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(B.Sc.)
Discipline Representative: P.J. O'Donnell (287-7242)
Physics is the study of the basic laws that govern how material objects move and influence each other. The effect of a star on the motion of a planet, or of the Earth on the motion of a satellite, the effect of a molecule on a nearby atom, or of an atomic nucleus on an electron, can be accurately described by the laws of physics. Although Newton's laws of motion adequately describe some of these situations, in most cases it is necessary to apply the more recently discovered refinements of these laws - quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity, together with the understanding of electric and magnetic effects so beautifully synthesized in Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. From these basic principles many of the properties of gases, liquids, solids, plasmas, and nuclear matter can be related to the interactions among the individual units of which these forms of matter are composed.
Physics allows us to describe the properties of light, sound and heat up to the point where these enter our senses, as well as x-ray, radio, cosmic and other radiations of which we are not directly aware. The remarkable properties of some materials under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, and of other materials when an electric current passes through them, form the basis of a wide range of applications of the subject.
It is possible to develop, in mathematical language, theories that so accurately describe physical phenomena that they may be used to predict the results of many carefully controlled experiments. The study of physics, therefore, involves both mathematics and the techniques of experimentation.
At the University of Toronto at Scarborough, a student
interested in Physics can take the Specialist Programme in Physical
& Mathematical Sciences, the Specialist Programme in Physics
and its Applications, the Specialist Programme in Computer Science
and Physical Sciences (Computer Science and Physics stream), or
the Major Programme in Physical Sciences. In addition, there is
a Co-operative Programme in Computer Science and Physical Sciences.
NOTE: There
are two two-term introductory sequences in physics, each of which
is accompanied by a laboratory. PHYA10H/PHYA21H is designed for
those students who do not have an OAC in Physics, and PHYA20H/PHYA21H
is designed for those students who have an OAC in Physics. Of
the two first-term courses, PHYA20H makes the greater use of mathematics
and places more emphasis on developing problem solving skills,
while PHYA10H offers a broader coverage of the concepts of classical
physics and their applications. As PHYA21H has a calculus corequisite,
a first-year calculus course is an implicit corequisite for every
student who registers for either two-term introductory sequence
in physics. PHYA10H, whose course content is designed primarily
for students in the Environmental Sciences, may be taken as a
one-term introduction to physics without corequisite calculus.
NOTE: MATA26Y
is the preferred corequisite for PHYA20H and PHYA21H, although
MATA29Y is an acceptable alternative. However, only MATA26Y will
serve as a prerequisite for higher-level MAT courses. Therefore,
students contemplating a programme that contains MAT courses beyond
the A-level must take MATA26Y.
Please refer to the
Physical
Sciences Scarborough preamble on page 139 for a list of the Programmes
offered.
Supervisor: M.J.G. Lee (287-7246)
NOTE: Each
of the streams of this programme is designed to lead to Honours
Specialist Certification in Physics. Courses denoted as PHYNNN,
where 'N' is a number, are offered on the St. George Campus. Please
refer to the "Early Teacher Project" section of the
Calendar (page 140) for details on this route for admission to
OISE/UT, University of Toronto.
MATB42H Techniques of the Calculus of Several Variables
II
An additional 0.5 F.C.E. from AST or PHY D- or 400-level
courses:
PSCD01H/
PHY341H The Physical Sciences in Contemporary Society
PSCD02H/
PHY342H Current Questions on Mathematics and Science
Astronomy and Physics Concentration
PHY252H Thermal Physics
[MATB44H Ordinary Differential Equations
or
MAT244H Ordinary Differential Equations]
[MATC46H Differential Equations
or
APM346H Differential Equations]
Three of:
AST320H Introduction to Astrophysics
AST325H Practical Astronomy
AST420H Topical Astrophysics
AST425H Research Topic in Astronomy
Four of:
PHY326H Modern Physics Laboratory
PHY351H Classical Mechanics
PHY352H Electromagnetic Theory
PHY353H Electromagnetic Waves
PHY355H Quantum Mechanics I
PHY357H Nuclear and Particle Physics
PHY358H Atoms, Molecules and Solids
An additional 0.5 F.C.E. from AST or PHY D- or 400-level
courses:
PSCD01H/
PHY341H The Physical Sciences in Contemporary Society
PSCD02H
PHY342H Current Questions on Mathematics and Science
Physics Concentration
PHY252H Thermal Physics
[MATB44H Ordinary Differential Equations
or
MAT244H Ordinary Differential Equations]
[MATC46H Differential Equations
or
APM346H Differential Equations]
PHY326H Modern Physics Laboratory
PHY351H Classical Mechanics
PHY352H Electromagnetic Theory
PHY353H Electromagnetic Waves
PHY355H Quantum Mechanics I
[PHY357H Nuclear and Particle Physics
or
PHY358H Atoms, Molecules and Solids]
One of:
PHY305H Electronics Lab I
PHY307H Introduction to Computational Physics
PHY308H Time Series Analysis
PHY309H Quantum Methods Using Computer Algebra
An additional 0.5 F.C.E. from AST or PHY D- or 400-level
courses:
PSCD01H/
PHY341H The Physical Sciences in Contemporary Society
PSCD02H/
PHY342H Current Questions on Mathematics and Science
An investigation of classical mechanics: statics, laws of motion and gravitation, energy and momentum, angular motion, planetary motion; mechanics of fluids: density and elasticity, thermal expansion, fluids at rest, fluids in motion; and thermodynamics: ideal gases, kinetic theory, temperature, internal energy, entropy, the laws of thermodynamics.
