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,rI1rirs 

Secretary of Senate 

Sublect

.................. New 

?

PhysicsCs ? 

.. ........................... 

7r1r

LJYL1L

c-1 flF'T ?

From ........... . ..............

13..............Funt 

Dean of Science 

Date .......................... ...tob..r 

At its meeting of October 20th, the Faculty of Science approved 

the recommendation of its Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 

that the new course proposals from the Physics Department be 

accepted. 

The cogent arguments for these changes are summarized in the 

Physics' Department Preamble which is attached to paper 25-13. 

Thc standard new course proposal forms were completed as considered 

applicable for each of the course changes, and are now submitted 

for Senate approval. 

c.c. Dr. 

J.

F. Cochran 

Acting Head, Physics 

.

.

-

FACULTY OF SCIENCE 

3. i) Report from Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 

b) New Physics Courses 

The proposed Physics courses were approved by the Undergraduate 

Curriculum Committee and are reconunended to Faculty for acceptance and 

submission to Senate. 

B. L. Punt 

Approved by the Faculty of Science at its meeting of October 20, 1969 

.

COMMENTS ON TILE PHYSICS PROPOSAL 

The proposals In 

the

Physics Dept. submissions as approved by 

our Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and now forwarded to Faculty for 

approval. bring into focis the problem of definition of a unit weight in 

a course. 

It is implicit in the new proposals that 2 courses, each of 2 

units credit, are equivalent to 1 course of 4 units credit. 

However, it is noteworthy that at the time when the Faculty of 

Arts is moving more and more towards 5 unit courses and where the Faculty 

of Science were essentially 

3

unit courses throughout, there has been an 

increased tendency to re-number and re-designate courses in order to bring 

more 2 unit courses into play. The net effect of this is to present a 

program for average students which requires 7 course titles for the regular 

or specified program in the calendar. 

It is argued that this is preferable to concentrating the work 

in a given subject into a 5 unit course, at a rate which a student cannot 

assimilate. 

On the other hand, I have increasing concern based on represent- 

ations by students that this degree of fragmentation of courseis difficult 

for the student to contend with 

and

is not in the interest of the best 

educational. philosophy on the trimester system. 

Despite the fact that the program is recommended by the Under- 

graduate Curriculum Committee, I felt that it was my responsibility to 

Faculty to point out this new and definitive tendency which is developing 

in terms of course credits. 

B. L. Funt 

S .

From.................................

C.o.c.h.ra.n.i 

Acting Head 

j.partmen.L 

Data....................

??.

....1969

14733-Po

Enclosed is a paper outlining proposed physics 

,

"

course 

changes, together with the reasons for changing 

them at this time. This submission has departmental 

approval 

.

, and we wish it to go 

forward to

the Senate 

for Uhiversity approval ;i i th the re c ommen dat ion of the 

Faculty of Science. 

.

/,•

!-LL

F. Cochran 

JFC:

eaw

Enclosure

FACULTY OF SCIENCE 

?

NEW COURSE PROPOSALS 

?

Physics Department 

1969

PREAMBLE 

We propose to change the entire structure in the first 

two years' courses offered in the Physics Depacment 

?

For

this reason the "standard" new course proposal form is inappro- 

priate to our purpose 

?

We have at-tempted to follow it s 

'

form 

as closely as possible, deviating only when appcorte uno.er 

these circumstances. 

The major points of or propo 

sa

l are these:, 

3. No new faculty is required. 

2. No new facilities are required. 

The demand    

?

upon students in the Science 

Faculty taking our courses s reduced, lthough the 

physics content is 

subs

t antially the sore 

The new program matches the high school physics pro 

gram. The old program gave rise to 

matching 

problems. 

5.

The new program matches the community college program 

-------- 

Theold.program gave r se, _to 

-

match ing problems. 

6. The new program has courses suitable for Biology and 

Klnes3ology students. The old program aid not have 

such courses. 

FACULTY OF SCIENCE 

t ?

.--*

C

.

NEW COURSE PROPOSALS 

I CALENDAR INFORMATION 

Department: Physics 

Course Number: 

233-2

Title: Introductory Physics Laboratory A 

Course Number: 

234-2

Title: Introductory Physics Laboratory B 

Course Number 

?

235-2

Title: Introductory Physics Laboratory C 

Credit Hours: two each 

?

Vector Description: (0-0-3) 

Prerequisites: A 

200

level physics course must precede or 

be taken concurrently. No more than six semester-hours 

credit may be obtained in Introductory Physics Laboratory 

courses. 

II ENROLNT AND SCHEDULING 

Estimated enrolment: 10-60 

5

depending on semester and 

student preference in timetabling. 

