Course Description & Grading Policy | Lecture Schedule | Lab Policy | Lab Schedule | Office Hours | Old Exams
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Course Description & Grading Policy-Term 261
Course Description:
A continuation of PHYS 101. The topics covered include: Wave motion and sound; temperature; first and second law of thermodynamics; kinetic theory of gases; Coulomb’s law; electric field; Gauss’s law; electric potential; capacitors and dielectrics; D.C. circuits; magnetic field; Ampere’s and Faraday’s laws.
Pre-requisite: PHYS 101
Co-requisite: MATH 102
Textbook: Fundamentals of Physics, by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker, 10th edition, Wiley (2014).
Teaching Method: The course material will be presented in lectures (3 hrs. per week). Problem solving techniques will be shown in recitations (1 hr. per week). The understanding of concepts learned in lectures will be strengthened by lab work (3 hrs. per week). Lectures and recitations will start from the first week. Labs will start from the second week.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1-Learning the wave concepts and differentiating between the longitudinal and transverse waves.
2-Learning and solving problems related to interference, resonance, and standing waves of two waves.
3-Learning and solving problems related to Doppler effect and its applications.
4-Learning about and solving problems related to heat exchange with solids and liquids, the ideal gas law, and its applications.
5-Learning and solving problems related to the nature of temperature, thermal energy, zero, first and second law of thermodynamics, and entropy.
6-Learning and applying Coulomb's law and the origin of the electric field.
7-Learning and applying Gauss' law to calculate the electric field of symmetric shapes.
8-Learning the concept of potential difference, potential energy, and capacitors and their implementations.
9-Learning about current, resistance, and emf. Analysis of simple electric circuits using Kirchhoff's laws.
10-Learning about origins of the magnetic field and its calculations.
11-Learning and solving problems related to Faraday's and Lenz laws and their applications.
12-Operate basic lab equipment, collect, analyze, and plot data, write results, and draw conclusions in a submitted report.
Attendance Policy:
1-Class attendance and participation are required.
2-A DN grade shall be given to the student who has 3 or more unexcused absences in labs.
3-A DN grade shall be given to the student who has more than 12 unexcused absences in lectures and recitations.
4-A W grade will be given to the student whose total absences (excused and unexcused) is more than 20 absences. To get this grade, the number of unexcused absences should be less than 13. Otherwise, the student will get a DN grade.
5-A W grade will be given to the student whose total absences (excused and unexcused) is more than 5 in labs. To get this grade, the unexcused absences should be 2 or less. Otherwise, the student will get a DN grade.
6-A student who has a valid excuse for his absence must provide it to his instructor no later than one week following his resumption to the classes.
7-One extra point is given to the student who has five or less unexcused absences in lectures and recitations.
Grading Policy:
| Grading Policy | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Class Work | 50 | 12.5 |
| Lab Work | 50 | 12.5 |
| First Major Exam (120 minutes), 20 MCQ | 100 | 25 |
| Second Major Exam: (120 minutes), 20 MCQ | 100 | 25 |
| Final Exam (Comprehensive, 120 minutes), 20 MCQ | 100 | 25 |
| Total | 400 | 100 |
a) Classwork (Average score 40/50):
Classwork score shall be derived from the student’s performance in quizzes. At least 8 quizzes should be given.
b) Lab work (Average score 40/50):
Lab score will be based on lab reports.
c) Exams:
E Exams will be of multiple-choice type (MCQ). A formula sheet will be provided in all exams. Specific locations of the exams will be announced 1-2 weeks in advance. Students are not allowed to bring mobile phones, smart watches, or smart devices into the exam hall.
d) Final Letter grade:
It will be based on a curve model.
e) It's the student’s responsibility to check the classwork and/or lab work grades with his/her instructor before they are submitted to the coordinator. Once submitted, they will not be changed.
Make-up Exam Policy:
A student who misses an exam with a valid excuse must present an officially authorized excuse (issue by KFUPM’s Student Affairs) to the course coordinator within 3 days after the date of the exam in order to take a make-up exam. However, if he/she misses the final exam with a valid excuse, he/she will get an “IC” grade in the course and will take a make-up exam in the following semester. If he/she does not have a valid excuse issued by KFUPM’s Student Affairs, the score for that exam will be zero. Personal excuses are not accepted.
