Download pdf here: Syllabus.pdf

Syllabus:  PHYS 4B. Physics for Physics Majors—Fluids, Waves, Statistical and Thermal Physics  

Instructional Team                                                                                     DI/office hrs  @ MHA2722
Professor:     Benjamin Grinstein (bgrinstein@ucsd.edu)                       Th 11:00 AM
TA:                Rolando Ramirez Camasca (rramirezcamasca@ucsd.edu)Th 09:00 AM

TA:                Sirius Song (yus039@ucsd.edu)                                         Th 08:00 AM
TA:                Quanjin Wang (quw001@ucsd.edu)                                  Th 10:00 AM

Course Description

This is the second quarter of a five-quarter calculus-based physics sequence for physics majors and students with a serious interest in physics. Topics covered include simple harmonic motion, damped and forced oscillations, waves in elastic media, fluid statics and dynamics, sound waves, heat and the first law of thermodynamics, entropy and the second law of thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gasses and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, the third law of thermodynamics.

As you know, the prerequisites are PHYS 4A and MATH 20A-B,  and prior or concurrent enrollment in MATH 20C or 31BH is recommended.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of 4B, students will be able to:

• Analytically solve for the motion of (possibly coupled, damped and forced) oscillating systems of waves in one dimension, and for the static equilibrium or steady state motion of simple fluids, using kinematics, Newton’s laws, and basic principles such as the conservation of energy and momentum.
• Give a quantitative account of basic thermodynamic processes, including heat exchange and work done, describe simple gasses microscopically, and distinguish between reversible and irreversible processes.
• Apply these general principles to give a qualitative description of oscillations and waves, and of thermal and chemical equilibrium or exchange even when the analytic solution cannot be obtained in simple or closed form.
• Troubleshoot answers with tools such as dimensional analysis, force diagrams, graphical analysis, limiting cases, and order-of magnitude estimates.
• Provide numerical answers using the appropriate accuracy (significant figures), scientific notation, and units.

bi-weekly schedule

Here is how we will run the course:

• Lectures are MWF 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM, and Wednesdays 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
• Quizzes 1– 4 on W 4:00 PM,  weeks 3, 5, 7, 9,  in lieu of lecture
• Quiz 5 on F 11:00AM, week 10
• Discussion sessions are on Thursday
• Assignment due dates described below

Textbook and suggested reading material

Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Relativity, and Thermodynamics; Yale University Press; Expanded edition (August 20, 2019), by R. Shankar. We use Chapters 16-24.  

For details on the textbook and other suggested reading material see  Modules > Course Materials in the course CANVAS site.

Other helpful materials

The text is based on a lecture series, Fundamentals of Physics with R. Shankar, available on youtube. You can watch the lectures as you read the textbook, they contain the same material – how you go through the material is a question of personal preference.

Under CANVAS there are  pages organized by two weeks. The first entry in each of these has a link to “Lecture Materials” that contain the informal reviews and the challenge problems for each lecture.

Additional materials can be found in the course’s CANVAS site under “Videos and other resources”.  

Course Communications. Piazza. Gradescope

We will use CANVAS  as our main way of communicating outside lecture, to post announcements and  assignments and for you to submit work.

CANVAS also provides access to Piazza — an online course discussion board where you can ask / answer questions about the course material (including homework). If you send the instructor or TAs an email about a specific problem, they will generally redirect you to Piazza, because:

1. Everyone can see one another’s questions/responses, which helps multiple people have the same question.
2. The instructional team can use LaTeX to make equations look nice/understandable.
3. Students can help one another learn the material.

CANVAS also provides access to Gradescope, which you will use to submit work.

Grading Policy

Your final course grade will be determined according to the following:

• 5%        Pre-Lecture Reading “Quizzes” – only 50% are graded, but you don’t know which.
• 30%         Homework Problem Sets:  Best 4 out of 5. Both draft and corrected versions required.
• 40%         Biweekly Quizzes: Best 4 out of 5.  
• 25%         Final Exam

The best N of N+1 policy for homework and quizzes are in place to account for possible emergencies that result in missing a quiz or failing to turn in a homework assignment. Neither the final exam nor  reading quizzes can  be excused. If you foresee missing more than one quiz and/or homework assignment you should carefully consider your options, including withdrawing from the course.

Final grades will not be determined until the end of the quarter. There is no curve for the class. If you are taking the class P/NP, you need at least a grade of C– to pass. We use the standard UCSD grade scale, shown below: the first row of the table shows the total course points (as a percentage of maximum possible), the second row gives corresponding course grade:

 

0 – 60	60 – 70	70 – 74	74 – 77	77 – 80	80 – 84	84 – 87	87 – 90	90 – 94	94 – 97	97 – 100
F	D	C–	C	C+	B–	B	B+	A–	A	A+

Additional credit: from time to time we may give “extra points” for attendance, which can accumulate to no more than 4% of the grade (enough to bump you from one grade to the next higher).  

Quizzes and Final Exam

Quizzes will be every other Wednesday, except for Quiz #5 (see course schedule, appended to syllabus).  Solutions will be posted on-line promptly after the quiz is complete.

The final exam will be on Friday, June 13, 11:30AM – 2:30PM, at PCYNH 106.

You must supply a “blue book” on which to write and turn in your solutions to the quiz and final exam. We recommend you purchase 6 blue books at once. Loose pages (even if stapled) will not be accepted. Blue books are available, for example, from UCSD's bookstore.

You must bring your UCSD picture ID, or a legal picture ID and your UCSD ID.

For the quizzes you may bring a calculator. Quizzes are closed book, closed notes.

