Meeting Time Lecture: Monday and Wednesday 11:00 am to 12:15 pm
Meeting time Lab: Tuesday 9:30 am to 11:50 am
Location Lecture: R305
Location Lab: R318
Course Modality: Face-to-Face
Last Day to Turn in Assignments: Wednesday, December 2, 2026
Final Exam Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Final Exam Time: 10:00 am to 11:50 am
Final Exam Location: R305
The student will explain the basic theories of heat, electricity, and magnetism and will apply these ideas to the mathematical solution of problems. In the laboratory, the student will attempt to verify several of these theories by comparing experimental measurements results. AAS: Physical science (laboratory science) elective.
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Responsibility
The physic curriculum is being revised to align with the physics curriculum described by the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI). This slightly changed the course objectives, for example in the past this course covered beginning thermodynamics and electricity and magnetism. In the revised alignment this course will cover electricity and magnetism, and optics. Thermodynamics will be covered in a separate course.
Faculty Contact Information
Mon. and Wed., 8:00 am to 9:30 am; Tues. 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm; and Thurs. 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Instructional Philosophy
Practice, practice, practice
Learning is not a passive activity, especially in a challenging subject like physics. You won’t learn physics by simply watching me solve problems. Just because something makes sense as I explain doesn’t mean you will understand it on your own later!
- Before class. Read the textbook, paying special attention to worked example problems. · During class. Come to class on time and prepared to work. Actively participate in lecture and lab sessions. Set your cell phone to silent and ignore it.
- After class. Re-read the textbook and your class notes. Work through the example problems in the text & from class on so that you understand each step.
- Homework. Do all assigned homework problems, even if they are not for credit. Once you have reached the correct answer, re- work the problem on a fresh piece of paper to help solidify your understanding. Be organized about where & how you work problems so that you will know later what you did. It is important that others can follow your work.
- The best way to learn something is to explain it to someone else.
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to clearly understand state, define, discuss, apply and perform critical calculations related to variables of wave motion, sinusoidal waves, superposition and interference of waves, Doppler effect, and sound waves.
- Be clearly able to demonstrate the ability to define, discuss, understand, apply, and perform critical calculations related to temperature scale, Law of Thermodynamics, thermal expansion of solids and liquids, latent heat, heat capacity, specific heat, entropy, heat engine, and Kinetic Theory of gases.
- Demonstrate the ability to clearly understand, define, discuss, apply, and perform critical calculations related to electric field, electric potential, magnetic field, inductance, electromagnetic waves, Ohm’s law, Faraday’s Law, Gauss’s Law, AC/DC currents, electrical circuits, capacitance, Inductance and Dielectrics.
- Waves Mechanics
- Periodic Motion
- Mechanical Waves
- Sound
- Thermodynamics
- Temperature and Heat
- Thermal Properties of Matter
- The Laws of Thermodynamics
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Charge and Electric Fields
- Gauss's Law
- Electric Potential
- Current and Resistance
- Direct-Current Circuits
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Inductance
- Alternating Current
- Electromagnetic Waves
Textbook: University Physics with Modern Physics, Third Edition: Bauer, Wolfgang; and Westfall, Gary D.:
McGraw Hill Publishers: 2024: ISBN 978-1-266-67262-0, inclusive access.
Laboratory Textbook: Physics Laboratory Experiments, 8th Edition: Wilson, J.D.; Hernandez-Hall: Cengage Publishers: 2015: ISBN 978-1-285-73856-7.
