Course Syllabus

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PHY2005Course Syllabus

Contact Information

Instructor

Prof. Kathryn L. McGill

Phone Number

(352) 846-2548

Email

The best way to reach me is Canvas mail.
(Email kathryn.mcgill@ufl.edu only if Canvas is down and it's time-sensitive)

Zoom Office Hours

Wednesdays from 10:40 am to 12:35 pm, accessible via the Zoom Conferences tab in the left-hand navigation menu.

For questions about course content, your grade, or other personal issues, please use the Canvas mail tool. You may expect a response within 24 hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.

Course Information

PHY2005 - Applied Physics 2: Continuation of the applied physics sequence. Electric and magnetic fields; geometrical, wave and applied optics; and a brief introduction to modern and nuclear physics. Critical-thinking and communication skills will be addressed in the context of these topics.

Prerequisites: PHY2004 - Applied Physics 1

Credit Hours: 3

Course Objectives

My goal for you is that by the end of this course, you will have improved your existing intuition about how the world works from an electromagnetic perspective. By the end of this course you will be able to (supporting assignments in parentheses):

  1. Organize the information presented in problems about various electromagnetic, quantum, and nuclear phenomena into sketches, diagrams, and/or tables representing the problem situation and the physical quantities involved. (homeworks)
  2. Identify the fundamental principles of physics underlying these phenomena. (reading quizzes)
  3. Formulate mathematical equations describing the relationship between physical quantities in these problems. (homeworks, exams)
  4. Solve these mathematical equations to find the values of the physical quantities and/or to predict system behavior. (homeworks, exams)
  5. Evaluate whether answers are reasonable given the constraints of the particular problems being solved. (homeworks, exams)
  6. Explain how the fundamental principles of electromagnetic, quantum, and/or nuclear phenomena have contributed to modern technology, and/or explain the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in biological systems. (discussion boards, group project)
  7. Communicate your understanding of various physics phenomena in an effective manner. (discussion boards, group project)

As a Gen Ed: Physical Sciences course, this course also satisfies the General Education Physical Sciences Objectives. Note that a minimum grade of C is required for general education credit.

Course Requirements

Required Textbook

The required text is Physics: Principles with Applications by Douglas Giancoli, 7th ed, published by Pearson Citation. The course is set up for an All-Access opt-in to purchase the text online for students who have registered in the course. Go to the opt-in login page to get started, and refer to the Pearson MyLab and Mastering Instructions for additional help.

Giancoli, D. C. (2013). Physics: Principles with Applications (7th ed.). Pearson. 

Minimum Technology Requirements

The University of Florida expects students entering an online program to acquire computer hardware and software appropriate to their degree program. Most computers are capable of meeting the following general requirements. A student’s computer configuration should include:

  • Webcam
  • Microphone
  • Broadband connection to the internet and related equipment (cable/DSL modem)
  • Microsoft Office Suite installed (provided by the university)

Individual colleges may have additional requirements or recommendations, which students should review before starting their program.

In addition to the above you must also meet / adhere to the following requirements:

  • Textbook & Homework System: The required online etext and homework system is Mastering Physics, access to which is included in the purchase of the online textbook described above. Access Mastering Physics using the link provided in the Canvas course; note that it is called 'Access Pearson' in the left-hand navigation.  You must register your access code from the Canvas course.
  • Calculator: You may use any scientific or graphing calculator on the exams, as long as it does not have the ability to communicate with other devices electronically. Cell phones as calculators are not permitted, and use of them does constitute academic fraud. This includes the use of smartwatches; all smartwatches must be put away prior to the start of the exams.
  • PDF-scanning app: You will need access to a PDF-scanning app in order to upload scans of your scratch work after you complete each exam. CamScanner and Adobe Scan are two free apps that work well for this purpose, though you may use any PDF-scanning app that suits you.

Minimum Technical Skills

To complete your tasks in this course, you will need a basic understanding of operating a computer and using word processing software.

Materials/Supply Fees

There is no supply fee for this course.

Honorlock

This course will use Honorlock for exams.

Honorlock is an online proctoring service that allows students to take exams on-demand 24/7. There are no scheduling requirements or fees.

You will need a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam, a microphone, and a photo ID. The webcam and microphone can be either integrated or external USB devices.

Honorlock requires that you use the Google Chrome browser and that you must add the Honorlock extension to Chrome.

