PH 101: General Physics I (4 hours)
Next offered: every semester, including summer
Description and Course Material: How do we describe the motion of objects around us, and the forces
that act on them? How do cars stay on those steep turns at Talladega? Why do the planets have the orbits
they do? Did you know that a shell casing hits the ground at the same time the bullet does? These sorts
of questions and more are the domain of classical mechanics, which describes everything from projectiles to
machinery to spacecraft, stars, and planets amazingly well. Classical mechanics also provides a basis for the
study of most "modern" subjects in physics, including quantum mechanics, general relativity, astrophysics,
and elementary particle physics to name a few.
In PH101, we aim first to provide you with the fundamental physics background to understand the world
in motion around you, and then use that background to delve into momentum, energy, oscillations, thermal
processes, fluid mechanics, and more.
PH 101 is our first non-calculus introduction to physics, and is aimed at students who desire (or require) a
good working physics background, but will not necessarily continue into upper-level physics courses. Laboratory
experiments will augment lecture- and discussion-based learning, and introduce students to key
experimental techniques and analysis. The course will stress a conceptual (but less mathematically rigorous)
understanding of everyday phenomena in terms of their basic underlying physical principles. Broadly, the
course material can be grouped into the following areas:
- Distance, velocity, & acceleration
- Newton's laws of motion
- Energy
- Momentum & collisions
|
- Rotational motion and gravity
- Solids and fluids
- Thermal physics
- Sound and oscillations
|
Prerequisites: Formally, Math 113. Informally: a good grasp of algebra, geometry, and just a little bit of
trigonometry are essential. It is also expected that you are familiar with, for example, quadratic equations,
systems of linear equations, powers, and logarithms. Knowledge of calculus is not required to follow this
class (though it will not hurt either).
Why should you take PH101? If you are curious about physics - even if you don't think it is relevant
to your career path (we think it probably is!) - this might be your course. The mathematics involved is less
rigorous than PH105, while covering the same range of topics. If you aren't seeking to continue to higher
level physics courses, but want a good overview of the subject, PH101 is a good option.
Additionally, PH 101 covers a great deal of material which is directly relevant for the Medical College Admissions
Test (MCAT), and has been historically popular for pre-health/medical majors. In light of this, a
special emphasis is made to both help students prepare for the MCAT and highlight the importance of the
course material in the medical and health industries — for example, how physics is used in medical technologies
(such as ultrasound, thermometry) and how it is used to explain chemical and biological processes.
Why should you NOT take PH101 over PH105 or PH125? While the mathematics required for
PH101 is significantly less than PH105, there are other considerations. If you wish to continue on to higherlevel
physics classes, PH105 is generally a requirement. Exceptions can be made, but you are likely to have
a far easier time with a PH105 background. And, of course, you should look at what your major and track
require!
If you are a physics major, you should really try the Honors version of mechanics, PH125.
You should also consider the class environment - PH101 is traditionally popular among, e.g., chemistry and
biology majors in pre-health/medical tracks, while PH105 is traditionally more popular among engineering
and physics majors. Besides considering the specific requirements for your major and ultimate career, this
may be worth keeping in mind.
What do I take next? The next logical course in the sequence is PH102, offered every semester.
Example material: Dr. Harrell has been preparing notes for PH101, freely available for download. You
can find the latest incarnations of his notes at the link below to get an idea of what PH101 is all about.
http://bama.ua.edu/~jharrell/PH101-F07/class notes/
PH 102: General Physics II (4 hours)
Next offered: every semester, including summer
Description and Course Material: What makes the sky blue, or the colors on a rainbow? How do electronics
really work? How about the hard disk in your computer, or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
machine? Maybe the touch screen on your iPhone®?
In PH102, we aim to present the fundamental physics
that answers these questions - among many others. PH102 also provides an introduction to the quantum
and atomic phenomena that form the basis for chemical and biological interactions, as well as a segue into
many of the most recent developments in physics.