Evaluation
Your grade in this class is based on the following method:
| Exams (3 exams@ 15% each) | 45% |
|---|---|
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Lecture Assignments and Homework, includes Smart Book activities | 20% |
| Laboratory Experiments and Reports | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Scale
Class % 90 80 65 55 < 55
Grade A B C D F
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
COVERAGE OF MATERIAL: Students are responsible for all material covered in class, whether or not it is in the textbook, AND all reading assignments, whether or not they are covered in lecture.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE: Assignments and Exam dates will be presented in class on a regular basis. Please make sure to check your syllabus and class information frequently for up-to-date reading and homework assignments. We will generally have homework and/or reading due every class, except for exam days. If a student misses a class, the student should check with a classmate as to what information was missed, any assignments, and reading assignments.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to attend every class this includes your labs. Please note that participation in groupwork is a component of your final grade. You will be permitted three absences from lecture without any penalty. On your fourth missed lecture forward, your final class percentage will drop 3% for each missed lecture. Please meet with me if you know you are going to miss class, we will try to develop an accommodation. If you miss a class, you have missed the material presented that day, regardless of the reason you missed the class. Especially in this subject, I have found that staying caught up with material tremendously helps one’s success and understanding. Once every three weeks students need to meet with me to discuss class performance, homework, and to discuss concepts that are not clear. The meetings will be in my office, or the STEM Study Hall, or another campus location. There will be an assign up sheet for students to assign up for a meeting.
FINAL EXAM, MISSED EXAMS: All exams will be cumulative, but will typically emphasize the most recent material. Missed exams and assignments score zero. Please see me if you think you may need to miss an exam, we can try to work something out. The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at 10:00 am to 11:50 am in room R305 .
Laboratory Safety and Attendance Policies
Attendance at the first laboratory meeting is required. A student may not participate in lab if he/she has missed the first lab meeting, which includes the mandatory lab safety training. If a student misses the first lab meeting, he/she must notify the instructor to make arrangements to make up the safety training before the second lab meeting. If a student has not completed the safety training before the second lab meeting, the student must either drop the course or the student will be institutionally withdrawn. Students are expected to comply with the KCC Science Laboratory Safety Rules at all times. These rules will be discussed during the first lab meeting and each student will sign an acknowledgement of receipt and understanding. Students who do not comply with the safety rules will be asked to leave the lab and will receive no credit for that day’s work.
Laboratory experiences are an essential part of this physics course. Therefore, any student who misses three or more laboratory periods will automatically fail the class. Due to the possibility of late enrollment in this course, missing the first laboratory period does not count as an absence for this purpose. Students who are not permitted to complete an experiment due to a safety rules violation, such as being late or not having the appropriate attire, are considered to have missed that lab period.
Coursework
Grades, announcements, & handouts are posted on Canvas or returned to the students directly—check it frequently. Access Canvas from KCC’s homepage at www.kcc.edu or directly at www.kcc.instructure.com. The instructor will provide hard copies of handouts upon prior request by the student.
- Come to class prepared (handouts, pencil, paper, calculator, assignments, etc.).
- If a student leaves the room during an exam or quiz, the student should check with the instructor prior to leaving, students may be required to leave their call phones in the classroom either on their test or in their book bags. If a student leaves class during an exam or quiz and not make prior arrangements, the student will not be allowed to continue working on the exam or quiz.
- Pencil and paper assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. · Show all work clearly & neatly to receive full credit. Use a pencil rather than a pen.
- Final answers should be clearly indicated & have appropriate significant digits & units.
- Assignments should look neat & professional (pages stapled in correct order, spiral edging removed, legible writing, etc.). Assignments that have been folded multiple times, crumpled, or torn may not be accepted or may have points deducted.
- Most students need to spend at least two hours studying outside of class for every hour spent in class.
Missed or Late Work
Unit Exams
·Make-up exams will be allowed only if the instructor has been contacted (via an email or phone message) prior to the exam.
- A student is allowed one make-up exam during the course. Documentation of extenuating circumstances may be required before a make-up exam is allowed.
- Make-up exams must be taken either in the Testing Center (D218), or at a location agreed to by the parties involved. Make up exams should be completed within five days of the missed exam (e.g. an exam missed on Wednesday must be made up by the end of the following Monday).
- Make-up exams may not be the same exam given in class & may be another form of the exam, i.e. essay tests.