For further information, FAQs, and technical support, please visit Honorlock.

Zoom

Zoom is an easy-to-use video conferencing service available to all UF students, faculty, and staff that allows for meetings of up to 100 participants.

You can find resources and help using Zoom at the University of Florida's Zoom website.

Course Schedule

Please scroll to the bottom of the page; the schedule is labeled as "Course Summary". You can also view the schedule on your Canvas calendar.

Course Policies

Requirements for make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found on UF's Attendance Policies website.

As this is an online class, you are responsible for observing all posted due dates and are encouraged to be self-directed and take responsibility for your learning.

ENGAGEMENT POLICY

You are expected to watch the lecture and problem-solving videos, use the discussion board regularly and to attempt the online reading quizzes, homework, and exams by their assigned deadlines. You are also expected to interact with the instructor and with your fellow students through discussions of the material through the Canvas discussion forum.

PlayPosit Policy

Your lectures will be delivered via PlayPosit. The interactions in PlayPosit are participation-based with unlimited attempts, but you will need to select or enter the correct answer to receive points. Note that after entering an incorrect answer and watching the solution, you are able to rewind and input the correct answer in order to receive the points. Please refer to the instructions provided in the PlayPosit videos for complete information.

PlayPosit interactions are generally due along with the corresponding homework on Mondays at 11:59 pm. I will drop your 5 lowest PlayPosit interaction scores from your overall grade calculation to account for any weeks in which unexpected personal and/or medical situations arise that interfere with your school work. Note, however, that you are still responsible for the material covered by all PlayPosit videos.

HOMEWORK POLICY

Homework sets are to be completed individually online through the Assignments tab in the left-hand navigation, or directly in Mastering Physics via the MyLab and Mastering tab. Your homework will auto-submit on the due date and time. There may be a slight delay between the submission of your homework and the syncing of your grade in Canvas. Please only reach out to me if 24 hours has passed without the two properly auto-syncing.

Homework is generally due Mondays at 11:59 pm.

Your homework is not timed or proctored, but it is subject to the UF Policy on Academic MisconductLinks to an external site. (See the University Policies section.)

It is permissible to seek assistance or collaborate on homework. This assistance may include help with interpreting the problem, identifying relevant information in the textbook or course videos, or identifying one’s errors. Ultimately, however, submitted answers must be your own.

I will drop your two lowest homework scores to account for any weeks in which unexpected personal and/or medical situations arise that interfere with your school work. Note, however, that you are still responsible for the material covered by all homework sets.

Textbook READING & QUIZ POLICY

You will read the assigned textbook chapter(s) and section(s) and make at least two meaningful and substantial annotations in the text. After reading and annotating, you will then take a participation-based reading quiz according to the assigned Course Schedule. These quizzes are open-book but still subject to the UF Policy on Academic Misconduct (Links to an external site.).

Reading Annotations & Quizzes will be due Thursdays at 11:59 pm.

I will drop your two lowest reading quiz scores to account for any weeks in which unexpected personal and/or medical situations arise that interfere with your school work. Note, however, that you are still responsible for the material covered by all reading quizzes.

EXAM POLICY

Four mid-term exams and a cumulative final exam will be taken online, each under the supervision of Honorlock. Please see below for all exam dates. Exams are not collaborative and are completed alone.

As stated above in the Materials section, you may use any scientific or graphing calculator on the exams, as long as it does not have the ability to communicate with other devices electronically. Cell phones and smartwatches as calculators are not permitted, and use of them constitutes academic fraud.

You only get one attempt at each exam.

Exam Windows:

  • Exam 1 (Modules 2-3)
    • Friday, February 2, 2024 at 12:00 am to Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 11:59 pm
  • Exam 2 (Modules 4-7):
    • Friday, March 1, 2024 at 12:00 am to Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 11:59 pm
  • Exam 3 (Modules 8-9):
    • Friday, March 22, 2024 at 12:00 am to Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 11:59 pm
  • Exam 4 (Modules 10-12):
    • Friday, April 12, 2024 at 12:00 am to Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 11:59 pm
  • Cumulative Final Exam:
    • Monday, April 29, 2024 at 12:00 am to Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 11:59 pm

ONLINE PROCTORING

In order to maintain a high standard of academic integrity and assure that the value of your University of Florida degree is not compromised, course exams will be proctored. You will take your exam electronically using the course website, and these exams will be proctored with Honorlock. With Honorlock, there is no scheduling required with a testing proctor, and you can complete the exam anytime during the 48 hour testing window. Please make sure you complete and submit the exam before the end of the testing window. You will need a webcam, speakers, microphone and reliable Internet connection to be able to take your exams. Wireless internet is not recommended, nor is a tablet or phone. It is best to take the exam on a desktop or laptop computer. Google Chrome is the only supported browser for taking exams in Canvas.

