Physics 102: Conceptual Physics
MWF, 10-10:50
100 Willamette Hall

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Extended Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to the physics underlying everyday phenomena. Why does a liquid boil? How does sound travel? Why do I get a shock when I pet my cat? The search for answers to such questions started in Western culture at least with the ancient Greeks, yet in some cases the answers remain complicated and non-intuitive. The goal of the course is to make such phenomena more accessible on a conceptual level.
The first part of the course focuses on the atomic nature and physical properties of solids, liquids, and gases. For example, the role of Archimedes' Principle on atmospheric phenomena will be discussed. The course continues with thermodynamics: the extension of some of the mechanical concepts covered in PHYS 101 to include heat flow. This was a key achievement of the 17th century and helped drive the Industrial Revolution. We continue with a description of wave phenomena, focusing particularly on sound waves. We end with several weeks on electricity and magnetism, a crowning achievement of 19th century physics that has lead to the modern age of communication.
The course is primarily conceptual in nature, using only simple high school algebra to help illuminate the underlying physical phenomena. Simple numerical and conceptual problems will be assigned in homework sets, and use of a calculator will be helpful but not essential.
Instructor: Jim Imamura
Office: 444 Willamette Hall (or 441 Willamette Hall)
E-mail: imamura@uoregon.edu
Phone: 541-346-5212
Office Hours: MW, 2-3, TuTh, 10-11:30, or by appointment

Course: Physics 102: Conceptual Physics, PHYS 102 is a science group satisfying course (<3)
Course CRN:
Text: Conceptual Physics, 11th edition, Hewitt

We will cover Parts 2 (Chapters 11-14), 3 (Chapters 15-18), 4 (Chapter 19-21), and 5 (Chapter 22-25) in Hewitt this quarter.

Grading:
4 Tests + Homeworks/Projects/In-class participation:
Test 1 + Test 2 + Test 3 + Test 4 + 4 HW/Projects + 4 in-class participation events = 40 + 40 + 40 + 40 + 40 + 20 = 220 points

Test Schedule:
Test 1 (Part 2): 18 April 2012
Test 2 (Part 3): 4 May 2012
Test 3 (Part 4): 21 May 2012
Test 4 (Part 5): 11 June 2012, Monday, 10:15 (finals week)

HW/Projects

HW/Project 1, Due: on or before 16 April 2012 in class

HW/Project 2, Due: on or before 2 May 2012 in class

HW/Project 3, Due: on or before 23 May 2012 in class

HW/Project 4, Due: on or before 6 June 2012 in class

Lecture Notes:

Section 2:
Chapter 11: 2012/04/02,2012/04/04
Chapter 12: 2012/04/06,2012/04/09
Chapter 13: 2012/04/09,2012/04/11,2012/04/13
Chapter 14: 2012/04/13,2012/04/16
Section 3:
Chapter 15: 2012/04/20,2012/04/23
Chapter 16: 2012/04/25,2012/04/27
Chapter 17: 2012/04/27,2012/04/30,2012/05/02
Chapter 18: 2012/05/07,2012/05/09
Section 4:
Chapter 19: 2012/05/09,2012/05/11,2012/05/14
Chapter 20: 2012/05/16
Chapter 21: 2012/05/18
Section 5:
Chapter 22: 2012/05/23,2012/05/25
Chapter 23: 2012/05/30,2012/06/01
Chapter 24: 2012/06/04,2012/06/06
Chapter 25: 2012/06/06