- The last day to turn in any labs or assignments is on the last lecture day for the class, Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
- The policies given above for make-up exams also apply to quizzes.
- Other lecture assignments may or may not be made up or accepted late; it depends on the nature of the activity & if results/answers were discussed in class. If they may be made up late, it is rarely for full credit.
- No late or make-up work/quizzes will be accepted once the assignment has been returned to students, had answers posted on Canvas, discussed in class, or the exam over the relevant section has been given (whichever happens first).
Lab Assignments
- Lab experiments & reports may NOT be made up, but the lowest lab report score is dropped.
- Pre-lab assignments & lab quizzes are treated the same way as lecture assignments.
- No late or make-up work of any kind will be accepted after the last regular class day, Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
- Students that do not take the final exam will automatically fail the class.
- Students who engage in academic dishonesty may fail that exam, activity, or lab with a grade of zero, in addition to facing disciplinary action by the College.
- Use of electronic devices other than a calculator during exams and quizzes is cheating.
- Students whose behavior is disrespectful or is disrupting others will be asked to leave class and not come back until the next class period. No make-up of that day’s activities will be permitted, including exams. Such behaviors include but are not limited to coming late to class, talking in class, using electronic devices for non-class activities, having cell phones ring, and repeatedly leaving your seat.
PHYS 2624 Physics II Fall2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week | Date | Chapter | Topics | Assignments | Labs | Comments |
1 | Aug. 17 -23 | Ch 21.1 -21.6 | Electrostatics | Ch. 21 Problems | Lab Safety and Conversions | |
2 | Aug 24 -30 | Ch 22.1 -22.9 | Electric Fields and Gauss’s Law | Ch 22 Problems | Lab 22 | |
3 | Aug. 31 -Sep. 6 | Ch 23.1 – 23.6 | Electric Potential | Ch 23 Problems | Graphing Lab | Labor Day Mon. |
4 | Sep. 7 -13 | Ch. 24.1 – 24.7 | Capacitors | Ch. 24 Problems | Lab 23 | |
5 | Sep. 14 -20 | Ch. 25.1 -25.8 | Current and Resistance | Ch. 25 Problems | Lab 24 | |
6 | Sep. 21 – 27 | Ch 26.1 – 26.5 | Direct Current Circuits | Ch. 26 Problems | Lab 25 | Exam 1 |
7 | Sep. 28 – Oct. 4 | Ch 27.1 – 27.7 | Magnetism | Ch 27 Problems | Lab 26 | |
8 | Oct. 5 – 11 | Ch 28.1 – 28.7 | Magnetic Field of a Moving Charge | Ch. 28 Problems | Lab 27 | |
9 | Oct. 12 – 18 | Ch 29.1 – 29.10 | Electromagnetic Induction | Ch. 29 Problems | Lab 28 | |
10 | Oct. 19 – 25 | Ch. 30.1 – 30.8 | Alternating Current Circuits | Ch. 30 Problems | Lab 29 | |
11 | Oct. 26- Nov. 1 | Ch 31.1 – 31.7 | Electromagnetic Waves | Ch. 31 Problems | Lab 16 | |
12 | Nov. 2 - 8 | Ch. 14.1 – 14.7 | Oscillations | Ch. 14 Problems | Lab 17 | Exam 2 |
13 | Nov. 9 - 15 | Ch 15.1 – 15.9 | Waves | Ch 15 Problems | Nov. 11 Veterans’ Day No class on Wednesday | |
14 | Nov. 16 – 22 | Ch. 16.1 – 16.5 | Sound | Ch 16 Problems | Lab 30 | |
15 | Nov. 23 – 29 | Ch 32.1 – 32.4 | Geometrics Optics | Ch 32 Problems | Lab 29 | |
16 | Nov. 30 - Dec. 3 | Exam 3 | ||||
Finals | Dec. 9 | Comprehensive Final 10 to 11:50 Room R305 | ||||
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.