Transfer Student Courses in Physics (Division 444)

Fall Term, 1999 (September 8 - December 22, 1999)

To see what Transfer Student courses have been added or changed in Physics this week go to What's New This Week.

Section 001.

Prerequisites & Distribution: High school algebra and geometry. (3). (NS). (BS). (QR/1).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course is intended for non-science majors who would like to learn about the two major revolutions that have both transformed twentieth-century physics and profoundly altered our perception of space, time, and matter; the special and general theories of relativity and quantum mechanics. No mathematical background beyond the high-school level is assumed.

Section 001 – Honors Mechanics and Motion. Physics 160 is Designed for Honors Students, Physics concentrators, and Other Qualified Science Or Engineering Majors. Students are Expected to Know Calculus and Have A Background in High School Physics. Students Should also Elect One Section of Physics 141.

Instructor(s): Alberto Rojo (rojoa@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Math. 115. Students should elect Phys. 141 concurrently. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phys. 125, 140, or 145. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/1).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~rojoa/p160/

Physics 160 is a rigorous introduction to particle mechanics and the motion of extended objects. Particular topics include vectors, one- and two dimensional motion, conservation of laws, linear and rotational dynamics, gravitation, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Students should also elect a Physics 141 laboratory.

Section 001 – It is Strongly Recommended That Students Elect One Section of Physics 241 Lab Concurrently with Physics 240. Lecture 001, 002, and 003: There Will be Three Evening Hour Exams on Thursdays, 8:00 - 9:30 P.M. on Oct 8, Nov 5 and Dec 3.

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 140, 145 or 160; and Math. 116. Phys. 240 and 241 are normally elected concurrently. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 126 or 260. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/1).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

See Physics 140 for a general description of the introductory physics sequence.

The topics covered in Physics 240 include classical electromagnetism: charge, Coulomb’s Law, electric fields, Gauss’ Law, electric potential, capacitors and dielectrics, current and resistance, electromotive force and circuits, magnetic fields, Biot-Savart Law, Ampere’s Law, Faraday’s Law of induction, and simple AC circuits. There will be three evening hourly examinations (see Time Schedule for dates and times) and a final examination.

Section 001 – Physics 260 is Designed for Honors Students, Physics concentrators or Other Qualified Science Or Engineering Majors. Students Should Elect One Section of 241. Students are Expected to Know Calculus and Have A Background in High School Physics.

Instructor(s): Roberto Merlin (merlin@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 140, 145, or 160; and Math. 116. Students should elect Phys. 241 concurrently. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Phys. 240. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/1).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~merlin/phys.260-f99/phys260.html

Physics 260 is a rigorous introduction to the theory of electromagnetic phenomena, involving a great deal of student participation. Topics include electric and magnetic fields and potentials, DC and AC circuits, inductance, and Maxwell’s equations. Students should elect Physics 241 laboratory.

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 240 or 260. Concurrent election of Phys. 340 is strongly recommended. (2). (Excl). (BS). Laboratory fee ($25) required.

Credits: (2).

Lab Fee: Laboratory fee ($25) required.

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Physics 341 is a laboratory course intended to accompany Physics 340 and provide a perspective on physics as an experimental science. The experiments performed cover topics that include temperature measurement, black body radiation, optics, interference, diffraction, and the speed of light. Evaluation is based on participation and performance in the laboratory classes, and on written laboratory reports.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Tim McKay

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 340 and Math. 216. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: http://umaxp1.physics.lsa.umich.edu/~mckay/p390/p390_home.html

This course is a quantitative introduction to modern physics and includes a review of special relativity, the relationship of particles and waves, the Schrödinger equation applied to barrier problems, atomic structure and the interpretation of quantum numbers, the exclusion principle and its applications, structure of solids. This course includes a survey of the topics and techniques in several subfields of physics, including Solid State, Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics. The class will meet as a lecture group. Applications of the principles will be considered in the lecture section on a regular basis.

Section 001 – Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics.

