PHY 216 at Southern New Hampshire University continues PHY 215. The catalogue describes a calculus-based course that stresses problem solving and runs from temperature and thermal equilibrium through waves and sound, electric charge, magnetic fields and optics to an introductory topic of modern physics.
It also carries a required lab component. The catalogue says students complete 12 experiments in areas such as thermophysics, sound and waves, electricity, magnetism, optics or atomic and nuclear physics, so good data handling counts as much as good algebra.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Southern New Hampshire University |
| Course code and title | PHY 216 Physics II |
| Credits | 3 (plus lab) |
| Prerequisites | PHY 215 and PHY 215L; MAT 275 Calculus II completed or concurrent |
| Corequisite | PHY 216L Physics II Lab |
| Lab | 12 experiments, per the catalogue |
What PHY 216 Covers
| Block (from the catalogue) | Topics listed |
|---|---|
| Thermal physics | Temperature, thermal equilibrium, thermal expansion, calorimetry |
| Waves and sound | Periodic waves, mathematical descriptions of a wave, speed of transverse waves, sound in gases |
| Electricity | Electric charges, atomic structure, Coulomb's law, Kirchhoff's rules |
| Magnetism | Magnetic fields and flux, motion of charged particles in a magnetic field |
| Optics | Reflection, refraction, total internal refraction, Fermat's principle of least time, geometrical optics, lenses |
| Modern physics | An introductory topic |
Worked Examples
Calorimetry
Example: Heating 0.50 kg of water by 20 °C needs Q = mcΔT = 0.50 x 4186 x 20, about 41,900 J (using c = 4186 J/kg °C for water).
Coulomb's Law
Example: Two 1.0 µC charges 0.10 m apart: F = k q1 q2 / r² = 8.99 x 109 x (1.0 x 10-6)² / (0.10)², about 0.90 N, repulsive for like charges.
Kirchhoff's Rules
Example: A 12 V source drives 4 Ω and 2 Ω resistors in series. The loop rule gives 12 = I(4 + 2), so I = 2.0 A. The voltage across the 4 Ω resistor is 8 V and across the 2 Ω resistor 4 V, summing to 12 V.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Problem sets | Multi-step calculus-based problems | Define symbols, choose the law, solve symbolically, then substitute |
| Lab experiments | Measurement, analysis and reporting | Record data with uncertainty, graph results and compare with theory |
| Lab reports | Communicating method and findings | Follow your template; discuss sources of error specifically |
| Quizzes and tests | Fluency across topics | Mix topics in practice, as exams do |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Breadth. Six areas in one course means frequent topic switches; keep a short summary page for each.
- Circuits. Label currents and loop directions before writing equations.
- Magnetic direction. Practise right-hand-rule problems until the direction is routine.
- Lab uncertainty. State uncertainty with each measurement and propagate it sensibly.
- Calculus use. Integrals and derivatives appear in field and flux problems; revise Calculus II alongside.
Study Tips for PHY 216
- Plan lab time early, since 12 experiments need steady progress.
- Read each lab brief before you start so you record what the analysis needs.
- Keep an equation sheet by topic with conditions of use.
- Check units and magnitudes: a lab force of several thousand newtons is a warning sign.
- Write a one-sentence conclusion for each experiment before you start the full report.
Worked Example: Thermal Equilibrium
Calorimetry problems ask where heat goes when objects at different temperatures meet. The total heat lost by the hot object equals the heat gained by the cold one if the system is isolated.
Invented illustration: 0.20 kg of a metal at 100 °C is dropped into 0.50 kg of water at 20 °C, and the final temperature is 25 °C. Heat gained by water = 0.50 x 4186 x 5 = 10,465 J. The metal lost the same amount: 0.20 x c x 75 = 10,465, so c is about 700 J/kg °C. The result is then compared with tabulated values, with any difference explained by heat lost to the container or surroundings.
Planning the Required Lab Work
The catalogue says students complete 12 experiments. Treat the lab as a project with its own schedule, not as an afterthought.
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before | Read the procedure and prepare a data table with units and expected quantities |
| During | Record raw data, instrument precision and anything unexpected |
| After | Calculate results, graph where asked, and state uncertainty |
| Report | Link results to the theory from lectures and discuss specific error sources |
Managing Six Topic Areas at Once
With thermal physics, waves, electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics in one course, retrieval practice beats rereading. A weekly routine might look like this.
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| One problem from each earlier block | Keeps old topics active |
| A one-page summary per block | Condenses laws and conditions |
| Dimensional check on each new formula | Builds a feel for units |
| Lab data tidied the same day | Prevents a backlog before report deadlines |
Because the catalogue notes a required lab component, treat the lab and the lecture material as one subject: a Coulomb's law lab, for instance, is the best way to understand the inverse-square dependence in the problems.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Physics II. It is the continuation of PHY 215 and is calculus-based.
PHY 215 and PHY 215L, plus MAT 275 Calculus II completed or taken concurrently. PHY 216L is a corequisite.
The catalogue says students complete 12 experiments.
Areas such as thermophysics, sound and waves, electricity, magnetism, optics or atomic and nuclear physics.
It covers more separate topics, and the lab adds workload, so many students find planning time the main challenge.
Yes. Send the draft, data and instructions for feedback on analysis, uncertainty and structure.