Syllabus

Personnel

Course Coordinator:	Tibor F Nagy
ULA:	Kyla Renee Hotton, Jonathan Andrew Kho, Tibor F Nagy, Jacob David Kaspar
Teaching Assistant:	Ehsan Gowdini

Instructor Information

Prof. Tibor F. Nagy
Email: nagytibo@msu.edu
Web: https://web.pa.msu.edu/~nagy_t/
Office: BPS 1253

Teaching Assistants: Ehsan Gowdini (gowdinie@msu.edu), Kyla Hotton (hottonky@msu.edu), Jonathan Kho (khojonat@msu.edu), Jacob Kaspar (kasparja@msu.edu).

Course Description

PHY 232 is an algebra-based general physics class recommended for a variety of majors. Topics covered: electric charge, electric force, electric field, capacitors, electric current, direct circuits, magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, alternating circuits, electromagnetic waves, special relativity, geometric optics, optical instruments, wave optics, quantum mechanics, atomic physics, nuclear physics.

Prerequisites

Algebra or Calculus based Mechanics: PHY 231 or PHY 231C or PHY 183 or PHY 183B or PHY 193H or LBS 271.

Class Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday; between 10:20 AM and 11:10 AM; in room BPS 1410.

Helproom Hours

BPS 1248.

Monday 12:30-1:30 PM and 3:00-9:00 PM.
Tuesday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM and 4:00-7:00 PM.
Wednesday 12:30-1:30 PM and 3:00-9:00 PM.
Thursday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Project Information

Honors option is not available for PHY 232.

Exam Information

For the exams you will need pencils, erasers, scrap paper, and a scientific calculator with fresh batteries. Graphing calculators are allowed, but they are not necessary.

Students with disabilities or other circumstances that require special arrangements should inform their instructors as soon as possible (ideally in the first two weeks) and well ahead of the exams so that proper arrangements can be made. Please present the instructor with your RCPD form.

Exam #1: February 8th, Wednesday, 10:20-11:10 AM, BPS 1410.
Exam #2: March 15th, Wednesday, 10:20-11:10 AM, BPS 1410.
Exam #3: April 12th, Wednesday, 10:20-11:10 AM, BPS 1410.
Final Exam: May 3rd, Wednesday, 8:00-10:00 PM, BPS 1410.

Maximum score on the midterm exams: 50 points. A two-sided, hand-written, 8.5 by 11 inch US letter sized help sheet is allowed on each midterm plus the help sheet(s) from the previous midterm(s). The midterm exams will have corrections: 30% of the positive difference between the correction and the exam will be added to your exam score as bonus. The corrections are optional. The corrections can only raise your scores, they CANNOT lower your score. The exam score X and the correction score C are combined together to the total test score T as follows: If C>X, then T = X + 0.3*(C-X), otherwise T = X.

For the midterm exams we will use the following corrections factors: 0.30 for the first midterm, 0.40 for the second midterm, 0.35 for the third midterm.

For the exams you will need a scientific calculator with fresh batteries, sharp pencils and an eraser. Graphing calculators are allowed, but not required.

Grading Information

Percent weights: Homework: 38%. Clicker questions: 5%. Three midterm exams: 3x11% = 33%. Final Exam: 22%, Concept Tests: 1+1=2%. Total: 100%.

Homework: Every homework question is worth 1 point.

Maximum score on a midterm exam: 50 points. Maximum score on the final exam: 100 points.

Clicker questions: Correct answer: 2 points, Incorrect answer: 1 point, not present: zero point. Starting with February 27th correct and and incorrect answers are both worth 2 points.

Grading scale:
4.0 >= 92%,
3.5 >= 84%,
3.0 >= 76%,
2.5 >= 68%,
2.0 >= 60%,
1.5 >= 52%,
1.0 >= 44%,
1.0 < 44%.

This grading scale might be lowered, but it will not be raised.

The Spartan Code of Honor: As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do.

Textbook

Andrew F. Rex, Richard Wolfson: Essential College Physics, Volume II, 2nd edition, ISBN13: 9781516548354, Cognella, Inc., 2021. (Previous edition: Andrew F. Rex, Richard Wolfson: Essential College Physics, Volume II, 1st edition, ISBN13: 9780321611178, Addison-Wesley, 2009.)

The textbook is required. It is not possible to get a good grade without reading and studying the textbook.

We will use LON-CAPA, MSU's own free and flexible web-based course management system. If your book has a course management system bundled with, don't open it and don't try to access it, because we will not use it.

Scientific calculator. Graphing calculators are allowed, but they are not required. The recommended calculator is the TI-30X IIS for $10-14.