Physics 222 introduces students to the basic principles of electricity, magnetism, optics, and quantum and nuclear physics.  After successfully completing this course students will have acquired the fundamental knowledge to understand various physical phenomena and their basis for practical applications.  They will be able to apply mathematics (vectors, algebra, trigonometry) to describe and analyze physical properties and they will have practiced discussing physics with classmates through active participation in the course.
Physics often serves as a support course for students studying in another program.  Physics 222 teaches students to look for the physical principles that underlie complex technical and biological phenomena and to spot misleading claims that defy the laws of physics.
 

• Module 1:  Electric forces and fields
  • Coulombs law, electric fields and field lines, polarization
• Module 2:  Electric energy and potential
  • Potential energy, potential difference, conductors, capacitors
• Module 3:  Steady electric currents
  • Steady electric current, resistance, electrical energy and power, Kirchhoff’s rules, RC circuits
• Module 4:  Magnetic forces and fields
  • Magnetic fields, magnetic force, current loops, magnetism in matter
• Module 5:  Electromagnetic waves
  • Field energy, production of EM waves, wave energy and momentum, polarization
• Module 6:  Geometrical Optics
  • Optical properties of matter, reflection and refraction, dispersion, mirrors
• Module 7:  Images formed by refraction
  • Thin lenses, aberrations. the human eye, optical instruments
• Module 8:  Wave optics
  • Diffraction and interference, resolving power, interferometers
• Module 9:  Quantum physics
  • Modern physics, photons, matter waves, quantum mechanics, wave functions
• Module 10:  Atoms
  • Angular momentum, spin, atoms, lasers