PHYS 1402.

01: General Physics II

COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2024

COURSE INFORMATION
Meeting times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Meeting location: EHABW 2.212
Course Modality: Traditional Face-to-Face (TR)

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Instructor Name: Aileen Corpuz
Phone: (956) 882-6779; (956) 665-3529
E-Mail: [email protected]
Office location: ESCNE 3.142
Office hours: TR 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (or by an appointment)

COURSE DESCRIPTION, PREREQUISITES & MODE OF LEARNING

This course is a continuation of PHYS 1401 covering the principles of electricity, magnetism, light and modern physics. The
course includes three laboratory hours a week to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding.

Prerequisite: PHYS 1401.

Welcome Statement and Introduction to the Course Modality:

Welcome to the lecture component of PHYS 1402 (General Physics II). You are taking this class together with the
laboratory component of the course, however, the topics, the scheduling, and the conduct of this class is completely
independent of the laboratory.

This course is classified as traditional face-to-face. As such, there is a designated class meeting time for in person, real-
time instructor/student interaction. However, the delivery of instruction will be supplemented by recorded
presentation of course content, if necessary, while some formative and summative assessment will utilize the testing
and assignment tools on Blackboard. I will provide you with feedback on assigned work, communicate with you
electronically, and be available to meet with you as defined on this syllabus.

Throughout the semester, you will be given opportunities to work collaboratively with other members of the class. You
will be put in a team with about 4-6 members each. You will be working with your base group in completing homework
assignments, team quizzes, and other group activities (e.g. term project). For some chapters, we will use the Team-
Based Learning approach.

You will be required to study in advance (by reading the textbook and/or studying pre-recorded lectures) the topics that
will be discussed during the our class meetings, and in preparation for the group and individual quizzes which will be
given periodically throughout the term.

Any changes to these classroom procedures will be announced in advance so you can adjust accordingly.

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TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

As a teacher, I have always considered myself more as a facilitator. The bulk of the responsibility for your learning will
rest on you. I will guide you, and give you the necessary prompts, but you must exercise initiative and resourcefulness,
and be observant of the scholastic integrity demanded of you as UTRGV students.

I will strictly impose the policies of the department and the university, but within reason and in the interest of fairness, if
you appeal or request modifications, I will gladly accommodate them. I will consider your input in the conduct of this
class, and I will try to make our teaching-learning environment a truly collaborative one.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR CORE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

This course will provide you opportunities to further enhance the following skills:

1. Critical Thinking Skills (CT) – You will analyze physics problems with real-life applications and evaluate the results
to determine if they are reasonable. You will be analyzing physical situations that involve the integration of several
concepts/principles. The problems cover topics ranging from mechanics, fluids, heat, waves and sound.

2. Communication Skills (COM) - You will demonstrate your oral and writing skills in explaining the solution(s) to
quantitative and qualitative problems in mechanics, fluids, heat, waves and sound.

3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS) – You will be using mathematical models to predict and explain behaviors
of physical systems. You will be doing experiments where you will be collecting quantitative data and making
calculations to make sense of the data collected.

4. Teamwork (TW) – You will collaborate with your peers in carrying out hands-on laboratory activities that require
utilizing cutting-edge data collection software such as PASCO Capstone. In addition, you will be given collaborative
learning activities in the lecture, like group problem solving activities to hone your collaborative skills.

Course Student Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate proficiency in the basic areas of physics needed to understand
physical processes, as well as ability to use mathematics in solving physics problems.
As a class, we will aim for the following goals for natural sciences, as applied to Electricity, Magnetism, Optics and Modern
Physics

1. To understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study of natural sciences.
2. To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the differences between these approaches and other
methods of inquiry and to communicate findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally and in writing.
3. To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific theories.
4. To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch
upon ethics, values, and public policies.
5. To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their influence on, and
contribution to, modem culture.

TEXTBOOK, TECHNOLOGY, AND/OR RESOURCE MATERIAL

TEXTBOOK

Required Text: Good news --- your textbook for this class is available for free online! Your book is available in web
view and PDF for free. You can also choose to purchase on iBooks (it comes in two volumes) or get a print version via
the campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com.

