printer friendly pagePHYSICS 12N: Black Holes: Fact and Fancy
Black Holes have been observed throughout the universe using radio waves, light, X- and gamma-rays and now with gravitational radiation. They are well-described using Einstein's theory of relativity and provide dramatic demonstrations of how physicists think about matter, energy, space, and time. They have also stimulated much science fiction. This seminar is intended primarily for non-science freshmen who should learn how some really big ideas were developed, debated, and then demonstrated to be correct. Movies and popular books will be critiqued and used to illustrate basic properties of black holes. Special attention will be paid to understanding what it takes for an interesting idea to become accepted or rejected as scientific fact. There will be visits to Stanford labs where instruments used to observe black holes were conceived, constructed and combined.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
Instructors:
Blandford, R. (PI)
PHYSICS 16: The Origin and Development of the Cosmos
How did the present Universe come to be? The last few decades have seen remarkable progress in understanding this age-old question. Course will cover the history of the Universe from its earliest moments to the present day, and the physical laws that govern its evolution. The early Universe including inflation and the creation of matter and the elements. Recent discoveries in our understanding of the makeup of the cosmos, including dark matter and dark energy. Evolution of galaxies, clusters, and quasars, and the Universe as a whole. Implications of dark matter and dark energy for the future evolution of the cosmos. Intended to be accessible to non-science majors, material is explored quantitatively with problem sets using basic algebra and numerical estimates.
Terms: Win, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Gill, M. (PI)
;
Simeon, P. (PI)
;
Wechsler, R. (PI)
...
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Instructors:
Gill, M. (PI)
;
Simeon, P. (PI)
;
Wechsler, R. (PI)
;
DeRose, J. (TA)
;
Scherlis, A. (TA)
;
Totorica, S. (TA)
PHYSICS 18N: Frontiers in Theoretical Physics and Cosmology
Preference to freshmen. The course will begin with a description of the current standard models of gravitation, cosmology, and elementary particle physics. We will then focus on frontiers of current understanding including investigations of very early universe cosmology, string theory, and the physics of black holes.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Dimopoulos, S. (PI)
;
Teo, M. (TA)
PHYSICS 23: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics
How are electric and magnetic fields generated by static and moving charges, and what are their applications? How is light related to electromagnetic waves? Students learn to represent and analyze electric and magnetic fields to understand electric circuits, motors, and generators. The wave nature of light is used to explain interference, diffraction, and polarization phenomena. Geometric optics is employed to understand how lenses and mirrors form images. These descriptions are combined to understand the workings and limitations of optical systems such as the eye, corrective vision, cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. Discussions based on the language of algebra and trigonometry. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and interactive group problem solving in discussion sections. Prerequisite:
PHYSICS 21 or
PHYSICS 21S.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Gannot, Y. (PI)
;
Linde, A. (PI)
;
Shutty, N. (PI)
...
more instructors for PHYSICS 23 »
Instructors:
Gannot, Y. (PI)
;
Linde, A. (PI)
;
Shutty, N. (PI)
;
Dahmani, Y. (TA)
;
Gannot, Y. (TA)
;
Geslin, A. (TA)
;
Negre, M. (TA)
;
Shutty, N. (TA)
PHYSICS 24: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics Laboratory
Guided hands-on exploration of concepts in electricity and magnetism, circuits and optics with an emphasis on student predictions, observations and explanations. Introduction to multimeters and oscilloscopes. Pre- or corequisite: PHYS 23.
Terms: Win
| Units: 1
PHYSICS 41: Mechanics
How are motions of objects in the physical world determined by laws of physics? Students learn to describe the motion of objects (kinematics) and then understand why motions have the form they do (dynamics). Emphasis on how the important physical principles in mechanics, such as conservation of momentum and energy for translational and rotational motion, follow from just three laws of nature: Newton's laws of motion. Distinction made between fundamental laws of nature and empirical rules that are useful approximations for more complex physics. Problems drawn from examples of mechanics in everyday life. Skills developed in verifying that derived results satisfy criteria for correctness, such as dimensional consistency and expected behavior in limiting cases. Discussions based on language of mathematics, particularly vector representations and operations, and calculus. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and discussion sections based on interactive group problem solving. Prerequisite: High school physics or concurrent enrollment in
PHYSICS 41A.
