(revised Nov 2023)
Classical Mechanics
Recommended Textbooks
- John R Taylor, “Classical Mechanics”
- Hebert Goldstein, “Classical Mechanics”, Chapters 01-06
Topics
(each numbered topic will be addressed by at least one question)
- Newton’s Laws
- Conservation laws
- Oscillations
- Central forces
- Lagrangian mechanics
- Rigid body rotations
Electricity & Magnetism
Recommended Textbooks
- David J. Griffiths, “Introduction to Electrodynamics”
- Edward M. Purcell, “Electricity & Magnetism”
Topics
(each numbered topic will be addressed by at least one question)
- Electrostatics and magnetostatics
- Electric and magnetic fields in matter
- Electrodynamics
- Potentials and fields
- Electromagnetic waves
- Conservation laws
Quantum Mechanics
Recommended Textbooks
- David J. Griffiths, “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics”
- Stephen G. Gasiorowicz, “Quantum Physics”
Topics
(each numbered topic will be addressed by at least one question)
- Wave functions; state functions and operators; uncertainty principle.
- The Schrodinger equation: Time-independent and time-dependent.
- The Schrodinger equation: Exactly solvable potentials.
- Angular momentum and spin.
- Hydrogenic atoms.
- Perturbation theory: Time-independent and time-dependent
Thermodynamics
Recommended Textbooks
- Kittel & Kroemer, Thermal Physics
- Herbert B. Callen, “Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics”
Topics
(each numbered topic will be addressed by at least one question)
- Thermodynamics: First and second laws.
- Thermodynamic Potentials.
- Cyclic processes.
- Equilibrium ensembles: Micro-canonical, canonical, and grand-canonical.
- Equilibrium ensembles: Classical and quantum cases.
- Ideal quantum gases and Applications.