Physics 140
Light, Energy and the Atom
3 credit hours
M,W,F: 1:00 – 1:50 pm
INSTRUCTOR: Julie Spangler
OFFICE: Physics/Mathematics Room 206
E-MAIL: [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS:
M: 2-3, T: 1-2, W: 8-9, 2-3, F: 8-9
or by appointment
(E-mail is a much better way to contact me than phone.)
Required Text: Conceptual Physics, 11th Ed., by Paul Hewitt.
Course Objectives:
Objective 1: Student should be able to make logical written arguments and discussions about the nature
of selected physical phenomena, especially those that are common to everyday life or that are of
importance in the formulation and implementation of public policy. These arguments and discussions
should be based on a conceptual understanding of the laws of physics and of basic physical
observations, models, and assumptions. The student should be able to integrate into these arguments
and discussions appropriately labeled drawings, diagrams, and graphs to serve as aids to understanding.
Objective 2: Student should be able to solve very simple numerical problems arising from the
applications of physical law to selected phenomena and to interpret the results in the context of the
course material.
Objective 3: Student should be able to discuss how selected physical laws have been formulated as a
result of observations, experimentation, and theorization.
Grades:
Exams = 60% of total grade
Quizzes, homework, worksheets = 20% of total grade
Presentation = 10% of total grade
Attendance/Class Participation = 10% of total grade
Total Grades Assigned based on following scale:
A: 90-100%
B: 80-89%
C: 70-79%
D: 60-69%
F: 59% and less
Fractionated grades (A+, A-, etc.) will NOT be assigned due to departmental policy.
Exams: There will be 3 in-class exams (2 1-hour exams and 1 final exam). These exams will consist
primarily of essay questions. There will be NO make-up exams. If you cannot make it to class the day
of the exam, you MUST have made arrangements PRIOR to the exam.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given a couple of times per exam period. These quizzes will be taken in-class
and will consist primarily of essay questions. The quiz questions will be taken from assigned questions
at the end of the chapter or assigned reading so be sure to study the assigned homework. There will be
NO make-up quizzes. If you cannot make it to class the day of a quiz, you MUST have made PRIOR
arrangements.
Homework, worksheets: will be assigned as needed. All assignments will be located on Black Board.
YOU are responsible to check BB. If you have questions about homework, please see the instructor
during office hours or ask at the beginning of class.
Extra Credit: Opportunities will be announced in class and will be made available to everyone in the
class. There will never be extra credit given on an individual basis.
Attendance/Class Participation: You are expected to attend every class. Missing a day not only
means you lose out on lecture, but also on the chance to participate. Class participation is encouraged
so that those students who express themselves better verbally than in written form have a chance to
improve their grade. You are responsible for all material discussed and special announcements made
during class even if you happen to be late/absent.
WITHDRAWALS: You will be withdrawn from this course if you have two (2) or more unexcused absences
during the first two weeks of class after you first enroll. I will send an e-mail message about any impending
instructor-initiated withdrawal to your university e-mail address. It is your responsibility to initiate any other
withdrawal in accordance with regulations listed in the catalog.
Tentative Course Outline:
Mon
Syllabus, Intro
Wed, Fri
Ch. 19
Mon, Wed
Ch. 26
Fri, Mon
Ch. 27
Wed, Fri, Mon, Wed, Fri
Ch. 28
Mon, Wed, Fri
Ch. 29
Mon
Ch. 30
Wed
Review for exam 1
Fri
Exam 1: Ch 19, Ch 26-30
Mon
Ch. 7
Wed, Fri
Ch. 15
Mon, Wed, Fri, Mon
Ch. 16
Wed, Fri, Mon
Ch. 18
Wed
Review for exam 2
Fri
Exam 2: Ch 7, 15, 16, 18
Mon
Ch. 11
Wed, Fri
Ch. 31
Mon, Wed
Ch. 32
Fri, Mon, Wed, Fri
Ch. 33
Thanksgiving Break
Mon, Wed
Ch. 34
Fri
Review for exam 3
th
Wed, Dec. 10
1:00 – 3:20 pm
Final Exam: Mostly Ch. 11, Ch. 3134, and some over Exams 1 & 2
Note: schedule is flexible and may change due to demands of class.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
This University abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that no student shall be denied the benefits of
an education "solely by reason of a handicap." If you have a documented disability that may impact your work in
this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see the Disability Resource Coordinator as
soon as possible to arrange accommodations. In order to receive accommodations, you must be registered with
and provide documentation of your disability to: the Disability Resource Office, which is located in the Library
and Academic Resources Center, Suite 169.
