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Program Requirements

The Major Concentration Physics, which is restricted to students in the B.A. & Sc. or B.Sc./B.Ed., is a planned sequence of courses designed to permit a degree of specialization in this discipline. This program is insufficient to prepare a student for professional or graduate work in physics; students interested in pursuing a career in physics are advised to take the appropriate B.Sc. program in physics.

Required Courses* (30 credits)

* Required courses taken at CEGEP or elsewhere that are not credited toward the B.A. & Sc. or B.Sc./B.Ed. must be replaced by courses from the Complementary Course List.

• MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.

  Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025

  Instructors: Pym, Brent; Tageddine, Damien (Fall) Mazakian, Hovsep (Winter) Leroux-Lapierre, Alexis (Summer)

  • Prerequisite: MATH 141. Familiarity with vector geometry or Corequisite: MATH 133

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 150, MATH 151, MATH206, or MATH 262.

• MATH 223 Linear Algebra (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of matrix algebra, determinants and systems of linear equations. Vector spaces, linear operators and their matrix representations, orthogonality. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of Hermitian matrices. Applications.

  Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

  Instructors: Elaidi, Shereen; Bellemare, Hugues (Fall) Macdonald, Jeremy (Winter)

  • Fall and Winter

  • Prerequisite: MATH 133 or equivalent

  • Restriction: Not open to students in Mathematics programs nor to students who have taken or are taking MATH 206, MATH 236, MATH 247, or MATH 251.

• MATH 314 Advanced Calculus (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Derivative as a matrix. Chain rule. Implicit functions. Constrained maxima and minima. Jacobians. Multiple integration. Line and surface integrals. Theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss. Fourier series with applications.

  Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

  Instructors: Martine, Gabriel (Fall) Borthwick, Jack Anthony (Winter)

  • Prerequisites: MATH 133, MATH 222

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 248 or MATH 358.

• MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.

  Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

  Instructors: Paquette, Courtney (Fall) Kamran, Niky (Winter)

  • Prerequisite: MATH 222.

  • Corequisite: MATH 133.

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 325.

• PHYS 230 Dynamics of Simple Systems (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Translational motion under Newton's laws; forces, momentum, work/energy theorem. Special relativity; Lorentz transforms, relativistic mechanics, mass/energy equivalence. Topics in rotational dynamics. Noninertial frames.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Guo, Hong (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisite: CEGEP Physics or PHYS 131.

  • Corequisite: MATH 222

  • Restriction: Not open to students taking or having passed PHYS 251

• PHYS 232 Heat and Waves (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : The laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Thermodynamics of P-V-T systems and simple heat engines. Free, driven, and damped harmonic oscillators. Coupled systems and normal modes. Fourier methods. Wave motion and dispersion. The wave equation.

  Terms: Winter 2025

  Instructors: Hilke, Michael (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisites: CEGEP Physics or PHYS 142, and CEGEP chemistry or CHEM 120, and PHYS 230.

  • Restriction: Not open to students taking or having passed PHYS 253

• PHYS 257 Experimental Methods 1 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Introductory laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Introduction to computers as they are employed for laboratory work, for data analysis and for numerical computation. Previous experience with computers is an asset, but is not required.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Vachon, Brigitte (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 6 hours of laboratory and classroom work

  • Corequisite: PHYS 230 or PHYS 251

• PHYS 333 Thermal and Statistical Physics (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Introductory equilibrium statistical mechanics. Quantum states, probabilities, ensemble averages. Entropy, temperature, Boltzmann factor, chemical potential. Photons and phonons. Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions; applications.

  Terms: Winter 2025

  Instructors: Rutledge, Robert (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 232

  • Restriction: Not open to students taking or having passed PHYS 362

• PHYS 340 Majors Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : The electrostatic field and scalar potential. Dielectric properties of matter. Energy in the electrostatic field. Methods for solving problems in electrostatics. The magnetic field. Induction and inductance. Energy in the magnetic field. Magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell's equations. The dipole approximation.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Liu, Adrian (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisites: CEGEP physics or PHYS 142, MATH 222

  • Corequisite: MATH 314

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have passed PHYS 242 or PHYS 350

• PHYS 346 Majors Quantum Physics (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : De Broglie waves, Bohr atom. Schroedinger equation, wave functions, observables. One dimensional potentials. Schroedinger equation in three dimensions. Angular momentum, hydrogen atom. Spin, experimental consequences.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Vachon, Brigitte (Fall)

  • Fall

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 230 and PHYS 232, or PHYS 251

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHYS 357, PHYS 446, or PHYS 457.

  • 3 hours lectures

Complementary Courses (6 credits)

6 credits selected from:

• PHYS 224 Physics of Music (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : An introduction to the physics of music. Properties of sound and their perception as pitch, loudness, and timbre. Dissonance, consonance, and musical intervals and tuning. Physics of sound propagation and reflection. Resonance. Acoustic properties of pipes, strings, bars, and membranes, and sound production in wind, string, and percussion instruments. The human voice. Room reverberation and acoustics. Directional characteristics of sound sources.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Sankey (Childress), Jack (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Designed for students in the Faculty of Music but suitable for students with an interest in music and its physical basis.

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHYS 225

• PHYS 228 Energy and the Environment (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Energy fundamentals, generation of electricity, heat engines, fossil fuel production and consumption, local and global effects, economic impact, transportation, and pollution and environmental impact of energy use. Non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels, nuclear) and renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal).

  Terms: Winter 2025

  Instructors: Lovejoy, Shaun MacDonald (Winter)

  • Winter

  • Prerequisites: CEGEP Physics or PHYS 102 or PHYS 142 or permission of the instructor

  • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken PHYS 184.

• PHYS 241 Signal Processing (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Linear circuit elements, resonance, network theorems, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, feedback, integrated circuits.

  Terms: Winter 2025

  Instructors: Hessels, Jason (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours lectures; 3 hours laboratory alternate weeks

  • Prerequisite: CEGEP physics or PHYS 142.

• PHYS 258 Experimental Methods 2 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Advanced laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Computers will be employed routinely for data analysis and for numerical computation, and, particularly, to facilitate the use of Fourier methods.

  Terms: Winter 2025

  Instructors: Cooke, David (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 6 hours of laboratory and classroom work

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 257

• PHYS 260 Modern Physics and Relativity (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : History of special relativity; Lorentz transformations: kinematics and dynamics; transformation of electric and magnetic forces; introduction to topics in modern physics.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Liu, Adrian (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisite: CEGEP physics or PHYS 142.

  • Corequisite: MATH 222

• PHYS 320 Introductory Astrophysics (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : A survey of astrophysics ranging from stars and planets, to compact objects, galaxies, and the large-scale evolution of the Universe. A calculusbased course, with a focus on simple mathematical derivations that capture the essential physics.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Schutz, Katelin (Fall)

  • Prerequisites: MATH 222; PHYS 230 or PHYS 260 or permission of the instructor.

  • Not open to students who have taken PHYS 214.

  • Fall

• PHYS 534 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Topics include scanning probe microscopy, chemical self-assembly, computer modelling, and microfabrication/micromachining.

  Terms: Fall 2024

  Instructors: Grutter, Peter H (Fall)

  • Fall

  • Restriction: U3 or graduate students in Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering, or permission of the instructor.

or any 300- or 400-level course approved by an adviser.