Phys 102 Lecture Schedule Term-261
| Week | Date | Topics | Chapter | Sec. | Omitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 Aug
| Transverse waves Wave speed on a string, energy and power of a traveling wave Interference of waves | 16 16 16 | 1 2,3 5 | 4, 6 |
| 2 | 23 25 27 | Standing waves and resonance Speed of sound, traveling sound waves, Interference Intensity and sound level, sources of musical sound | 16 17 17 | 7 1,2,3 4,5 | 6,8 |
| 3 | 30 01 Sep 03 | Doppler effect Temperature scales, Thermal expansion Absorption of heat | 17 18 18 | 7 1,2,3 4 | |
| Tuesday, September 01, Last day for dropping the course without permanent record | |||||
| 4 | 06 08 10 | First law of thermodynamics Heat transfer mechanisms Avogadro’s number, ideal gases | 18 18 19 | 5 6 1,2 | 5,6,8 |
| 5 | 13 15 17 | Pressure, temperature, and rms speed, translational kinetic energy Molar specific heat of an ideal gas, adiabatic expansion Entropy | 19 19 20 | 3,4 7,9 1 | |
| 6 | 20 22 24 | Entropy in the real world: Heat engines and refrigerators Review National Day Holiday: 23 – 24 September | 20 --- --- | 2,3 --- --- | |
| First Major Exam: September 27, 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM (Chapters 16 – 20) | |||||
| 7 | 27 29 01 Oct | Coulomb’s law, Charge quantization and conservation Electric field, Electric field due to charged particles and a dipole A point charge and an electric dipole in an electric field | 21 22 22 | 1,3 1,2,3 6,7 | 4,5 |
| 8 | 04 06 08 | Electric flux, Gauss’ law A charged isolated conductor, Cylindrical symmetry Planar and spherical symmetry | 23 23 23 | 1,2 3,4 5,6 | |
| 9 | 11 13 15 | Electric potential, Equipotential surfaces, Potential energy Potential due to a charged particle, Calculating E from V Potential energy of a system and a charged isolated conductor | 24 24 24 | 1,2 3,4,6 7,8 | 5 |
| 10 | 18 20 22 | Review --- --- | --- --- --- | --- --- --- | |
| Mid-term break: 20 – 22 October | |||||
| 11 | 25 27 29 | Capacitance, Calculating the capacitance Capacitors in parallel and in series Energy stored in an electric field, Capacitors with a dielectric | 25 25 25 | 1,2 3 4,5 | |
| 12 | 01 Nov 03 05 | Electric current, current density Resistance and resistivity, Ohm’s law, Power Review | 26 26 --- | 1,2 3,5 --- | |
| Second Major Exam: November 10, 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM (Chapters 21 – 26) | |||||
| 13 | 08 10 12 | Single loop circuits, Potential difference, Resistor combinations Multi-loop circuits RC circuits | 27 27 27 | 1 2 4 | 3 |
| 14 | 15 17 19 | Magnetic fields, Crossed fields A circulating charged particle, Magnetic force on a current wire Torque on a current loop, Magnetic dipole moment | 28 28 28 | 1,2 4,6 7,8 | 3,5 |
| Autumn Break: 22 – 23 November | |||||
| 15 | 22 24 26 | --- Magnetic field due to a current Forces between two parallel currents, Ampere’s law | --- 29 29 | --- 1 2,3 | |
| 16 | 29 01 Dec 03 | Solenoids and Toroids, Current-carrying coil as a magnetic dipole Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law Induction and energy transfer | 29 30 30 | 4,5 1 2 | 3-9 |
| 17 | 06 08 10 | Review Review Review (Last day of classes) | --- --- --- | --- --- --- | |
| Final examinations: 13 – 24 December (Chapters 16 – 30) | |||||
| Wish you a successful semester. Dr. Khaled Gasmi (Physics 102 – Course Coordinator) | |||||
Phys 102 Lab Policy (Term 261)
Grading Policy
- The lab grade counts for 50 of 400 points (12.5% of the PHYS101/102 course grade).
