Physics 121 - Electricity, Magnetism, Light & Modern Physics

Instructor: Dr. Chris McCarthy

Lecture: 9:10 AM - 10:20 AM, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday in HSS Building 259
Office: Thornton Hall 520. Telephone: 338.1880
Office Hours & Help Session
( Time & Location subject to change in the first week of class)

Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00 in TH 520
Wednesday 11:00 - 12:00 PM in TH 520

Email address: (IMPORTANT: please include "Physics 121" in the subject of emails, and don't forget to sign your name!)

Course: Physics 121 is the second of a two semester course. We begin with an introduction to electricity and magnetism. We then combine these subjects to consider various aspects of electromagnetic radiation, such as optics and the doppler effect. Finally we investigate topics of modern physics, including Einstein's theory of relativity, quantum mechanics and nuclear reactions.

Text: Walker, J.S. Physics, 5th Edition required.

Course Website: http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~chris/physics121/ provides lecture notes, syllabi and exam reviews.

Homework: The best way to learn physics is by solving problems on your own and in small groups. Students who do not invest their own time and effort on homework problems have done poorly on exams. Feel free to discuss the homework with other students and with the instructor, but in the end you must work the problems yourself. Homework problems make up 15% of your grade. Assignments will be given every week or two, with a total of 10 for the semester. Late homework is not accepted, but students' lowest homework score will not be counted toward their grade.

Homework is submitted online at the Masteringphysics.com site. All students must register at this site during the first week of class, and begin to submit assignments. Please register (using the name by which you are known in university records) with this key code: PHYS121SUM18

Exams: There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. Exams are closed book and closed notes. At each exam, students should bring a calculator, and one 8.5 x 11" piece of paper per exam containing formulas and notes written by the student. Formula sheets from previous exams in this class may be brought to later exams, for a total of three such sheets at the final exam.

IMPORTANT DATES

Last day to drop class: Friday, June 29
Last day to Change Credit/NoCredit: July 8
Midterm Exam #1: Thursday July 5
Midterm Exam #2: Monday July 23
Last day to withdraw: July 31
Holiday: July 4th
Final Exam: August 9, Thursday 9:10-10:20

GRADES Course will be graded on a curve. Course grades will be determined according to these weightings:

Homework: 15%
Midterm exams: 25% Each
Final exam: 35%

Lab: The accompanying laboratory course, Physics 122 must be taken concurrently (unless you have already taken it and passed.) Labs meet in Trailer N. Enrollment in labs is managed by lab instructors and the Lab Coordinator. Be sure to attend the first lab meeting to secure your place.

Learning objectives: Students successfully completing this course will, among other things, be able to:

Compute the net force on a charge, considering all components
Describe the effects of electric and magnetic force fields.
Define Voltage (or electric potential)
Use Newton's Second Law to predict the motion of charged particles
Use understanding of gravity (from Phys. 111) as an analogy for electromagnetism.
Apply the conservation of energy to electrical systems
Analyze circuits
Be able to describe light as an electromagnetic wave and explain how EM waves propagate.
Analyze optical systems quantitatively, and using ray-tracing
Know the principles of Relativity, and their consequences
Utilize the equivalence of mass and energy in calculations
Provide evidence from experiments that refute classical physics and support quantum physics
Understand the implications of wave nature of matter
Predict the products of a nuclear reaction, and calculate the energy released.

Study Tips: If you read the recommended portion of the textbook before coming to class, you will be at a great advantage. Course topics build on what has been covered before, so do not get behind in reading. Interact with other students in small study groups or on-line. To study for exams, work through some additional problems beyond those assigned. Feel free to ask questions in class and during office hours/help sessions.

OTHER NOTES

Disability Access: Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the instructor for accommodations. The Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC, in the Student Service Building) is available to facilitate this process. Contact DPRC at: dprc@sfsu.edu or 415-338-2472 (voice/TTY).

SF State fosters a campus free of sexual violence including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination. If you disclose a personal experience of such violence, the instructor is required to notify the the Title IX Coordinator by completing the report form available at http://titleix.sfsu.edu, emailing vpsaem@sfsu.edu or calling 338-2032. To disclose any such violence confidentially, contact The SAFE Place - (415) 338-2208; http://www.sfsu.edu/~safe_plc/ OR Counseling and Psychological Services Center - (415) 338-2208; http://psyservs.sfsu.edu/. For more information on your rights and available resources: http://titleix.sfsu.edu