Phy 228 - Spring 2007
Annnouncements
Problem Sets
Lecture Schedule
Syllabus
Further Reading
(Albert Einstein as a patent clerk in Bern, circa 1902-1909. Original photo in the Albert Einstein archives, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.)
Physics 228
Optics, Relativity, and Thermal Physics
University of Kentucky
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Spring 2007
Welcome to the Phy 228 web page....
A lecture and problems course covering the principles of geometric optics, special relativity, and thermal physics.
Phy 228 is the second part of a three-semester survey
of classical physics. It should be
taken after Phy 231 (Mechanics) and before Phy 232 (Electricity & Magnetism)
and uses the textbook
required for these courses.
Lecturer: Prof. Susan Gardner
Lecturer: Prof. Michael Kovash
Course Topics (to be discussed as time permits):
Prereq or concur: MA 114. (excerpted from the U.K. Bulletin)
Office: Chem-Phys 387b
Telephone: 257 - 4391
E-mail: gardner "@" pa.uky.edu
Office: Chem-Phys 171
Telephone: 257 - 1150
E-mail: kovash "@" pa.uky.edu
| Relativity | Optics | Thermal Physics |
|---|---|---|
| The Velocity of Light | Reflection and Refraction | Temperature -- the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics |
| Invariant Intervals: Spacetime | Total Internal Reflection | The First Law of Thermodynamics; Work |
| The Principles of Special Relativity | Fermat's Principle of Least Time | The Second Law of Thermodynamics |
| Simultaneity | Thick and Thin Lenses | Heat Engines |
| Time Dilation/Length Contraction | Focal Length; Magnification | Reversible and Irreversible Processes |
| The Geometry of Spacetime | Compound Lenses | The Efficiency of an Ideal Engine |
| Relativistic Kinematics | Aberrations | Entropy |
| Collisions and Conservation Laws | Resolving Power | Kinetic Theory of Gases |
| --- | Optical Instruments: Telescope/Microscope | Molecular Interpretation of Temperature |
| --- | The Human Eye; Color Vision | The Distribution of Molecular Speeds |
| --- | --- | Boltzmann Law |
Required textbooks:
Taylor & Wheeler, Spacetime Physics, 2nd Edition.
Serway & Jewett, Physics For Scientists and Engineers, 6th Edition.
Click on photo for online textbook resources.
Recommended text book:
R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, and M. Sands, The Feynman Lectures on Physics,
Volume I, which contains lectures on relativity, optics, and thermal physics!
Web site created by S. Gardner. Last update: January 9, 2007.