The principles of physics course, PHYS 2212, is the second in a calculus-based two-course survey of the primary fields of physics. This course will cover electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics.

At the completion of this PHYS 2212 course, the student should be able to do the following.
In the area of electricity,
1. Calculate for a system of up to four point charges the following quantities:  Force,  Electric Field,  Electric Potential,  Electric Potential Energy;
2. Evaluate the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor of given area and plate separation, and explain the effects of a dielectric in a capacitor;
3. Determine the equivalent capacitance of a network of capacitors or resistors in series-parallel combination and calculate the final charge on,  the potential difference across, and the energy stored in each capacitor OR the current through, the potential difference across, and the power dissipated by each resistor when a known potential is applied across the combination;
4. Calculate the electron drift velocity, electric current, resistance of a conductor using Ohm's law and also the resistance of a conductor based on the physical characteristics of a conductor;
5. Apply Gauss's law to evaluate the electric field at points in the vicinity of charge distributions which exhibit spherical, cylindrical, or planar symmetry;
6. Apply Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's rules to evaluate an electric circuit, find the electric currents, the potential differences and the power between any two points in multiloop circuits;
7. Calculate the instantaneous charge and electric current in an RC circuit and also the energy expended by a source of emf during charge and discharge of a capacitor;
In the area of magnetism,
8. Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field exerted on an electric charge moving through a known magnetic field and calculate the orbital radius of a charged particle moving in a uniform magnetic field;
9. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force on a current carrying conductor when placed in an external magnetic field;
10. Calculate the (motional) emf induced between the ends of a conducting bar moving through a constant magnetic field;
11. Determine the torque exerted on a closed current loop in an external magnetic field;
12. Use the Biot-Savart law to determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at a specified point in the vicinity of a current element;
13. Apply Ampere's law to determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of a long, straight current carrying conductor, along axial points for a long solenoid and a toroidal coil;
14. Calculate the induced emf (or current) induced in a circuit when the magnetic flux linking the circuit changes with time, using Faraday's law, and Lenz's law to determine the direction of the induced emf or current;
In the area of Optics:
15. Discuss the characteristics, origins and interactions of light waves;
16. Describe use of lenses, mirrors and the operation of basic optical instruments;
17. Derive the equation for double slit interference and apply it to various situations;
18. Employ the intensity distribution of intensity of a double slit to predict the location of maxima and minima;
19. Contrast the concept of interference with the concept of diffraction;
20. Use the equations for the single slit to predict the intensity pattern;
21. Apply the concept of polarization of light waves and its application;
In the area of modern physics:
22. Describe models of the hydrogen atom and basic atomic structure;
23. Describe basic nuclear structure and nuclear reactions;
24. Apply the ideas of blackbody radiation;
25. Describe the photoelectric effect and the Compton effect and explain their historical significance;
26. Diagram and explain the origin of atomic spectra;
27. Discuss Bohr's quantum model of the atom and its implications;
28. Contrast the wave nature of light with the particle nature of light;
29. Discuss the uncertainty principle;
30. Contrast the early models of the atom;
31. Identify the energy binding the nucleus;
32. Describe the process of natural radioactivity;
33. Apply the equations of radioactive decay;
34. Interpret nuclear reaction equations;

1. Communication Skills:
Students develop reading skills by reading the text and handout materials; their listening skills through lectures; and writing skills through problem solving activities. Students are also encouraged to provide written or oral solutions to problems in order to develop their presentation skills.

2. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills:
Students develop individual and group problem solving skills by doing problems both in the classroom and at home; critical thinking skills are encouraged by requesting student response to questions asked during lectures.

3. Recognizing and Applying Scientific Inquiry:
Students are taught by using conceptual and physical models of phenomena emphasizing the methods of data collection, doing experiments and developing the result into theory.

1. Electric Forces and Electric Fields: electric point charges, Coulomb's law, the electric field, conductors and insulators.
2. Electric Energy and Capacitance: Electric potential energy and potential difference, capacitance, electric energy stored in a capacitor, capacitors with dielectrics.
3. Current and Resistance:   Electric current, ohm's law, resistivity, variation of temperature with resistance, electric power.
4. Direct Current (DC) circuits:  Electromotive force (emf), resistor arrangements, Kirchhoff's rules, RC circuit.
5. Magnetism: Magnets, magnetic fields, earth's magnetic field, magnetic forces, torque on a current carrying loop, Ampere's law, magnetic field of a solenoid.
6. Induced Voltages and Inductance: Magnetic flux, induced emf, Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, generators and motors, eddy currents, self inductance, energy stored in a magnetic field.
7. Alternating current circuits: Transformer.
8. Electromagnetic Waves:  Maxwell's predictions, Hertz's discoveries, the production of electromagnetic waves by an antenna, properties of electromagnetic waves, the spectrum of electromagnetic waves, television.
9. Reflection and Refraction of Light:  The nature of light, measurements of the speed of light, Huygen's principle, reflection and refraction, dispersion and Prisms.
10. Mirrors and Lenses: Plane, spherical, and convex mirrors; refraction, thin lenses, multiple lens systems, lens aberrations.
11. Wave Optics:  Conditions for interference, Young's double-slit interference, Newton's rings, interference in thin films, diffraction, single-slit diffraction, polarization of light waves.
12. Optical Instruments:  The camera, the eye, the simple magnifier, the compound microscope, the telescope, the Michelson interferometer, the diffraction grating.
13. Relativity: The principles of relativity, the Michelson-Morley experiment, Einstein's postulates, consequences of special relativity, relativistic momentum, mass and the ultimate speed, relativistic addition of velocities, relativistic energy.
14. Quantum Physics:  Black body radiation and Planck's hypothesis, the photoelectric effect, applications of the photoelectric effect, x-rays, diffraction of x-rays by crystals, Compton scattering, pair production and annihilation, photons and electromagnetic waves, the wave properties of particles.
15. Atomic Physics:  Early models of the atom, atomic spectra, the Bohr theory of hydrogen, De Broglie waves and the hydrogen atom, the spin magnetic quantum number, the exclusion principle and the periodic table, characteristic x-rays, atomic transitions, lasers and holography, fluorescence and phosphorescence.
16. Nuclear Physics:  Properties of nuclei, binding energy, nuclear models, radioactivity, the decay process, natural radioactivity, nuclear reactions. Nuclear fission, nuclear reactors, nuclear fusion, radiation damage in matter, radiation detectors, uses of radiation, computed axial tomography (CAT scans).

* Italicized topics are optional

The college believes in the academic value of giving final exams that are comprehensive in nature; however, the college also values the discretion of the faculty member to determine appropriate assessment methods. The departments on each campus and/or individual instructors will construct a detailed syllabus based on the Common Course Outline for implementation in each class.

The Common Course Outline offers only a schematic description of the course content and assessment material. Campus departments and/or individual instructors should elaborate upon and enhance these sections in their syllabi. At the beginning of each term, faculty members must submit their syllabi for approval to the department head and/or the discipline coordinating dean. The sequencing of topics as well as all readings and other assignments designed to assist the student in accomplishing course objectives are left to the discretion of the campus department and/or the individual instructor as long as these components adhere to the Common Course Outline.