Before Your Exam

Important: Prior to each exam, visit the Honorlock System Check (Links to an external site.) to evaluate your equipment and software. Also, take the Honorlock Practice Quiz, worth 0 points, to get familiar with the Honorlock procedure for beginning and taking proctored exams.

Download and read through the Honorlock Student Preparation Guide.

Getting Help During Your Exam

If you experience any difficulties with the proctoring system, contact Honorlock's free 24/7 LiveChat. The LiveChat is available by clicking on the chat window at the bottom right of the exam. Of course, the support team can't help you answer questions about the contents of the exam, but they will be willing to diagnose and offer solutions for technical difficulties with the proctoring system.

GROUP PROJECT

You will complete a group project as one of the requirements for this course. You will be assigned a group after the Drop/Add deadline, and you will meet the various deadlines laid out in the Course Schedule to keep you on track. Full details about the Group Project can be found on the Group Project page.

DISCUSSION BOARD

Regular engagement with the coursework and student-instructor and student-student interactions are important and helpful in keeping you motivated throughout the course. Each week will introduce a new module (chapter) on physics with an associated discussion question. Your discussion postings in response to these questions will be graded on the rubric attached to the assignment, and your posts are due along with your reading quizzes on Thursdays at 11:59 pm. I will drop your 2 lowest discussion board scores to account for any weeks in which unexpected personal and/or medical situations arise that interfere with your school work. Note, however, that you are still responsible for the material covered by all discussion boards.

There are also general discussion boards for posting your observations or questions on the material or for helping to answer your fellow classmates’ questions. These postings are graded according to the attached rubric after each midterm exam. Generally, your discussion postings are graded based on the quality of the questions posed about physics content, the quality of the feedback offered to other students, and the amount of interaction you offer to the course.

E&M SURVEY POLICY

You will receive full credit for completing E&M Surveys I and II (you will not be graded on your responses). You do not need to prepare in any way for these surveys; simply answer the questions to the best of your ability. The points you earn for taking these surveys are counted in your Reflection Activities grade.

MAKE-UP POLICY

Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work are consistent with University Attendance PoliciesLinks to an external site.. For a foreseeable absence, it is your responsibility to identify yourself as requiring an accommodation at least one week prior to the absence.

There are no make-ups for the reading quizzes or homework assignments as they have the specified drops to account for misses for any reason.

PRIVACY POLICY 

My Zoom office hours may be recorded for you to refer back to. Students who participate with their camera engaged or utilize a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded. If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-mute during office hours and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded. If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded during office hours, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows you to type questions and comments live. The chat will not be recorded or shared. As in all courses, unauthorized recording and unauthorized sharing of recorded materials is prohibited. You may also find the privacy policies of Zoom (Links to an external site.) and Mastering Physics (Links to an external site.) helpful.

Grading Policy

I will make every effort to have each assignment graded and posted within one week of the due date.

Course Grading Policy

Component Percentage Drops
Reflection Activities 3% -
Reading Quizzes 5% 2
PlayPosit Lecture Videos 5% 5
Mastering Physics Homework 7% 2
Discussion Boards 10% 2
Anthology Project 10% -
Exam 1 (Modules 2-3) 10% -
Exam 2 (Modules 4-7) 10% -
Exam 3 (Modules 8-9) 10% -
Exam 4 (Modules 10-12) 10% -
Cumulative Final Exam 20% -

Grading Scale

Percent

Grade

Grade Points

100 - 85%

A

4.00

<85 - 80%

A-

3.67

<80 - 75%

B+

3.33

<75 - 70%

B

3.00

<70 - 65%

B-

2.67

<65 - 60%

C+

2.33

<60 - 55%

C

2.00

<55 - 50%

C-

1.67

<50 - 45%

D+

1.33

<45 - 40%

D

1.00

<40 - 35%

D-

0.67

<35%

E

0.00

See the current UF grading policies for more information.

