Course Description
PHY2054L — College Physics II Laboratory (also titled General Physics II Laboratory or Physics for Life Science Majors II Laboratory at some institutions) is the laboratory companion to PHY2054, the second semester of the algebra-based general physics sequence in the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). It is a 1-credit lab course meeting approximately 2-3 hours per week, with most institutions accumulating 30 to 45 total contact hours over a 15-week semester.
The course provides hands-on laboratory experiences that reinforce the foundational concepts of PHY2054 lecture: electric fields, electric potential, capacitance, direct-current circuits (Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws), magnetism and magnetic forces, electromagnetic induction, alternating-current circuits, geometric optics, wave optics (interference, diffraction), and an introduction to modern physics (photoelectric effect, atomic spectra). Through guided experimentation, students develop quantitative measurement skill with electrical instrumentation, optical bench techniques, and modern physics demonstrations. The lab continues the algebra- and trigonometry-based mathematical approach distinct from the calculus-based PHY2049L sequence.
PHY2054L is part of the Florida General Education core requirement for natural science (physical sciences track) and articulates seamlessly across all Florida public colleges and the State University System under the Statewide Course Numbering System. The course is typically taken in the second semester of the freshman or sophomore year, following completion of PHY2053 + PHY2053L. The course is offered at approximately 19 Florida institutions including Broward College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, State College of Florida, Florida International University, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of South Florida, Tallahassee State College, Indian River State College, Valencia College, and Miami Dade College.
Learning Outcomes
Required Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply laboratory and electrical safety practices, including proper handling of power supplies, recognition of shock hazards, correct use of insulated leads and clip leads, and safe handling of optical sources (laser safety).
- Use standard electrical and optical instruments correctly, including digital multimeters (DMMs), function generators, oscilloscopes, DC and AC power supplies, breadboards, optical benches, lenses, mirrors, and laser sources.
- Investigate electrostatics and electric fields through experiments such as charging by induction, observation of electric field patterns, and capacitance measurement.
- Verify Ohm's Law through measurement of voltage, current, and resistance, and verify the linear V-I relationship for ohmic conductors.
- Apply Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Laws to analyze and verify the behavior of series, parallel, and combined DC circuits.
- Investigate resistor-capacitor (RC) circuits, including charging and discharging behavior and the determination of the time constant.
- Investigate magnetic fields and forces, including the magnetic force on a current-carrying wire, the field of a solenoid or coil, and the Earth's magnetic field.
- Verify electromagnetic induction through experiments demonstrating Faraday's Law and Lenz's Law, including induced EMF in a coil from a moving magnet or changing magnetic flux.
- Verify the laws of geometric optics, including the law of reflection, Snell's Law of refraction (including determination of indices of refraction), and image formation by lenses and mirrors.
- Investigate wave optics through experiments demonstrating interference (double-slit experiment), diffraction (single-slit and grating diffraction), and the determination of wavelengths from observed patterns.
- Collect, organize, graph, and statistically analyze quantitative experimental data, including the construction of linear and exponential relationships, and the physical interpretation of graph parameters.
- Communicate scientific findings through laboratory reports that follow standard scientific format, including correctly formatted tables, figures, error analysis, and uncertainty quantification.
Optional Outcomes
Depending on the institution and lab manual, students may also:
- Investigate alternating-current (AC) circuits, including impedance, phase relationships, and resonance in RLC circuits.
- Investigate polarization of light through Malus's Law experiments using polarizing filters.
- Investigate the photoelectric effect, demonstrating the quantum nature of light through threshold-frequency experiments.
- Observe atomic emission and absorption spectra using spectrometers and discharge tubes, connecting line spectra to quantum atomic structure.
- Use Vernier or PASCO computer-interfaced data acquisition with current and voltage probes, magnetic field sensors, and spectrometers for real-time data collection.
- Conduct an independent or guided-inquiry investigation in which students design, execute, and present an original experiment.
Major Topics
Required Topics
- Electrical safety and instrumentation — proper use of digital multimeters, power supplies, breadboards, function generators, and oscilloscopes; recognition of shock and arc hazards.
- Electrostatics and electric fields — charging by friction, contact, and induction; observation and mapping of electric field lines; the relationship between charge, field, and potential.
- Capacitance and capacitors — measurement of capacitance, behavior of capacitors in series and parallel configurations.
- Ohm's Law and resistance — V-I relationships for ohmic conductors, measurement of resistance, the role of resistivity and conductor geometry.
- Series and parallel DC circuits — Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Laws, equivalent resistance, voltage and current distribution in combined networks.
- RC circuits and time constants — charging and discharging of capacitors, determination of the time constant from experimental decay curves.
- Magnetic fields and magnetic force — the field of bar magnets, solenoids, and current-carrying wires; the force on a current in a magnetic field; the Earth's magnetic field.
- Electromagnetic induction — Faraday's Law and Lenz's Law demonstrated through coil-magnet experiments; induced EMF and current.
- Reflection and refraction — the law of reflection, Snell's Law, total internal reflection, and the determination of indices of refraction for various materials.
- Image formation by lenses and mirrors — converging and diverging lenses, concave and convex mirrors, the thin-lens and mirror equations, magnification, and the construction of ray diagrams.
- Interference and diffraction — Young's double-slit experiment, single-slit diffraction patterns, diffraction gratings, and the determination of wavelength from observed pattern spacing.
- Data analysis and scientific communication — graph construction, regression analysis, uncertainty propagation, and formal lab-report writing.
Optional Topics
- Alternating-current circuits — RC, RL, and RLC behavior under AC excitation; impedance, phase, and resonance.
- Polarization of light — Malus's Law, polarizing filters, and observation of polarized scattering and reflection.
