Physics (course of study)
Physics is a course of study offered through the Physics Department. It includes the physics major and minor. The department is located in SMC.
Contents
Overview
The physics major is one of the hardest majors at Knox. Through the study of physics, we attempt to understand the mechanisms which govern the properties of everything, including Chemistry (whose properties in turn govern Biology and so forth). In this way, physics is obscenely generalized and difficult to understand for some, exceeded in complexity only by pure mathematics.
Faculty
Current
Knox has three physics professors, all experimentalists, principally. They are
- Charles Schulz, Department Chair, Professor, specializing in Mossbauer Spectroscopy
- Thomas Moses, Associate Professor, specializing in liquid crystals
- Mark Shroyer, Assistant Professor, specializing in nuclear quadrapole magnetic resonance
Former
Nasser Nafari - was unliked and believed that he should run the department. Returned to Iran to do "research" on nuclear physics.
Courses
[from the course descriptions]
PHYS 110 Mechanics (1) Newtonian dynamics, including kinematics, the laws of motion, gravitation, and rotational motion, are considered. The conservation laws for energy, momentum, and angular momentum, are presented along with applications ranging from the atomic to the celestial. One laboratory meeting per week. NOTE: PHYS 110 and PHYS 120 are intended for both science and non-science majors. In PHYS 110 and PHYS 120, calculus concepts and techniques are introduced and taught as needed. No prior knowledge of calculus is necessary to undertake these courses. MNS; Staff
PHYS 120 Heat, Waves, and Light (1) Thermodynamics explores the connections between heat and other forms of energy, temperature, and entropy, with applications to engines, refrigerators, and phase transitions. Oscillatory behavior and wave motion, with application to acoustic and optical phenomena. Geometric and wave optics, considering optical systems and the diverse phenomena associated with the wave nature of light. Techniques from calculus are introduced and taught as needed. One laboratory meeting per week.MNS; Staff
PHYS 130 Electricity and Magnetism (1) This course utilizes the concept of "field" to explain the properties of static electric and magnetic forces. The behavior of dynamic electric and magnetic fields is studied and the connection between the two is formulated in the form of Maxwell's equations, which unify the study of electricity, magnetism, and optics. The static and dynamic behaviors of fluids are also covered to introduce concepts useful in understanding electrical circuits. Calculus is used. One laboratory meeting per week. MNS; Prereq : MATH 152; Staff
PHYS 130A Electricity and Magnetism (Algebra-based) (1) This course covers most of the topics in PHYS 130 but without calculus and in less depth. Additionally, the history and basic concepts of Quantum Physics are introduced, with an emphasis on how Quantum Physics has changed our understanding of energy, light, and the atom. This course is intended for students not planning to pursue Physics, Chemistry, or other related fields. One laboratory meeting per week. MNS; Staff
PHYS 163 Physics of Music (1) A survey of the physical principles involved in sound and musical instruments. How the properties of an instrument or room influence the perceived tone quality of sound or music. Analysis/synthesis of the frequency components in musical sound. Coverage is primarily descriptive with the laboratory an important component. MNS; Staff
PHYS 167 Astronomy (1) How measurements (from naked-eye observations to the most modern techniques) and their analysis have led to our current understanding of the size, composition, history, and likely future of our universe. Concepts and methodology developed through observations and laboratory exercises emphasizing simple measurements and the inferences to be drawn from them. Includes evening viewing sessions. MNS; Staff
PHYS 205 Modern Physics (1) An introduction to the two major shifts in our view of physics (which have occurred since 1900), Einstein's Special Relativity and the wave-particle duality of nature. The course starts with a review of key experiments which show that classical mechanics and electrodynamics do not provide a satisfactory explanation for the observed phenomena, and introduces the relativity and quantum theory which provide such an explanation. Includes regular laboratory meetings. MNS; Prereq : PHYS 130 or PHYS 130A; and MATH 152; Staff
PHYS 241 Introduction to Research (1) Experiments and seminars emphasizing modern techniques and instrumentation in physical measurements. Student-selected examples in several areas of physics illustrate such techniques as noise suppression, data handling and reduction, and instrumental interfacing. Introduction to literature search, error analysis, experimental design, and preparation of written and oral reports. MNS; Prereq : any physics course numbered 200 or above, or permission of the instructor; Staff
