University of Toronto at Scarborough 2003/2004 Calendar
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(B.Sc.)
Discipline Representative: M.J.G. Lee (416-287-7246)
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, students who are interested in Physics can take the Specialist Program in Physical & Mathematical Sciences, the Specialist Program in Physics and its Applications, the Specialist Program in Computer Science and Physical Sciences (Computer Science and Physics stream), or the Major Program in Physical Sciences. Note that the last two years of the Specialist Program in Physics and its Applications are taught on the St. George campus. Also, there are a number of other Specialist programs associated with the Department of Physics. These include Specialist in Biophysics, Chemical Physics, Computer Science and Physics, Geology and Physics, Earth Systems: Physics & Environment and Planetary Science. Students interested in any of these options should consult with the Program Supervisor, Professor Martin Lee within the first week of classes.
NOTE: MATA37H is the preferred corequisite for PHYA21H, although MATA35H or MATA36H is an acceptable alternative. However, only MATA37H will serve as a prerequisite for higher-level MAT courses. Therefore, students contemplating a Program that contains MAT courses beyond the A-level must take MATA37H.
Please refer to the Physical Sciences Scarborough preamble on page 185 for a list of the Programs offered.
NOTE: Each of the streams of this Program 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 185) for details on this route for admission to OISE/UT, University of Toronto.
NOTE: Students in this program are exempt from the normal limit of 5.0 FCEs (full-credit equivalents) on other campuses; they may take a maximum of 10.0 FCEs on other campuses in order to complete the requirements of the program.
First Year - 3.5 FCE
| ASTA01H | Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics I: The Sun and Planets |
| ASTA02H | Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics II: Beyond the Sun and Planets |
| PHYA10H | Introduction to Classical Physics |
| PHYA21H | Introduction to Modern Physics |
| MATA23H | Linear Algebra I |
| [MATA30H | Calculus I (Grade 12) |
| or | |
| MATA31H] | Calculus I (OAC) |
| [MATA36H | Calculus II for Physical Sciences |
| or | |
| MATA37H] | Calculus II for Mathematical Sciences |
Second Year - 3.5 FCE
| ASTB21H | Solar Systems and Stellar Astrophysics |
| PHYB21H | Electricity and Magnetism |
| PHYB23H | Physics Laboratory |
| PHYB24H | Introduction to Quantum Physics |
| MATB41H | Techniques of the Calculus of Several Variables I |
| MATB42H | Techniques of the Calculus of Several Variables II |
| PSCB57H | Introduction to Scientific Computing |
Third & Fourth Years - 6.5 FCE
Teaching Concentration
| ASTC22H | Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics |
| PHYB20H | Vibrations and Waves |
| PHY252H | Thermal Physics |
| [MATB44H | Differential Equations I |
| or | |
| MAT244H] | Ordinary Differential Equations |
| Two of: | |
| AST210H | History and Nature of Astronomical Discovery |
| AST251H | Life on Other Worlds |
| AST320H | Introduction to Astrophysics |
| AST325H | Practical Astronomy |
| Four of: | |
| PHY305H | Electronics Lab I |
| PHY307H | Introduction to Computational Physics |
| PHY315H | Radiation on Planetary Atmospheres |
| PHY326H | Modern Physics Laboratory |
| PHY346H | Intermediate Biophysics |
| PHY351H | Classical Mechanics |
| PHY352H | Electromagnetic Theory |
| PHY355H | Quantum Mechanics I |
| An additional 1.0 FCE from: | |
| ENV235Y | Physics and Chemistry of Planet Earth |
| JPA305H | Introduction to Archaeometry |
| JPA310H | Physics and Archeology |
| An additional 0.5 FCE from AST or PHY D- or 400-level courses, including the following: | |
| PSCD01H/PHY341H | The Physical Sciences in Contemporary Society |
| PSCD02H/PHY342H | Current Questions in Mathematics and Science |
Astronomy and Physics Concentration
| ASTC22H | Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics |
| PHYB20H | Vibrations and Waves |
| PHY252H | Thermal Physics |
| [MATB44H | Differential Equations I |
| or | |
| MAT244H] | Ordinary Differential Equations |
| [MATC46H | Differential Equations II |
| 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 FCE from AST or PHY D- or 400-level courses, including the following: | |
| PSCD01H/PHY341H | The Physical Sciences in Contemporary Society |
| PSCD02H/PHY342H | Current Questions on Mathematics and Science |
Physics Concentration
| ASTC22H | Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics |
| PHYB20H | Vibrations and Waves |
| PHY252H | Thermal Physics |
| [MATB44H | Differential Equations I |
| or | |
| MAT244H] | Ordinary Differential Equations |
| [MATC46H | Differential Equations II |
| 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 FCE from AST or PHY D- or 400-level courses, including the following: | |
| PSCD01H/PHY341H | The Physical Sciences in Contemporary Society |
| PSCD02H/PHY342H | Current Questions on Mathematics and Science |
The Major Program in Astrophysics and Physics combines introductory and more advanced work in the two areas along with essential mathematics courses. It is especially appropriate for students in the Physical Sciences Co-op Program or in the Early Teacher Project in Physical Sciences, who wish to pursue a Major Program strongly oriented towards physical phenomena in combination with another Major as part of degree and program requirements.
8.0 FCE (full credit equivalents) are required.
First Year:
| ASTA01H | Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics I: The Sun and Planets |
| ASTA02H | Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics II: Beyond the Sun and Planets |
| [MATA30H | Calculus I (Grade 12) |
| or | |
| MATA31H] | Calculus I (OAC) |
| [MATA36H | Calculus II for Physical Sciences |
| or | |
| MATA37H] | Calculus II for Mathematical Sciences |
| PHYA10H | Introduction to Classical Physics |
| PHYA21H | Introduction to Modern Physics |
Second Year and Later Years:
| ASTB21H | Solar System and Stellar Astrophysics |
| MATA23H | Linear Algebra I |
| MATB41H | Techniques of the Calculus of Several Variables I |
| MATB42H | Techniques of the Calculus of Several Variables II |
| PHYB21H | Electricity and Magnetism |
| PSCB57H | Introduction to Scientific Computing |
| [PHYB23H | Physics Laboratory |
| or | |
| PSCB01H] | The Instrumentation of Science |
| And 1.5 FCE from: | |
| ASTC22H | Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics |
| PHYB20H | Vibrations and Waves |
| PHYB23H | Physics Laboratory |
| PHYB24H | Introduction to Quantum Physics |
| PSCB01H | The Instrumentation of Science |
| PSCC01H | Physical Principles of Modern Technology |
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
Prerequisites: PHYA21H & [MATA36H or MATA37H] & MATB41H (MATA23H & MATB24H recommended)
Corequisite: MATB42H
University of Toronto at Scarborough 2003/2004 Calendar
Back to Physical Sciences Scarborough
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