Regrade requests must be made in writing by email to the grader of the quiz and to Prof Grinstein for the final exam, within 24 hrs of the publication of the grades for the quiz or final exam. You will find on  CANVAS who graded each Quiz.

Work Due Deadlines and Late Policy

Because 35% of the course grade is determined almost exclusively by course assignments, it is vital you know when everything is due.

• Reading quizzes are due at 30 min before lecture.  
• Homework assignments 1 – 4  draft versions are due every other Sunday at 11:00 AM. Late policy: No credit for homework regardless of corrected version submission.
• Homework assignments 1 – 4  corrections are due every other Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Late policy: h times 1% deduction if turned in on the h-th hour after the deadline, up to 24 hours. No credit thereafter.
• Homework assignment #5 special schedule:

• draft: 10:00 AM Wednesday before Finals week.
• corrections: 10:00 AM Friday before Finals week.

Reading ahead and Pre-Lecture Reading Quizzes

On the course schedule at the end of this syllabus, there are reading assignments for each week. You must complete the reading assignments before lecture.

Pre-Lecture Reading Quizzes are due 30 min before lecture. Find and submit them on CANVAS under Assignments, listed by week/day number: The schedule appended to the syllabus gives you a translation to specific dates.  

Weekly Homework

There will be weekly homework. Consult Work Due Deadlines and Late Policy above for due dates.

Directions for how to submit homework through Gradescope will be given during the first lecture. The directions are reproduced in CANVAS under Modules > Weekly Homework Logistics

Regrade requests are made directly through Gradescope. They must be submitted within 24 hrs of the publication of the grades of the corresponding homework.

Lectures and Attendance

We will devote most of the lecture time to solving problems. You will work in self-organized small groups. You must bring a notebook or loose paper to work on, and, of course, pen or pencil. Alternatively, you may use an electronic smart  tablet. Occasionally we will use a calculator (most smartphones now come with one). You may bring and consult the textbook.

Attendance is not required (except for quizzes and final exam) but work in class will both help you master the material, and additional credit can give you a chance to make up some lost points. These are recorded by taking attendance at a few random lectures, electronically (with smartphone or tablet for QR code access — if you don’t have one let the TAs or instructor know).

FinAid questionnaire

Please complete by the 2nd Friday of the quarter the First Day Survey: Pre-Course Goals and Expectations #FinAid available under  CANVAS > Modules > Course Materials.

Additional Help

There are various resources that you can turn to: piazza, DI sessions and an SI. To find this information, please go to CANVAS > Modules > Course Materials > Where to find more help.

Academic Integrity

You are required to sign the academic integrity pledge before Quiz 1 in order to get credit for any work in the course. Please read the information and directions  in CANVAS > Modules > Course Materials >  Academic Integrity Pledge. Failure to submit the pledge will result in grades dropped.

Food Support for Students:  

If you are skipping and stretching meals, or having difficulties affording or accessing food, you may be eligible for CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, that can provide up to $292 a month in free money on a debit card to buy food. Students can apply at benefitscal.com/r/ucsandiegocalfresh 

The Hub Basic Needs Center empowers all students by connecting them to resources for food, stable housing and financial literacy. Visit their site at basicneeds.ucsd.edu

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Calendar

 

	Week by week breakdown, PHYS 4B Spring 2025
	FoP	Shankar, Fundamentals of Physics
	V&W	Samiullah, Vibrations and Waves
	starred "*" subjects are exclusively from V&W - will cover as time permits
	"Brief description" = bank --> additional time for discussion/problems
Week	Day	Date	FoP	V&W	Brief description
1	1	3/31	16	1	complex numbers
	2	4/2	17	2.1-3	Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
	3	4/2		2.4-7	more on SHM - energetics, small oscillations
	4	4/4			Damped Oscillations
2	1	4/7
	2	4/9		5	Forced (driven) oscillators
	3	4/9			continue + Fourier Expansion
	4	4/11		3*	Coupled Oscillators -- normal modes
3	1	4/14	18	4.3-6,6.1-2	Waves in 1D: harmonic waves; wave equation
	2	4/16
	3	4/16	quiz #1
	4	4/18	19	6.4-6.5	energy in waves, power transmitted, intensity
4	1	4/21		6.6, 6.8, 9.1	waves: Doppler effect, beats
	2	4/23		9.2	interference, standing waves
	3	4/23
	4	4/25		6.3*, 6.7*	Dispersion, group velocity, Spectral analysis
5	1	4/28	20		Fluids basics, Pascal and Archimedes principles
	2	4/30			Fluids in motion: continuity and Bernoulli's equations
	3	4/30	quiz #2
	4	5/2
6	1	5/5
	2	5/7	21		Temperature/Heat: 0th Law, specific heat, conduction, expansion
	3	5/7			Heat as energy, phases and latent heat
	4	5/9	XXX	XXX	Probability-- source material will be provided
7	1	5/12	22		ideal gas, microscopic (Boltzman), state functions, 1st Law
	2	5/14
	3	5/14	quiz #3
	4	5/16
8	1	5/19	23		cycles, adiabatic process, engines/refrigerators, Carnot's cycle
	2	5/21
	3	5/21
	4	5/23			(possibly start already 24.1-2)
9	1	5/26	HOLIDAY
	2	5/28	24		Entropy and Irreversibility, The 2nd Law
	3	5/28	quiz #4
	4	5/30			2nd Law cont'd.
10	1	6/2			Microscopic approach to entropy; 3rd Law
	2	6/4
	3	6/4			demos; review
	4	6/6	quiz #5		(or no quiz 5 and have only more review)