P HYSICS, A PPLIED P HYSICS, AND A STROPHYSICS Student-Faculty Conference April 5, 2007 Sarah Stokes, Micha Fireman, Michael Forte, Michael Inadomi, Christopher Klein, David Zeb Rocklin, Steven Wang Harry Atwater, Lynne Hillenbrand, Kenneth Libbrecht, Robert McKeown

P HYSICS T OPICS D ISCUSSED Overwhelming enrollment in upper division classes. Not enough Faculty-Student interaction. Freshman lab quality improvement. Allow more math and astronomy courses to be taken as electives. Other Topics

P HYSICS O VERWHELMING ENROLLMENT Ph125a: 71 enrolled 32 undergraduate physics majors Ph 106a: 50 enrolled 31 undergraduate physics majors It is ridiculous that less than half of the students in Ph125a are physics majors! Ph125 is serving as a work horse course for the entire institution. Many of the students are graduate students from other departments.

P HYSICS O VERWHELMING E NROLLMENT Suggestions to alleviate the stresses put on the physics classes: More TAs (funding sources needed): In a survey of undergraduates, regarding Ph125 and Ph106: 38 (70%) say it needs more TA and/or recitations 5 (9%) say it doesn't need more help 11 (20%) unsure Create APh125: Quantum Mechanics with an emphasis on solid state physics This will take much of the strain from Ph125 because APh undergraduates and many graduate students will find an APh quantum mechanics class more appealing to their academics pursuits.

P HYSICS F ACULTY -S TUDENT I NTERACTION Many physics students feel that the faculty is unapproachable for various reasons. We would like to foster a community feeling within the department by: Establishing a seminar course aimed at junior physics students. Encouraging more undergraduates to attend weekly department seminars. Softball game and barbeque

P HYSICS C LASS Q UALITY Issues regarding Physics 3 lab course quality have been discussed in preliminary SFC meetings. Since then, faculty attention has been brought to the issue. In general regarding class quality: Talk to the professor Fill out the course surveys (Prof. Libbrecht promises he reads them) Be proactive

P HYSICS E XTRA E LECTIVES Allow Ay20, Ay21, Ma5 to count for 9 units towards the 90-unit elective requirement within the PMA division. Ay20 is a prerequisite to take 100-level Ay courses, so it should be counted towards the physics major. Math is applicable to many aspects of physics, and Ma5 is a tough course. C’mon. If you want other math courses to count, petition to Prof. Libbrecht.

P HYSICS O THER TOPICS DISCUSSED The course catalog should recognize that the Ph1 analytical track prepares you better for upper level physics courses. Matlab and Mathematica are essential tool for physics, but not covered specifically in any class. It is the responsibility of the student to become fluent is using this software.

A PPLIED P HYSICS T OPICS D ISCUSSED Redundancy of APh 17 a and c Possibility of additional electives Update model schedule in catalog New course to fulfill APh communications requirement Emphasis and size of Ph 125

A PPLIED P HYSICS AP H 17 A AND C APh 17 a is meant to cover thermal physics from a statistical mechanics perspective APh 17 c is meant to do so from the viewpoint of classical thermodynamics Students felt the two classes were too similar and that they were not learning anything new in APh 17 c APh 17 c will cover new topics

A PPLIED P HYSICS A DDITIONAL E LECTIVES Examined the possibility of instituting a requirement for a lower-level elective Looked at the possibility of cross-listing more courses to fulfill the upper-level requirement

A PPLIED P HYSICS M ODEL C OURSE S CHEDULE Recommend Ph 1 analytical track for Ph/APh/Ay majors Recommend ACM 95 to be taken sophomore year Recommend Ph 12 instead of Ph 2 for APh majors

A PPLIED P HYSICS O THER I SSUES D ISCUSSED Examination of communications requirement Possibility of creating a course similar to Ay 30 More student-faculty interaction Adequacy of Ph 125 Need more TA’s to hold recitation due to class size. APh 125 that will focus on applications of quantum mechanics; in the past, APh 125 has been offered. If not possible, two different tracks (Ph 125c or APh 125c) can be offered third term.

A STROPHYSICS T OPICS D ISCUSSED Astrophysics department is awesome. Decreased enrollment in Ay20 and Ay21. Not as many physics majors take it for fun. Maybe the enrollment will increase with the electives change in the course catalog.

P HYSICS, A PPLIED P HYSICS, A STROPHYSICS S UMMARY OF M AJOR R ECOMMENDATIONS Reinstatement of APh125. Allow Ay20, Ay21 and Ma5 to count as physics electives. Cross list several courses for APh. Allow for lower-level courses to be taken for credit in APh. Oral requirement for APh.

DATA FOR PH125A Ph125a SOPHOMORES 2 - Physics JUNIORS 29 - Physics major 6 - Astrophysics 6 - Applied Physics SENIORS 1 - Physics 1 - Applied Physics UNDERGRAD EXCHANGE 3 - no major FIRST YEAR GRADS. 3 - Applied Physics 1 - Astrophysics 6 - Electrical Engineering 4 - Material Science 3 - Physics SECOND YR. GRADS 1 - Applied Physics 1 - Bioengineering 1 - Electrical Engr. 1 - Chemical Engr. 1 - Aeronautics THIRD YEAR GRAD. 1 - Bioengineering