Studio Physics (PHYS 104)
Matter & Interactions II: Electric and Magnetic Interactions
Ben
Szapiro, Associate Professor of Physics
Randy Peterson, Professor
of Physics
This course deals with the nature of matter and its interactions. We will attempt to model a broad range of physical phenomena using a small set of powerful fundamental principles and the atomic theory of matter. The variety of phenomena that we will be able to explain and understand is very wide, from the orbit of a planet to the speed of sound in a solid.
Physics 104, is the second course in a two-semester sequence of introductory calculus-based physics courses for engineering and science students. It emphasizes the concepts of electric and magnetic interactions and extends the study of the atomic structure of matter to include the role of electrons. Topics include: electric and magnetic fields, circuits, electromagnetic radiation, wave-particle duality of light, and semiconductor devices. interactions, using the momentum principle to predict future motion, an atomic model of solids, energy conservation including relativistic energy, energy in macroscopic systems (including thermal energy), energy quantization, multi-particle systems, collisions (including relativistic particle collisions), angular momentum and quantized angular momentum, entropy and statistical mechanics.
The textbook is Matter & Interactions, vol II: Electric and Magnetic Interactions, by R.Chabay & B. Sherwood, 2nd. Edition (John Wiley & Sons 2007, ISBN 978-0-470-10831-4).
This new course will use a Studio Physics format (no separate
afternoon lab), meeting three times a week in classes of 110 minutes:
Monday-Wednesday-Friday 11:00- 12:50
Classroom activities will emphasize active
learning and teamwork, and will combine theoretical discussions,
problem solving, laboratory exercises and computational modeling
(using VPython 3D programming) in a uniquely designed learning
environment. Enrollment is restricted to 20 students, and is intended
for incoming freshmen strongly interested in physics and engineering,
with a solid background in high school math.
The course satisfies a lab science requirement
and is not designated as writing intensive.
Useful links:
http://puzzles.usatoday.com/sudoku/archive/2008/02/22/?loc=interstitialskip