UF Policies

University Policy on Accommodating Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations should first register with the Disability Resource Center (352-392-8565) by providing appropriate documentation. Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter that must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodation. Students with disabilities should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

 

University Policy on Academic Conduct

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge, which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code." On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment." The Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or TAs in this class.

 

Plagiarism

The Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code states that:

"A Student must not represent as the Student’s own work all or any portion of the work of another. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

  • Stealing, misquoting, insufficiently paraphrasing, or patch-writing.
  • Self-plagiarism, which is the reuse of the Student’s own submitted work, or the simultaneous submission of the Student’s own work, without the full and clear acknowledgment and permission of the Faculty to whom it is submitted.
  • Submitting materials from any source without proper attribution.
  • Submitting a document, assignment, or material that, in whole or in part, is identical or substantially identical to a document or assignment the Student did not author."

 

Netiquette and Communication Courtesy

It is important to recognize that the online classroom is in fact a classroom, and certain behaviors are expected when you communicate with both your peers and your instructors. These guidelines for online behavior and interaction are known as netiquette.

Security

Remember that your password is the only thing protecting you from pranks or more serious harm.

  • Don't share your password with anyone.
  • Change your password if you think someone else might know it.
  • Always log out when you are finished using the system.

General Guidelines

When communicating online:

  • Treat the instructor with respect, even via email or in any other online communication.
  • Always use your professors’ proper title: Dr. or Prof., or if you are unsure use Mr. or Ms.
  • Unless specifically invited, don’t refer to a professor by their first name.
  • Use clear and concise language.
  • Remember that all college-level communication should have correct spelling and grammar.
  • Avoid slang terms such as “wassup?” and texting abbreviations such as “u” instead of “you.”
  • Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman and use a size 12 or 14 point font.
  • Avoid using the caps lock feature AS IT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS YELLING.
  • Limit and possibly avoid the use of emoticons like :) .
  • Be cautious when using humor or sarcasm as tone is sometimes lost in an email or discussion post and your message might be taken seriously or be construed as being offensive.
  • Be careful with personal information (both yours and others).
  • Do not send confidential information via email.

Email

When you send an email to your instructor, teaching assistant, or classmates:

  • Use a descriptive subject line.
  • Be brief.
  • Avoid attachments unless you are sure your recipients can open them.
  • Avoid HTML in favor of plain text.
  • Sign your message with your name and return email address.
  • Think before you send the email to more than one person. Does everyone really need to see your message?
  • Be sure you REALLY want everyone to receive your response when you click, “Reply All.”
  • Be sure that the message author intended for the information to be passed along before you click the “Forward” button.

Discussion Boards

When posting on the discussion board in your online class:

  • Check to see if anyone already asked your question and received a reply before posting to the discussion board.
  • Remember your manners and say please and thank you when asking something of your classmates or instructor.
  • Be open-minded.
  • If you ask a question and many people respond, summarize all posts for the benefit of the class.
  • When posting:
    • Make posts that are on-topic and within the scope of the course material.
    • Be sure to read all messages in a thread before replying.
    • Be as brief as possible while still making a thorough comment.
    • Don’t repeat someone else’s post without adding something of your own to it.
    • Take your posts seriously. Review and edit your posts before sending.
    • Avoid short, generic replies such as, “I agree.” You should include why you agree or add to the previous point.
    • If you refer to something that was said in an earlier post, quote a few key lines so readers do not have to go back and figure out which post you are referring to.
    • Always give proper credit when referencing or quoting another source.
    • If you reply to a classmate’s question make sure your answer is correct, don’t guess.
    • Always be respectful of others’ opinions even when they differ from your own.
    • When you disagree with someone, you should express your differing opinion in a respectful, non-critical way.
    • Do not make personal or insulting remarks.
    • Do not write anything sarcastic or angry, it always backfires.
    • Do not type in ALL CAPS, if you do IT WILL LOOK LIKE YOU ARE YELLING.

