printer friendly pagePHYSICS 50: Astronomy Laboratory and Observational Astronomy
Introduction to observational astronomy emphasizing the use of optical telescopes. Observations of stars, nebulae, and galaxies in laboratory sessions with telescopes at the Stanford Student Observatory. Meets at the observatory one evening per week from dusk until well after dark, in addition to day-time lectures each week. No previous physics required. Limited enrollment.
Last offered: Summer 2019
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 61: Mechanics and Special Relativity
(First in a three-part advanced freshman physics series:
PHYSICS 61,
PHYSICS 63,
PHYSICS 65.) This course covers Einstein's special theory of relativity and Newtonian mechanics at a level appropriate 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. Postulates of special relativity, simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, the Lorentz transformation, causality, and relativistic mechanics. Central forces, contact forces, linear restoring forces. Momentum transport, work, energy, collisions. Angular momentum, torque, moment of inertia in three dimensions. Damped and forced harmonic oscillators. Uses the language of vectors and multivariable calculus. In order to register for this class students must EITHER have already taken an introductory Physics class (20, 40, or 60 sequence) or have taken the Physics Placement Diagnostic at
https://physics.stanford.edu/academics/undergraduate-students/placement-diagnostic. Recommended prerequisites: Mastery of mechanics at the level of AP Physics C and AP Calculus BC or equivalent. Corequisite:
MATH 51 or
MATH 61CM or
MATH 61DM.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Burchat, P. (PI)
;
Coppess, K. (TA)
;
Giurgica-Tiron, T. (TA)
...
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Instructors:
Burchat, P. (PI)
;
Coppess, K. (TA)
;
Giurgica-Tiron, T. (TA)
;
Kang, M. (TA)
;
Park, J. (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. Pre- or corequisite:
MATH 52 or
MATH 62CM.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Goldhaber-Gordon, D. (PI)
;
Chang, J. (TA)
;
Cook, C. (TA)
...
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Instructors:
Goldhaber-Gordon, D. (PI)
;
Chang, J. (TA)
;
Cook, C. (TA)
;
Smith, R. (TA)
;
Wu, Y. (TA)
PHYSICS 65: Quantum and Thermal Physics
(Third in a three-part advanced freshman physics series:
PHYSICS 61,
PHYSICS 63,
PHYSICS 65.) This course introduces the foundations of quantum and thermodynamics 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. Topics related to quantum mechanics include: atoms, electrons, nuclei. Experimental evidence for physics that is not explained by classical mechanics and E&M. Quantization of light, Planck's constant. Photoelectric effect, Compton and Bragg scattering. Bohr model, atomic spectra. Matter waves, wave packets, interference. Fourier analysis and transforms, Heisenberg uncertainty relationships. Particle-in-a-box, simple harmonic oscillator, barrier penetration, tunneling. Topics related to thermodynamics: limitations of classical mechanics in describing systems with a very large number of particles. Ideal gas, equipartition, heat capacity, definition of temperature, entropy. Brief introduction to kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. Maxwell speed distribution, ideal gas in a box. Laws of thermodynamics. Cycles, heat engines, free energy.nPrerequisites:
PHYSICS 61 &
PHYSICS 63.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA, GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR
PHYSICS 70: Foundations of Modern Physics
Required for Physics or Engineering Physics majors who completed the
PHYSICS 40 series. Introduction to special relativity: reference frames, Michelson-Morley experiment. Postulates of relativity, simultaneity, time dilation. Length contraction, the Lorentz transformation, causality. Doppler effect. Relativistic mechanics and mass, energy, momentum relations. Introduction to quantum physics: atoms, electrons, nuclei. Quantization of light, Planck constant. Photoelectric effect, Compton and Bragg scattering. Bohr model, atomic spectra. Matter waves, wave packets, interference. Fourier analysis and transforms, Heisenberg uncertainty relationships. Schrödinger equation, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. Particle-in-a-box, simple harmonic oscillator, barrier penetration, tunneling, WKB and approximate solutions. Time-dependent and multi-dimensional solution concepts. Coulomb potential and hydrogen atom structure. Prerequisites:
PHYSICS 41,
PHYSICS 43. Pre or corequisite:
PHYSICS 45. Recommended: prior or concurrent registration in
MATH 53.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 83N: Physics in the 21st Century
