LPHYS4125 Physics II for Science and Engineering with Lab Course Descriptor

Course Summary

This course is the second instalment of introductory calculus-based Physics. It focuses on the study of wave motion, electric fields and Coulomb’s Law, Gauss’ law, capacitors, resistors and DC electric circuits, magnetic fields, induction, radiation, and the basic properties of electromagnetic waves. These topics are reinforced with lab sessions. In the course, students learn to define and analyse the concepts of electric and magnetic phenomena acting in the real world and to mathematically quantify electricity, magnetism, and wave motion. These concepts will be explored on the revised definitions of SI units, in particular the new definition of ampere and related electrical quantities. Students will develop mathematical skills in order to solve physics related problems, perform and interpret the results of simple laboratory experiments and demonstrations of physical principles.

While there are no formal maths prerequisites, participants would benefit from having a working knowledge of calculus, including differentiation, integration and vectors, to both Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 level, AP credit, or equivalent.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

A minimum of 50 contact hours, typically to include interactive group teaching, co-curriculars, individual meetings, in-class presentations, lab-based experiments and exams.

Course information and supplementary materials are available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students will receive individualised developmental feedback on their work for this course.

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to manage their directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

Assessment

Formative

Students will be formatively assessed in class through class activities, and during office hours. Formative assessments are ones that do not count towards the final grade but will provide students with developmental feedback.

Summative

Feedback

Students will receive feedback in a variety of ways: written (including via email correspondence); oral (within office hours or on an ad hoc basis) and indirectly through class discussion.

Feedback on examinations is provided through generic internal examiners’ reports and are made available to the student on the VLE. 

For all other summative assessment methods, feedback is made available to the student either via email, the VLE or another appropriate method.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books

• Randal Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics, Global Edition, 5th Edition
• Young & Freedman, University Physics with Modern Physics, 15th Edition

Electronic Resources

• Pearson Mastering Physics VLE
• Wolfram Mathmatica/MatLAB

Indicative Topics

• Electricity and Magnetism 
• Wave motion
• Radiation