Additional Content
Unless otherwise indicated, a grade of C or higher is required for all prerequisite courses.
This course, intended for students majoring in physical sciences and engineering, is part of a three-semester introductory physics sequence. This sequence, which also includes PHYS 250 and PHYS 260, is designed to be transferrable to most California 4-year institutions as the standard calculus-based physics sequence for scientists and engineers (C-ID course numbers 205, 210, and 215). As different topics within this sequence may be distributed differently across colleges, students are encouraged to take all three classes at the same college; taking the different classes at different colleges may affect transferability. Core topics within PHYS 270 include the electromagnetic wave model of light and interference and diffraction phenomena predicted in this model, the ray model of light and how it applies to optical devices, the theory of temperature and heat (thermodynamics) on both the macroscopic and microscopic scales, and how this theory applies to thermal devices such as heat engines, the theory of special relativity, experimental evidence for quantum mechanics, an introduction to quantum mechanical theory, and an introduction to atomic, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics. The lecture portion of the class will include introductions to the relevant theories and problem solving techniques, demonstrations of the physical phenomena, and individual and/or group work on physics problem solving. The course also includes a hands-on laboratory component in which students will discover or verify physical laws, develop hands-on laboratory skills including proper use of measurements and uncertainty, and develop their written communication skills.