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I.
PREREQUISITES
Physics 251, Mathematics 263B, Analytic Geometry and Calculus, or equivalent.
This course carries
no laboratory credit. A student who needs credit for five quarter hours
and/or laboratory credit must take the laboratory portion of this course
on the Ohio University Athens campus. Credit for the laboratory portion
taken previously at another institution may be transferred.
II.
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES
Recommended text for Physics 251, 252, 253 series:
ISBN# 1572596155 Tipler, Paul, et al, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th ed, W.H. Freeman, 1999 -- combined Volumes 1, 2 & 3.
Alternative to the above text---if you plan to take Physics 252 ONLY, you have the option of purchasing Volumes 1 and 2 of the text separately:
ISBN# 1572594918 Physics For Scientists and Engineers: Volume 1: Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves, Thermodynamics (Chapters 1-21)
ISBN# 1572594926 Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Volume 2: Electricity, Magnetism, Light
-----------------
OPTIONAL:
ISBN#
1572595116 Study Guide to Accompany Tipler Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Volume 1
ISBN# 1572595124 Study Guide to Accompany Tipler Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Volumes 2 & 3
...available from
EdMap's distance-learning online
bookstore.
| STUDENTS
ARE STRONGLY ADVISED NOT TO BUY TEXTBOOKS UNTIL REGISTERED
IN COURSES AS REQUIRED EDITIONS CAN CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. |
III.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Physics 252 is the second of a three-quarter sequence in General Physics
for students of science and engineering. It is assumed that you have previously
taken the first course of the series, Physics 251, which deals with Newtonian
mechanics, rotational dynamics and gravitation. Since you have taken and
passed Physics 251 you should assume that knowledge learned in that course
will be used in solving some of the problems set for Physics 252. In particular
you are assumed to be familiar with topics such as the motion of particles
subject to Newton’s laws of motion, in straight lines and in circular
paths; solution of problems involving vectors in two and three dimensions,
including the three-dimensional properties of vectors such as torque and
angular momentum; the use of the principle of conservation of energy in
mechanical systems; the principles of both conservation of linear momentum,
in one or two dimensions, and conservation of angular momentum; the principles
of particle dynamics to systems of particles and rigid bodies.
Scientists and engineers
are usually put into situations where they have to do things they, and
others, have not done before. A bridge of a given type may have been built
before but not in this new location; a new computer may use the same architecture
as slower speed models but not at this new higher speed; a doctor may
be treating a patient with a common disorder but not in this patient.
One reason why scientists and engineers take physics as part of their
degree program is because their departments know that we test their ability
to cope with unfamiliar situations and recognize that the questions we
present are readily answered (i) with a knowledge of basic science, (ii)
the capacity to interpret illustrations, graphs and tables, (iii) the
ability to read carefully and process unfamiliar scientific information.
The questions will often feature illustrations or wording that may at
first sight make you think you cannot solve the problem, but this is not
so. Solving physics problems is not just about what you know but also
about how you think. You need to know the basics and apply that knowledge
in new and unfamiliar problems.
Memorization of facts
that are quickly forgotten is a useful asset in physics, as in many other
subjects, but is not sufficient. You will not be able to pass on memory
alone. You will need to learn the basic principles and know how to apply
them.
While a numerical score will be used to determine your grade, I think it useful to share with you what I expect students in particular grade-letter bands to be capable of when they complete this course. Physics 252 deals
with fluids, simple harmonic oscillators, wave phenomena, thermal properties
of matter, heat, thermodynamics, and electrostatics.
A students will be able to solve correctly problems involving: both stationary and moving ideal fluids; simple harmonic oscillators such as the simple pendulum, a mass connected to a spring, a mass connected to two or more springs, the physical pendulum; wave motion and the properties of traveling waves including addition of waves and standing waves; properties of sound waves; thermal properties of matter; heat transfer; zeroth, first and second laws of thermodynamics; kinetic theory of gases; equipartition theory; properties of electrically charged particles, insulators and conductors; Coulomb’s and Gauss’s laws of electrostatics; determination of electric forces, fields and potentials.
