Faculty of Science

Physics Courses

PC100* Foundations of Physics 1.0

An introduction to mechanics and the laws of motion; energy and momentum conservation; hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, waves, relativity theory.

Prerequisite: OAC Physics.

Co-requisite: MA103, MA104.

Exclusion: PC110*.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2 lab. hours

PC102* The Physics of Music 1.0

A course designed primarily for students in the music program but open to anyone with musical interests. Essentially a study of basic acoustics including such topics as decibels, wave motion, musical scales, room acoustics, and electronic reproduction of sound. Six formal laboratory sessions form part of the course. (This course satisfies the Division C requirement for General BA students.)†

Prerequisite: Registration status: Honours Music (or permission of the department).

PC110* Physics for the Life Sciences 1.0

Basic principles of physics will be applied to an analysis of the operation and interaction of living systems. Topics include mechanics, elasticity, fluid dynamics, heat, sense perception, electrodynamics, and the interaction of radiation with matter.

Prerequisite: One of OAC Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

Exclusion: PC100*.

3 lecture hours, 2 lab. hours

PC120 Digital Electronics 0.5

Introduction to digital logic: logic gates; combinational circuit analysis using boolean algebra and Karnaugh maps; number systems and codes; minimization techniques applied to combinational logic systems; flip-flops, multivibrators, counters and shift registers. (Cross-listed as CP120.)

3 lecture hours, 1 lab./demonstration hour

PC200º Electronics Laboratory I F 0.25

Experiments in electricity and digital electronics, including digital simulation. Data analysis using spreadsheets. (Cross-listed as CP200º.)

Prerequisite: PC100* or PC120.

Exclusion: PC240.

1 lecture hour, 3 lab. hours

PC201º Physics Laboratory I W 0.25

Experiments in magnetism, optics and analog electronics including analog simulation. Data analysis using spreadsheets and symbolic computation.

Prerequisite: PC200º.

Co-requisite: PC211, PC221, PC237 or permission of the department.

Exclusion: PC240.

1 lecture hour, 3 lab. hours

PC210 Introductory Electricity 0.5

Electrostatics including Gauss' law, electric potential, capacitance. Introductory DC circuit theory.

Prerequisite: PC100*, MA103 and MA104.

PC211 Introductory Magnetism 0.5

Magnetostatics, electromagnetic induction. Introductory AC circuit theory, electromagnetic waves.

Prerequisite: PC210.

PC221 Analog Electronics I 0.5

AC circuit theory, complex impedance, resonance, Norton and Thvenin Theorems, semiconductor diodes, bipolar transistors, bias circuits, h-parameters, amplification, feedback.

Prerequisite: PC210.

PC225 Introduction to Scientific Computation 0.5

(Cross-listed as CP225.)

PC237 Optics 0.5

Nature of light: Huygen's principle, Fermat's principle. Geometrical optics: reflection and refraction at plane and curved surfaces, lenses and lens systems. Wave optics: interference, diffraction, polarization.

Prerequisite: PC100*.

Exclusions: PC230, PC231.

PC300º Electronics Laboratory II F 0.25

Experiments in electronics, including operational amplifiers, transducers, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. (Cross-listed as CP300º.)

Prerequisite: CP216, PC200º.

Exclusion: PC340.

1 lecture hour, 3 lab. hours

PC301º Physics Laboratory II W 0.25

Experiments in solid state device physics, optics and quantum mechanics.

Prerequisite: PC201º, PC321.

Co-requisite: PC322.

Exclusion: PC340.

4 lab. hours

PC319 Digital System Design 0.5

Logic families and interfacing considerations for logic devices, analog/digital conversion; implementation techniques for combinational and sequential logic; introduction to finite state machines and design methodologies for synchronous and asynchronous sequential circuits; hazards, cycles and races; operation and interfacing of memory devices.

Prerequisite: PC120, PC221 (or permission of the department).

PC321 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 0.5

An introduction to quantum physics, inadequacy of classical mechanics, interpretation of the wave function, Schroedinger's equation, probability currents, bound states, structure of solids, band theory, free electron theory of metals, Fermi levels, semiconductor physics.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department.

PC322 Solid State Device Physics 0.5

Operating principles of solid state devices from the viewpoint of the quantum theory, silicon and germanium diodes, tunnel diodes, junction transistors, special topics.

Prerequisite: PC321.

PC342* Modern Physics 1.0

Relativity, photoelectric effect, ionizing radiations, radioactivity, quantum theory of radiation, fundamental particles, atomic and nuclear structure.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department.

3 lecture hours, 3 lab. hours

PC344* Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 1.0

Bulk properties of matter, two fundamental laws and their applications, entropy, kinetic theory of matter, statistical physics.††

Prerequisite: Permission of the department.

3 lecture hours, 2 lab. hours

PC360 Electromagnetic Theory 0.5

Maxwell's equations, plane wave theory of waveguides, radiating systems.

Prerequisite: PC211, PC237.

PC450 Instrumentation 0.5

Amplifiers and filters, temperature transducers including thermistors, semiconductor diodes, and thermocouples, photodetectors, strain and pressure sensing, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, true RMS measurements, data acquisition systems, the IEEE 488 instrumentation bus, special topics.

Prerequisite: PC120, PC221 (or permission of the department).

PC471 Analog Electronics II 0.5

Amplifiers, oscillators, operational amplifiers, active filters, special circuits.††

Prerequisite: PC221.

PC481 Fibre Optics 0.5

Types of fibres. Basic theory: characteristics, numerical aperture, losses, dispersion, modes. Passive fibre devices: couplers, connectors, splices. Light sources: LED, solid and semiconductor lasers. Modulators. Detectors. Systems design.

Prerequisite: PC237.

Co-requisite: PC322.

PC491 Directed Research Project I 0.5

An in-depth investigation of a topic under faculty supervision, including the submission of a formal report.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department.

PC492 Directed Research Project II 0.5

An in-depth investigation of a topic under faculty supervision, including the submission of a formal report.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department.

Faculty of Science Faculty of Science – Departments, Programs and Courses Physics and Computing Physics

Official electronic version updated on February 4, 2002