PHY-2030 General Physics II

Credits: 4
This course is the second course in a three-semester sequence of university level physics (PHY-2020, PHY-2030, PHY-2040) for a variety of majors, including but not limited to engineering, mathematics, and science. This course is a calculus-based study of classical physics. This course deepens students’ understanding of the laws of nature through problem solving and experimentation. Students primarily learn about kinetic theory, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and electromagnetic phenomena. Students investigate classical physics topics such as thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and fluid dynamics through both analytical and experimental approaches. They apply physical laws to analyze energy transfer, engine and circuit function, and electromagnetic behavior, while using mathematics to model physical systems. In the lab, students analyze data, identify discrepancies between expected and observed outcomes, and refine their understanding of physical principles.

Prerequisite(s): PHY-2020 with a C or higher and MAT-2420

Course Outcomes

Apply the laws of thermodynamics to solve problems related to heat transfer, heat engines (e.g., car engines), heat pumps (e.g., refrigerator), entropy, and microscopic/macroscopic properties of a system.
Analyze electric forces, fields, and potentials for discrete and continuous charge distributions.
Analyze magnetic forces and fields for a variety of sources of magnetic fields.
Solve problems related to electromagnetic induction, electric generators, and electric motors.
Analyze direct-current (DC) circuits using Kirchhoff’s laws.
Develop mathematical equations for the physical systems.
Explain the behavior of physical systems in the lab and the causes of any discrepancy between the experimental behavior/results and the expected behavior/results.