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You can use whichever format you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any
device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official
OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)

https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics-2e

Recorded Lectures and Demonstrations

The bulk of our learning materials will come from the textbook; however, I might find it necessary to record some
lectures for you. Please take note of the following:
The use of recordings will enable you to have access to class lectures, group discussions, etc, necessary
for a full understanding of the subject matter. Our use of such technology is governed by the Federal
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), UTRGV’s acceptable-use policy, and UTRGV HOP Policy STU
02-100 Student Conduct and Discipline. A recording of class sessions will be kept and stored by UTRGV, in
accordance with FERPA and UTRGV policies. Your instructor will not share the recordings of your class
activities outside of course participants, which include your fellow students, teaching assistants, or
graduate assistants, and any guest faculty or community-based learning partners with whom we may
engage during a class session. You may not share recordings outside of this course. Doing so may result
in disciplinary action under UTRGV HOP Policy STU 02-100 Student Conduct and Discipline.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING POLICY

Quizzes: There will be an individual quiz and group assessment for each chapter. Typically, you should complete first the
individual quiz before attempting the group assessment. Sometimes, you will need to complete the group quizzes via the
Blackboard Collaborative Group in our Blackboard course. In this case, you will log-in individually at the same time in our
Blackboard course and each member of your group will be opening the group assessment. You will then discuss each item
and come up with a consensus answer. You will, however, input your answers individually. Your final quiz grade will be
calculated as follows: 40% Individual Quiz Score + 60% Group Assessment Score.

The individual quizzes and group assessments can be multiple choice, True or False, and calculated numeric items
(problem-solving). Sometimes you will be required to show the details of your solutions for the calculated numeric items.
You will only get full credit for the calculated items if you show the appropriate solution. If your answer is incorrect,
however, you may still get partial credit based on your solution.

Extra Credit: You will be given opportunities to earn extra credit up to 10% added to your quiz grade. This includes
completion of diagnostic assessments/surveys (e.g. pretest, posttest, etc.), among others.

Homework and Group Activities: You will be assigned a homework set for each chapter in the course. You are expected
to complete each HW set on or before the due date as indicated in our Blackboard course. You will be submitting the
homework sets as a group. Only ONE group member will need to upload your group’s homework solution in the
appropriate submission drop box in our Blackboard course. You will need to assign, on a rotation basis, a member of the
group who will be responsible for uploading your homework solutions. Typically, each member of your group will get the
same score for each group submission. However, your final score may be adjusted based on your peer evaluation and your
participation in your group sessions. Make sure you participate actively in all group activities. The peer evaluation rubric
will be posted in Blackboard. Note: Upload your homework document in pdf format or as a jpeg.

You can access the problem-solving grading rubric in the submission homework submission drop box.

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Unit Exams: There will be four (4) unit exams during the term, each worth 100 points. The exams are designed to assess
both your qualitative and quantitative knowledge about the topics. All exams will be given on the dates indicated in the
class schedule for PHYS 1402.01 and will also be posted on Blackboard. The exams will typically consist of multiple-choice
questions.

Group project (Poster Presentation): You will be creating a poster of a pre-determined real-life physics application.
Details of this project will be discussed in class. The grading rubric is going to be posted in our Blackboard course.

IMPORTANT: Most quizzes and exams are going to be paper-based, but if they’re online, then they
will be administered via Respondus Lockdown Browser with Monitor. Your enrollment in this course
requires that you use Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor for online assessment
proctoring. LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within
Blackboard and replaces regular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Respondus Monitor
requires you to have a webcam and microphone as it will record you while taking your assessment.
YOUR ACTIVITIES ARE RECORDED WHILE YOU ARE LOGGED INTO OR TAKING YOUR
ASSESSMENT(S). THE RECORDINGS SERVE AS A PROCTOR AND WILL BE REVIEWED AND USED IN AN
EFFORT TO MAINTAIN ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

You can find more detailed information on Lockdown Browser and Monitor at UTRGV.edu/online.

Laboratory Class: It is the policy of the Department of Physics that to pass the course you should also be enrolled in a
PHYS 1402 Lab and get a grade of at least 55%.

GRADING SYSTEM
You will find below the basis for determining your course grade. (Note that there will be no curves on all exams)

Course Requirements and Weight

1. Homework Sets/Group Activities - 10%
2. Unit Exams - 40%
3. Quizzes - 15%
4. Group Project - 10%
5. Laboratory - 25%

Grading Scale
≥ 88.0% A
< 88.0% but ≥75.0% B
< 75.0% but ≥ 65.0% C
< 65.0% but ≥ 50.0% D
< 50% F

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BLACKBOARD SUPPORT
If you need assistance with course technology at any time, please contact the Center for Online Learning and Teaching
Technology (COLTT).
Campus: Brownsville Edinburg

Location: Casa Bella (BCASA) 613 Education Complex (EEDUC) 2.202

Phone: 956-882-6792 956-665-5327

Toll Free: 1-866-654-4555

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Support Tickets Submit a Support Case via our Ask COLTT Portal

24/7 Blackboard Support

Need Blackboard assistance after hours? You can call their main office numbers, 956-882-6792 or 956-665-5327, to
speak with a support representative.

