Physics (PHYS) 201
Introductory Physics II

This version of PHYS 201 closed October 4, 2005. To current version.

Delivery mode: Individualized study with home lab. PC-compatible, Windows-based computer required. Lab component only.
Credits: 3 - Science
Prerequisite: PHYS 200 or professor approval.
Precluded course: PHYS 274 (PHYS 201 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PHYS 274.)
Centre: Centre for Science
Téluq equivalency: PHY 1022
Challenge for Credit: PHYS 201 is not available for challenge.

>> Overview | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials | Special Course Features
>> Course Fees | Course Availability


Overview

PHYS 201 is a junior, non-calculus course that provides a general overview of simple harmonic motion, heat and elementary thermodynamics, and electrical theory.

Outline

(Unit and laboratory numbering continues that from PHYS 200)

  • Theory Section
    • Unit 8 Equilibrium
    • Unit 9 Simple Harmonic Motion
    • Unit 10 Temperature, Heat, and Ideal Gases
    • Unit 11 Thermodynamics
    • Unit 12 Electrostatics
    • Unit 13 Electric Current and Circuit Theory
  • Experimental Section
    • 8 Simple Harmonic Motion
    • 9 Newton's Law of Cooling
    • 10 Specific Heat and Heat of Fusion
    • 11 Specific Heat of Solids
    • 12 Resistors and Resistance
    • 13 Capacitors

Evaluation

To receive credit for PHYS 201, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent), an average of 50 percent on the labs, and a grade of at least 50 percent on each examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Two assignments Exam 1 Exam 2 Lab work Total
30% 20% 30% 20% 100%

Course Materials

Textbook

Giancoli, Douglas C., 1998. Physics, 5th. ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Other Material

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, workbooks, and a lab guide. Graphical Analysis software is also included in the course package. The laboratory package is borrowed at no cost to students and uses Texas Instruments Calculator Based Laboratory (CBL) technology, incorporating a TI-83 graphing calculator to control a CBL unit and sensors. A Graph-Link cable is used to transfer data to a computer for analysis. In some labs, circuit construction and use of a (supplied) digital multimeter also play a role.

In this way students get practical laboratory experience measuring and relating to the following basic physical parameters:

  • distance, time, acceleration, voltage, current, temperature.

And derived quantities including:

  • velocity, acceleration from distance/time, frequency and period, specific heat, heat of fusion, resistance, and capacitance.

Special Course Features

A compulsory lab component requires that students perform labs in a place of their choice using materials borrowed from Athabasca University Library, and some household items. Lab evaluation is based on written reports about the experiments performed.

Please go to the physics home lab schedule for more information regarding a potential Physics Lab Tutorial Week.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

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This page was updated by G. Zahara
Revision 2: Effective October 1, 1999.