Physics 2212 -- Spring 2015

Text: Physics for Scientist and Engineers, 9th ed., by Serway & Jewett
Prerequisite: PHYS 2211K, Math 2254

The topic areas for this course are: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics. There will be six tests given during the semester. During each
test you may use a 1-page formula sheet, which will be given out just prior to the test. A preview of the formula sheet will be made
available at D2L. There will also be a single formula sheet for the final exam.. Each of the (regular) tests will include both freeresponse and multiple-choice items; the final exam will be entirely composed of multiple-choice items. [See the other side of this page
for additional information concerning the final exam.]
The test schedule for this semester is:
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Test 4
Test 5
Test 6

Chapters 23 24
Chapters 25 26
Chapters 27 28
Chapters 29 30
Chapters 31 34
Chapters 35 38

Friday, January 23
Monday, February 9
Monday, February 23
Friday, March 20
Wednesday, April 8
Friday, April 24

The final exam will be scheduled later by the Registrar during the period of April 29 May 6. Do not make any plans that might
conflict with the final exam. The final exam will not be individually re-scheduled to accommodate any other plans. There are no
exemptions from the final exam.
Plan to take the tests as scheduled; no make-up tests will be given. If one test is missed a replacement score will be created from the
corresponding problems on the final exam. [If the absence was unavoidable and the reasons for it are verifiable, then the reasons must
be submitted in writing, along with appropriate documentation, upon your return to class. This statement must also be signed.] If more
than one test is missed without such reasons (or if they are not provided) a grade of zero will be assigned for each missed test after the
first. [The replacement procedure described is applied for each excused absence.] If at least five tests are taken and there have been no
un-excused test absences, the lowest test score will be compared to a score produced from the corresponding material on the final exam
and the higher of the two grades will be used as the score for that test.

The point credit distribution for the class is as follows:

6 tests @ 10 points
Homework
Final Exam

60 points
15 points
25 points

Homework problems will be assigned for each chapter covered. The tests and the final exam for this course will be primarily problem
based instruments, though each will also include conceptual items. The homework problems are intended to provide practice for the
tests. The assigned homework sets represent a minimum number of problems for the material covered; if you find particular areas to be
difficult you should find similar problems to those assigned and do those also.
Homework collection will be done through WebAssign. You must have access to WebAssign in order to obtain homework credit; an
access code is included in the text for this course. [If you have bought a used book, you need to separately purchase access to
WebAssign.]
See the information given at the D2L site for self-enrollment and start-up procedures for WebAssign. The WebAssign system will
compute a percentage score (points obtained divided by points available, dropping the lowest-scored assignment) and report that
percentage score to me. I will multiply that fraction by 15; this will be your homework score. Every assignment will have a clearlyindicated deadline for submission; no extensions will be given for students missing those deadlines. Also, it is very important that you
do all assigned work in a timely manner not just the part of it that is turned in for grading.

(See the other side for further information.)

The items in the following list are the expected Course Learning Outcomes for PHYS 2212:
Students completing this course will be able to:
1) demonstrate calculus skills in the context of Electromagnetic Fields.
2) distinguish between a charge that produces, and a charge that is acted on, in the context of Electromagnetic Field problems.
3) distinguish between magnetic flux and its rate-of-change, in the context of Electromagnetic Field problems.
4) demonstrate elementary circuit analysis skills.

Additional note on the Final Exam: the final exam will consist of six groups of five items. Each group of items will be matched with the
material covered on one of the tests. Only twenty-five items will count toward a grade for the final exam. You should be certain to
answer all five items in the group that corresponds to your lowest test score (or to a missed test). Beyond that, you should choose to
answer the twenty-five items about which you are most sure. Answering extra items will not produce a buffer for missed items on the
exam; if you do answer more, you will need to indicate (by mark or writing) which ones you want included. Most exam items will be
problems, but some will be concept items (questions).

The last day to withdraw from this course with a grade of W is Wednesday, February 25.
It is the policy of the Department of Biology, Chemistry, & Physics that late withdrawals are approved only in the event of a nonacademic problem that prevents a students successful completion of the course given that such problem arises after the posted date for
withdrawal with a grade of W. Any such withdrawals must be approved by the BCP department head.

Previously, this course existed as PHYS 2212K, which had a linked lab. Now, there are two separate courses: PHYS 2212L and
PHYS 2212 are mutual co-requisites. You must be signed up for the lab course in order to take this lecture course, and you must be
signed up for this lecture course in order to take the lab course. If you have already taken and passed PHYS 2212L (or PHYS 1112L),
BANNER will still require you to sign up for it again, but please see Ms. Wiley (in H260) in order to have the lab removed from your
schedule. The next statement is a change from prior policy: you may now (prior to the drop date) drop either PHYS 2212 or
PHYS 2212L without being required to drop both.
Previously, PHYS 2212 did not include recitations, but recitation is now part of this course. Recitation will be used to reinforce the
lectures; new material will not be introduced during the recitations. The recitation meetings will mainly consist of additional examples.
There will, of course, also be the opportunity to ask questions in a smaller group setting.

A variety of materials will be placed at the D2L site for this course. These include the model formula sheet, a copy of this syllabus
(which will be updated with the Final Exam date when that becomes available), homework assignments, answers to even-numbered
assigned problems that were not selected for turn-in through WebAssign, and some other items.

SPSU has an Honor Code and a procedure for handling cases when academic misconduct is alleged. All students should be aware of
them. Information about the Honor Code and the misconduct procedure may be found at http://www.spsu.edu/honorcode/.

Any student who believes that he or she has a disability that produces a need for special accommodations, and who has not already done
so, should contact the ATTIC to determine if he or she is eligible for special assistance. Any student who has already been determined
by the ATTIC to require special assistance should notify the appropriate course instructors as soon as possible. No special
accommodations can be made without approval from the disabilities coordinator at the ATTIC.

Professor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:

Dr. M. Thackston
H260-I
(678) 915-7486
mthackst@spsu.edu

Office
Hours:
M&W
T & Th
F

12
45
11 12