PH 102 continues our non-calculus introduction to physics, and includes electricity and magnetism, optics,
and modern physics (i.e., relativity, quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics). Laboratory experiments will
augment lecture- and discussion-based learning, and introduce students to key experimental techniques and
analysis. The course will stress a conceptual (but less mathematically rigorous) understanding of everyday
phenomena and recent technologies in terms of their basic underlying physical principles. Broadly, the course
material can be grouped into the following areas:
- Relativity
- Electric forces, energy, and capacitance
- Current and resistance; dc circuits
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction and ac circuits
|
- Electromagnetic waves & the nature of light
- Reflection and Refraction
- Mirrors and Lenses; Wave optics
- Quantum and Atomic physics
- Nuclear physics
|
Prerequisites: Formally, PH101 and Math 113. Informally: a good grasp of algebra, geometry, and
trigonometry is essential. It is also expected that you are familiar with, for example, quadratic equations,
systems of linear equations, powers, and logarithms. Knowledge of calculus is not required to follow this
class (though it will not hurt either).
Why should you take PH102? If you are curious about physics - even if you don't think it is relevant
to your career path (we think it probably is!) - this might be your course. The mathematics involved is
less rigorous than PH106, and a broader range of topics are introduced, providing a fairly thorough survey
of introductory electricity, magnetism, optics, and quantum and atomic physics. If you aren't seeking to
continue to higher level physics courses, but want a good overview of the subject, PH102 is a good option.
Additionally, PH 102 covers a great deal of material which is directly relevant for the Medical College Admissions
Test (MCAT), and has been historically popular for pre-health/medical majors. In light of this, a
special emphasis is made to both help students prepare for the MCAT and highlight the importance of the
course material in the medical and health industries — for example, how physics is used in medical imaging
technologies (such as MRI/CAT/PET scans).
Why should you NOT take PH102 over PH106 or PH126? While the mathematics required for
PH102 is significantly less than PH106, there are other considerations. PH102 covers a great deal more
material, and may be regarded as "faster paced" in a sense. If you choose PH102 over PH106 because the
math is easier, you might be in for a surprise! Further, if you wish to continue on to higher-level physics
classes, PH106 is generally a requirement. Exceptions can be made, but are likely to have a far easier time
with a PH106 background. And, of course, you should look at what your major and track require!
If you are a physics major, you should really try the Honors version of Physics II, PH126.
Finally, you should consider the class environment - PH102 is traditionally popular among, e.g., chemistry
and biology majors in pre-health/medical tracks, while PH106 is traditionally more popular among engineering
and physics majors. Besides considering the specific requirements for your major and ultimate career,
this may be worth keeping in mind.
What do I take next? If you still hunger for more physics, and have Math 126 out of way, PH253 "Introduction
to Modern Physics" might be a good choice.
Example material: Dr. LeClair has been preparing an extensive set of notes for PH102, freely available
for download. Excepting the material on quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics, most of the PH102 topics
are represented. You can find the latest incarnation of the notes at the link below to get an idea of what
PH102 is all about. [Warning, 30Mb pdf file!]
http://faculty.mint.ua.edu/~pleclair/ph102/Notes/ph102_notes.pdf
PH 105: General Physics with Calculus I (4 hours)
Next offered: every semester, including summer
Description and Course Material: How do we describe the motion of objects around us, and the forces
that act on them? How do cars stay on those steep turns at Talladega? Why do the planets have the orbits
they do? Did you know that a shell casing hits the ground at the same time the bullet does? These sorts
of questions and more are the domain of classical mechanics, which describes everything from projectiles to
machinery to spacecraft, stars, and planets amazingly well. Classical mechanics also provides a basis for the
study of most "modern" subjects in physics, including quantum mechanics, general relativity, astrophysics,
and elementary particle physics to name a few.
In PH105, we aim first to provide you with the fundamental physics background to understand the world
in motion around you, and then use that background to delve into momentum, energy, oscillations, thermal
processes, fluid mechanics, and more. Compared to PH101, the mathematical sophistication will be much
greater.
