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PH424: Oscillations & Waves is a class within the Paradigms in Physics core curriculum in the Physics Department at Oregon State University.

Link to PH424 official syllabus : below is detailed course discussion that will be summarized in a handout on the first class.

Class Reading (online free texts):

[G]:

Physics of Waves

[EM] and [CM]

[M]:

Geometry of Linear Algebra

Students are usually physics majors, but the course is accessible to and open to other science and engineering majors. Please ask the instructor if concerned before class starts.

It is assumed you have taken the prior courses in the Paradigms sequence. It is generally assumed that PH411 has been taken, and you have prior exposure to solving simple differential equations.

Course Description
PH424 is a course about oscillations & waves. Oscillations & waves underpin almost all physical phenomena; it is not a discipline to itself, but rather a physical reality that future scientists need to develop a high-level of fluency. You will learn about both the math and mechanics in the context of a thorough theoretical analysis of two major onlineexperiments; 1. Resonance in Circuits (LRC lab), 2. Electronic Wave Signal Propagation (coaxial cable lab). Mathematically you will be able to solve ordinary and partial differential equations (of 1 spatial and 1 temporal dimension only), and be comfortable Fourier series methods. Your scientific presentation skills will be developed by submitting a manuscript communicating your findings. Submitted papers will be reviewed in a fashion similar to a scientific journal editorial board. "Lab Workshops" are a significant component of this course. Electronic systems will be used as a paradigm to appreciate oscillations & waves, but our interpretation will be from a fundamental physics perspective (different from engineering or PH 411). While this course it not directly related, it is assumed prior paradigms have been taken, and that you are reasonably comfortable with complex numbers and simple differerential equations. This course uses Canvas for grade recording & uploading in-class lab data. All other functions of the class will be conducted via the main web-site. New information is posted on the Class Blog and Daily Class Descriptions at.http://physics.oregonstate.edu/~grahamat/COURSES/ph424/. Most weeks you will also get 1-2 emails from the instructor to your ONID account. Emails may inlcude reminders from class, but occassionaly may be used to clairify labs or problem set questions.
Times, Dates and Locations
Class meets MWF at 13:00 - 13:50 and TR at 12:00 - 13:50 Class meetings are in WGR 212. Final exam: see below Add-Drop, Withdraw & Final dates. This 3-credit course meets for 1/2 of the term. Instructor & TA office hours are posted on the class web page.
Class Web page, Email List
The official class webpage url is http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu/~grahamat/COURSES/ph424/. Instructors always communicate via your onid address. Ensure that your onid email account forwards email to your preferred address.
Course Evaluation
PH424 grade break-down: - Problem Sets: 35% - Worksheets or Quizzes: 5% - Laboratory Manuscript: 25% - Final: 35%. Problem Sets: assignments are posted on the class webpage. Problem Sets are assigned on Mondays. A few problems are due on Wednesdays and the rest on Fridays. Many problem sets are directly related to the laboratory assignments. Pay attention to your presentation - clarity, neatness, and logical structure contribute to the overall assessment. Scientific Manuscripts & Abstracts: One scientific manuscript is due regarding the data obtained during the LCR Lab. A manuscript is somewhat like a lab report but is must have a clear, cohesive storyline to support a scientific position. There is also a major Worksheet/Problem Set on the Coax cable lab. This will NOT be written as a fromal report, but you will expected to work and present your figure the high-level expected in scienctific manuscripts. Laboratory and computer exercises are performed in teams, but each student must be responsible for his or her own report. Please consult the writing guide and the rubrics. The final exam involves problems similar to those encountered in the homework assignments, and the work explored in the physical and computational laboratory experiences. No programming will be required. You may write any equations or notes on a 8.5"x11"handwritten sheet. Turn in this sheet with your exam. Most commonly for this course: A- > 80%, B- >70%, C- > 60%, D- >50%, F < 50%. Such grading guidelines are common for many upper-division physics courses. See instructor or TAs for help interpreting your scores.
Class Participation
You must be actively engaged in learning in every mode of instruction. In lecture mode, listen actively (it's not trivial), and ask and respond to questions. In lab mode, question as you perform experiments. Observe carefully. You will often work together in groups in both lecture and lab mode. It is an efficient way to learn, because your peers are a vast source of information, largely untapped in traditional passive learning.
Writing in PH424
