Dec 04, 2024  
DRAFT 2025-2026 College Catalog DRAFT 
    
DRAFT 2025-2026 College Catalog DRAFT [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PHY 122IN - Introductory Physics II [SUN# PHY 1112]

4 Credits, 6 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 3 lab periods
Continuation of PHY 121IN . Includes light, electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism, relativity, atomic physics, quantum physics, wave mechanics, and nuclear physics.

Prerequisite(s): PHY 121IN  
Gen-Ed: Meets AGEC - SCI; Meets CTE - M&S.



Button linking to AZ Transfer course equivalency guide    button image Prior Learning and link to PLA webpage

Course Learning Outcomes
  1. Show improvement in the application of physical laws when analyzing natural phenomena and the interaction of physical objects.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of electric and magnetic fields, and their interaction with matter, by predicting outcomes in various physical situations.
  3. Apply knowledge of light and its interaction with lenses and mirrors to analyze optical systems.
  4. Interpret atomic and nuclear processes, including quantum processes and the relationship between mass and energy.
  5. Interpret the observations of modern physics as they apply to the nature of matter.

Performance Objectives:
  1. Apply principles of reflection to locate and describe images formed by plane and spherical mirrors.
  2. Apply Snell’s law to problems involving refraction of light (including total internal reflection and critical angle problems).
  3. Apply lensmaker’s equation and the thin lens formulas to solve problems where a single thin lens is used to form images.
  4. Apply thin lens equation to solve problems involving correction of common vision defects.
  5. Apply Coulomb’s law to find the net electrostatic force on a charged object due to a surrounding charge distribution.
  6. Apply Coulomb’s law and the concept of electrostatic field strength to find the electrostatic field strength at a point due to a particular charge distribution.
  7. Apply the concepts of potential at a point, potential energy, and potential difference to solve electric potential problems.
  8. Apply Ohm’s law and the rules for series and parallel connections to find current, resistance, voltage, and power for an entire circuit or for a circuit element.
  9. Apply Kirchhoff’s laws (rules) to solve multi-loop circuit problems.
  10. Apply appropriate equations to calculate the force due to a magnetic field and magnetic field strength.
  11. Apply appropriate equations to solve problems involving change in mass, length, time, total energy, kinetic energy, and momentum for objects moving at velocities near the velocity of light.
  12. Apply E=mc2 to calculate the energy produced in nuclear reactions.
  13. Use the description of the Bohr atom, the quantum numbers, and the Pauli exclusion principle to predict the electronic configuration of various elements.
  14. Use the photoelectric effect equation to solve problems involving the emission of photoelectrons from metal surfaces.
  15. Use the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to solve problems involving uncertainty in position and momentum (velocity) or time and energy.
  16. Use the de Broglie wave equation to solve problems involving the wavelength associated with matter of mass “m” and velocity “v” or momentum “p”.
  17. Use the principles of nuclear stability and structure to predict the stability and types of radiation emitted by a particular nuclide.
  18. Use general decay equations to calculate half lives, decay constant, activities and masses for radioactive substances.

Outline:
  1. Light
    1. Geometric optics
      1. Reflection (plane and spherical mirrors)
      2. Refraction
        1. Snell’s law
        2. Total internal reflection
        3. Lenses
      3. Optical instruments – human eye
    2. Physical optics
  2. Electricity
  3. Electrostatics
    1. Coulomb’s law
    2. Electric field strength
    3. Electric potential
  4. Electric current and circuits
    1. Ohm’s law
    2. Kirchhoff’s law
  5. Magnetism and Electromagnetism
  6. Relativity
    1. Special relativity
    2. General relativity
  7. Atomic Physics
    1. Bohr model
    2. Four quantum numbers
    3. Pauli exclusion principle and periodic table
  8. Quantum Physics
    1. Black body radiation
    2. Photo-electric effect
    3. Compton effect
  9. Wave Mechanics
    1. Heisenberg uncertainty principle
    2. De Broglie wavelength
    3. Schrodinger equation
  10. Nuclear Physics
    1. Structure and stability
    2. Nuclear strong force, quarks and gluons
    3. Reactions
      1. Thermonuclear
      2. Target
      3. Radioactivity
        1. Alpha, beta, gamma
        2. General decay equations