- Photoelectric effect — demonstration of the quantum nature of light using photoelectric tubes.
- Atomic emission spectra — observation of hydrogen, helium, mercury, and other element line spectra using spectrometers and discharge tubes; connection to atomic energy-level structure.
- Computer-interfaced data acquisition — Vernier or PASCO sensors and software for real-time current, voltage, magnetic field, and optical measurements.
- Independent or guided-inquiry investigation — student-designed investigation following the full scientific-method sequence.
Resources & Tools
- Lab manual — varies by institution; commonly used manuals include institution-authored manuals (FIU, USF, UF, FSU, FGCU all maintain customized manuals), Vernier or PASCO experiment guides, and OpenStax-aligned manuals supporting the OpenStax College Physics textbook.
- Standard electrical equipment — DC power supplies (typically 0-30 V, 0-3 A), function generators, oscilloscopes (analog or digital), digital multimeters (DMMs), breadboards, resistor and capacitor sets, leads and clip leads, switches, and bulbs.
- Magnetism and induction equipment — bar magnets, compasses, Helmholtz coils, solenoids, induction coils with bar magnets, galvanometers, and ammeters/voltmeters.
- Optics equipment — optical benches, converging and diverging lenses, plane and curved mirrors, light sources (incandescent, HeNe lasers, mercury or sodium lamps), single and double slits, diffraction gratings, polarizing filters, prisms, and meter sticks.
- Modern physics equipment — spectrometers, gas-discharge tubes (hydrogen, helium, mercury), photoelectric apparatus (where included), and digital cameras for fringe-pattern analysis.
- Computer-interfaced data acquisition — Vernier LabQuest interfaces with Logger Pro software, or PASCO 850 Universal Interface with Capstone software (institution-dependent), with current, voltage, and magnetic field probes.
- Spreadsheet and graphing software — Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or equivalent for data analysis and graph construction.
- Online and digital resources — PhET Interactive Simulations (phet.colorado.edu), the OpenStax College Physics textbook, and the lab-specific Canvas (or equivalent LMS) module set.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) — safety glasses (especially for laser experiments), closed-toe shoes; some institutions prohibit personal electronic devices in proximity to magnetic field experiments.
Career Pathways
PHY2054L completes the algebra-based physics sequence (PHY2053L + PHY2054L) and is a foundational requirement for entry into many life-sciences and health-professions programs. Successful completion supports entry into:
- Pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-veterinary, pre-pharmacy, pre-physician-assistant, and pre-optometry tracks — most health-professions pathways require both PHY2053+L and PHY2054+L. Topics in this course (electricity, optics, modern physics) are particularly relevant to MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, and PCAT examinations.
- Biological Sciences (B.S.) — many biological-sciences degree paths accept the algebra-based physics sequence as the physics requirement.
- Health Sciences and Allied Health programs — physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and exercise physiology degree paths typically require this physics sequence; PHY2054 content (electricity, magnetism, optics) is foundational for medical imaging, biomedical instrumentation, and clinical assessment.
- Architecture and Construction Management — these programs often accept the algebra-based physics sequence as their physics requirement.
- Environmental Science, Marine Biology, and Geology — supporting careers across Florida's environmental, ecological, and natural-resources industries.
- Optometry and Audiology Pre-Professional Tracks — these professions rely heavily on the optics and wave content of PHY2054.
- Secondary-Education Science Teaching — Florida public-university B.S.E. and M.A.T. tracks in biology, chemistry, and earth-space science teaching.
Special Information
Articulation and Transfer
PHY2054L is part of the Florida General Education core natural-science requirement and articulates without loss of credit between any two Florida public colleges and the State University System under the Statewide Course Numbering System.
Distinction from PHY2049L (Calculus-Based Physics II Laboratory)
Florida public colleges offer a parallel calculus-based physics sequence (PHY2049 + PHY2049L — Physics with Calculus II) intended for engineering majors, physics majors, and other students requiring calculus-based physics. PHY2054 + PHY2054L generally does not satisfy the physics requirement for engineering, physics, or upper-division mathematics degree programs. Students who anticipate transferring into an engineering or physics major must enroll in the calculus-based PHY2048+2049 + PHY2048L+2049L sequence (and corequisite calculus).
Course Format
PHY2054L is typically offered as a 2-3 hour weekly laboratory meeting separate from the lecture (PHY2054), which is itself a 3-credit course meeting 3 hours per week. Some institutions offer combined lecture-and-lab sections under the PHY2054C designation; in those cases, PHY2054L is not separately enrolled.
Corequisite Enrollment
Most Florida public colleges require concurrent or prior completion of PHY2054 lecture as a corequisite for PHY2054L.
Prerequisites
Standard prerequisites include successful completion of PHY2053 and PHY2053L (or PHY2053C) with a grade of C or better. Some institutions require concurrent or prior enrollment in MAC1140 or MAC1147 (Pre-Calculus); the optics and wave portions of the course require trigonometric facility.
Time Commitment
Although PHY2054L is a 1-credit course, the time commitment substantially exceeds the credit hour. In addition to the 2-3 hours of in-lab time per week, students should plan on 3-5 additional hours per week for pre-lab preparation, post-lab analysis, formal laboratory reports, and exam preparation.
AI Integration
Generative-AI tools may be useful for explaining electromagnetic concepts, debugging Excel formulas for uncertainty propagation, deriving algebraic relationships, or improving the clarity of lab-report prose. However, the use of AI to fabricate data, generate calculations without independent verification, or substitute for direct laboratory observation is generally a violation of academic integrity policy. Students must consult institutional and instructor-specific policies on AI use. The fundamental skills of careful measurement, accurate calculation, and original scientific writing remain irreducibly the student's responsibility.