Fall 2015

Phys 260: UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III

Phys 260: UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III

Professor: Dr. Anca Constantin
Class: M/W/F 12:20PM - 1:10PM
Class: F 1:25PM - 2:15PM
Website: University Physics III PHYS260 0001 FA15 on Canvas
Office Hrs: Tu/Thur: 9:30 11:30,
or by appointment, PHCH 2182
E-mail: constaax@jmu.edu
Phone: 540-568-5630

Textbook:
1. University Physics with Modern Physics
Bauer & Westfall, McGraw Hill.
and/or
2. Physics for Scientists and Engineers (2nd or 3rd Ed.)
Randel Knight, Pearson Addison-Wesley.

Course Description: University Physics III

We will cover: rotational kinematics and rotational dynamics; static equilibrium and elasticity;
universal gravitation and orbital mechanics; temperature, heat, heat engines, entropy and kinetic
theory; Gauss law, electric potential and capacitance; magnetic fields, induced electric fields
and inductance; displacement current and electromagnetic waves; and (if time allows) the special
theory of relativity.
Prerequisite: C or better in PHYS 250 or PHYS 150. Co-requisite: MATH 237 and PHYS 247
or PHYS 150L.
Course Objectives: by the end of this course, you should be able to:
connect the framework of calculus more directly (than you did in Phys240 and Phys250) to the
physical concepts they describe.
use a (new) variety of mathematical methods, including vector algebra calculus, in analyzing
problems in physics.
develop the ability to synthesize and integrate information and ideas to address complex, realworld problems.
develop the skills necessary to work productively in a team.
appreciate how scientific inquiry happens, particularly through the eyes of a physicist.

Fall 2015

Phys 260: UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III

that my job during class isnt to teach you everything under the sun, but to clear up difficult
points and make connections from your readings. It is your responsibility to read the corresponding sections of your text before you come
to class. Failure to come prepared may seem benign, but it makes me waste class time, causes
you to learn and retain less from my lessons, and
negates the self-assessment I offer.
Moreover, as listed below, you will have to earn
5% of your total grade for class participation
and the occasional (not previously announced)
quizzes on the reading or class lectures (including discussions) or homework. The less I know
you, the less you will have earned out of these
5%.

Instructional Philosophy
Every scientific field has its own vocabulary and
syntax. There are as many vocabulary terms
in your textbook as in an introductory language
class, and learning to read and think scientifically is no different from learning another language. With Phys 240 and 250 you started to
speak science, so its not anymore like being
tested on Les Mis
erables in the first semester
of French. However, you should still expect the
class to be challenging, as you will meet new concepts, and will (hopefully) improve on your ability to use a large variety of mathematical tools
to explain another quite varied suite of physics
phenomena... otherwise it would be boring.
As a physicist, I speak I-know-physics/math, but
you have to keep working on it. No matter how
hard I try, I cant pretend that I dont speak it, so
there will always be times when, despite my best
efforts, you might not understand me. The solution is twofold. First, if you dont understand
something, ask me for help!!! Ask in class, come
to office hours, make an appointment, send me
an e-mail, but ASK ME FOR HELP!! Second,
learn from your peers. Your classmates all speak
various stages of Im-learning-physics and you
can all help each other, often more than I can!
In this course, we will continuously use collaborative learning and self-evaluation exercises. By
working together, you will be more actively involved in your own learning, and you will learn
more from each other than only from my lectures, no matter how entertaining and engaging
I am.
Finally, all I want from you is: to develop a deep,
conceptual understanding of the subject. I dont
want you to blindly memorize 3,000 things, only
to spit them out onto a final exam and then forget them the next day. You and I want your
understanding to grow in a deep and meaningful way. I really do love what I teach, and I
really do care about achieving these goals. No
matter what happens over this semester, try to
remember that.

