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Courses:

Physics

• Principles of Physics I: Mechanics
• Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Structure
• Modern Physics for Nonscientists
• Laboratory Electronics: Analog Circuit Design

PHYS E-1a Principles of Physics I: Mechanics (10226) (Syllabus)
Wolfgang Rueckner, PhD, Manager of Lecture Demonstration Services and Instructional Laboratories in Physical Sciences, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit $670.
Tuesday, Sep. 19, 5:30-8:30 pm, Science Center, Hall B. Required weekly laboratory and discussion sections to be arranged. Fall term

An introduction to classical mechanics: kinematics, Newton's laws of motion, conservation laws, elasticity, oscillations, wave mechanics, and sound phenomena. Includes applications to the life sciences. This is a noncalculus introductory course. Prerequisite: good working knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, and geometry.

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PHYS E-1b Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Structure (20199) (Syllabus)
Wolfgang Rueckner, PhD, Manager of Lecture Demonstration Services and Instructional Laboratories in Physical Sciences, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit $670.
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 5:30-8:30 pm, Science Center, Hall B. Required weekly laboratory and discussion sections to be arranged. Spring term

A continuation of PHYS E-1a: topics include electricity and magnetism, electric circuits, geometrical and physical optics, the interaction of light and matter, the structure of matter, and radioactivity. Includes applications to the life sciences. Prerequisites: good working knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, and geometry; knowledge of Newtonian mechanics is assumed.

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PHYS E-5/W Modern Physics for Nonscientists (11530) (Syllabus)
Jeffrey Borenstein, PhD, President, Power Industries, Inc.
Writing-intensive course. 4 units. Noncredit $260, undergraduate credit $495.
Wednesday, Sep. 20, 5:30-7:30 pm, Science Center, Hall E. Occasional writing workshops to be arranged. Fall term

Nonscientists will learn basic ideas underlying science and technology. Topics include Einstein's relativity theories: E=MC², the nature of time, the speed of light, and curved space. The course also covers quantum mechanics: uncertainty principle, waves and particles, and philosophical implications. The frontiers of physics include Big Bang, cosmology, black holes, quarks, and string theory. Prerequisite: high school algebra.

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PHYS E-123a Laboratory Electronics: Analog Circuit Design (10228) (Syllabus)
Thomas C. Hayes, JD, Lecturer on Physics, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit and graduate credit $1,300. Limited enrollment.
Thursday, Sep. 21, 6-9:30 pm, Science Center, Room 206. Fall term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Science Center classrooms above the first floor.

This course forms the analog half of a two-semester sequence that provides a lab-intensive survey of electronics (the digital half of this sequence is CSCI E-123). The course introduces analog electronics, with little mathematical or physical analysis and much opportunity to design and build circuits. The treatment moves quickly from fundamentals (for example, passive circuits made with resistors, capacitors) to designs with transistors and then gives most of its attention to the design of circuits using operational amplifiers: circuits such as integrators, amplifiers, oscillators, and filters. Students will apply amplitude and frequency modulation in both transmission and reception. Each meeting includes a lab session. Prerequisites: high school algebra; some knowledge of elementary electrical concepts is helpful but not essential.

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