Physics 20400 1XB, 1XB2

General Physics II
Summer 2010 Syllabus
Lecture and Recitation Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,
10:30-12:10 PM, Room MR4
Laboratory: Tuesday, 1:20-3:50 PM, Room MR407N
6 lect, 2 rec. hr/wk, 3 lab hr/wk; 4 cr./sem

Prof. Erlbach
Office: MR423C, Telephone: 212-650-5606, email: eerlbach@aol.com
Office Hours: Thursday, 9:30-10:30 AM.

Course description: For majors in the life sciences (biology, medicine, dentistry,
psychology, physical therapy) and for liberal arts students. Fundamental ideas and laws
of physics. Included are waves and sound, electricity and magnetism, optics, relativity,
quantum mechanics and nuclear physics. Emphasis is on the basic principles and general
laws. Use of mathematics is restricted to elementary algebra, geometry and some
trigonometry.

Prerequisites: Physics 20300.

Textbook:
Required: Physics, volumes 1 and 2, 8th Edition, by Cutnell and Johnson
Recommended: Halpern and Erlbach, “Beginning Physics,” vol. 2
Optional: Cutnell/Johnson, Physics, Student Guide (8th Ed.)
Optional: Cutnell/Johnson, Physics, Take Note (5th or latest Ed.)

Grade basis: Final exam (50%), Hourly exams (50%). All lab experiments must be done
and lab reports submitted to pass the course. Attendance and class participation may be
used to fine-tune the grades.

Academic integrity: Academic dishonesty is prohibited in the City University of New

York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, and expulsion, as provided
in the College Bulletin (see page 313, Appendix B.3, of The City College Undergraduate
Bulletin 2009-2011).
http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/CCNYBulletin/upload/CCNY-09-11-UG-Final-
reducedsize.pdf

Physics 20400 1XB, page 1 of 3

Week Reading Topic Homework Exam
of
6/1 16.1–16.10 Waves and 16-97, 12, 15, 24, 26, 38, 71, 87,
17.1-17.6 Sound 90
18.1-18.8 Interference, 17-9, 20, 32, 42
Electric Force 18-15, 16, 69, 71, 66, 35, 37,
and Fields 42
6/7 19.1-19.5 Electric 19-7, 10, 27, 30, 65, 43, 49, 65
20.1-20.9 Potential 20-8, 14, 24, 29, 35, 46, 59, 68,
20.11-20.12 Electric Circuits 97

6/14 21.1-21.7 Magnetic Force 21-1, 19, 26, 35, 40, 47, 85, 59, 6/17 Exam
22.1-22.9 and Field 61, 62 #1
Electromagnetic 22-1, 16, 35, 36, 40, 56, 77
Induction
6/21 23.1-23.4 Alternating 23-3, 4, 11, 20, 21, 28, 35, 42
24.1-24.3 Current 24-4, 20
25 Electromagnetic 25-1, 23, 30, 46
26.1-26.8 Waves 26-12, 34, 35, 53, 55
Geometrical
Optics
6/28 27.1-27.7 Physical Optics 27-9, 12, 15, 25, 32, 50, 51
28 Relativity 28-4, 5, 8, 11, 18, 29, 33, 34, 37,
39
7/6 29 Quantum 29-6, 8, 9, 15, 48, 32, 39 7/8 Exam
30.1-30.7 Mechanics 30-3, 6, 55, 17, 27, 31, 39 #2
Atomic Physics
7/12 31 Nuclear Physics 31-5, 11, 19, 23, 61, 25, 33, 55,
32 Particle Physics 45
32-17, 21, 25, 26, 51, 44
7/19 Review
7/21 FINAL EXAM Final Exam

Exams June 17 and July 8

Grading Policy/Percentage weight: Final Grade is determined 50% by term exams and
50% by final exam.
Attendance at all labs is mandatory. Missing any lab will result in a grade of INC.
Attendance is taken in all sessions.

Course objectives:
After successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
1. understand the fundamentals of wave motion and sound;
2. understand and apply the principle of linear superposition to interference
phenomena;
3. understand the concepts of electric fields, electric forces and electric potential;
4. understand and be able to analyze electric circuits, including alternating current
circuits;

Physics 20400 1XB, page 2 of 3

 5. understand the concepts of magnetic forces and magnetic fields;
6. understand the concept of electromagnetic induction;
7. understand the concept of and phenomena associated with electromagnetic waves;
8. understand the concepts of reflection and refraction of light, interference and the
wave nature of light;
9. understand the concepts associated with the special theory of relativity;
10. understand the basic concepts and phenomena associated with the atoms, nuclei,
radioactivity, nuclear energy and particle physics.

Relationship of course to program outcomes:

The outcomes of this course contribute to the following departmental learning outcomes:
g. Students of other disciplines will be able to synthesize and apply their
knowledge of physics and mathematics to solve physics-related problems and
an appropriate introductory level in important fields of classical physics,
including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, optics, and
experimental physics, as appropriate to their majors.
h. Students of other disciplines will have the background in physics needed to
perform well in advanced courses in their own disciplines for which
introductory physics courses are a prerequisite.

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