Wave Phenomena
PHYSICS 15C
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Forced oscillation and resonance; coupled oscillators and normal modes; Fourier series; Electromagnetic waves, radiation, longitudinal oscillations, sound; traveling waves; signals, wave packets and group velocity; two- and three-dimensional waves; polarization; geometrical and physical optics; interference and diffraction. Optional topics: Water waves, holography, x-ray crystallography, solitons, music, quantum mechanics, and waves in the early universe.
Course Notes
Principles of Scientific Inquiry (PSI) is the laboratory component of Physics 15c. Topics include experimental design, model testing, error analysis, basic programming, oral presentations, and scientific writing. PSI will meet weekly throughout the semester.
Recommended Prep
Physics 15a and 15b or Physical Science 12a-b or equivalent. Mathematics at least at the level of Math 21b. Mathematical topics introduced during lectures will include matrix calculus, complex numbers, differential equations, and Fourier analysis.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
NOTE: This course requires additional sections; you will be prompted to choose secondary components during the Add to Cart process
