University-level Physics Courses

P055 Light and Heat
(Formerly P55A and P55B) An introduction to optics and thermodynamics. Topics: temperature, properties of matter, introduction to the kinetic theory of matter, light and electromagnetic waves, reflection and refraction of light, lens systems, interference and diffraction. Prerequisite: P053. (4 units).

P070 Modern Physics
An introduction to the ideas of modern physics. Topics: key concepts in special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, high energy particle physics, and cosmology. Prerequisite: P055. (3 units).

P110, P111 Intermediate Mechanics
A thorough exploration of the mechanics of systems of particles and rigid bodies. Topics: coordinate transformation and vectors, Newtonian mechanics, linear and nonlinear oscillations, Hamilton's principle, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, non-inertial reference systems, rigid body dynamics, coupled oscillations and introductory fluid mechanics. Prerequisites P070 and M53A or equivalent. (4 units each).

P120, P121 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
An exploration of electricity and magnetism. Topics: vector analysis, electrostatic fields, including multipole expansions, dielectrics, special relativity and transformation between electric and magnetic fields. Maxwell's equations, static magnetic fields, magnetic materials, electromagnetic radiation, and plane wave problems. Prerequisite P111. (4 units each).

P130 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
A sophisticated introduction to quantum theory. Topics: origins of quantum mechanics, wave mechanics, and the Schrodinger equation, Heisenberg's matrix formulation of quantum mechanics, solutions to one-dimensional systems, separation of variables and the solution to three-dimensional systems, the central field problem and angular momentum, eigenstates, spin and the coupling of angular momentum, invariance principles and the conservation laws in the context of quantum theory. Prerequisites P111. (4 units each).