Physics 3204

Unit 1: Motion

Two-dimensional motion — vectors for displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force, frames of reference, motion in horizontal and vertical planes, projectile motion, and 2-D conservation of momentum. STSE and inquiry skills woven through.

• Vectors in two dimensions
• Frames of reference
• Motion in horizontal and vertical planes
• Projectile motion
• Conservation of momentum in 2-D

Unit 2: Forces

Circular motion and equilibrium — uniform circular motion by vectors, circular motion via Newton's laws, motion in parallel and perpendicular planes, and 2-D static equilibrium and torque. STSE and inquiry skills woven through.

• Uniform circular motion
• Circular motion and Newton's laws
• Motion in parallel and perpendicular planes
• Static equilibrium and torque

Unit 3: Fields

Field theory — gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields, Newton's law of gravitation, Coulomb's law, circuit analysis, magnetic fields from currents, forces on moving charges, electromagnetic induction, and motors and generators. STSE and inquiry skills woven through.

• Gravitational fields
• Newton's law of universal gravitation
• Electric fields
• Coulomb's law
• Analyzing electric circuits

• Magnetic fields
• Magnetic fields from currents
• Forces on moving charges and currents
• Electromagnetic induction
• Motors and generators

Unit 4: Introduction to Quantum Physics

The quantum revolution — blackbody radiation and the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, the Bohr model and atomic spectra, luminous phenomena, the wave-particle nature of light, and the de Broglie hypothesis. STSE and inquiry skills woven through.

• Blackbody radiation and the photoelectric effect
• The photoelectric effect quantitatively
• The Compton effect

• The Bohr atomic model
• Energy levels and emitted photons
• Quantum explanation of luminous phenomena
• Wave and particle models of light
• The de Broglie hypothesis