Homework and Projects

Homework assignments are listed and announced
roughly every week on either
1. Canvas,
2. the lon-capa system
(http://lc.cit.jmu.edu/adm/roles;
login with your jmu account)
The homework is your chance to master course
material. You have a lot of time to work on the
assignments and a lot of opportunity to consult
with me or your peers for help. There is really no
reason why you cant have nearly-perfect grades
on all your homework, provided you put in the
appropriate time and effort. No late homework
will be accepted. Late means after the beginning of class (12:20pm) on the due date. Exceptions will be made only for legitimate, documented emergencies. Late homework receive a
zero.
Also, although you are encouraged to work with
each other, work turned in should be in your
own handwriting and words (i.e. do not copy,
even if you work out the details with someone
else).
Exams
There will be:
(roughly) weekly quizzes

Attendance and Being Prepared

Attendance will not be taken. Note however

three exams administered in class

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Phys 260: UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III

a comprehensive final exam.

All tests will stress reasoning and problem solving rather than memorization.
The Final Exam for this course is scheduled
for Wednesday 12/16/15, 10:30-12:30. Attendance at the Final Exam is mandatory.
The final will be comprehensive, covering all
lectures and in the same format as the in-class
exams, only longer. It is worth 25% of your final
course grade.
No makeup final will be offered.
Persons who miss the final exam will be given an
incomplete (I) with an alternative grade equal
to getting a zero on the final (which at 25% of
the total course grade, will be guaranteed to be
much lower than you will like).
In keeping with official University policy, early
finals will not be available for those persons who
wish to depart early for the Holiday Break. Please
plan ahead and make your travel plans accordingly, as I will make no exceptions.
Grading Policy

are hours that I set aside for you, held for your
benefit, not mine. Outside of office hours, I
maintain an open-door policy, i.e. if my door
is open, you are free to talk to me, provided Im
not busy at that moment. I will not hunt you
down and force you to seek help. It is your decision and responsibility to monitor your learning,
to make time to see me, and to do so in a timely
manner. You should not come to me the day
before your exam needing to learn everything in
the course. Also, do not expect me to entertain
questions about homework or tests on the day
they are given or due.
Academic misconduct
All students in attendance at the James Madison University are expected to be honorable and
to observe standards of conduct appropriate to
a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of
dishonesty in any academically related matter
and any knowing or intentional help, or conspiracy to help, another student. The Summary of
HONOR SYSTEM Procedures will be followed
in the event of academic misconduct.

Your Final Grade:

=HW(15%) + Quizzes (10%) + Midterm1(15%) Students with disabilities
+ Midterm2(15%) + Midterm3(15%) +
Students with disabilities are encouraged to regFinal(25%) + Class Participation (5%).
ister with the Office of Disability Services (568Final Grade Structure:
6705). Thereafter, you are invited to schedule
A (93-100%)
appointments to see me during office hours to
A- (90-92.9%)
discuss accommodations or other special needs.
B+ (86-89.9%)
Other University Wide Policies
B (83-85.9%)
The University has campus-wide policies on
B- (80-82.9%)
Academic Honesty,
C+ (76-79.9%)
Disability Accommodations,
C (73-75.9%)
Inclement Weather,
C- (70-72.9%)
Drop/Add deadlines, and
D+ (66-69.9%)
Accommodations for Religious Observance
D (62-65.9%)
These are described in detail at
D- (58 61.9%)
www.jmu.edu/syllabus/.
F (57.9% or lower)
Unless otherwise indicated in this document, the
policies and procedure described at this web site
Office Hours
apply in the class. The information given here
Office hours are to augment the contact we have superceedes that source where this document
together, for those who need or want it. These differs.
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Fall 2015

Phys 260: UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III

Tentative weekly schedule:

Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week

1: A little calculus and kinematics, & rotational motion (ch. 3 9)

2: Moments of inertia, torque, equillibrium (ch. 8,10,11)
3: Universal Gravitation & Orbital Mechanics (ch. 12)
4: Fluids and Elasticity (ch. 13,14)
5: 1st Midterm, Ideal gas & phase change (ch. 17)
6: Work, Heat, 1st Law of Thermodynamics (ch. 18,19)
7: 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (ch. 20)
8: Heat Engines and Refrigerators (ch. 20); 2nd Midterm
9: Vector calculus and Gauss Law (ch. 22)
10: Electric potential and E-field (ch. 23,24)
11: Biot-Savart, Amperes law, and magnetic induction (ch. 28,29)
12: EM Waves and Maxwells Equations (ch. 31); 3rd Midterm;
13: Complex #s & LRC circuits (ch. 30)
14: Relativity (ch. 35)

Note: Chapter numbers listed above are for the Bauer & Westfall textbook.