Essentially all of nuclear physics, solid state physics, atomic physics, and particle physics are centrally dependent on quantum mechanics. In addition, quantum mechanics has had profound effects on our picture of reality. This leads to the idea of wave-particle duality and the celebrated Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. No previous programming experience is assumed, and this course is intended for all physics majors at the sophomore level, and for any other interested students with Physics 200 as the prerequisite. Finally, the last third of the course teaches the basics of Mathematica, the powerful general-purpose symbolic and numerical mathematical program.
Assignments consist of regular small projects.
Many of the concepts are the same as those considered in PH 200, but here everything is done with considerably greater mathematical sophistication. PH 310 is taught in Winter every year and PH 311 is taught in Spring in alternate years. In addition, electrical engineers also take PH 330. The courses depend heavily on the introductory PH 201, and many of the concepts are the same, but in these two courses the theory is developed completely from the point of view of vector calculus. PH 331 continues the development of electromagnetic waves and concludes with the relationship between relativity and electromagnetism.