PHYS 2220 is the second semester of a two-semester sequence in calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers. It is a necessary preparation for continuing studies in upper division STEM courses. It includes an introduction to electricity, magnetism, circuits, optics, and relativity. The methods of calculus are applied to develop theories and to solve problems.
This course is a necessary component of the curriculum for geology, chemistry, computer science, physics, math, and engineering majors. It is fully transferable to higher education institutions across the state of Utah (same course number).
1. Electric Fields a. Coulomb’s Law b. Gauss’ Law 2. Electric Potential and Capacitance a. Potential difference b. Capacitance and capacitors 3. Current and Resistance a. Ohm’s Law b. Resistance and temperature c. Electrical energy and power 4. Direct Current Circuits a. Electromotive force b. Resistors in series and parallel c. Kirchhoff’s Rules d. RC circuits 5. Magnetic Fields a. Sources of magnetic fields; Biot-Savart Law b. Effect of magnetic fields on charges c. Magnetic flux d. Ampere’s Law 6. Faraday’s Law and Inductance a. Lenz’s Law b. RL circuits c. Energy in a magnetic field d. Oscillations in LC circuits 7. Alternating Current Circuits a. Power and Phasors b. Resonance c. Transformers 8. Electromagnetic Waves a. Maxell’s Equations b. Energy, momentum, and radiation pressure c. The spectrum of electromagnetic waves 9. Nature of Light and Geometric Optics a. Speed of light b. Reflection and refraction c. Dispersion and total internal reflection d. Images formed by lenses and mirrors 10. Interference, Diffraction, and Polarization of Light Waves a. Young’s Double Slit Experiment b. Narrow slits and the diffraction grating c. Polarization of light waves11. Relativity a. Michelson-Morley Experiment b. Einstein’s Special Relativity12. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics a. Blackbody radiation c. Bohr’s model of the atom d. Wave-particle duality