Preference to freshmen. This course provides an in-depth examination of frontiers of physics research, including fundamental physics, cosmology, and physics of the future. Questions such as: What is the universe made of? What is the nature of space, time, and matter? What can we learn about the history of the universe and what does it tell us about its future? A large part of 20th century was defined by revolutions in physics - everyday applications of electromagnetism, relativity, and quantum mechanics. What other revolutions can physics bring to human civilization in the 21st century? What is quantum computing? What can physics say about consciousness? What does it take to visit other parts of the solar system, or even other stars? nWe will also learn to convey these complex topics in engaging and diverse terms to the general public through writing and reading assignments, oral presentations, and multimedia projects. No prior knowledge of physics is necessary; all voices are welcome to contribute to the discussion about these big ideas. Learning Goals: By the end of the quarter you will be able to explain the major questions that drive physics research to your friends and peers. You will understand how scientists study the impossibly small and impossibly large and be able to convey this knowledge in clear and concise terms.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Kuo, C. (PI)
PHYSICS 100: Introduction to Observational Astrophysics
Designed for undergraduate physics majors but open to all students with a calculus-based physics background and some laboratory and coding experience. Students make and analyze observations using the telescopes at the Stanford Student Observatory. Topics covered include navigating the night sky, the physics of stars and galaxies, telescope instrumentation and operation, imaging and spectroscopic techniques, quantitative error analysis, and effective scientific communication. The course concludes with an independent project where student teams propose and execute an observational astronomy project of their choosing, using techniques learned in class to gather and analyze their data, and presenting their findings in the forms of professional-style oral presentations and research papers. Enrollment by permission. To get a permission number please complete form:
http://web.stanford.edu/~elva/physics100prelim.fb If you have not heard from us by the beginning of class, please come to the first class session.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA, GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR
PHYSICS 105: Intermediate Physics Laboratory I: Analog Electronics
Introductory laboratory electronics, designed for Physics and Engineering Physics majors but open to all students with science or engineering interests in analog circuits, instrumentation and signal processing. The course is focused on laboratory exercises that build skills needed for measurements, including sensors, amplification and filtering, and fundamentals of noise in physical systems. The hands-on lab exercises include DC circuits, RC and diode circuits, applications of operational amplifiers, non-linear circuits and optoelectronics. The class exercises build towards a lock-in amplifier contest where each lab section designs and builds a synchronous detection system to measure a weak optical signal, with opportunities to understand the limits of the design, build improvements and compare results with the other lab sections. The course focuses on practical techniques and insight from the lab exercises, with a goal to prepare undergraduates for laboratory research. No formal electronics experience is required beyond exposure to concepts from introductory Physics or Engineering courses (Ohm's law, charge conservation, physics of capacitors and inductors, etc.). Recommended prerequisite:
Physics 43 or 63, or Engineering 40A or 40M.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Pam, R. (PI)
;
Cheng, A. (TA)
;
Dalmasson, J. (TA)
...
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Instructors:
Pam, R. (PI)
;
Cheng, A. (TA)
;
Dalmasson, J. (TA)
;
Derollez, R. (TA)
;
Rebec, J. (TA)
PHYSICS 107: Intermediate Physics Laboratory II: Experimental Techniques and Data Analysis
Experiments on lasers, Gaussian optics, and atom-light interaction, with emphasis on data and error analysis techniques. Students describe a subset of experiments in scientific paper format. Prerequisites: completion of
PHYSICS 40 or
PHYSICS 60 series, and
PHYSICS 70 and
PHYSICS 105. Recommended pre- or corequisites:
PHYSICS 120 and 130. WIM
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Hollberg, L. (PI)
;
Garber, B. (TA)
;
Kroeze, R. (TA)
...
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Instructors:
Hollberg, L. (PI)
;
Garber, B. (TA)
;
Kroeze, R. (TA)
;
Na Narong, T. (TA)
;
Wang, A. (TA)
PHYSICS 108: Advanced Physics Laboratory: Project
Have you ever gotten to come up with a scientific question you'd like to explore, then worked with a small group to plan, design, build, and carry out an experiment to pursue this? Most projects pursued (drawn from condensed matter or particle physics) have never before been done in the class. This is an accelerated, guided "simulation" of real frontier experimental research. We provide substantial resources to help your team. Prerequisites
PHYSICS 105,
PHYSICS 107.
PHYSICS 130 preferred.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA, WAY-AQR
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