PHYS 1001 (3CR)
ASTRONOMY

This course provides a broad introduction to current ideas regarding the nature, evolution and future of the universe. Topics covered include observational astronomy, telescopes, celestial motions, the solar system, stellar evolution, black holes, relativity, cosmology, and life in the universe. A background in physics is not assumed, but basic concepts of physics are taught within the course. The laboratory experiences combine observational and laboratory based experiments.

PHYS 1051 (3CR)
GENERAL PHYSICS I

This algebra based introductory physics course will cover kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum in one dimension, fluid mechanics, waves and sound, DC circuit electricity, geometrical and physical optics, and an introduction to modern physics. This course provides a basic knowledge of the concepts of physics needed in all sciences. Students enrolling in Physics 1051 should normally have completed a university preparatory level course in Mathematics.

PHYS 1551 (3CR)
GENERAL PHYSICS II

This calculus based introductory physics course will cover rotational motion, angular momentum, simple harmonic motion, gravitation, electric fields forces and potentials, capacitors, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, AC circuits, introductory thermodynamics, nuclear reactions and additional selected topics in modern physics.

Prereq: PHYS 1051 and MATH 1111; or PHYS 1051, MATH 1011 and Coreq MATH 1111; or permission of the Department

PHYS 2251 (3CR)
CLASSICAL WAVES

In this course the study of free, forced and damped harmonic oscillator is followed by a treatment of discrete coupled oscillators in one dimension. This is then generalized to the study of traveling and standing waves in continuous media. Ideas of Fourier components of signals are introduced. A number of examples will be taken from physical optics, and the topics in this course provide the theoretical basis for understanding modern photonic devices.

Prereq: PHYS 1551 and MATH 1121; or permission of the Department

PHYS 2401 (3CR)
PHYSICS IN EVERYDAY LIFE

This course, designed primarily for non-science majors who have successfully completed their first year, examines the relationship between a variety of phenomena in everyday life and physics principles. Experiential activity including a number of field trips, experiments in the laboratory and relevant data analysis form the underpinnings of this study of physics. Topics include principles and applications of particle, rigid body and fluid mechanics; thermodynamics, magnetism; electricity, and optics. Participation in field trips and a major report/presentation are required.

Prereq: Completion of 24 credits or permission of the Department

PHYS 2801 (3CR)
DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS

This experimentally oriented course is designed to give the students an exposure to the techniques and software tools that can assist them in using computers to enhance their work throughout a science curriculum. Basic methodology for data manipulation is introduced (error analysis, statistical analysis of data, linear regression, graphing, Fourier transform techniques), as are aspects of simulation, digitization, interfacing and data acquisition, and presentation. The course will also include sensors and transducers to convert a variety of signals (light, pressure, strain, radioactivity, sound, etc.) into electrical form.

Prereq: PHYS 1051 and MATH 1111; or permission of Department

PHYS 3001 (3CR)
ASTROPHYSICS

This course examines orbits, optical telescopes, determination of stellar properties, relativity, cosmology, and the origin of the solar system.

Prereq: PHYS 1051, MATH 1111 and Astronomy 1001, or PHYS 1551 and MATH 1111; or permission of the Department

PHYS 3101 (3CR)
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

This course will cover vector analysis, differential and integral calculus as well as solutions of the Poisson and Laplace equations for different electrostatic problems. Certain special techniques such as method of images, separation of variables and multiple expansion are then introduced. Magnetostatics and electric and magnetic fields in matter are also examined leading to the conclusion of this course where Maxwell equations are integrated and applied.

Prereq: PHYS 1551, MATH 2111 and MATH 2121; or permission of the Department

PHYS 3201 (3CR)
STATISTICAL MECHANICS

The conditions under which the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, the Bose-Einstein distribution, and the Fermi-Dirac distribution apply are developed. Applications of these distributions to many physical systems are examined in detail.

Prereq: PHYS 3701 and MATH 2111; or permission of the Department

PHYS 3321 (3CR)
ANALOG ELECTRONICS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING

This is a course in analog electronics and in analog signal processing, and would be valuable both for those planning to go on in technical careers and for scientists who wish to develop tools for the collection and analysis of data. Topics include impedance matching considerations, semiconductor physics, pn junction diodes, AC circuit analysis, passive filter designs, DC power supply construction including regulation, junction and field effect transistors and transistor amplifier circuits, operational amplifiers, active filter designs, signal conditioning circuits such as Schmitt trigger, modulation and demodulation, noise (sources, frequency characteristics, and control measures), integrating sensors and electronics, practical issues in electronics, and an introduction to the photonic transition.