Writing is a critical aspect of your professional development. Its importance cannot be overstressed. The writing guide page is intended to help you improve and evaluate your homework assignments and laboratory reports.
Ground Rules
Science is inherently a social and collaborative effort, each scientist building on the work of others. Nevertheless, each student must ultimately be responsible for his or her own education. Therefore, you are expected to abide by a number of ground tules: We strongly encourage students to work with each other, more advanced students, the TA, LA and the instructor. However, each student is expected to turn in independent assignments that show evidence of individual thought. The final synthesis must be entirely your own. Problem set solutions from previous years are very strictly off-limits. You are on your honor not to use them, and not to share your homework solutions with other students. Allow faculty to use their time interacting with you, rather than continually thinking up new assignments. Besides, if you don't do the work yourself, it will show up very clearly on exams later. Likewise, the solutions provided by the instructors are for your personal use only. Sources must be appropriately documented. If you work with other students in a laboratory assignment, you must write down who your partners were. If you find part of a homework problem worked out somewhere (other than homework solutions from previous years), you may use that resource; just make sure you reference it properly. If someone else helps you solve a problem, reference that too. In a research paper, the appropriate reference would be Jane Doe, (private communication). Representing someone else's work as your own - is unethical, but collaboration and exchange of ideas is healthy. You can avoid collaborative efforts taking on the look of plagiarism by acknowledging sources and by writing up your work independently. Some students find it difficult to decide what constitutes "too much" collaboration. Here are some guidelines: Under no circumstances may you ever copy another student's work, even if you have collaborated to work through the problem. Under no circumstances may you ever allow your own work to be copied. Violation of this rule will certainly result in a zero grade for the assignment, and may result in an F grade in the course. Try to make progress on a problem on your own. If you cannot, seek help from other resources to overcome a specific hurdle, then try to make further headway on your own. Once you have solved the problem, be honest with yourself about how much intellectual input came from you, and try to improve next time. Rewrite the problem solution without reference to any notes, explaining the steps as you go, as you would to a novice problem solver.
Course Content Resources
1. Class Slides and supplemental g-notes. Uploaded just after each class. These are not meant to replace your personal notes. I will make my personal class notes available after each lecture as uploaded "g-notes" (graham-notes). Class slides and g-notes are learning aids meant to supplement your notes. These notes are NOT sufficent to make up for a missed lecture (they are only a fraction of the content covered). 2. H. Georgi, 2nd Edition Online Text; Physics of Waves; this is a very comprehensive text that has been made free through a release from Prentice-Hall. Our class covers aspects of Chapters, 1-2, 5-9. 3. C. Manogue [Math Methods]; Linear Algebra, Online Paradigms Text Optional texts: (T) Taylor, Classical Mechanics (only plays a minor role in PH424) (M) Main, Vibrations and Waves in Physics, 3rd Edition (Morin) Optional Online Text: Oscillations & Waves, David Morin; this is very nice text, but it is still in progess. Chapters 1,3-6 and 8 all offer highly rigorous descriptions of PH424 topics. Other Referecences: (G) Griffiths (optional for this course), Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd Edition (K) Knight, Physics for scientists and engineers, 2nd edition (or whichever text you used for your calculus-based introductory Physics course. (TM) Thornton & Marion, Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, 5th Edition (was used prior to Taylor) The following two books are electronics texts, and such books are useful for alternative discussion of the LRC circuit. (S) Simpson, Introductory Electronics for Scientists and Engineers, 2nd Edition (was PH411 text, not required, helpful for LRC circuit) (B) D. V. Bugg, Electronics: Circuits, Amplifiers and Gates, (Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, 1991).
Add, Drop, Withdraw & Final Exam Dates
Special add/drop dates are in effect for the Paradigms courses. Please see the Paradigms Web page for the dates. PH424 in Winter 2019 is the first Paradigm of the term. The exam will be held in WGR 212, 304 & 304F, and other rooms as needed.
Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities
Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained approval please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates implementation of those accommodations. While not required, students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss details of the implementation of individual accommodations.

