PHYS 262: General Physics II – Electricity and Magnetism (Syllabus Overview and Study Guide)

Course Overview

PHYS 262 – General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based physics course designed for students majoring in engineering or the physical sciences. The course covers foundational concepts in electricity and magnetism, including both theoretical principles and practical laboratory skills. It is the second course in a three-part physics sequence.

Course Description

• Topics Covered: Coulomb’s Law, electric fields, Gauss’s Law, direct-current (DC) and alternating-current (AC) circuits, magnetic fields, Ampère’s Law, electromagnetic induction, and electromagnetic waves.

• Laboratory Component: Emphasizes the use of electrical measuring instruments and experimental methods.

• Prerequisites: Completion of MATH 182 and PHYS 161 with a grade of C or better.

• Co-requisites: Enrollment in advanced mathematics courses (MATH 280/282/284 or ENEE 290) or departmental consent.

• Course Structure: Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion, and three hours of laboratory per week.

Course Outcomes

• Identify and apply physical concepts, principles, and laws associated with electricity and magnetism (E&M).

• Develop strategies and apply calculus techniques to solve physics problems involving E&M.

• Apply scientific methods to investigate E&M concepts and laws.

• Perform experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw valid conclusions related to E&M.

• Use computational and graphing tools to represent physical quantities and laws.

• Identify reliable sources and use them to answer conceptual questions in E&M.

• Integrate different concepts and principles to explain practical applications in E&M.

Course Topics (Aligned with Standard Physics Curriculum)

• Electric Charge and Electric Field (Ch. 21)

• Gauss’s Law (Ch. 22)

• Electric Potential (Ch. 23)

• Capacitance and Dielectrics (Ch. 24)

• Current, Resistance, and Electromotive Force (Ch. 25)

• Direct-Current Circuits (Ch. 26)

• Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces (Ch. 27)

• Sources of Magnetic Field (Ch. 28)

• Electromagnetic Induction (Ch. 29)

• Inductance (Ch. 30)

• Alternating Current (Ch. 31)

• Electromagnetic Waves (Ch. 32)

Course Materials

• Mastering Physics (Pearson) – Required online course management and homework system.

• Textbook: University Physics with Modern Physics, Young and Freedman, 15th Edition (included with Mastering Physics).

• Alternative Text: OpenStax University Physics, Volume 1 (free online resource).

Grading Breakdown

Assessment	Weight	Details
Exams (3)	36%	12% each; common exams
Final Exam (Comprehensive)	24%	Common comprehensive final
Mastering Physics Pre-lectures	4%	Online, before lecture
Mastering Physics Homework	6%	100% credit by deadline, 90% by exam day
Quizzes / Participation	5%	Weekly in-class quizzes
Other Activities	5%	Research/poster presentations or as assigned
Lab Notebook / Informal Labs	3%	Checked weekly
Formal Lab Reports	7%	Three reports
Lab Final	10%	Individual lab exam

Grading Scale: A >90%, B >80%, C >70%, D >60%, F <60%

Key Course Policies

• Attendance: Mandatory; excessive unexcused absences may affect your grade.

• Academic Honesty: Strictly enforced; violations may result in severe penalties, including course failure.

• Exam Policy: Standard scientific calculators provided; no outside communication or internet use during exams. No make-up exams.

• Accommodations: Students requiring accommodations must contact Disability Support Services and provide documentation in advance.

Support Resources

• Homework Club and Open Lab: Scheduled hours for collaborative study and lab practice.

• Tutoring: Available at campus learning centers and online by appointment.

Sample Key Concepts and Equations (from Course Topics)

Electric Charge and Coulomb’s Law

• Electric Charge (q): Fundamental property of matter; measured in coulombs (C).

• Coulomb’s Law: Describes the force between two point charges.

$F = k_e \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2}$

• Where $k_e = 8.99 \times 10^9 \ \mathrm{N \cdot m^2 / C^2}$, $q_1$ and $q_2$ are charges, and $r$ is the distance between them.

Electric Field (E)

• Definition: The force per unit charge at a point in space.

$\vec{E} = \frac{\vec{F}}{q}$

• For a point charge: $\vec{E} = k_e \frac{q}{r^2} \hat{r}$

Gauss’s Law

• Statement: The electric flux through a closed surface is proportional to the enclosed charge.

$\Phi_E = \oint \vec{E} \cdot d\vec{A} = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_0}$

• Where $\varepsilon_0 = 8.85 \times 10^{-12} \ \mathrm{C^2/(N \cdot m^2)}$

Ohm’s Law and Circuits

• Ohm’s Law: Relates voltage, current, and resistance.

$V = IR$

• Where $V$ is voltage, $I$ is current, and $R$ is resistance.

Magnetic Fields and Forces

• Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge:

$\vec{F} = q \vec{v} \times \vec{B}$

• Where $\vec{B}$ is the magnetic field, $q$ is charge, and $\vec{v}$ is velocity.

Faraday’s Law of Induction

• Statement: A changing magnetic flux induces an electromotive force (emf).

\[ \mathcal{E} = -\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt} \]

• Where $\Phi_B$ is the magnetic flux.

Exam and Assessment Schedule

Exam	Date	Time	Location
Exam 1	Fri 09/26	3:30–5:30 pm	SW 317, RV
Exam 2	Fri 10/23	3:30–5:30 pm	SW 317, RV
Exam 3	Sat 04/18	3:30–5:30 pm	SW 317, RV
Final Exam	Sat 05/16	3:30–5:30 pm	SW 317, RV

Instructor and Section Information

Professor	Contact/Office	CRN	Class Schedule	Office Hours
T. De	P4 301 TP/SS, 240-567-1432 [e-mail]	20468	MW 9:10–10:15am	TBD
M. Hosseini	SC 436F RV, 240-567-5239 [e-mail]	21221, 22915	MW 8–9:15am MW 10:30–11:45am R 2:00–5:30	Exam days 9am–3pm
D. Oliveira	SCxxx RV, 240-567-xxxx [e-mail]	23581	TR 8–9:15am	TBD
R. Szwerc	SC 446 RV, 240-567-4453 [e-mail]	21852	MW 2–3:15pm	MW 4–5pm R 12–2pm
H. Zwi	SC 436K RV, 240-567-5230 [e-mail]	22857, 22227	MW 6:00–7:45pm TR 10:30am–12:15pm R 6:00–8:40pm F 11:00am–1:40pm	Multiple times; see syllabus

Additional Info

• All lectures and discussions are held on campus; attendance and participation are required.

• Mastering Physics assignments must be completed before lectures for full credit.

• Students are responsible for checking their college email and course site for updates.

• For full details on college policies, see the official MC Policies and Procedures.

Additional info: This syllabus aligns with standard topics in a calculus-based Electricity and Magnetism course, covering chapters 21–32 of a typical University Physics textbook. Students are expected to integrate calculus methods with physical principles and laboratory skills.