PHYS 1420 - Elementary General Physics II

7.5 Credits

This course is a continuation of the algebra sequence of college physics. Students learn scientific inquiry through the use of calculations and critical reasoning through the study of waves, sound, electricity, magnetism, light, optics, and select topics in modern physics. This course includes both lecture and lab components.

Prerequisites: (1) PHYS 1410

Lecture Hours: 6.0
Lab Hours: 4.5
Internship Hours: 0.0
Clinical or Practicum Hours: 0.0

Course Objectives

Apply the principles of waves, vibrations, and sound to solve problems;
Define and explain the sources and characteristics of electric forces and electric fields;
Apply the concepts of electrical potential energy and electric potential to solve problems involving simple devices such as batteries and capacitors;
Apply the concepts of electric currents, power, resistance and Ohm’s Law to solve problems with simple DC circuits including resistors in series and parallel and RC circuits;
Identify the sources and characteristics of magnetic fields and describe the effect of the presence of a magnetic field on moving charges and a current-carrying conductor, Faraday’s Law and applications;
Describe and mathematically analyze electromagnetic waves and apply the laws of reflection and refraction to problems;
Apply the wave nature of light and solve problems involving interference and diffraction;
Calculate half-life and discuss the effects of radiation;
Explain how light and atoms interact in spectroscopy;
Discuss the effects of special relativity and other various basic quantum mechanical topics;

View Class Schedule