PHYS 240 Course
Information Fall 2007
This is the third semester of a three-semester calculus-based
general physics course which will cover the basic concepts of fluids, wave
motion, optics, thermodynamics, along with some selected topics from modern
physics. Course objectives include
learning the basic concepts of fluids, waves, optics, thermodynamics and quantum physics and applying
physical laws and principles to current technological problems and issues from
your real-life experiences.
Instructor: Prof. Zhigang Chen
Office: Thornton Hall 526
Office
hours: M, F:
Meeting Time and Place:
MWF 10:
Textbook:
“Physics: The Nature of Things” by S. Lea and J. Burke. (REQUIRED)
We will be covering the materials in Chap. 13-22, and some selected topics from Chap. 33-36.
Prerequisites:
Phys 220/230 and Math 227; Must be taken concurrently with Phys 242.
(Completion of the Lab 242 is required for completion of the Lecture 240).
Homework:
Homework is an important part of learning. Homework problems will be assigned weekly, and will be due each week before the new assignment. Normally, you will get assignments on Monday and turn in on Friday before the class unless changes are announced in lecture. No late homework is accepted and you must turn in your home yourself. In addition to the problems assigned, it is strongly recommended that you do at least one or two other problems for each chapter section covered. There will be help sections intended to provide help in homework problem-solving and to answer related questions.
Exams:
There will be two mid-term exams, and a comprehensive final exam. No make-up for the exams.
Grading:
Homework 20%
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Final Exam 40%
Note: To receive a passing grade in this class, you must complete Phys 242,
must attempt homework problems in each assignment and attend the three exams. A
minimum score of 60% overall is required for a grade of C or better. Class
attendance and in-class exercise will be considered for the final grade.
Please feel free to talk to me if you have questions about any aspect of the course.
PHYS 240 Class Schedule Fall 2007
Date Topic Reading Problems*
W 8/29 Intro to class, Intro to fluids
F 8/31 Pascal's
Principle Chapter
13 § 1-3
M 9/3 Labor Day
W 9/5 Archimedes Principle Chapter 13 § 4
F 9/7 Fluid dynamics Chapter 13
§ 5-6
M 9/10 Simple Harmonic Motion Chapter 14 § 1 Ch13-20,33,47,65,85,88
W 9/11 Mechanical waves Chapter 15 § 1-2
F 9/16 Wave function and equations Chapter 15 § 2-3
M 9/17 Wave Superposition Chapter 15 § 4 Ch15-24,32,34,53,57,58
W 9/19 Sound waves Chapter 16 § 1
F 9/21 Light waves Chapter
16 § 2 & 3
M 9/24 The Doppler effect Chapter 16 § 4 Ch16-21,26,32,43,56,60
(M 10/1 First
Mid-term Exam Chapters 13-16)
W 9/26 Law of reflection and refraction Chapter 16 § 5
F 9/28 Total internal reflection, optical
fiber Chapter 16 § 5
M 10/1 First Midterm
W 10/3 Mirrors Chapter 18 § 1-2
F 10/5 Spherical refracting surfaces Chapter 18 § 2-3
M 10/8 Thin Lenses Chapter
18 § 2-3 Ch16-65,67,74, Ch18-19,29,30
W 10/10 Ray Diagrams, Magnification Chapter
18 § 4
F 10/11 Optical
instruments Chapter
18 § 5
M 10/15 Interference Chapter
17 § 1 Ch18-41,43,50,55,67,77
W 10/17 Michelson-Morley Experiment Chapter 17 § 2
F 10/19 Phasors,
Gratings Chapter
17 § 4
M 10/22 Diffraction Chapter 17 § 3 Ch17-1, 3,22,33 ,45,50
W 10/24 Electromagnetic waves Chapter 33 § 1
F 10/26 Energy and momentum transport Chapter 33 § 2
M 10/29 Polarization Chapter 33 § 3 Ch17-44,48;ch33-5,23,43,45
(M 11/5 Second
Mid-term Exam Chapters
16-18, 33)
Thermodynamics
and Modern Physics
W 10/31 Temperature, The ideal gas law Chapter 19 § 1 & 2
F 11/2 Internal Energy, Equipartition Chapter
19 § 7
M 11/5 Second Midterm
W 11/7 The
first law of thermodynamics Chapter
19 § 3 Ch19-23,27,31,33,40,47
F 11/9 The P-V diagram Chapter 19 § 4
M 11/12 Veteran’s Day
W 11/14 Specific heats, adibatic
processes Chapter 19 § 5 & 6
F 11/16 Real gases & Change of phase Chapter 20 § 1 &2 Ch19-45,52,55,58,
Ch20-14,30
M 11/19 – F
11/24 Happy Thanksgiving
M 11/26 Calorimetry
and heat transfer Chapter 20-21
W 11/28 The second law/heat engine Chapter 22 § 1&2 Ch20-36,38,
Ch21-1,23,27,37
F 11/30 The Carnot
cycle Chapter
22 § 3
M 12/3 Entropy Chapter 22 § 4
W 12/5 More about entropy & 2nd law Chapter 22 § 4-5 Ch22-5,20,27,38,41,43,
F 12/7 Modern Physics, light &
photons Chapter 35
M 12/10 Intro to quantum mechanics Chapter 35
W 12/12 Nuclear structure Chapter 36 Ch22-8,
14, Ch35-1,15,67
F 12/14 Review
Final Exam All
learned
|
Wednesday December 19 |
|
* These
are tentative homework problems and due dates. Changes if any will be announced
in class.