Einstein at 25


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.
Prereq or concur: MA 114. (excerpted from the U.K. Bulletin)

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
Office: Chem-Phys 387b
Telephone: 257 - 4391
E-mail: gardner "@" pa.uky.edu

Lecturer: Prof. Michael Kovash
Office: Chem-Phys 171
Telephone: 257 - 1150
E-mail: kovash "@" pa.uky.edu

Course Topics (to be discussed as time permits):

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!

Divider Web site created by S. Gardner. Last update: January 9, 2007.