Physics 2B Course Objectives

The student shall be able to:

1. Analyze physical problems involving electricity, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics in order to recognize all the physical principles required to solve the problem, isolate and model the physical principles underlying each part of the problem, formulate the equations for each part, combine and solve the system of equations for the problem, assess the physical reality of the result in terms of the data given, for a variety of physical situations involving the topics covered in the course.

2. Explain physical phenomena using realistic mathematical modeling at the level of general physics.

3. Evaluate laboratory situations to construct simple electrical systems, construct simple optical systems, make measurements using basic measuring devices, manipulate the collected data using basic error theories, report the outcome of the experiment, and explain the results physically.

Physics 2B Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)

Given a word problem, students will identify  the physical principles required to solve the problem, they will then model the physical principles, and formulate the equations necessary to solve the problem.  Students will correctly solve the equations and report the answer using correct units. 

For example, Students will be given a word problem in which a particle with a known charge and mass enters a region of space where the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the particle’s velocity and to each other. The values of the electric and magnetic fields are given. Students are asked to determine the value of the speed that the particle must have in order to pass through the fields without being deflected.
The particle then enters a different region of space with only a magnetic field, perpendicular to the velocity of the particle. The value of the magnetic field is given. Students are asked to determine the radius of the path of the particle as it travels in the region with the magnetic field.

I) To compute the speed of the particle:
The student will model this part of the problem by drawing a sketch indicating the direction of the magnetic and electric fields, the direction of the electric and magnetic forces acting on the particle, and the direction of the velocity of the particle. The student will recognize the need to use Newton’s first law to write an equation that involves the magnetic and electric field and the speed of the particle.

II) To determine the radius of the path of the particle:
The student will model this part of the problem by drawing a sketch indicating the direction of the magnetic field, the path of the particle and the direction of the magnetic force acting on the particle. The student will recognize the need to use Newton’s second law to write an equation that involves the magnetic field, in order to determine the radius of the particle.

The student will report the answer using correct units.