Prereq: PHYS 1551 and PHYS 2801 and MATH 1121; or permission of Department

PHYS/COMP 3361 (3CR)
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING AND ELECTRONICS

This course introduces students to both digital electronic circuits and digital signal processing, and would be valuable both for those planning to go on in technical careers in computer science or in physics, and for scientists who wish to develop tools for the collection and analysis of data. Topics to be covered include digital logic gates, Boolean algebra, counting circuits, digital signal conditioning, sampling considerations such as the Nyquist criterion, analog to digital and digital to analog conversion, Fourier Transform theory and application as FFT, correlation and convolution, digital filtering using finite impulse response and infinite impulse response circuits including the ztransform and filter design, and digital image processing including two dimensional FFT techniques, microprocessors, microcontrollers and digital signal processing integrated circuits.

Prereq: PHYS 2251 and PHYS 2801 and COMP 1711; or PHYS 1551 and COMP 2611 and COMP 2931; or permission of the Department

PHYS 3521 (3CR)
PHYSICS OF THE LIVING BODY

This course is intended primarily for students in biology and psychology. The course will introduce and describe from a physics perspective the many physical processes involving living organisms. Study will include the human body, with examples from other animals given for purposes of comparison. Topics will include sound and hearing (including Fourier analysis and resonance), light and vision (including microscopy), electrical pulses, electrocardiac measurement, mechanics of body motion, scaling relations, fluid flow, feedback relationships and thermodynamics.

Prereq: PHYS 1051 and MATH 1111; or permission of Department

PHYS 3581 (3CR)
MEDICAL PHYSICS

This course is intended both for physics students who are considering a career in medical physics or in the field of medicine, and for students in other programmes with similar interests. The course will consider fundamental concepts of ionizing radiation, diagnostic applications of medical physics, and therapeutic applications of medical physics. Topics in the diagnostic area will include x-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine and ultrasound. Topics in the therapeutic area will include radiation generators, absorbed dose calculations, dose measurement, treatment planning, quality assurance and brachytherapy.

Prereq: PHYS 1051 and MATH 1111; PHYS 1551 or PHYS 3521 ; or permission of Department

PHYS 3601 (3CR)
FLUID MECHANICS

The objective of this course is to develop an understanding of fluid properties. Topics include: Fluid properties, static forces in fluids, kinematics and dynamics of flow, Bernoulli's and momentum equations, dimensional analysis and similitude, and flow through pipes.

Prereq: PHYS 1551 and MATH 1121; or permission of the Department

PHYS 3701 (3CR)
THERMODYNAMICS

The objective of the course is to develop a clear and broad understanding of the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics, with application to a wide range of problems. Topics include: the general energy equation, First Law, Second Law, entropy, limiting-cycle efficiencies, irreversibility and availability, steam power plant, refrigeration and gas engine applications.

Prereq: PHYS 2801 and MATH 2111, or permission of the Department

PHYS 3751 (3CR)
PHYSICS OF ENERGY PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER

The goal of this course is to teach aspects of energy harvesting, storage and transmission with particular emphasis on the theory and development of renewable energy resources. The specific technologies considered will vary somewhat according to the interests of the class but will normally include wind power, photovoltaic generation, other forms of solar energy, nuclear fission and fusion energy generation, hydroelectric, combustion based fuel generation, tidal energy and fuel cells.

Prereq: CHEM 1021, PHYS 1551 and MATH 1121

PHYS 3811 (3CR)
MODERN PHYSICS

This course considers the two major revolutionary ideas of modern physics, quantum mechanics and special relativity. Lorentz transformations, length contraction and time dilation, relativistic mass and momentum are considered, including the fourvector relativistic notation. Evidence for quantization along with early models for atoms is then briefly examined and De Broglie's hypothesis for the matter wave is discussed. The Schrodinger equation and its solutions for some usual systems are the main topics of this course. The course ends with a look at the three dimensional systems and a discussion of angular momentum in quantum mechanics.