Semester Offered: Every semester 

When courses will first be offered: As soon as they are 

approved. 

III JUSTIFICATION 

A. These courses each consist of two thirds of the mater 

.

-ial required in each of the existing three-semester-hour 

Introductory Physics Laboratory courses, Physics 

231-3

and

232-3.

The latter are presently structured as pro- 

ject laboratOries. Students choose for themselves the 

experiments they wish to do during the semester. A stu- 

dent in 

233, 

234,

or

235

would simply be required to do 

fewer experiments. The course administration simply 

involves bookkeeping, as no new facilities are necessary, 

.._and the courses will!, be taught in the same rooms at the 

same times as the three-semester-hour courses. 

• B. These courses do not affect degree requirements, except 

that now new options are opened to students who want. to 

talce their physics laboratory in differently sized pieces. 

C. The calendar would beg 

?

so that the section pre- ? 

sently occupied by Physics 

231-3

and

232-3

will be re- 

placed by: 

•'

Physi 

s

21.3* Introductory

Physics

Laboratory I (00-Li.)

Phys 

ics

_232_3*_ Introductor

y

vstcs

Laboratory II (0-0-4)

Physics 

233-2*

Introducto ?

Physics Laboratory A (0-0-3)

Y±

4_2*_Introducty_Physics 

Laboratory B (0.-03)

•

Laboratory

C (0-0-3) 

the lecture courses to unc1ertace the laboratory. Enrol-

ment

in a student'

first laboratory course is possible

only

if a physics course

numbered

201or higher precedes

or is taicen concurrently. A total of no more

than

six

semester hours of thesd courses

may be taKen

by any

student. 

(This inclues course 236-1, discussed in an accompanying 

paper). 

D. It is proposed that no courses be dropped from the

calendar. 

IV BUDGETARY 

AND SPACE

_FACTORS

• '"A' ?

it

S ,

will be 

run by the faculty

charge of the Introductory

Physics Laboratory courses.

B. No additional space and/or equipment will be requ.iréd.

APPROVAL - Faculty Undergraduate Curriculum Committee: 00<,q

Faculty: 

?

Oa-?i'z z_o 

I

Senate; 

PROPOSED EW COURSES 

I ?

CALENDAR 

TNI?nPMAmTr-ThT

Department: Physics 

Physics 201-2 

?

^

Tchanic*s 

?

(2-1-0) 

Vectors, statics, dynamics, Kinematics; work, energy, 

power, simple harmonic motion, gravity.

Mathematics

with

Prere . 

high

iisites: 

standing,

152-3

B.C.

must 

high

precede 

the

school 

equivalent,

or

Physics 

be taken 

12,

Physics

concurrently. 

or Physics

101-3. 

PhYSICS

202-2 Introductor V OjDtics 

Geometrical and physical optics and the special theory of 

relativity. 

with

Prerequisites:

gh

Mathematics 152-3 must precede or be taken .concurrently.

Physics

03

-2

Intermediate Mechanics

(2-1-0)

Driven and damped oscillations, rigid-body motion, elas-

ticity, orbital mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics,

grade 

Pre.iuisjtes: 

of

B or higher, 

Physics 

Either 

201•-2 

Mathematics 

or Physi 

s

251-3 

101-3 with 

or 252-2 

a

must precede or be taken concurrently. 

Physics

204-2 Introductor 

?

Magnetism (2-1-0)? 

Electrostatics, currents, resistance,- capacitance, induc- 

• tance, Coulomb's and Gauss' Laws, electric and magnetic 

- fields. ? - 

Preregsites: Physics 1

1-3 or Physics 12. Mathematics

- -. 1i5

3.must .precede or-be talcen -concurrently.

Phys 

ics

?

(2-1-0) 

Electric and magnetic fields in matter, electric circuits, 

Ampere's 

equations.

and

Faraday'

s

Laws, introduction to Maxwell's 

or

-2.- 

SPhysics 206-2 Introductory Thermal and Modern   

?

(2-1-0) 

Temperature, heat transfer, kinetic theory of gases, some 

classical thermodynamics, radioactivity, Rutherford and 

Bohr models, nuclear energy, uncertainty, statistical 

nature of physical law. 

Prerequisites: Physics 

201-2 

or 1 

0

1-3with a grade of B 

higher, and Physics 204-2 or 102-3 with a grade of B or higher. 

Physics 202-2 normally precedes or is talcen Concurrently. 

Mathematics 251-3 must precede or he taken concurrently. 

II ENROLNT AND SCHEDULING 

Enrolment is estimated to vary considerably depending on 

the semester in which a particular course is offered. 

Enrolments should vary between 20 and 

6o.

