Faculty of Science

Physics Courses

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, 1.5 lab hour

PC131 Mechanics F 0.5

Calculus-based course which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: one-dimensional motion; vectors; motion in two and three dimensions; force and motion; kinetic energy and work; potential energy; conservation of energy; collisions and momentum; rotational motion; simple harmonic motion; torque; angular momentum; and gravitation.

Prerequisite: OAC Physics.

Co-requisite: MA103 or MA105.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC141.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC132 Thermodynamics and Waves W 0.5

Calculus-based course which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: elasticity; fluids; waves and sound; temperature and heat; the laws of thermodynamics; entropy; and an introduction to electricity.

Prerequisite: PC131, MA103 or MA105.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC142.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC141 Mechanics for the Life Sciences F 0.5

Algebra-based course which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: kinematics; motion in two dimensions; force; work and energy; linear momentum and collisions; circular motion and gravitation; rotational motion and equilibrium.

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

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC131.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC142 Thermodynamics and Waves for the Life Sciences W 0.5

Algebra-based course which introduces basic principles of physics. Detailed topics covered: solids and fluids; temperature; heat; thermodynamics; vibrations and waves; sound.

Prerequisite: PC141.

Exclusion: PC100*, PC110*, PC132.

3 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 2.5 lab hours

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: PC131, PC132, or PC120.

1 lecture hour, 2.5 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.

1 lecture hour, 2.5 lab hours

PC210 Introductory Electricity 0.5

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

Prerequisite: PC131, PC132, 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 Thevenin Theorems, semiconductor diodes, bipolar transistors, bias circuits, h-parameters, amplification, feedback.

Prerequisite: PC210.

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: PC131, PC132.

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: PC200º, (PC319 recommended co-requisite).

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.

3.5 lab hours

PC315 Introduction to Scientific Computation 0.5

(Cross-listed as CP315.)

PC319 Digital System Design 0.5

Logic families and interfacing considerations for logic devices, VHDL, 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: CP104, PC120, PC221 (PC300º recommended co-requisite).

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: PC211, MA205.

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: PC211, PC237.

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: PC131, PC132, MA205.

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.

PC471 Analog Electronics II 0.5

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

Prerequisite: PC221.

PC475 Design of Control Systems 0.5

Modelling of physical systems using differential equations, block diagrams, signal flow graphs, transfer functions, step response, PID controller, root locus design, Bode plots, Nyquist stability criteria, state-space design.

Prerequisite: PC221, MA205.

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: Registration status: fourth-year Honours Computing and Computer Electronics and 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: PC491 and permission of the department.

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

DRAFT electronic version updated at 1:45 p.m. January 30, 2003