Course Description

PH424 is a course about oscillations & waves. Oscillations & waves underpin almost all physical phenomena; it is not a discipline to itself, but rather a physical reality that future scientists need to develop a high-level of fluency.

You will learn about both the math and mechanics in the context of a thorough theoretical analysis of two major onlineexperiments;

1. Resonance in Circuits (LRC lab),
2. Electronic Wave Signal Propagation (coaxial cable lab).

Mathematically you will be able to solve ordinary and partial differential equations (of 1 spatial and 1 temporal dimension only), and be comfortable Fourier series methods.

Your scientific presentation skills will be developed by submitting a manuscript communicating your findings. Submitted papers will be reviewed in a fashion similar to a scientific journal editorial board. "Lab Workshops" are a significant component of this course. Electronic systems will be used as a paradigm to appreciate oscillations & waves, but our interpretation will be from a fundamental physics perspective (different from engineering or PH 411). While this course it not directly related, it is assumed prior paradigms have been taken, and that you are reasonably comfortable with complex numbers and simple differerential equations.

This course uses Canvas for grade recording & uploading in-class lab data. All other functions of the class will be conducted via the main web-site. New information is posted on the Class Blog and Daily Class Descriptions at.http://physics.oregonstate.edu/~grahamat/COURSES/ph424/. Most weeks you will also get 1-2 emails from the instructor to your ONID account. Emails may inlcude reminders from class, but occassionaly may be used to clairify labs or problem set questions.

Times, Dates and Locations

Class meets MWF at 13:00 - 13:50 and TR at 12:00 - 13:50
Class meetings are in WGR 212.
Final exam: see below Add-Drop, Withdraw & Final dates.
This 3-credit course meets for 1/2 of the term.
Instructor & TA office hours are posted on the class web page.

Class Web page, Email List

The official class webpage url is http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu/~grahamat/COURSES/ph424/.
Instructors always communicate via your onid address. Ensure that your onid email account forwards email to your preferred address.

Course Evaluation

PH424 grade break-down:
- Problem Sets: 35%
- Worksheets or Quizzes: 5%
- Laboratory Manuscript: 25%
- Final: 35%.
Problem Sets: assignments are posted on the class webpage. Problem Sets are assigned on Mondays. A few problems are due on Wednesdays and the rest on Fridays.
Many problem sets are directly related to the laboratory assignments. Pay attention to your presentation - clarity, neatness, and logical structure contribute to the overall assessment.

Scientific Manuscripts & Abstracts: One scientific manuscript is due regarding the data obtained during the LCR Lab. A manuscript is somewhat like a lab report but is must have a clear, cohesive storyline to support a scientific position. There is also a major Worksheet/Problem Set on the Coax cable lab. This will NOT be written as a fromal report, but you will expected to work and present your figure the high-level expected in scienctific manuscripts. Laboratory and computer exercises are performed in teams, but each student must be responsible for his or her own report. Please consult the writing guide and the rubrics.
The final exam involves problems similar to those encountered in the homework assignments, and the work explored in the physical and computational laboratory experiences. No programming will be required. You may write any equations or notes on a 8.5"x11"handwritten sheet. Turn in this sheet with your exam.
Most commonly for this course: A- > 80%, B- >70%, C- > 60%, D- >50%, F < 50%. Such grading guidelines are common for many upper-division physics courses. See instructor or TAs for help interpreting your scores.

Class Participation

You must be actively engaged in learning in every mode of instruction. In lecture mode, listen actively (it's not trivial), and ask and respond to questions. In lab mode, question as you perform experiments. Observe carefully. You will often work together in groups in both lecture and lab mode. It is an efficient way to learn, because your peers are a vast source of information, largely untapped in traditional passive learning.