Zoom

When attending a Zoom class or meeting:

  • Do not share your Zoom classroom link or password with others.
  • Even though you may be alone at home, your professor and classmates can see you! While attending class in your pajamas is tempting, remember that wearing clothing is not optional. Dress appropriately.
  • Your professor and classmates can also see what is behind you, so be aware of your surroundings.
  • Make sure the background is not distracting or something you would not want your classmates to see.
    • When in doubt use a virtual background. If you choose to use one, you should test the background out first to make sure your device can support it.
    • Your background can express your personality, but be sure to avoid using backgrounds that may contain offensive images and language.
  • Mute is your friend, especially when you are in a location that can be noisy. Don’t leave your microphone open if you don’t have to.
  • If you want to speak, you can raise your hand (click the “raise hand” button at the center bottom of your screen) and wait to be called upon.

 

Getting Help

Technical Difficulties

For help with technical issues or difficulties with Canvas, please contact the UF Computing Help Desk at:

Any requests for make-ups (assignments, exams, etc.) due to technical issues should be accompanied by the ticket number received from the UF Computing Help Desk when the problem was reported to them. The ticket number will document the time and date of the problem. You should email your instructor within 24 hours of the technical difficulty if you wish to request a make-up.

  • U Matter, We Care: If you or someone you know is in distress, please email umatter@ufl.edu, call 352-392-1575, or visit U Matter We Care to refer or report a concern, and a team member will reach out to the student in distress.
  • Counseling and Wellness Center: Visit the UF Counseling & Wellness Center website or call 352-392-1575 for information on crisis services and non-crisis services.
  • Student Health Care Center: Call 352-392-1161 for 24/7 information to help you find the care you need, or visit the UF Student Health Care Center website.
  • University Police Department: Visit the UF Police Department website or call 352-392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies).
  • UF Health Shands Emergency Room/Trauma Center: For immediate medical care in Gainesville, call 352-733-0111, or go to the emergency room at 1515 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608; Visit the UF Health Shands Emergency Room/Trauma Center website.

 

Academic and Student Support

 

Course Evaluations

Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available on the GatorEvals Providing Constructive Feedback FAQ page. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via the GatorEvals website. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at the GatorEvals Public Results page. More information about UF's course evaluation system can be found at the GatorEvals Faculty Evaluations website.

 

Tips for Success

Taking a course online can be a lot of fun! Here are some tips that will help you get the most of this course while taking full advantage of the online format:

  • Schedule "class times" for yourself. It is important to do the coursework on time each week. You will receive a reduction in points for work that is turned in late!
  • Read ALL of the material contained on this site. There is a lot of helpful information that can save you time and help you meet the objectives of the course.
  • Print out the Course Summary located in the Course Syllabus and check things off as you go.
  • Take full advantage of the online discussion boards. Ask for help or clarification of the material if you need it.
  • Do not wait to ask questions! Waiting to ask a question might cause you to miss a due date.
  • Do your work well before the due dates. Sometimes things happen. If your computer goes down when you are trying to submit an assignment, you'll need time to troubleshoot the problem.
  • To be extra safe, back up your work to an external hard drive, thumb drive, or through a cloud service.

 

Honorlock Online Proctoring

In order to maintain a high standard of academic integrity and assure that the value of your University of Florida degree is not compromised, course exams will be proctored. Some students will take their exams online and will be proctored by Honorlock. You will take your exam electronically using the course website. You do not need to register for your exam. However, you will need to have installed and enabled the Google Chrome Honorlock extension prior to taking your exams. You will need a webcam, speakers, microphone, laptop or desktop computer, and a reliable internet connection to take your exams. Wireless internet is not recommended. You may also need a mirror or other reflective surface. Google Chrome is the only supported browser for taking exams in Canvas.

Prior to each exam and in the same environment you plan to take the exam, review the Honorlock Guidelines (Links to an external site.) (PDF), and go to Honorlock Support (Links to an external site.) to run a system check. This process takes just a few minutes and is completely free. If your course offers an Honorlock Practice Quiz, it is strongly recommended that you take it to practice using Honorlock before your exams. 

Important: If you are unable to take an exam because of a technical glitch on your end, that is your responsibility. However, if you do experience technical difficulties during the exam, Honorlock's support menu will be visible on-screen for you to contact a support agent. 

Honorlock offers 24/7/365 technical support to assist students before, during, and after exams. If you experience any trouble with Honorlock, begin a live chat on the Honorlock Support (Links to an external site.) page, call 844-243-2500, or email Support@Honorlock.com.

 

Privacy and Accessibility Policies

For information about the privacy policies of the tools used in this course, see the links below: 

 (Links to an external site.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due