- The grade is based entirely on lab reports (no quizzes).
- The average for each lab section is 40 out of 50.
- Students' lab reports should be graded and returned to students within one week of submission.
Lab Attendance Policy
- The student must arrive at the lab on time. Latecomers may not be allowed into the lab.
- A DN grade shall be given to any student with 3 or more unexcused absences in the lab. A DN grade shall also be given if the student has a total of 5 excused and/or unexcused absences.
- Students are responsible for coordinating with the lab instructor to make-up a missed lab if they are absent with an official excuse; otherwise, they will receive a zero for that lab. The only exception applies when the excused absence occurs on the last lab day of the week, making it impossible for the student to attend a makeup lab with another section. In such a case, the student’s average lab grade will be assigned to the missed lab.
- The instructor may allow students who were absent with an official excuse to attend a make-up lab in another section. A student may not attend another section for a make-up without written permission from their lab instructor. Personal excuses are not accepted. Only excuses from Student Affairs (the blue letter with a QR code) are accepted.
- During the lab session, the student is not allowed to leave the lab without the lab instructor's permission. Otherwise, the student will be considered absent.
General lab policy
- It's the student’s responsibility to check the lab grades with the instructor before it is submitted to the coordinator. Once submitted, it will not be changed.
- Using mobile phones is not allowed in the labs. Students should keep their phones in their pockets or bags. Any student showing a phone should be considered a cheating case.
- Students must bring the supplies they need, such as a lab notebook (graph notebook), pencil, ruler, calculator, and eraser.
- Students will download the write-up for each experiment from the PHYS101/102 website (Lab Schedule).
- Students will read the write-up, conduct the experiment, then write the report in their notebooks.
- Students are expected to work in groups during data collection. Then, each student has to write their own report and answer the questions individually, without sharing it with others. Any cheating, copying, or sharing of lab reports will result in severe consequences according to the university policy.
- Students should complete their lab work during the lab session, and the instructor must collect all the reports before leaving the lab.
- According to the Labs' safety guidelines, food and beverages are not allowed in the Labs.
- The student must leave the lab space clean and tidy, return the tools to their boxes, and disconnect any electrical wires before leaving.
Phys 102 Lab Schedule (Term 261)
| Week | Date | Write-Up | Data Studio File |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 19 -20 | NO LAB | |
| 2 | 23-27 | NO LAB | |
| 3 | Aug 30 - Sep 3 | Data Analysis | |
| Tuesday Sept. 1, 2026 – Last day for dropping courses without a permanent record | |||
| 4 | 6-10 | Resonance on String | |
| 5 | 13 - 17 | Resonance in Air Column | |
| 6 | 20 - 24 | NO LAB - National Day Holiday (Sep 23 & 24) | |
| First Major Exam: September 27, 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM (Chapters 16 – 20) | |||
| 7 | Sep 27 – Oct 1 | Specific Heat | |
| 8 | 4 - 8 | Perfect Gas Law | |
| 9 | 11 - 15 | Electric Field Mapping | |
| 10 | 18 - 22 | NO LAB - Midterm Break (Oct. 20- Oct. 22) | |
| 11 | 25 - 29 | Capacitors | |
| Thursday Oct. 29, 2026: Last day of dropping course(s) with grade “W” thru KFUPM portal | |||
| 12 | Nov 1 - 5 | Ohm’s Law | |
| Second Major Exam: November 10, 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM (Chapters 21 – 26) | |||
| 13 | 8 - 12 | Kirchhoff’s Laws | |
| 14 | 15 - 19 | e/m of electron | |
| 15 | 22 - 26 | NO LAB - Autumn Break (Nov. 22 - 23) | |
| 16 | Nov 29 – Dec 3 | Current Balance | |
| 17 | 6 - 10 | NO LAB | |
| Final Exam | |||
I wish you a successful semester. PHYS102 Lab Coordinator: Ayman Ghannam
Phys 102 Office Hours Term-261
Need Help in PHYS 102?
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