Writing in PH424

Writing is a critical aspect of your professional development. Its importance cannot be overstressed. The writing guide page is intended to help you improve and evaluate your homework assignments and laboratory reports.

Ground Rules

Science is inherently a social and collaborative effort, each scientist building on the work of others. Nevertheless, each student must ultimately be responsible for his or her own education. Therefore, you are expected to abide by a number of ground tules:

We strongly encourage students to work with each other, more advanced students, the TA, LA and the instructor. However, each student is expected to turn in independent assignments that show evidence of individual thought. The final synthesis must be entirely your own.
Problem set solutions from previous years are very strictly off-limits. You are on your honor not to use them, and not to share your homework solutions with other students. Allow faculty to use their time interacting with you, rather than continually thinking up new assignments. Besides, if you don't do the work yourself, it will show up very clearly on exams later. Likewise, the solutions provided by the instructors are for your personal use only.
Sources must be appropriately documented. If you work with other students in a laboratory assignment, you must write down who your partners were. If you find part of a homework problem worked out somewhere (other than homework solutions from previous years), you may use that resource; just make sure you reference it properly. If someone else helps you solve a problem, reference that too. In a research paper, the appropriate reference would be Jane Doe, (private communication).
Representing someone else's work as your own - is unethical, but collaboration and exchange of ideas is healthy. You can avoid collaborative efforts taking on the look of plagiarism by acknowledging sources and by writing up your work independently.

Some students find it difficult to decide what constitutes "too much" collaboration. Here are some guidelines:

Under no circumstances may you ever copy another student's work, even if you have collaborated to work through the problem. Under no circumstances may you ever allow your own work to be copied. Violation of this rule will certainly result in a zero grade for the assignment, and may result in an F grade in the course.
Try to make progress on a problem on your own. If you cannot, seek help from other resources to overcome a specific hurdle, then try to make further headway on your own. Once you have solved the problem, be honest with yourself about how much intellectual input came from you, and try to improve next time. Rewrite the problem solution without reference to any notes, explaining the steps as you go, as you would to a novice problem solver.

Course Content Resources

1. Class Slides and supplemental g-notes. Uploaded just after each class. These are not meant to replace your personal notes. I will make my personal class notes available after each lecture as uploaded "g-notes" (graham-notes). Class slides and g-notes are learning aids meant to supplement your notes. These notes are NOT sufficent to make up for a missed lecture (they are only a fraction of the content covered).

2. H. Georgi, 2nd Edition Online Text; Physics of Waves; this is a very comprehensive text that has been made free through a release from Prentice-Hall. Our class covers aspects of Chapters, 1-2, 5-9.

3. C. Manogue [Math Methods]; Linear Algebra, Online Paradigms Text

Optional texts:

(T) Taylor, Classical Mechanics (only plays a minor role in PH424)
(M) Main, Vibrations and Waves in Physics, 3rd Edition
(Morin) Optional Online Text: Oscillations & Waves, David Morin; this is very nice text, but it is still in progess. Chapters 1,3-6 and 8 all offer highly rigorous descriptions of PH424 topics.

Other Referecences:

(G) Griffiths (optional for this course), Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd Edition
(K) Knight, Physics for scientists and engineers, 2nd edition (or whichever text you used for your calculus-based introductory Physics course.
(TM) Thornton & Marion, Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, 5th Edition (was used prior to Taylor)
(S) Simpson, Introductory Electronics for Scientists and Engineers, 2nd Edition (was PH411 text, not required, helpful for LRC circuit)
(B) D. V. Bugg, Electronics: Circuits, Amplifiers and Gates, (Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, 1991).

Add, Drop, Withdraw & Final Exam Dates

Special add/drop dates are in effect for the Paradigms courses. Please see the Paradigms Web page for the dates.
PH424 in Winter 2019 is the first Paradigm of the term. The exam will be held in WGR 212, 304 & 304F, and other rooms as needed.

Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities

Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained approval please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS notifies students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates implementation of those accommodations. While not required, students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss details of the implementation of individual accommodations.