Physics, Applied Physics, and Astrophysics

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Physics, Applied Physics, and Astrophysics

• Student-Faculty Conference
• April 5, 2007
• Sarah Stokes, Micha Fireman, Michael Forte,
  Michael Inadomi, Christopher Klein,
  David Zeb Rocklin, Steven Wang
• Harry Atwater, Lynne Hillenbrand,
  Kenneth Libbrecht, Robert McKeown

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PhysicsTopics Discussed

• Overwhelming enrollment in upper division
  classes.
• Not enough Faculty-Student interaction.
• Freshman lab quality improvement.
• Allow more math and astronomy courses to be taken
  as electives.
• Other Topics

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PhysicsOverwhelming enrollment

• Ph125a71 enrolled32 undergraduate physics
  majors
• Ph 106a50 enrolled31 undergraduate physics
  majors
• It is ridiculous that less than half of the
  students in Ph125a are physics majors! Ph125 is
  serving as a work horse course for the entire
  institution. Many of the students are graduate
  students from other departments.

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PhysicsOverwhelming Enrollment

• Suggestions to alleviate the stresses put on the
  physics classes
• More TAs (funding sources needed)
• In a survey of undergraduates, regarding Ph125
  and Ph106
• 38 (70) say it needs more TA and/or
  recitations5 (9) say it doesn't need more
  help11 (20) unsure
• Create APh125 Quantum Mechanics with an emphasis
  on solid state physics
• This will take much of the strain from Ph125
  because APh undergraduates and many graduate
  students will find an APh quantum mechanics class
  more appealing to their academics pursuits.

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PhysicsFaculty-Student Interaction

• Many physics students feel that the faculty is
  unapproachable for various reasons.
• We would like to foster a community feeling
  within the department by
• Establishing a seminar course aimed at junior
  physics students.
• Encouraging more undergraduates to attend weekly
  department seminars.
• Softball game and barbeque ?

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PhysicsClass Quality

• Issues regarding Physics 3 lab course quality
  have been discussed in preliminary SFC meetings.
  Since then, faculty attention has been brought to
  the issue.
• In general regarding class quality
• Talk to the professor
• Fill out the course surveys (Prof. Libbrecht
  promises he reads them)
• Be proactive

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PhysicsExtra Electives

• Allow Ay20, Ay21, Ma5 to count for 9 units
  towards the 90-unit elective requirement within
  the PMA division.
• Ay20 is a prerequisite to take 100-level Ay
  courses, so it should be counted towards the
  physics major.
• Math is applicable to many aspects of physics,
  and Ma5 is a tough course. Cmon.
• If you want other math courses to count, petition
  to Prof. Libbrecht.

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PhysicsOther topics discussed

• The course catalog should recognize that the Ph1
  analytical track prepares you better for upper
  level physics courses.
• Matlab and Mathematica are essential tool for
  physics, but not covered specifically in any
  class. It is the responsibility of the student
  to become fluent is using this software.

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Applied PhysicsTopics Discussed

• Redundancy of APh 17 a and c
• Possibility of additional electives
• Update model schedule in catalog
• New course to fulfill APh communications
  requirement
• Emphasis and size of Ph 125

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Applied Physics APh 17 a and c

• APh 17 a is meant to cover thermal physics from a
  statistical mechanics perspective
• APh 17 c is meant to do so from the viewpoint of
  classical thermodynamics
• Students felt the two classes were too similar
  and that they were not learning anything new in
  APh 17 c
• APh 17 c will cover new topics

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Applied Physics Additional Electives

• Examined the possibility of instituting a
  requirement for a lower-level elective
• Looked at the possibility of cross-listing more
  courses to fulfill the upper-level requirement

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Applied Physics Model Course Schedule

• Recommend Ph 1 analytical track for Ph/APh/Ay
  majors
• Recommend ACM 95 to be taken sophomore year
• Recommend Ph 12 instead of Ph 2 for APh majors

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Applied Physics Other Issues Discussed

• Examination of communications requirement
• Possibility of creating a course similar to Ay 30
• More student-faculty interaction
• Adequacy of Ph 125
• Need more TAs to hold recitation due to class
  size.
• APh 125 that will focus on applications of
  quantum mechanics in the past, APh 125 has been
  offered.
• If not possible, two different tracks (Ph 125c or
  APh 125c) can be offered third term.

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AstrophysicsTopics Discussed

• Astrophysics department is awesome.
• Decreased enrollment in Ay20 and Ay21. Not as
  many physics majors take it for fun. Maybe the
  enrollment will increase with the electives
  change in the course catalog.

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Physics, Applied Physics, AstrophysicsSummary of
Major Recommendations

• Reinstatement of APh125.
• Allow Ay20, Ay21 and Ma5 to count as physics
  electives.
• Cross list several courses for APh.
• Allow for lower-level courses to be taken for
  credit in APh.
• Oral requirement for APh.

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DATA FOR PH125A
Ph125a
SOPHOMORES
2 - Physics

JUNIORS
29 - Physics major
6 - Astrophysics
6 - Applied Physics

SENIORS
1 - Physics
1 - Applied Physics

UNDERGRAD EXCHANGE
3 - no major

FIRST YEAR GRADS.
3 - Applied Physics
1 - Astrophysics
6 - Electrical Engineering
4 - Material Science
3 - Physics

SECOND YR. GRADS
1 - Applied Physics
1 - Bioengineering
1 - Electrical Engr.
1 - Chemical Engr.
1 - Aeronautics

THIRD YEAR GRAD.
1 - Bioengineering