INSTITUTIONAL COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The university and the department value a positive and supportive learning environment, and for us to thrive
together, we must recognize that our responsibilities, actions, and contributions can impact and transform our
learning. The course policies listed below are created to ensure your success by fulfilling course expectations
while remaining flexible to account for unexpected events.

ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for excessive absences. Your
attendance is monitored through your participation and completion of course deliverables (e.g. watching recorded
lecture videos, individual quizzes, and group quizzes). Missing at least 50% of the course deliverables will trigger a “drop-
by-instructor”. I will not be checking your attendance in our face-to-face lectures.

UTRGV’s attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they are participating in officially sponsored
university activities, such as athletics; have been provided such an accommodation by Student Accessibility Services
(SAS); for observance of religious holy days; or for military service. Accommodations related to COVID-19 should also go
through SAS. Students should contact the instructor in advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed
work or examinations. Based on the student reporting protocol on the UTRGV COVID-19 protocol web page you should
be able to provide a documentation from the UTRGV COVID-19 response team to your instructor.

ABSENCE/SICK POLICY:

Depending on the circumstances, you may be allowed to complete a missed requirement due to an excused absence as
indicated in the Attendance Policies - UTRGV Handbook of Operating Procedures (pp. 76-77).

Makeup Work: You may be allowed to make-up missed course deliverables if you have a valid reason. You need to e-
mail your instructor the reason for missing the deliverables with the appropriate documentation.

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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Members of the UTRGV community uphold the Vaquero Honor Code’s shared values of honesty, integrity and mutual
respect in our interactions and relationships. In this regard, academic integrity is fundamental in our actions, as any act
of dishonesty conflicts as much with academic achievement as with the values of honesty and integrity. Violations of
academic integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating, plagiarism (including self-plagiarism), and collusion;
submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an
examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit such
acts (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations, STU 02-100, and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All violations of
Academic Integrity will be reported to Student Rights and Responsibilities through Vaqueros Report It.

UTRGV POLICY STATEMENTS

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students with a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects academic
performance) who would like to receive reasonable academic accommodations should contact Student Accessibility
Services (SAS) for additional information. In order for accommodation requests to be considered for approval, the
student must apply using the mySAS portal. and is responsible for providing sufficient documentation of the disability to
SAS. Students are required to participate in an interactive discussion, or an intake appointment, with SAS staff.
Accommodations may be requested at any time but are not retroactive, meaning they are valid once approved by SAS.
Please contact SAS early in the semester/module for guidance. Students who experience a broken bone, severe injury,
or undergo surgery may also be eligible for temporary accommodations.

Pregnancy, Pregnancy-related, and Parenting Accommodations

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination, which includes discrimination based on
pregnancy, marital status, or parental status. Students seeking accommodations related to pregnancy, pregnancy-
related condition, or parenting (reasonably immediate postpartum period) should submit the request using the form
found at https://www.utrgv.edu/pregnancyandparenting for review by Student Accessibility Services.

Student Accessibility Services:

Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 1.107 in the Music and Learning Center building
(BMSLC) and can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 or via email at [email protected].

Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center (EUCTR) and can be contacted by
phone at (956) 665-7005 or via email at [email protected].

MANDATORY COURSE EVALUATION PERIOD:

Students are encouraged to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account
(http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further instructions. Students who complete their
evaluations will have priority access to their grades. Online evaluations will be available on or about:

Spring Regular Term 2024 April 10 – May 1, 2024

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SEXUAL MISCONDUCT and MANDATORY REPORTING:

In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a “Responsible Employee” for reporting purposes under
Title IX regulations and so must report to the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity ([email protected]) any instance,
occurring during a student’s time in college, of sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, stalking, dating
violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment, about which she/he becomes aware during this course through
writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including
confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working,
and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect that is free from sexual misconduct,
discrimination, and all forms of violence. If students, faculty, or staff would like confidential assistance, or have
questions, they can contact OVAVP (Office for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention) at (956) 665-8287, (956) 882-
8282, or [email protected].