Physics 140 Learning Outcomes
In the “Light” portion of the course, students will be able to explain the following in both a verbal and
written form:
1. What is the relationship between the frequency and wavelength of any wave?
2. What is the equation for the velocity of any wave? Using the concepts of proportionality, discuss what
happens to different variables when one variable is changed. Calculate using this equation.
3. Rank the EM spectrum from lowest frequency to highest frequency. Do the same thing for the visible
light spectrum.
4. Draw a basic picture of a wave and label: amplitude, wavelength, etc. Compare this to a sketch of a
wave with increased frequency/amplitude/wavelength, etc.
5. Define both transverse and longitudinal waves. How would you create either of them on a spring?
6. Discuss the Doppler Effect, including a sketch. Be sure to include what happens when the source is
moving while the detector is stationary, and vice-versa.
7. Discuss shadows: include how they are formed, conditions under which you get the sharpest shadows,
definitions of umbra and penumbra.
8. Discuss solar and lunar eclipses including a sketch. How many people on Earth can see each of these
(approximately)?
9. Discuss how the average speed of light in any material besides a vacuum is affected.
10. Discuss why certain objects appear certain colors in certain lights.
11. Draw the color wheel and discuss which colors are the primary additive colors for light and which ones
are the primary subtractive colors for pigments. Discuss different combinations.
12. Why is the sky blue? Why are sunsets red? Why are clouds white? Why do bodies of water look
greenish-blue?
13. Discuss all you know about reflection including the definition and a sketch.
14. Discuss diffuse reflection and a specific situation in which it is useful.
15. Discuss refraction including the definition, a sketch, and what happens when the speed of light between two adjacent materials is the same and when it’s different.
16. Discuss how rainbows are formed.
17. Discuss the basics of lenses, including how light bends through a converging and a diverging lens, what
the focal point of a lens is, when you real vs. virtual images.
18. Discuss diffraction including the definition and a sketch of the motion of a wave through a single slit.
19. Draw and discuss what happens when monochromatic light is shined through a double slit. What happens when the color of light is changed?
20. Discuss the interference of light on soap bubbles.
21. Discuss the polarization of light waves.
In the “Energy” portion of the course, students will be able to explain the following in both a verbal
and written form:
1. What is potential and kinetic energy? Include equations. Given a sketch of a situation (roller coaster,
pendulum, etc) be able to discuss where each energy is maximimum, minimum, and how energy
changes forms.
2. What is work? Include equation.
3. What is power? Include equation.
4. What is heat? How does it flow? Discuss at molecular why heat flows this way.
5. Discuss specific heat capacity.
6. Discuss heating of water from 0oC to 20oC, including a graph, being specific between 0oC to 4oC. Be
able to discuss the reverse (cooling).
7. Discuss thermal expansion of different materials.
8. What is conduction? What is convection? What is radiation? Include examples of each.
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Discuss what it means to be a good conductor vs. a good insulator. Provide examples of each.
Discuss Newton’s Law of Cooling.
What is the first Law of Thermodynamics? Include equation and be able to calculate basic problems.
What is an adiabatic process? Give examples.
Discuss what happens as hot air rises. Provide a specific thumbrule relating temperature and elevation
change.
What is temperature inversion?
What is the Second law of Thermodynamics?
Draw and discuss the operation of a 4-cycle internal combustion engine.
Draw and discuss the basic steam cycle.
Discuss Carnot’s equation for ideal efficiency of a heat engine.
What is entropy?
In the “Atom” portion of the course, students will be able to explain the following in both a verbal and
written form:
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Can atoms be seen with a microscope? Why/why not? If not, what do you use?
Discuss basic composition of atoms.
Discuss forces in nucleus and what holds it together.
Discuss Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
Discuss how frequency of photons relates to energy. How does this relate to cell damage? i.e. on EM
spectrum, which end is most dangerous to our cells?
Is light a particle or a wave? Discuss.
What happens if you drop some ash/food coloring in a glass of water? Why?
Discuss how the nucleus was discovered.
Discuss Bohr model of atom including energy levels.
Discuss what happens when an electron drops from a higher energy level to a lower one.
Can electrons orbit at any distance from the nucleus? Why/why not?
Discuss the photoelectric effect.
What is Acute Radiation Syndrome? Discuss four things that must occur for it to happen.
What are the initial symptoms of ARS?
What happens to the cells during ARS?
What are the 3 types of radioactive particles? What is their penetrating ability?
Draw and discuss basic sketch of nuclear power plant.
Discuss what happens during fission.
Why are “heavier” elements more unstable?
Discuss what occurred at Chernobyl. Discuss some of the errors that lead to the disaster, both operator and design-wise.
Discuss both nuclear bombs. (Where, materials, etc)