General Physics II

Recommended Prerequisites

General Physics I, Calculus I.

Teaching Methods

Direct teaching with active participation of the students. Challenges are posed in the theoretical classes.

The practical classes are focused on the application of the laws of Physics to the solution of several problems and exercises.

Learning Outcomes

Objectives:
- Understanding of (theoretical and empirical) laws of Classical Physics and their applications.
- Ability to use Classical Physics concepts in problem solving.
- Ability to learn Physics.
- Deep general knowledge in Physics.
- Ability to communicate scientific findings in Physics both orally and in written form.

Competences:
- Analysis and synthesis.
- Organisation and planning.
- Oral and written communications.
- Problem solving.
- Critical thinking.
- Self-study.
- Adaptability to new situations.
- Practical use of theoretical knowledge.
- Self-evaluation and self-criticism.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Coulomb's law. Electric field, potential and potential energy. Gauss's law. Conductors. Capacitors. Dielectric media.

Electric current. Ohm's law. Electromotive force. Kirchhoff's laws. Associations of resistors. Galvanometers, voltmeters and ammeters. Charge and discharge of capacitors.

Oersted's experiments. Laplace's law. Hall effect. Biot-Savart's law. Magnetic fields due to electric currents. Interaction between electric currents. Ampère's law. Magnetic induction. Faraday and Lenz laws. Self and mutual inductance. Alternating current. LC and RLC circuits. Transformers.

Electromagnetic waves. Polarisation. Poynting vector. Spectrum and behaviour of visible light.

Principles and laws of geometrical optics. Reflection. Refraction. Dispersion. Plane and spherical mirrors. Thin lenses. The reflex photographic machine. The human eye. The magnifier. The microscope. Telescopes.

Young's experiment. Interference and diffraction. Thin films.

Head Lecturer(s)

Manuel Joaquim Baptista Fiolhais

Assessment Methods

Continuous evaluation
2 Midterm exams: 100.0%

Final evaluation
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics

Raymond A. Serway, John Jewett

Brooks/Cole (9th edition, 2013); ISBN: 978-1133953999

Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics

Douglas C. Giancoli

Pearson (4th edition, 2008); ISBN: 978-0136074809

Fundamentos de Física

Maria José B. Marques de Almeida, Maria Margarida Ramalho R. Costa

Almedina (3ª edição, 2012); ISBN: 978-9724048413.