COURSE DROPS:
According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR (drop) until the official
drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students
considering dropping the class should be aware of the “3-peat rule” and the “6-drop” rule so they can recognize how
dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that undergraduate
students may not drop more than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public
higher education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees
charged to students who take the same class for the third time.

STUDENT SERVICES:
Students who demonstrate financial need have a variety of options when it comes to paying for college costs, such as
scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. Students should visit the Student Services Center (U Central) for additional
information. U Central is located in BMAIN 1.100 (Brownsville) or ESSBL 1.145 (Edinburg) or can be reached by email
([email protected]) or telephone: (956) 882-4026. In addition to financial aid, U Central can assist students with
registration and admissions.

Students seeking academic help in their studies can use university resources in addition to an instructor’s office hours.
University Resources include the Advising Center, Career Center, Counseling Center, Learning Center, and Writing
Center. The centers provide services such as tutoring, writing help, counseling services, critical thinking, study skills,
degree planning, and student employment. In addition, services such as the Food Pantry are also provided. Locations are
listed below.

Center Name Brownsville Campus Edinburg Campus

Advising Center BMAIN 1.400 EITTB 1.000
[email protected] (956) 665-7120 (956) 665-7120
Career Center BINAB 1.105 ESTAC 2.101
[email protected] (956) 882-5627 (956) 665-2243
Counseling Center BSTUN 2.10 EUCTR 109
[email protected] (956) 882-3897 (956) 665-2574
Mental Health Counseling and
Related Services List
Food Pantry BCAVL 101 & 102 EUCTR 114
[email protected] (956) 882-7126 (956) 665-3663
Learning Center BMSLC 2.118 ELCTR 100
[email protected] (956) 882-8208 (956) 665-2585
Writing Center BLIBR 3.206 ESTAC 3.119
[email protected] (956) 882-7065 (956) 665-2538

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DEAN OF STUDENTS RESOURCES:
The Dean of Students office assists students when they experience a challenge with an administrative process,
unexpected situation such as an illness, accident, or family situation, and aids in resolving complaints. Additionally, the
office facilitates student academic related requests for religious accommodations, support students formerly in foster
care, helps to advocate on behalf of students and inform them about their rights and responsibilities, and serves as a
resource and support for faculty and campus departments.

Vaqueros Report It allows students, staff and faculty a way to report concern about the well-being of a student, seek
assistance in resolving a complaint, or report allegations of behaviors contrary to community standards or campus
policies.

The Dean of Students can be reached by emailing [email protected], by logging into Virtual Office hours in which a
representative is available Monday-Friday 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m, or by visiting one of the following office
locations: Cavalry (BCAVL) 204 or University Center (EUCTR 323). Phone: 956-665-2260.

Important term dates

The UTRGV academic calendar can be found on My.UTRGV at the bottom of the screen prior to login. Some important
dates for Spring 2024 include:

Spring 2024:

Jan. 16 (Tue.) First day of classes.

Jan. 21 (Sun.) Last day to add or register for Fall classes
Jan. 31 (Wed.) Census Day (last day to drop without it appearing on the transcript
Jan. 31 (Wed.) Last day to drop a class or withdraw.
Mar. 11-16 (Mon.-Sat.) Spring Break. No classes
Mar. 29-30 (Fri.-Sat.) Easter Holiday. No classes
May 2 (Thurs.) Study Day – No classes
May 9 (Thurs.) Spring 2024 classes end; Official last day of the term

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 PHYS 1402.01 –Tentative Schedule of Activities
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Date Topic/s

Week 1-2 Chapter 18: Electric Charges and Electric Fields

Week 3 Chapter 19:Electric Potential and Electrical Fields

Week 4 Chapter 20: Electric Current, Resistance and Ohm’s Law

Week 5-6 Chapter 21: Circuits and DC Instruments

Exam 1 (February 22, 2024)

Week 7 Chapter 22: Magnetism

Week 8 Chapter 23: Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits, and Electrical Technologies

Week 10 Chapter 24: Electromgantic Waves

March 11-16 Spring Break: No Classes

Exam 2 (March 21, 2024)

March 29-30 No classes: Easter Holiday

Week 11 Chapter 25: Geometric Optics

Week 12 Chapter 26:Vision and Optical Instruments

Week 13 Chapter 27: Wave Optics

Exam 3 (April 16, 2024)

Week 14 Chapter 29: Quantum Physics

Week 15 Chapter 30: Atomic Physics

Week 16 Chapter 31: Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics

May 2 No Classes: Study day

Exam 4 [ May 9, 2024 (Thursday) 10:15 AM – 12:00 Noon]

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