PHYS 242 Digital Electronics (1) Theory and practice of the implementation of digital logic circuits from small scale integrated devices to microprocessors. Includes regular laboratory meetings. Prereq : PHYS 130 or PHYS 130A; Cross Listing : CS 242; Staff
PHYS 300 Mathematical Physics (1) An introduction to the methods of advanced mathematics applied to physical systems, for students in physics, mathematics, chemistry, or engineering. Topics include the calculus of variations, linear transformations and eigenvalues, partial differential equations, orthogonal functions, and integral transforms. Physical applications include Hamilton's Principle, coupled oscillations, the wave equation and its solutions, Fourier analysis. Prereq : MATH 152 and at least one other course in mathematics or physics numbered 200 or above; Staff
PHYS 308 Optics (1) Electromagnetic waves, refraction, geometric optics and optical instruments, polarization, interference and diffraction phenomena, special topics including lasers, holography, and nonlinear optics. Prereq : PHYS 120 or permission of the instructor; Staff
PHYS 310 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (1) Elementary probability theory, thermodynamic relations, entropy, ideal gases, Gibbs distribution, partition function methods, quantum statistics of ideal gases, and systems of interacting particles, with examples taken from lattice vibrations of a solid, van der Waals gasses, ferromagnetism, and superconductivity. Prereq : PHYS 205; Staff
PHYS 312 Classical Dynamics (1) Simple harmonic motion (damped, driven, coupled), vector algebra and calculus, motion under a central force, and motion of systems of particles. Prereq : PHYS 110 or permission of the instructor; Staff
PHYS 313 Classical Electromagnetism (1) Electrostatics and electric current, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, and Maxwell's equations. Prereq : MATH 205 recommended; Staff
PHYS 314 Quantum Physics (1) Interpretation of atomic and particle physics by wave and quantum mechanics. Prereq : MATH 230; Staff
PHYS 316 Astrophysics (1) A survey at an intermediate level of a variety of topics in astrophysics. Possible topics include: the classification of stars, the physics of their structure and life cycle; stellar pulsation; black holes; the formation and dynamics of galaxies; cosmology. Prereq : PHYS 312 or permission of the instructor; Staff
PHYS 321 Thermal Physics (1) An introduction to thermodynamics and quantum chemistry. The macroscopic behavior of matter as embodied in thermodynamics is correlated with the microscopic model of matter based on atomic-molecular theory. Prereq : CHEM 212, MATH 152; Cross Listing : CHEM 321; M.Crawford;
PHYS 345 Seminar in Theoretical Physics: Analytical Mechanics (1) Topics may include Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, transition probabilities, propagators, and scattering. Prereq : PHYS 312; Staff
PHYS 346 Seminar in Theoretical Physics: Electrodynamics (1) Topics may include multipoles, Laplace's equation, electromagnetic waves, reflection, radiation, interference, diffraction, and relativistic electrodynamics. Prereq : PHYS 313; Staff
PHYS 347 Seminar in Theoretical Physics: Quantum Mechanics (1) Topics include Hilbert space, perturbation theory, density matrices, transition probabilities, propagators, and scattering. Prereq : PHYS 314; Staff
The Senior Seminars are the courses that kill you, especially when there's only 3 people in the class and one of them is Jordan Watkins, who is way smarter than you. Each year there are senior seminars offered in:
- Analytical Mechanics
- Quantum Mechanics
- Electrodynamics
Recently the Quantum Mechanics senior seminar was offered and only two students, Fahim Chandurwala and Tenzing Shaw were crazy enough to take it. The pair also took at the same time a half-credit independant study in Partial Differential Equations. The instructor for both courses is Tom Moses, arguably one of the most intelligent professors at Knox.
Course Requirements
See department page
Notable Physics Quotations
- "You can always tell the particles apart, in principle - just paint one of them red and the other blue, or stamp identification numbers on them, or hire private detectives to follow them around. But in quantum mechanics the situation is fundamentally different: You can't paint an electron red, or pin a label on it, and a detective's observations will inevitably and unpredictably alter its state, raising doubts as to whether the two had perhaps switched places. The fact is, all electrons are utterly identical, in a way that no two classical objects can ever be. It's not just that we don't happen to know which electron is which; God doesn't know which is which, because there is no such thing as "this" electron, or "that" electron; all we can legitimately speak about is "an" electron." - David J. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 2nd Ed.
