Spring 2008January 15, 2008
Physics for Life Sciences 2
Course number: 3650:262:801
Meeting time and place: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:10 – 6:25 p.m., Ayer 19.
Required Textbook:College Physics, 6th Ed., by Jerry D. Wilson, Anthony J. Buffa and Bo Lou.
Instructor:Yu-Kuang (Ben) Hu
Office: Ayer 200
Office hours:Mondays 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon; Tuesdays 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Thursdays 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; or by appointment.
Telephone: (330) 972 8093
Fax: (330) 972 6918
E-mail: or
My Website:. To get copies of (non-copyrighted) class hand-outs, go there and click on the “Physics 262: Physics for Life Sciences 2” link.
Textbook Website: , where you can find supplementary material such as practice problems and virtual demonstrations.
Introduction
Welcome to the second semester of the Physics for Life Sciences sequence, which will cover optics, electricity and magnetism, thermal physics, and modern physics.
As I mentioned in the Physics for Life Sciences 1, this course is quite different from most other college courses, in that there are relatively few core concepts that you’ll need to master to do well in this course, but these core concepts can be difficult to grasp when you see them for the first time. Nevertheless, once you understand these concepts, you should be able to apply them to obtain the solutions to a variety of problems.
I will be using the Personal Response System in this course. With this system, I ask a multiple choice question in class, you answer it and the system displays the statistics of the answers on the screen. The tests and examinations will also contain questions similar to those posed in class.
Final Grade Determination
(45%) In-class tests – there will be 3 of these tests, each worth 15% of your final grade. These tests will comprise both multiple choice and textbook-problem-type questions. These tests will occur around the 5th, 10th and 15th weeks of classes. You will receive at least one week advance notice about an upcoming test. If you are absent the day the notification is given, you are still responsible for being prepared. In-class tests can only be made up due to extreme circumstances, and with proper documentation to support your reason for missing the tests. Also, note that tests and the final examination may include material from assigned reading that is not explicitly covered in the lecture.
(20%) Comprehensive Final Examination – Format is the same as the in-class tests.
Covers entire semester’s material. The final exam grade can be used to replace your worst in-class test grade, if the final exam grade is better. The final examination in scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:55 p.m. in Ayer 19.
(25%) Laboratory – The laboratory is a required part of this course. You will receive a grade for each lab from your lab instructor which is determined by a lab test, lab activities and/or a written report. Your lab instructor will give you more details on how your grade is determined. In addition, you may be tested on laboratory material in the tests and final examination. An additional stipulation of this course is that you must pass the lab component in order to pass the course. Missing three or more labs automatically results in failure of the lab component, and hence of the course itself. [Note:there is no lab during the first week of classes.]
(10%) Homework – It is important that you do the homework regularly, as they will help you master the material. Furthermore, the tests and final examination will contain problems that are similar to the homework problems. You are encouraged to work in groups on the homework. Problems rated 1 black circle are worth 5 points, 2 circles are worth 10 points and 3 circles are worth 15 points. Note that you must show how you worked out the problems to get full credit.
Bonus points
(2%) Attendance -- Must sign on the sign-up sheet (starting next class).
There may be an opportunity or two to pick up bonus points during the course of the semester.
Rules on Homework
The purpose of these rules is to ensure that you get proper credit for your work and to reduce the burden on the grader, who has many sets of homework to grade.
- Use 8.5 x 11 inch paper.
- Put your name on the upper right hand corner. Clearly print your name.
- Do not fold your paper. If the homework takes more than one sheet, staple the sheets together.
- Use of spiral notebook paper is discouraged. However, if you must use spiral notebook paper, trim off the ragged edges.
- Homework is due in class on the stipulated date. Late homework will not be accepted.
Studying
This course emphasizes understanding the fundamentals of physics. Therefore, passively reading the textbook usually does not help you gain a good understanding of the material. When you study, you should try to test your understanding of the material by attempting to answer questions and solve problems. In addition to the end-of-chapter questions and problems, you can also findquestions and problems on the textbook’s web site, .You will need the access code that’s in your textbook to access the material for the 6th edition. If you don’t have an access code, click on the 5th edition (the one with the picture of the swimmer) – the material is basically the same. Thereare also several books on the physics or physical sciences part of the MCAT that contain a number of practice questions (for example, you could go to Amazon.com and search for books on MCAT).If you answer questions or problems incorrectly, try to figure out why. When you’re stuck, it is often helpful to talk to fellow students in this class, your teaching assistant or me.
Tutoring is also available in Carroll Hall.
Final comments
If you want to do well in this course, stay on top of the material. Working regularly on the material easily beats cramming only before tests and the final examination. This course emphasizes understanding and the ability to apply concepts (which usually take time to sink in), not rote memorization. While the material can seem difficult at first, I am confident that with sustained and consistent effort, you should be able to master it.
Spring 2008
3650:262:801 -- Physics for Life Sciences 2
Tentative Syllabus (subject to change)
Week / Topics / Chapter of text1 (January 15 & 17) / Geometrical Optics / 22
2 (January 22 & 24) / Mirrors and Lenses / 23
3 (January 29 & 31) / Physical Optics / 24
4 (February 5 & 7) / Optical Instruments / 25
5 (February 12 & 14) / Electric Charge, Forces Test 1 (Chapters 22-25) / 15
6 (February 21) / Electric Field / 15
7 (February 26 & 28) / Electric Potential Energy, Energy and Capacitance / 16
8 (March 4 & 6) / Electric Current & Resistance / 17
9 (March 11 & 13) / Basic Electric Circuits / 18, 21.1
10 (March 25 & 27) / Magnetism / 19
11 (April 1 & 3) / Heat, Test 2 (Chapters 15 – 19, 21.1), / 10
12 (April 8 & 10) / Heat & Temperature / 10, 11
13 (April 15 & 17) / Quantum Physics / 27
14 (April 22 & 24) / The Nucleus / 29
15 (April 29, May 1) / Test 3 (Chapters 10-11, 27, 29), Review
Spring 2008
3650:262:801 -- Physics for Life Sciences 2
Approximate point to grade conversion table
S represents your final total score (out of 100) for this course.
S 90 / A86 S< 90 / A-
82 S< 86 / B+
78 S< 82 / B
74 S< 78 / B-
70 S< 74 / C+
66 S< 70 / C
62 S< 66 / C-
56 S62 / D+
54 S< 58 / D
50 S< 54 / D-
S< 50 / F