MATH 20 or
MATH 51 or
CME 100 or equivalent. Minimum corequisite:
MATH 21 or equivalent.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Lee, Y. (PI)
;
Albeg, A. (TA)
;
Anderson, T. (TA)
...
more instructors for PHYSICS 41 »
Instructors:
Lee, Y. (PI)
;
Albeg, A. (TA)
;
Anderson, T. (TA)
;
Bartel, J. (TA)
;
Blakemore, C. (TA)
;
Cheong, S. (TA)
;
Cheung, A. (TA)
;
Gotlin, A. (TA)
;
Jiang, J. (TA)
;
Kalia, S. (TA)
;
Linehan, R. (TA)
;
Marks, J. (TA)
;
Morningstar, W. (TA)
;
Nadler, E. (TA)
;
Ng, N. (TA)
;
Sakaguchi, D. (TA)
;
Scherlis, A. (TA)
PHYSICS 41A: Mechanics Concepts, Calculations, and Context
Students attend
Physics 41 lectures with different recitation sessions: two sections per week instead of one. Since PH41 sections fill up, you should sign up for your desired section in PH41 now in case you do not get permission for PH41A and you have to take PH41 instead. Prerequisite: application; see
https://stanforduniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4OrBvKcJ5o1Baw5. nCourse content is identical to
Physics 41: How are motions of objects in the physical world determined by laws of physics? Students learn to describe the motion of objects (kinematics) and then understand why motions have the form they do (dynamics). Emphasis on how the important physical principles in mechanics, such as conservation of momentum and energy for translational and rotational motion, follow from just three laws of nature: Newton's laws of motion. Distinction made between fundamental laws of nature and empirical rules that are useful approximations for more complex physics. Problems drawn from examples of mechanics in everyday life. Skills developed in verifying that derived results satisfy criteria for correctness, such as dimensional consistency and expected behavior in limiting cases. Discussions based on language of mathematics, particularly vector representations and operations, and calculus. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and discussion sections based on interactive group problem solving.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
Instructors:
Church, S. (PI)
;
Drell, P. (PI)
;
Lee, Y. (PI)
;
Wieman, C. (PI)
;
Devin, J. (TA)
;
McCune, A. (TA)
;
Murphy, J. (TA)
;
Ng, N. (TA)
;
Parker, M. (TA)
;
Qiao, S. (TA)
;
Rickman, A. (TA)
;
Stifter, K. (TA)
PHYSICS 42: Classical Mechanics Laboratory
Hands-on exploration of concepts in classical mechanics: Newton's laws, conservation laws, rotational motion. Introduction to laboratory techniques, experimental equipment and data analysis. Pre- or corequisite:
PHYSICS 41
Terms: Win
| Units: 1
Instructors:
Michelson, P. (PI)
;
Nanavati, C. (PI)
;
Sorensen, M. (PI)
...
more instructors for PHYSICS 42 »
Instructors:
Michelson, P. (PI)
;
Nanavati, C. (PI)
;
Sorensen, M. (PI)
;
Dodelson, M. (TA)
;
Kang, J. (TA)
;
Mathis, D. (TA)
;
Murli, D. (TA)
;
Shyani, M. (TA)
;
Sorensen, M. (TA)
PHYSICS 63: Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves
(Second in a three-part advanced freshman physics series:
PHYSICS 61,
PHYSICS 63,
PHYSICS 65.) This course covers the foundations of electricity and magnetism for students with a strong high school mathematics and physics background, who are contemplating a major in Physics or Engineering Physics, or are interested in a rigorous treatment of physics. Electricity, magnetism, and waves with some description of optics. Electrostatics and Gauss' law. Electric potential, electric field, conductors, image charges. Electric currents, DC circuits. Moving charges, magnetic field, Ampere's law. Solenoids, transformers, induction, AC circuits, resonance. Relativistic point of view for moving charges. Displacement current, Maxwell's equations. Electromagnetic waves, dielectrics. Diffraction, interference, refraction, reflection, polarization. Prerequisite:
PHYSICS 61 and
MATH 51 or
MATH 61CM or
MATH 61DM. Pre- or corequisite:
MATH 52 or
MATH 62CM or
MATH 62DM.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 64: Electricity, Magnetism and Waves Laboratory
Introduction to multimeters, breadboards, function generators and oscilloscopes. Emphasis on student-developed design of experimental procedure and data analysis for topics covered in
PHYSICS 63: electricity, magnetism, circuits, and optics. Pre- or corequisite:
PHYSICS 63
Terms: Win
| Units: 1
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