PH 105 is our first calculus-based introduction to physics, and is aimed at students who desire (or require) a
detailed working physics background, particularly calculations and problem solving. Laboratory experiments
will augment lecture- and discussion-based learning, and introduce students to key experimental techniques
and analysis. The course will stress a conceptual and mathematical understanding of everyday phenomena
in terms of their basic underlying physical principles. Broadly, the course material can be grouped into the
following areas:
- Distance, velocity, & acceleration
- Newton's laws of motion
- Energy
- Momentum & collisions
|
- Rotational motion and gravity
- Solids and fluids
- Thermal physics
- Sound and oscillations
|
Prerequisites: Formally, Math 125. Informally: a good grasp of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, vectors,
differential calculus, and a bit of integral calculus are crucial. In particular, differential calculus will be used
on a daily basis, and familiarity with it will be assumed. Mathematics is the language that physicists use to
describe the world around them - fluency is a requirement.
Why should you take PH105? If you are thinking seriously about physics or a related major, this is
probably your course. The mathematics involved is more rigorous than PH101, while covering the same
range of topics. If you are seeking to continue to higher level physics courses, PH105 is your best option.
Except in rare cases, PH105 is a requirement for higher-level physics courses, and having the calculus-based
physics sequence (PH105-PH106) under your belt will make your time in the upper level courses much easier.
If you are, e.g., an engineering major, you may prefer the calculus-based course even if it is not required.
The level of problems solved in PH105 is much closer to what you will encounter in upper-level engineering
courses, and the calculus-based sequence will provide you with a much firmer foundation on which to build
your degree.
Why should you NOT take PH105 over PH101 or PH125? The mathematics required for PH101
are significantly less than for PH105. If you feel your math background is not quite 'up to it,' then PH101
may be for you. However, there are other considerations. If you wish to continue on to higher-level physics
classes, PH105 is generally a requirement. Exceptions can be made, but you are likely to have a far easier
time with a PH105 background. And, of course, you should look at what your major and track require!
Additionally, PH 101 covers a great deal of material which is directly relevant for the Medical College Admissions
Test (MCAT), and has been historically popular for pre-health/medical majors. In light of this,
a special emphasis is made to both help students prepare for the MCAT and highlight the importance of
the course material in the medical and health industries — for example, how physics is used in medical technologies
(such as ultrasound, thermometry) and how it is used to explain chemical and biological processes.
If you are considering a medical career (or otherwise need to take the MCAT), the PH101-PH102 sequence
may be a better fit.
If you are a physics major, you should really try the Honors version of mechanics, PH125.
You should also consider the class environment - PH101 is traditionally popular among, e.g., chemistry and
biology majors in pre-health/medical tracks, while PH105 is traditionally more popular among engineering
and physics majors. Besides considering the specific requirements for your major and ultimate career, this
may be worth keeping in mind.
What do I take next? The next logical course in the sequence is PH106, "General Physics with Calculus
II." If you're feeling hardcore, you might try PH126, Honors Physics II.
PH 106: General Physics with Calculus II (4 hours)
Next offered: every semester, including summer
Description and Course Material: What makes the sky blue, or the colors on a rainbow? How do electronics
really work? How about the hard disk in your computer, or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
machine? Maybe the touch screen on your iPhone®?
In PH106, we aim to present the fundamental physics
that answers these questions - among many others.
PH 106 continues our calculus-based introduction to physics, and is aimed at students who desire (or require)
a detailed working physics background, particularly calculations and problem solving. Laboratory
experiments will augment lecture- and discussion-based learning, and introduce students to key experimental
techniques and analysis. The course will stress a conceptual and mathematical understanding of everyday
phenomena and recent technologies in terms of their basic underlying physical principles. Broadly, the course
material can be grouped into the following areas:
- Electric forces, energy, and capacitance
- Current and resistance; dc circuits
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction and ac circuits
|
- Electromagnetic waves & the nature of light
- Reflection and Refraction
- Mirrors and Lenses;
- Wave optics
|
Prerequisites: Formally, PH105 (or PH125) and Math 126. Informally: a good grasp of algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, vectors, differential calculus, and integral calculus are crucial. In particular, differential and
integral calculus will be used on a daily basis, and familiarity will be assumed. Mathematics is the language
that physicists use to describe the world around them - fluency is a requirement. Moreso than PH105, a good
working knowledge of different coordinate systems (e.g., polar and cylindrical) and vector manipulations will
be absolutely essential.
