Overview
Physics 201: Introductory Physics II is an algebra-based course that provides an overview of thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism. The course includes a laboratory component that involves quality hands-on experiments.
PHYS 201 combined with either PHYS 200 or PHYS 202 delivers the equivalent of one year of introductory algebra-based physics.
Outline
PHYS 201 consists of nine units:
- Unit 1: Temperature and Kinetic Theory
- Unit 2: Heat
- Unit 3: The Laws of Thermodynamics
- Unit 4: Electric Charge and Electric Field
- Unit 5: Electric Potential
- Unit 6: Electric Currents
- Unit 7: DC Circuits
- Unit 8: Magnetism
- Unit 9: Electromagnetic Induction and Faraday’s Law
Lab component
PHYS 201 includes a compulsory lab component of six hands-on experiments performed in a place of your choice. You must request the Home Lab Kit for the supplies to complete the labs. You are expected to provide additional common household materials. Assessment is based on written lab reports. PHYS 201 includes the following labs:
- Lab 1: Charles’s Law
- Lab 2: Specific Heat and Latent Heat of Fusion
- Lab 3: Ohm’s Law and Resistivity
- Lab 4: RC Circuit and Capacitor Combinations
- Lab 5: Earth’s Magnetic Field
- Lab 6: Electric Motor
Request the lab kit online
You may qualify for partial or full transfer of lab credit obtained for equivalent lab work at another institution.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- describe thermal expansion, explain the ideal gas law, and solve relevant problems.
- define latent heat and specific heat, and apply them to solving problems in calorimetry.
- outline and interpret the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and solve problems involving heat engines.
- define the electric charge and use Coulomb’s law to compute the electric forces between static point charges.
- define voltage, current, and resistance, and solve problems involving Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s rules to analyze direct current circuits.
- define capacitance and solve problems involving the charging and discharging of capacitors.
- describe the magnetic field generated around a current-carrying wire and explain the interaction between an external magnetic field and an electric current or moving point charge.
- outline Lenz’s law and Faraday’s law of induction, and apply them to solve problems involving electric generators, motors, and transformers.
- demonstrate skills related to performing simple experiments in thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism, including experimental setup, data acquisition, data analysis, and communication of scientific results.
Evaluation
To receive credit for PHYS 201, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent), a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination, and a composite grade of at least 50 percent on the lab reports.
The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignments 1–3 (6% each) | 18% |
| Lab reports 1–5 (3.6% each) | 18% |
| Lab report 6 | 4% |
| Midterm exam | 20% |
| Final exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Giancoli, D. C. (2014). Physics: Principles with applications (7th ed.). Pearson.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PHYS 201 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the challenge exam.
Challenge for credit course registration form