Prereq: PHYS 2251
Coreq: PHYS 3101 and MATH 2121; or permission of the Department

PHYS 3821 (3CR)
QUANTUM MECHANICS I

This course is an introduction to formal quantum mechanics: the matrix formulation, harmonic oscillator, perturbation theory, two-state systems, multiparticle systems, and an introduction to the general theory of angular momentum.

Prereq: PHYS 3811 and MATH 2221; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4101 (3CR)
ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY

An advanced treatment of static and time-dependent electric and magnetic fields in materials. Particular attention will be given to wave solutions of Maxwell's equations for spatial dependent media such as wave guides.

Prereq: PHYS 2251 or MATH 2121; PHYS 3101; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4201 (3CR)
SOLID STATE PHYSICS

A study is made of the various quantized models used to describe the thermal, electrical, optical and electromagnetic properties of solids. Conductors, semi-conductors and insulators are analysed.

Prereq: PHYS 3811; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4311 (3CR)
MODERN OPTICS

This course provides an advanced treatment of a number of topics in modern optics with particular emphasis on topics of industrial and research importance. A brief treatment of geometric optics will concentrate on the design of optical systems. Topics in physical optics may include dispersion in materials, production and properties of polarized light, interference, diffraction in the Fresnel and Fraunhofer limits, Fourier optics, holography and an introduction to quantum optics. Applications of this theoretical background will be made in such areas as fibre-optic transmission, photonic devices, thin film coatings, and electrochromic devices. There will also be some considerations of electro-optical devices such as lasers, charge coupled device detectors, image intensifiers and photodiodes.

Prereq: PHYS 2251 and PHYS 2801 and PHYS 3101; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4411 (3CR)
CLASSICAL MECHANICS AND RELATIVITY

This course will cover three-dimensional dynamics of both particles and rigid bodies using various coordinate systems. The course focuses on an introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, followed by application of these approaches to problems in constrained motion. Other topics covered include motion in resistive fluids, planetary orbits, motion in accelerated reference frames and the inertia tensor. The latter part of the course will provide an introduction to general relativity including spacetime invariants, metric and metric tensor, the field equations and tests of general relativity.

Prereq: PHYS 3101, 3811 and MATH 2121; or permission of Department

PHYS 4831 (3CR)
QUANTUM MECHANICS II

The principles of quantum mechanics developed in Quantum Mechanics I (PHYS 3821) are extended. Properties of continuous and discrete representations are compared. Time-independent perturbation theory is developed for first order, second order, and degenerate cases. Small perturbations are also treated through direct diagonalization of large matrices. Central force problems, elements of scattering theory. And the addition of quantized angular momenta are examined, then time-dependent perturbation theory is introduced to describe transitions between stationary levels in a quantum system. The course concludes with aspects of relativistic quantum mechanics, including the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, and the evolution of spin from these equations.

Prereq: PHYS 3821; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4841 (3CR)
ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

This is a course on the quantum mechanical theory of atomic and molecular structure, and treats orbital and spin angular momentum, fine structure, Zeeman and Stark effects, Lamb shift, molecular orbital theory and molecular spectra.

Prereq: PHYS 3821; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4851 (3CR)
NUCLEI AND FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLES

This is an introductory course in nuclear theory and particle physics and discusses nuclear energy levels and spectra, scattering experiments, symmetry and conservation principles, quantum electrodynamics, and the weak and strong interactions.

Prereq: PHYS 3821; or permission of the Department

PHYS 4911 (3CR)
CURRENT TOPICS IN PHYSICS

This course will introduce students to current topics and trends in physics which are not represented in other courses in the curriculum. This will be a seminar format course with sessions led by students, faculty and guest speakers. A key part of the course will be development of skills for identification and critical evaluation of primary literature in physics.

Prereq: PHYS 3811; or permission of Department

PHYS 4951 (3CR)
SPECIAL TOPICS

Students may select up to two three credit courses from topics to be approved by the Department. This choice is normally available only to fourth year Physics students.

PHYS 4990 (6CR)
HONOURS THESIS

Normally, a student electing this course is expected to accomplish work equivalent to any fourth year course. Students are encouraged, but not required, to work on the project in the Department during the summer immediately preceding the senior year. The topic often involves experimental work, but must have a theoretical component.