working problems is central to learning physics.  
               A set of problems will be assigned each day and will
	       be due at the beginning of the next class unless
	       specified otherwise.  Some problem sets will be
	       hand-in, and some will be done using the World Wide
	       Web. In order to pass the course, you must work at
	       least one-half of the problem sets.
               While discussing problems is encouraged, everyone 
               is expected to write out their own solutions.   
               Copying solutions from others does not help you 
               learn physics. Solutions will be posted. Therefore
	       late problem sets will not be accepted.  A student
	       with a good justification may be excused from a
	       problem set.   

Hand-in Problems  Papers should be stapled and folded in half 
               down the middle.  Print your name, student ID, and 
               homework set number on the inside right hand 
               corner of the first page and the outside right 
               hand corner of the last page.  Show all steps in 
               solving your problem and place a box around your 
               final answer.   See "Study Tips and Problem 
               Solutions" on the class web page for more details 
               concerning problem sets. Solutions will be posted 
               at the class web site.
               
Mastering Physics
Problems:      Some problem sets will be worked and graded using
               http://www.masteringphysics.com. To access the
               problems and receive credit, you will need a registration
               code, which comes along with a new text or can be 
	       pruchased separately.

Interactive Problems:    Interactive Examples are available from 
               the University of Illinois at 
               http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/Research/PER/ie_212.h-
               tml.  These are very useful to learn how to solve 
               problems.  Some of them will be assigned during 
               the semester. They will be referenced by number,
	       where the number is just the sequence number of
	       the problem set ("Line of Charge" is interactive
	       problem 3). Print out the worked exercise and hand
	       in to receive credit.  

MIDTERMS:      There will be two 50 minute exams, which are 
               tentatively scheduled for Sept. 23 and Oct. 28.  
               These will consist of conceptual questions and 
	       problems similar to those occurring on the problem
	       sets. 

QUIZZES:       Short quizzes will be given on days marked with 
               * in the Physics 272 Schedule.  These will 
               consist of short problems and conceptual questions 
               on recent material covered in the course.

FINAL:         Dec. 16, 9:45 - 11:45

GRADING:       midterms          - 40%
               quizzes           - 12%
               final             - 33%
               problems          - 15%
	       clicker questions -  5%  (bonus)

               Final grades will be determined by your final 
               score.  The grade cutoffs will depend slightly by 
               the class grade distribution but will be 
               approximately given by: 

               C - > 50 %
               B - > 65 %
               A - > 75 %
      
WWW:           The WWW Home Page for the course may be reached 
               via                 
               http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/~fah.  A computer 
               account with access to the World-Wide-Web is 
               required for access to the assignments, computer
               exercises, and problem solutions.