Syllabi


A teaching philosophy: http://columbiaspectator.com/2012/11/08/imparting-scientific-appreciation

Astr1000K: Introduction to the Universe

  • Galileo, Kepler, the laws of motion 
  • the electromagnetic spectrum, light, luminosity, flux, distance and velocity
  • the expansion of the Universe and the Hubble law
  • Dark matter, dark energy, the Cosmic Microwave Background, exoplanets and life elsewhere in the Universe
  • The relativistic multiverse

Phys 2211: Principles of Physics I(course link)

  Basics of dynamics

  • motion in one and two dimensions
  • Newton’s  laws
  • work and kinetic energy

  Conservation laws

  • conservation of energy
  • conservation of linear momentum
  • conservation of angular momentum  

  Applications

  • gravity
  • static equilibrium
  • waves

  Elements of modern physics

  • relativity

 Phys 2212: Principles of Physics II.        (course link)

 The electric field

  • Coulomb’s law                                                                             
  • Gauss’ law
  • Electric potential 

 The magnetic field

  • Biot-Savart law
  • Gauss’ and Ampere’s law
  • Induction

 Circuits

  • Ohm’s law
  • LC, RL and RC circuits
  • RLC circuits

 Maxwell’s equations

  • Displacement current
  • Wave equation
  • Interference, diffraction, optics

Elements of Modern Physics

  • the quantum world

Phys 3220: Electromagnetism I

Electric fields

  • Gauss' law for electric fields
  • Divergence and curl of electric field
  • Electric potential

 Magnetic fields

  • Ampere's law
  • Divergence and curl of magnetic fields
  • Magnetic induction
  • Vector potential

Electromagnetic waves

  • Displacement current
  • Magnetic monopoles
  • E and B waves

Special Relativity

  • Spacetime diagrams
  • Invariant interval
  • Relativity of simultaneity

Phys 3730: Relativity      (course link)

Special Relativity 

  • Spacetime diagrams
  • The Invariant interval 
  • Relative simultaneity
  • E = mc2
  • Pole-in-the-barn paradox
  • Twin paradox
  • Energy-momentum 4-vector
  • Collisions and 4-momentum conservation  

General Relativity

  • Acceleration, event horizons, and the Principle of Equivalence
  • The metric, curved space and curved spacetime
  • Connections and local vs. global coordinate transformations
  • Geodesic equation
  • Newtonian gravity as the curvature of time
  • Tensors
  • Maxwell equations in curved spacetime
  • The field equations
  • The Schwarzschild solution and black holes

 

Phys 4210: Quantum Physics          (course link)

  • Double slit experiments
  • Schrodinger's Equation
  • Statistical interpretation
  • Uncertainty Principle
  • Free particle
  • Square wells
  • Harmonic oscillator
  • Hydrogen atom
  • Formalism

 

 

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