Two lectures and one tutorial per week, and a three-hour laboratory every second week.
Exclusion: PHYA20H, (PHYA31H), (PHYA01Y); PHY110, 130, 138, 150
Prerequisite: OAC Calculus
An introduction to classical physics for those with some background in physics. It is similar in content to PHYA10F, but it makes greater use of mathematics and gives students greater opportunity to develop problem solving skills.
Topics include many of the following: classical mechanics; potential energy, conservation law, rotational dynamics, planetary motion, harmonic vibrations, wave equations; thermodynamics: temperature, entropy, ideal gases.
Two lectures and one tutorial each week and a three hour laboratory every second week.
Exclusion: PHYA10H, (PHYA31H), (PHYA01Y); PHY110, 130, 138, 150
Prerequisites: OAC Calculus & OAC Physics
Co-requisite: MATA26Y or MATA29Y
An introduction to modern physics for those who have completed either PHYA10H or PHYA20H.
Electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves; special theory of relativity: universality of the speed of light, Lorentz transformation, relativistic mechanics, E=mc2; quantum physics: the wave nature of matter, particle nature of light, quantum states, atomic spectra, introduction to quantum mechanics, interpretation of the wave function; nuclear structure, energy from nuclear fission and fusion.
Two lectures and one tutorial each week and a three hour laboratory every second week.
Exclusion: (PHYA01Y); (PHYA11H); (PHYA31H); PHY110, 130, 138, 150
Prerequisite: PHYA10H or PHYA20H
Corequisite: MATA26Y or MATA29Y (or with consent
of Physics instructor MATA24H)
A study of: harmonic motion, damping, driven and coupled oscillators; standing and traveling waves; interference and diffraction; normal modes; reflection and transmission of waves.
Prerequisite: PHYA21H and MATA26Y
Corequisite: MATB41H
A study of: Coulomb's law, electric fields, Gauss' law, electric potential, capacitance, dielectrics, magnetic forces and fields, inductance, magnetization, Faraday's law, displacement current, Maxwell's equations.
Exclusion: PHY221H
Prerequisite: [PHYA21H (PHYA01Y) or (PHYA31H)] and MATB41H
Corequisite: MATB42H
A study of non-linear elements including diodes and transistors, rectifiers, simple filters, amplifiers, pulse circuits, operational amplifiers, logic gates, Boolean algebra, digital electronics. Includes a three-hour laboratory every second week.
Prerequisite: PHYA21H (PHYA01Y) or (PHYA31H)
Experiments in circuit theory, basic electricity and magnetism, solid state physics and atomic and nuclear physics. A six-hour laboratory once every two weeks.
Co-requisite: PHYB21H
Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics applied to Physical problems.
Failures of classical physics; Planck radiation formula; photoelectric effect; particle nature of waves; Compton scattering; wave nature of particles; atomic spectra; atomic energy levels; Schrodinger equation; solutions for one-dimensional systems (infinite well, square well, harmonic oscillator); time dependence; uncertainty principle; packets; scattering and tunneling in one-dimension.
Exclusion: PHY256H
Prerequisite: PHYA21H & MATA26Y & MATB41H (MATA24H & MATB23H recommended)
Corequisite: MATB42H
Full Listing of Courses Not Offered
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