Why should you take PH106? If you are thinking seriously about physics or a related major, this is
probably your course. Even if that isn't the case, if you are seeking to continue to higher level physics
courses, PH106 is your best option. Except in rare cases, PH106 is a requirement for higher-level physics
courses, and having the calculus-based physics sequence (PH105-PH106) under your belt will make your
time in the upper level courses much easier.
The mathematics involved is more rigorous than PH102, and the material considerably more involved. For
this reason, Modern Physics (i.e., relativity, quantum and atomic physics) is not part of PH106, but taken
up in PH253. If your major eventually requires PH253, then PH106 is your course. Not only is PH106 a
prerequisite, you may have a hard time in PH253 without PH106!
If you are, e.g., an engineering major, you may prefer the calculus-based course even if it (or subsequent
physics courses) is not required. The level of problems solved in PH106 is much closer to what you will
encounter in upper-level engineering courses (e.g., ECE), and the calculus-based sequence will provide you
with a much firmer foundation on which to build your degree.
Why should you NOT take PH106 over PH102 or PH126? The mathematics required for PH106
are significantly less than for PH102. If you feel your math background is not quite 'up to it,' then PH102
may be for you. However, there are other considerations. If you wish to continue on to higher-level physics
classes, PH106 is generally a requirement. Exceptions can be made, but you are likely to have a far easier
time with a PH106 background. And, of course, you should look at what your major and track require!
Additionally, PH 102 covers a great deal of material which is directly relevant for the Medical College Admissions
Test (MCAT), and has been historically popular for pre-health/medical majors. In light of this,
a special emphasis is made to both help students prepare for the MCAT and highlight the importance of
the course material in the medical and health industries — for example, how physics is used in medical technologies
(such as ultrasound, thermometry) and how it is used to explain chemical and biological processes.
If you are considering a medical career (or otherwise need to take the MCAT), the PH101-PH102 sequence
may be a better fit.
If you are a physics major, you should really try the Honors version of mechanics, PH125.
Finally, you should consider the class environment - PH102 is traditionally popular among, e.g., chemistry
and biology majors in pre-health/medical tracks, while PH106 is traditionally more popular among engineering
and physics majors. Besides considering the specific requirements for your major and ultimate career,
this may be worth keeping in mind.
What do I take next? The next logical course is probably PH253 "Introduction to Modern Physics," after
this course you have all of the prerequisites finished, and it is required for physics (and some engineering)
majors. If you have Math 238 completed, you can also begin the intermediate course sequence, for example
PH301 "Mechanics" or PH331 "Electricity and Magnetism I."
PH 125: Honors General Physics with Calculus I (4 hours)
Next offered: normally every Spring
Description and Course Material: Let's face it: if you're looking at the honors course description,
you probably already know a little bit about physics. You probably even took some physics already. In
PH125, we take off the kid gloves, and get right down to Serious Physics. The topics will be parallel to
those in PH105, but significantly more advanced mathematically. Our derivations and formalisms will be
more general, our problems more involved (and more realistic!), and our discussions more lively. We will use
elementary calculus freely; concurrent registration in a math subject more advanced than Math 125 is not a
bad idea.
In PH125, we aim to provide you with the fundamental physics background to understand the world in
motion around you, and then use that background to delve into momentum, energy, oscillations, thermal
processes, fluid mechanics, and more. Compared to PH105, the mathematical sophistication will be much
greater - we aim for a deeper and more theoretical understanding of mechanics that will provide a firmer
foundation for later courses in physics.
This is the course for physics majors, honors students, and those of you that enjoy a challenge.
PH 125 is our first honors calculus-based introduction to physics, and is aimed at students who really, really
want to know How Things Work. Laboratory experiments will augment lecture- and discussion-based learning,
and introduce students to key experimental techniques and analysis. The course will stress a conceptual
and mathematically rigorous understanding of everyday phenomena in terms of their basic underlying physical
principles. Broadly, the course material can be grouped into the following areas:
- Distance, velocity, & acceleration
- Newton's laws of motion
- Energy
- Momentum & collisions
|
- Rotational motion and gravity
- Solids and fluids
- Thermal physics
- Sound and oscillations
|
Prerequisites: Formally, Math 125 and membership in the university honors program or permission of the
department. Informally: you need to know your calculus, or PH125 will eat you alive ... the math prerequisite
is a good working knowledge of differential and differential calculus, and we mean it.
