PHYS 122 at the University of Maryland Global Campus continues PHYS 121. UMGC describes an exploration of heat, waves, electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics, with the aim of applying the laws of physics to a broad range of phenomena.
The topic list is long, from the ideal gas law to nuclear decay. The main difficulty is breadth, so organized notes and regular practice across topics matter more than deep study of any one.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | PHYS 122 |
| Credits | 4 |
| Prerequisite | PHYS 121 |
| Requirement met | Laboratory science |
| Typical work | Problem sets, lab work, tests (check your syllabus for the exact list) |
What PHYS 122 Covers
| Block | Topics UMGC lists |
|---|---|
| Heat | Laws of thermodynamics, ideal gas law |
| Electricity | Coulomb's law, electric field and potential, Ohm's law |
| Magnetism | Magnetic field and force, Ampere's law, Faraday's law |
| Waves and optics | Electromagnetic waves, sound, optics |
| Modern physics | Bohr's model of the atom, radioactivity, nuclear decay |
Worked Examples
Ideal Gas Law
Example: One mole of an ideal gas at 300 K and 101,325 Pa has V = nRT/P = 1 x 8.314 x 300 / 101,325, about 0.0246 m³ or 24.6 liters. Always convert temperature to kelvin.
Ohm's Law and Power
Example: A 9.0 V battery across a 3.0 Ω resistor drives I = V/R = 3.0 A and dissipates P = IV = 27 W.
Radioactive Decay
Example: A sample of 80 g has a half-life of 5 years. After 15 years, three half-lives have passed, so 80 / 2³ = 10 g remains. (The numbers are invented for illustration.)
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Problem sets | Applying laws across topics | Identify which law applies, then solve symbolically and substitute |
| Laboratory work | Measurement and analysis | Record data with uncertainties; graph and compare with theory |
| Lab reports | Communicating method and results | Aim, method, data, analysis, error discussion |
| Tests | Breadth and recall | Mix topics in revision and review formulas with their conditions |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Breadth. Use one-page summaries per block and revisit them weekly.
- Circuits and fields. Draw diagrams with directions before writing equations.
- Induction. Faraday's law depends on changing flux; identify what changes (field, area or angle).
- Units. Watch prefixes such as micro and milli, and kelvin for gas laws.
Study Tips for PHYS 122
- Review the key PHYS 121 skills first: vectors, algebra and unit checks.
- Make a formula sheet that says when each law holds.
- Practice with one problem from each block each week.
- Keep lab data neat so reports are faster to write.
Worked Example: Electric Field and Potential
Example: Two parallel plates 0.020 m apart have a potential difference of 100 V. The field between them is E = V/d = 100 / 0.020 = 5,000 V/m. A charge of 2.0 x 10-6 C in this field feels a force F = qE = 0.010 N. The work done moving it across the gap is qV = 2.0 x 10-4 J.
Understanding Faraday's Law
UMGC lists Faraday's law among the topics. It says an induced voltage appears when magnetic flux through a loop changes. Flux depends on field strength, loop area and the angle between them, so a change in any of the three can induce a voltage.
| What changes | Example |
|---|---|
| Field strength | Moving a magnet towards a coil |
| Area | Stretching a loop in a field |
| Angle | Rotating a coil in a field, as in a generator |
A Weekly Routine for a Broad Course
The topic list spans thermodynamics to nuclear decay, so spread practice across blocks.
| Block | Practice focus |
|---|---|
| Heat and gases | Unit conversions, kelvin, ideal gas law setups |
| Electricity | Field and potential calculations, simple circuits with Ohm's law |
| Magnetism | Direction rules and flux changes |
| Waves and optics | Wave speed relation, reflection and refraction diagrams |
| Modern physics | Energy levels, half-life calculations |
Because it is a lab course, link every lab to a block. A circuit lab becomes a worked Ohm's law problem you have already done, and the comparison deepens understanding.
Worked Example: Refraction
Optics problems rely on a single law plus careful angles. Measure angles from the normal to the surface, not from the surface itself.
Example: Light passes from air (n = 1.00) into water (n = 1.33) at an angle of incidence of 40 degrees. Snell's law: 1.00 x sin 40 = 1.33 x sin θ. So sin θ = 0.643 / 1.33 = 0.483, and θ is about 29 degrees. The ray bends towards the normal because it enters the slower medium, which is the sanity check to state in your answer.
Turning a Lab into a Strong Report
Every UMGC lab course report follows the same arc, even when formats differ. Use it as a checklist.
- Purpose. One sentence on the question the experiment answers.
- Method. Enough detail that another student could repeat it.
- Data. A table with units and uncertainties, and a graph if asked.
- Analysis. Show one full calculation, then summarize the rest.
- Discussion. Compare with the expected value and name specific sources of error.
- Conclusion. State what you found and how confident you are.
Always follow the format and template your instructor provides, since requirements vary by section.
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Frequently Asked Questions
PHYS 121.
UMGC lists four credits.
Yes, UMGC states it fulfills the laboratory science requirement.
Thermodynamics, the ideal gas law, electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic waves, sound, optics, the Bohr model, radioactivity and nuclear decay.
It spans more separate topics, so many students find the pace and breadth the main challenge.
Yes. Send the draft and data for feedback on analysis and structure.