B students will be able to solve problems in almost all the areas but make minor mistakes and be unable to solve problems in one major area, such electrostatics, thermodynamics, wave mechanics or fluids.
C students will be able to answer most or all of the shorter problems in all areas correctly or with only minor mistakes but will have difficulties with the longer problems through missing key steps or failing to use the correct principles.
D students will be get some parts to many problems correct but find it difficult to complete correctly any of the longer problems on the exam. Parts of problems that are correct will probably be not explained, diagrams will be missing as will statements regarding the physical principles used.
To get an F in this course, a student will have had severe difficulties with the material of the course in all areas and will probably have been unable to complete the suggested problems without the use of the textbook or other assistance.
Statement regarding the mathematical knowledge assumed:
Students taking Physics
252 have passed MATH 263A and B and Physics 251, or the equivalent courses
elsewhere. These are more than just check marks in boxes. It means that
you have the skills necessary to handle the math required by Physics 252.
Specifically, you are expected to be fluent in the following topics:
- Basic arithmetic
and logical operations
- Algebra of single
and multiple variable equations
- Graphical representation
of equations
- Linear Equations
- Solution of simultaneous
equations with 2 or 3 variables
- Trigonometric
functions, their definitions, properties and associated identities
- Logarithmic and
exponential function properties
- Differentiation
of simple functions, e.g. x, x2, x-1/2,
log x, sin x
- Integration of
simple functions, e.g. x, x2, x-1/2,
x-1, sin x
- Vector addition
and subtraction
- Vector multiplication,
both dot and cross products
IV. METHOD OF STUDY
The beginning year of college physics is usually the most difficult. Many
new ideas and concepts are developed. A student who understands clearly
the basic physics, even if not yet able to apply it easily to complex
situations, has put behind him or her many of the real difficulties in
learning physics or related topics in engineering.
If you have difficulty in understanding part of the course and in working
problems, you should go back and reread the relevant parts of a high school
text. To comprehend physics is not only to understand what you are reading
but also to be able to apply that understanding to problems. The exercises,
particularly the worked-out exercises, will be helpful. After reading
a chapter, try to solve the problems indicated for the chapter on the
syllabus. This should give you some experience for the examination.
V.
NATURE OF THE EXAMINATION
You will be allowed three hours to complete the examination. No textbooks,
notes or supplementary aids will be permitted. You must learn and/or
memorize all principles, formulae and equations necessary to do the
problems; no formulae or equations will be provided with the examination.
You may use your calculator in the examination but it must be free of
stored formulae or notes. We recommend a simple scientific or engineering
calculator that has scientific notation, the trigonometric functions sin,
cos and tan and their inverses, logs, exponentials, and square root.
It is not enough
to memorize important concepts and formulas. Rather it is better to work
problem after problem WITHOUT using the textbook in any
way. Do so until you can do most problems correctly in not more than 15-20
minutes each. This is the expected level of achievement in the
classroom course in preparation for the final examination. By disciplining
yourself to reach this level and not using any help from the text, notes,
friends, etc. in doing the problems, you will have to have learned
the formulas and their all-important applications and, thus, stand a far
better chance of doing well on the examination.
The examination consists
entirely of problems from which you must show both the physical and mathematical
reasoning used to solve them. Partial credit will be given, so it is important
that you show all the steps in your solutions. The problems will cover
such areas as: stationary and moving ideal fluids; simple harmonic oscillators;
motion of interaction of traveling waves including vibrations of string
and sound waves; thermodynamics; kinetic theory of gases; thermal properties
of materials; electrostatics, and electric fields including Coulomb’s
and Gauss’s laws.
VI.
GRADING CRITERIA
Partial
credit for each problem will be given in proportion to the amount of work
completed correctly, and the final grade will be the sum of all the partial
credits in the form of a percentage. The equivalence in final letter grades
is as follows:
A = 80-100%
B = 70-79%
C = 60-69%
D = 50-59%
F = below 50%
VI.
STUDY NOTES
The following syllabus
and problem assignment list are based on the Tipler text. You will notice
that for each topic the appropriate textbook material is indicated. Study
these textbook sections thoroughly and then attempt to do the self-study
problems and exercises as a preparation for the examination. Syllabus |