Concurrent registration in a math subject more advanced than Math 125 (e.g., Math 126) is not a bad idea,
though you will be fine without. It is more important that you know your Math 125 very well.
Why should you take PH125? You should think of PH125 as "Physics I for the hardcore." We will
treat the same topics as PH105, but at a much greater level of detail - we will never present results without
proof, nor will we ever tell you that a derivation requires "a more advanced treatment." This is the advanced
treatment! However: this course will not be difficult just for the sake of being difficult - there will be no
busy work, and it will not be harder just because there is more work. It will be harder because we are doing
things the Right Way.
If you are a physics major, or a potential physics major, this is your course.
Other advantages of the class are that it is typically small, features lively discussions among bright students,
and considers more sophisticated topics such as Lagrangian and Hamiltonian approaches, relativity, and
current state-of-the-art research going on here at UA, just for the fun of it (it's not on the test). For the
rest, we will cover the same material as PH 105, but typically in more depth and at a more advanced level.
So, if you enjoy a challenge, and want something a little different, PH 125 is for you!
If you are thinking seriously about physics or a related major, and have a strong math background, this is
your course. The mathematics involved are more rigorous than PH105, while covering the same range of
topics. Having the honors sequence (PH125-PH126) under your belt will make your time in the upper level
courses much, much easier.
Why should you NOT take PH125 over PH105? The mathematics required for PH105 are significantly
less than for PH125. If you feel your math background is not quite 'up to it,' then PH105 may be for
you.
You should also not take PH125 merely to fulfill an honors requirement. It will be hard, and you will be
surrounded by extremely motivated and bright students that really, really like physics. This might be painful
if you are only looking for a grade.
What do I take next? If you survived PH125, it would behoove you to take PH126.
PH 126: Honors General Physics with Calculus II (4 hours)
Next offered: Fall 2009
Description and Course Material: Let's face it: if you're looking at the honors course description,
you probably already know a little bit about physics. You probably even took some physics already. In
PH126, we take off the kid gloves, and get right down to Serious Physics. The topics will be parallel to
those in PH106, but significantly more advanced mathematically. Our derivations and formalisms will be
more general, our problems more involved (and more realistic!), and our discussions more lively. We will use
elementary calculus freely; concurrent registration in a math subject more advanced than Math 126 is not a
bad idea.
In PH126, we aim to provide you with a deep understanding of introductory electricity and magnetism, and
optics at a considerably higher (and more theoretical) level than PH106. Unlike PH106, in PH126 we will
also touch on quantum and atomic phenomena that form the basis for chemical and biological interactions,
providing a segue into many of the most recent developments in physics. Compared to PH106, the mathematical
sophistication will be much greater - you will have a deeper and more theoretical understanding
that will provide a firmer foundation for later courses in physics.
This is the course for physics majors, honors students, and those of you that enjoy a challenge.
PH126 is our second honors calculus-based introduction to physics, and is aimed at students who really,
really want to know How Things Work. Laboratory experiments will augment lecture- and discussion-based
learning, and introduce students to key experimental techniques and analysis. The course will stress a conceptual
and mathematically rigorous understanding of everyday phenomena in terms of their basic underlying
physical principles. Broadly, the course material can be grouped into the following areas:
- Electric forces, energy, and capacitance
- Current and resistance; dc circuits
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction and ac circuits
|
- Electromagnetic waves & the nature of light
- Reflection and Refraction
- Mirrors and Lenses
- Wave optics
|
Prerequisites: Formally, PH105 or PH125, Math 126, and membership in the university honors program
or permission of the department. Informally: you need to know your calculus, or PH126 will eat you alive
... the math prerequisite is a good working knowledge of differential and differential calculus, the physics
requirement is a good working knowledge of mechanics, and we mean it.
Concurrent registration in a math subject more advanced than Math 126 (e.g., Math 227 or 238) is not a
bad idea, though you will be fine without. It is more important that you know your Math 125 and 126 very
well.
