Course

Electromagnetism, Optics, Modern Physics

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Physics
Course Code
PHYS 1210
Credits
5.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
36
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Hybrid
Typically Offered
Winter
Summer

Overview

Course Description
This is an integral calculus-based course intended for students pursuing a career in Engineering or Physics. Topics include electrostatics; capacitance; direct current circuits; magnetic force and field; electromagnetic induction; ac circuits; circuit simulation; computer design of circuits; wave nature of light; geometric optics; wave optics, elements of quantum, atomic and nuclear physics.
Course Content
  1. Electricity and Magnetism:
    • Electrostatic force and field
    • Electric potential
    • Capacitance
    • Direct current circuits
    • Magnetic force
    • Biot-Savart law and Ampere’s law
    • Electromagnetic induction
    • Magnetic properties of materials
    • Alternating current (ac) circuits
    • Circuit simulation using a computer program such as LTSpice
    • Computer design of circuits using a computer program such as Eagle
  2. Optics
    • Wave nature of light
    • Reflection and refraction
    • Geometric optics
    • Interference and diffraction
    • Polarization
  3. Modern Physics:
    • Photon concept
    • Photoelectric effect
    • Matter waves
    • Quantum numbers
    • Periodic table
    • Laser
    • Nuclear properties
    • Radioactivity

Laboratory Experiments:

  • Charged particles in an electric field
  • Resistance measurements using power supplies with set current limit and digital multimetres
  • Soldering electronic parts such as through hole and surface mount components
  • Circuit analysis / capacitance with power supplies and digital multimeters
  • Oscilloscope applications using power supplies and function and signal generators for measuring frequency response of electronic circuits
  • Moving charge in a magnetic field
  • Electromagnetic induction using frequency response measurements
  • Thin lenses
  • The spectrometer
  • Wave optics
  • Hydrogen spectrum
  • Radioactivity
Learning Activities

Classroom time will be divided between the presentation and discussion of concepts on the one hand and the application of these concepts in problem solving on the other. The laboratory program will involve weekly, three hour sessions during which students will perform a set number of experiments. Laboratory experiments may involve group work.

Means of Assessment

The final grade in the course will be determined in accordance with the Douglas College grading policy based on the following:

Final examination - minimum 30% / maximum 40%;

At least one test administered during the semester - minimum 20% / maximum 30%;

Submitted laboratory reports - 20%;

Quizzes / assignments - minimum 10% / maximum of 20%.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

1.  Identify the following quantities and their appropriate units: electric charge; electric force; electric field, energy, potential, and potential difference; capacitance; permittivity; dielectric constant; electromotive force; current; resistance; resistivity; power; time constant; magnetic field; torque; magnetic flux; wavelength; frequency; index of refraction; focal length; radius of curvature; magnification; work function; disintegration constant; half-life.

2.  Demonstrate an understanding of the following concepts, procedures and principles through the solution of problems: Coulomb’s law; electric field; vector addition of electric forces and fields; electric potential energy, potential, and potential difference; charged particle motion in electric field; capacitance; electric current; Ohm’s law; resistance and resistivity; electric energy and power; resistor combinations; Kirchhoff’s rules; magnetic force on moving charge; magnetic force on current carrying conductor; torque on a current loop; Biot-Savart law; Ampere’s law; Faraday’s law; Lenz’s law; motional emf; alternating current (ac) circuits; circuit simulation such as LTSpice; computer design of circuits with a schematic entry computer program such as Eagle; electromagnetic waves; laws of reflection and refraction; polarization of light; image formation via mirrors and lenses; optical instruments; interference and diffraction of light; photoelectric effect; matter waves; periodic table; laser; radioactivity.

3.  Perform laboratory experiments and analyze the data obtained using appropriate graphing techniques, scientific notation, significant figures, and experimental uncertainty consideration.

4.  Write a formal laboratory report in the conventional format required for submissions to scientific journals.

Textbook Materials

Exact textbooks and materials will be determined by the instructor at the time of the course offering. Students consult the Douglas College Bookstore for needed materials. They will include textbooks and materials such as:

Halliday, D., R. Resnick, & Walker, G. Fundamentals of Physics, Wiley (current edition).

Douglas College, Physics 1210 Laboratory Experiments.

LTSpice and Eagle instruction manuals freely available online.

 

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for PHYS 1210
BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) BCIT PHYS 2143 (5) or BCIT PHYS 2147 (5) or BCIT PHYS 2149 (5.5) or BCIT PHYS 2151 (4) or BCIT PHYS 2164 (6.5) or BCIT PHYS 2181 (6.5) or BCIT PHYS 2288 (5.5)
Coquitlam College (COQU) COQU PHYS 102 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU PHYS 1220 (4)
Langara College (LANG) LANG PHYS 1225 (4)
Okanagan College (OC) OC PHYS 121 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU PHYS 121 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU PHYS 2XXX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU PHYS 1203 (3) & TRU PHYS 1205 (0)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU PHYS 112 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO PHYS 121 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV PHYS 118 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) DOUG PHYS 1110 (5) & DOUG PHYS 1210 (5) = UBCV PHYS 117 (3) & UBCV PHYS 118 (3) & UBCV PHYS 119 (1)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC PHYS 111 (4)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV PHYS 112 (5)
University of Victoria (UVIC) DOUG PHYS 1110 (5) & DOUG PHYS 1210 (5) = UVIC PHYS 110 (1.5) & UVIC PHYS 111 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU PHYS 122 (3)

Course Offerings

Summer 2023

CRN
Days
Dates
Start Date
End Date
Instructor
Status
CRN
22672
Tue Thu
Start Date
-
End Date
Start Date
End Date
Instructor Last Name
Kirkey
Instructor First Name
Jennifer
Course Status
Open
Section Notes

PHYS 1210 001 - This section includes a lab on Monday morning. This course uses a free open-source textbook.

Max
Enrolled
Remaining
Waitlist
Max Seats Count
18
Actual Seats Count
10
8
Actual Wait Count
0
Days
Building
Room
Time
Tue Thu
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S0640
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
CRN
Days
Dates
Start Date
End Date
Instructor
Status
CRN
22673
Tue Thu
Start Date
-
End Date
Start Date
End Date
Instructor Last Name
Kirkey
Instructor First Name
Jennifer
Course Status
Open
Section Notes

PHYS 1210 002 - This section includes a lab on Monday afternoon. This course uses a free open-source textbook.

Max
Enrolled
Remaining
Waitlist
Max Seats Count
18
Actual Seats Count
6
12
Actual Wait Count
0
Days
Building
Room
Time
Tue Thu
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S0640
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20