Instructor(s): Franco Nori (nori@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 126/128 or 240/241, and Math. 216. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~nori/course/physics_406.html

An introduction to the thermal and other macroscopic properties of matter, their description in terms of classical thermodynamics, and their microscopic interpretation from the perspective of statistical mechanics. Techniques from classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and elementary quantum mechanics will be used. Frequent homework problem assignments, at least one hour exam, and a final examination will be given.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Leonard Sander (lsander@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 401. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lsander/syll413.html

This course is intended to introduce the study of a variety of nonlinear-dynamical and complex systems at an undergraduate level. It should be useful to students in engineering, mathematics, or one of the sciences. The topics covered will provide an introduction to nonlinear, complex, and disordered systems, emphasizing its concepts, ideas, and some applications. Nonlinearities and disorder often produce complex behavior, and they will be two central themes underlying the course material. Most of the course will focus on basic tools of dynamical systems to study nonlinear differential and difference equations (including bifurcation theory, numerical algorithms, chaos, fractals; with many examples and applications). At the end, we will discuss some current-research issues in spatio-temporal dynamics, collecting transport in disorder systems, instabilities, and avalanches in a variety of systems. This course will emphasize the effective use of computers in science, including interactive graphics and several useful numerical techniques. Computers can be used as a discovery tool to explore new ideas, and students will be encouraged to do so. The Science Learning Center provides the software and books needed to do most of the homeworks. Grading is based on homeworks and two exams. Texts: (Recommended) S.H. Strogatz, Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, with Applications to Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering (Addison-Wesley, 1994 J.H. Hubbard and B.H. West, Differential Equations: A Dynamical Systems Approach (part I and II) (Springer-Verlag, 1991 and 1995).

Section 001.

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 390 and 401. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

The Einstein theory of general relativity provides the foundation of gravitational physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. After an introduction to the theory, experimental tests of general relativity which were performed in the past, the implications of pulsars, black holes, supernovae, and cosmic background radiation as well as the ongoing experimental detection of gravitational waves are discussed. This is an elective course for concentrators in physical sciences. Regular exams as for any elective course in physics are given.

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 390 and any 400-level Physics course. (2). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (2).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This is an advanced laboratory course. A wide selection of individual experiments is offered, each covering a fundamental physics concept. Students are required to select five experiments in consultation with the lab instructor. Experiments are to be selected from several different areas of physics. Examples of experiments include the photo-electric effect, electron charge/mass ratio, X-ray diffraction, muon lifetime, nuclear magnetic resonance, high Tc superconductors, chaos, and electron microscope imaging. Physics 441 is offered Fall Term and Physics 442 is offered Winter Term. Physics concentrators are required to take both terms and perform different experiments in the two courses.

Section 001.

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 401 and Math. 450. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This is a course in the mathematical methods used in physics and is considered necessary preparation for graduate school. Among the topics treated are orthogonal functions and vector spaces, complex variables, differential equations and their special functions, Fourier series, and aspects of group theory.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Philip Bucksbaum (phb@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 390. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: http://www.physics.lsa.umich.edu/bucksbaum/phys453/index.htm

This course begins with an overview of the experimental and theoretical foundations for quantum mechanics. The theory is developed and applied to simple physical systems, with examples taken from atomic, molecular, condensed matter, nuclear, and particle physics. Topics include: basics of the Schrödinger equations and its solutions in rectangular and spherical coordinates; properties, uses, and interpretations of state functions; expectation values and physical observables; coherence, correlation, and interference. Other topics include spin, the exclusion principle, and some quantum statistical mechanics.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Wehrley Chapman (umjwc@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Phys. 240 and 241. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: http://umaxp1.physics.lsa.umich.edu/~chapman/Phy455/index.html

An introduction to DC and AC circuits; equivalence theorems; introduction to diodes, bipolar transistors (BJT), field effect transistors (J-FET, MOSFET, IGFET); transistor amplifiers (frequency and pulse response via circuit simulation with SPICE); transistors as switches; integrated circuits (operational amplifiers and logic gates); Computer based circuit testing.