Why should you take PH126? You should think of PH126 as "Physics II for the hardcore." We will
treat the same topics as PH106, but at a much greater level of detail - we will never present results without
proof, nor will we ever tell you that a derivation requires "a more advanced treatment." This is the advanced
treatment! However: this course will not be difficult just for the sake of being difficult - there will be no
busy work, and it will not be harder just because there is more work. It will be harder because we are doing
things the Right Way.
If you are a physics major, or a potential physics major, this is your course.
Other advantages of the class are that it is typically small, features lively discussions among bright students,
and considers more advanced topics, such as quantum and atomic physics, elementary particle physics, and
current state-of-the-art research going on here at UA, just for the fun of it (it's not on the test). For the
rest, we will cover the same material as PH 106, but typically in more depth and at a more advanced level.
So, if you enjoy a challenge, and want something a little different, PH 126 is for you!
If you are thinking seriously about physics or a related major, and have a strong math background, this is
your course. The mathematics involved are more rigorous than PH106, while covering the same range of
topics. Having the honors sequence (PH125-PH126) under your belt will make your time in the upper level
courses much, much easier.
Why should you NOT take PH126 over PH106 or PH102? The mathematics required for PH106
(or PH102) are significantly less than for PH126. If you feel your math background is not quite 'up to it,'
then PH106 may be better for you.
You should also not take PH126 merely to fulfill an honors requirement. It will be hard, and you will be
surrounded by extremely motivated and bright students that really, really like physics. This might be painful
if you are only looking for a grade.
What do I take next? The next logical course is probably PH253 "Introduction to Modern Physics," after
this course you have all of the prerequisites finished, and it is required for physics (and some engineering)
majors. If you have Math 238 completed, you can also begin the intermediate course sequence, for example
PH301 "Mechanics" or PH331 "Electricity and Magnetism I." Really, at this point, you are ready to take
on anything.
PH 253: Introduction to Modern Physics (3 hours) Prof. Piepke
"Modern Physics" refers to the developments in physics beginning
with the revolutionary work of Einstein, Planck, Bohr, and others.
The basic principles of special relativity and quantum mechanics
will be taught with illustrations drawn from
reaction kinematics in high energy collisions, particle accelerators
and medical imaging devices, atomic and molecular properties, and the
electrical and thermal characteristics of liquids and solids. The course
will conclude with a survey of what is currently known about nuclei and
elementary particles and their role in cosmology and stellar evolution.
Coursework: weekly homework, short quizzes, two hour exams, comprehensive
final exam.
Prerequisites: MATH 126 (Calculus II) & either PH 102 (General Physics II)
or PH 106 (General Physics w/Calculus II)
Core Curriculum: This course carries an N designation.
PH 441: Quantum Structure of Matter I (3 hours) Prof. Harms
This course is a more rigorous and sophisticated treatment of the quantum mechanics topics
covered in PH253. The list of topics covered includes, but is not limited to:
- The Wave Function - The wave picture of microscopic matter is developed.
This development
begins with the Schrödinger equation and proceeds through the statistical interpretation,
probability, normalization, momentum and the uncertainty principle.
- The Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation
- This topic includes a discussion of stationary states,
the infinite square well, the harmonic oscillator, the free particle,
δ-function potentials, the finite square well, and the scattering matrix.
- Formalism - This topic covers linear algebras, function spaces, the generalized statistical
interpretation and the uncertainty principle.
- Hermitian Operators
- Topics covered include Dirac notation, Hilbert spaces, and properties of Hermitian operators
- Problems with Two Degrees of Freedom
- Some simple applications of quantum mechanics to systems with two degrees of
freedom are investigated. These applications include standing waves at the band edges,
theory of conduction in solids, and the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator.
Quantum mechanics provides a basis for the study of most modern subjects in physics including
quantum field theory, astrophysics, elementary particle physics and condensed matter to name a few.
This course and its graduate level extension provide students of physics and astronomy with the
necessary tools to understand and utilize the concepts of modern physics.
Prerequisites: PH 253, PH 301, and PH331; or permission of the instructor.
Math Prerequisites: Some knowledge of matrix algebra and partial differential equations.
Course Content: Weekly homework, two hour-exams, one final exam.