Physical Systems 2002-2003
    TESC
    Syllabi
    weekly work
    Web-X
    Research
     InQsit
    Links
    updated 13.May. 2002.  This page is under construction! Check back next month for updated information and working links. TIP:  Hit "Refresh" or  Shift - Reload to update web pages and see the latest information.

    Welcome to the Physical Systems homepage.
    Physical Systems is a full-time program in junior to senior level physics and mathematics
    at The Evergreen State College.  We will do differential equations together with the
    Mathematical Methods program on Tuesdays (taught jointly with Don Middendorf).

    The first day of class is Monday 16 Sept.2002 at 1:00 in the CAL
    (Computer Applications Laboratory:  first floor of Lab II).

    Answers
    for prospective students
    Program Description
     pretest will be available online in May 2002
    Fall Schedule and syllabus
    Your research projects
    Quizzes and Surveys
    Texts and Equipment
     communicate: Web-X
    Covenant and Expectations
    faculty
    previous PS materials
    Faculty:  Dr. E.J. Zita is on research leave until mid-September 2002.  The best way to reach her is at the Academic Fair or by email. If you email, (1) be sure you are logged on as yourself, or we may not be able to reply, and (2) please include "Physical Systems" in the Subject header, or your message might not get read.  Thank you.

    Fall schedule

    Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 1-6.  (Monday in CAL, Tues. and Thus. in our homeroom, Lab II Rm 2242.)
    Wednesday:  tea and office hours
    Friday:  no class;  we may have some field trips if the people in the program agree.

    Syllabus

    Fall
    Winter
    Spring
    Modern physics
    Mechanics (+ linear algebra)
    Differential equations (with Math Methods & Don Middendorf)
    Stories of science    		 Electromagnetic Theory (+ vector calculus)
    Quantum Mechanics (+ linear algebtra)
    Philosophy of science     		 Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmologies
    Cultural studies of science
    Projects:
  •  biographies 
  • develop a research question
    		•  Projects:
  • experiments
  • research methodologies
  • develop a research prospectus
    		•  Projects:
  • carry out your research 
  • peer tutor Astronomy and Cosmologies
    		•

    Textbooks: (likely list - incomplete)

    * Subscription to Physics Today or American Journal of Physics magazines will be required text for seminar reading and general info, to be used all year.  You might also me interested in looking at the Journal of Mathematical Physics.  I'll arrange to get a discounted class subscription.
    * You will get some of these texts online, some from Orca books downtown, and a few from the college bookstore.
    Fall possibilities
    Winter possibilities
    Spring possibilities
    Tipler - Modern physics
    Barger and Olsson - Mechanics
    Grossman - Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Eqns.
    Traweek - Beamtimes and Lifetimes
    Krause - Physics of Star Trek
    Biographies
    Spiegel - Mathematical Handbook - Schaum    		 Griffiths - E&M
    Quantum Mechanics Primer
    Heisenberg - Physics and Philosophy
    Medawar - How experiments end
    Verschuur - Hidden Attraction
    Frayn - Copenhagen
  • Kaufmann and Freedman - Universe
  • From Quarks to the Cosmos, by Leon Lederman and David Schramm, Scientific American Library  (0-7167-6012-6)
  • Bubbles, voids, and bumps in time, ed. James Cornell, Cambridge University Press (0 521 42673 1)
  • Foundations of Modern Cosmology, by John F. Hawley and Katherine A. Holcomb (Oxford University Press) ISBN 0-19-510497-8 
  • Echoes of Ancient Skies, E.C. Krupp
    		•

    First day of class will go something like this:

    1-2:  logistics, introductions, questions
    2-3:  lecture and discussion
    3-4:30:  start doing some actual work
    4:30-5:30: seminar on a short reading to be provided in class
    5:30-6:  wrap-up discussion

    Please arrive on time and plan to stay until 6 pm.  If you have a conflict, please reschedule it.  We'll have a couple of 15 minute breaks.  Feel free to bring food and drink to sustain you (quietly).  Subsequent classes will be similarly structured, with the addition of short presentations by students.


    Maintained by: E.J. Zita