In steady-state operation ( i.e. after initially phasing 

new courses in and .old courses out) we shall offer the 

new courses in this pattern: 

•Sprin g 

Semester ? 

Summer Semester ? 

Fall Semester 

• ? 

201-2 ? 

202-2 ? 

201-2 

202-2 ? 

203-2 

?

203-2 

2

03-

2

?

204-2 ? 

204-2 

2

05- 2 ? 

205-2 

206-2 ? 

206-2 

• The new courses will be offered for the first time ac- 

cording to the following schedule: 

201-2 Spring 

1971 ?

•.

1202-2Spring • 1971 

• ? 

203-2 Summer 1971 

204-2 Summer 

1971 ?

•

205-2 Fall 

?

1971 ?

I ?

•• 

•

?

206-2 Fall 

?

1971

III JUSTIFICATION 

The present offering in Physics is not broad enough to 

satisfy the needs of the Biologists and Kinesiologists for. 

a six-hour introductory course on, one hand, and to give a 

thorough, more extensive introduction to the physical 

•

?

?

science students on the other. We intend to direct Physics 

?

101-3 and 102-3 specifically at the student who has not 

completed B.C. High School Physics and at; the Bioscience 

and Kinesthlogf students We 

r

ind that we spore too much 

/

?

time teaching mathematical techniques or trying to cir- 

cumvent mathematical inadequacies in Physics 101-3 and 

102-3 as they are presently taught. The physical science 

student will taice these new courses starting no earlier 

.thañ his second semester in university, and will thus be 

better prepared mathematically to assimilate physics. 

A.

The difference between these courses and courses 

presently offered in the department at the same level 

(211-3 and 221-3) is 

'

.

that- these courses will cover the 

material contained in 101, 102, 211, and 221 in a slower, 

more thorough fashion. Part of the material of Physics 

211 will be deleted since it can better be covered in 

Physics 

l

iii (and since it is widely considered to be too 

difficult for second year students). 

B.

Tie addition of these courses will enable the depart- 

ment to serve the needs of all programs in the university. 

which require physics courses in a manner superior to that- 

which is now possible. 

C.

Degree requirements in all programs affected by this 

change can be modified in such a way that equal or super- 

ior options are available in every case. 

?

The programs affected are: 

B.Sc, Majors and Honors Biological Sciences 

• ? 

B.Sc. Majors and Honors Applied Mathematics 

B.Sc, Majors and Honors Chemistry 

B.Sc. Honors ? 

Chemical Physics 

B.Sc. Majors and Honors Kinesiology 

B.Sc. Majors and Honors Biochemistry 

B.Sc. Majors and Honors Physics 

Students intending trthsfer to UBC Applied Science Programs 

Students intending transfer to Medical, Veterinary, Arch 

-

itecture, and other professional schools. 

necessary to reflect the addition: of 

these courses (and deletion of those to be mentioned ) are, 

in. addition the descriptions already detailed, changes in 

physics course requirements for all of the above programs 

with the exception of-Biolo 

g

ical Sciences and Kinesiology 

Programs, and the 

v

tàjors 

..

Biochemistry program. Options 

(involving the new courses) should be added to those pro- 

grams when possible. 

E. If these courses are approved Physics 100-3, 211-3, 

arid 221-3 must be dropped from the calendar. The prere- 

quisiteof high school physics must be dropped from Physics 

101-3, returning it 

.

?

form in which it originally' 

ap p eared. 

?

• I

-4-

F. There is no student demand for these courses; there 

is

a

common student disappointment or dissatisfaction 

with the courses presently offered, particularly with 

?

.'

• Physics 211-3, and this modified offering is intended to 

provide a more satisfactory sequence. 

• G. There are several other reasons for proposing these 

courses. The first of these involves the students who 

transfer in from Junior College after one year. Such 

students could not be easily accomodated by giving them 

advance credit in, say, one or more coherent four-semester- 

hour courses, the form in which this proposal was origi- 

nally cast. At present many of these students are obliged 

to st?rt at the first-year level on entering SFU, a some- 

• ? 

what: discouraging situation. Under the new scheme a stu- 

dent transferring six hours from a Junior College could 

be given a credit combination appropriate to his leyel of 

education. 

If four- instead of two-semester - hour courses were 

•

?

• offered then they would have to be rigidly sequeniil. 

0 ,

• ? 

, All courses would need to be offered every semester to 

allow use of the summer semester by all students. Our 

large 

faculty 

a range 

is not 

of

large 

courses. 

enough 

?

to

permit us to offer this 

?

Advantage is 'taken, to good pedagogical end, of the 

?

•• 

flexibility of the trimester system. While the first 

• physics course can be delayed a semester while the student 

?

S ?

-gains mathematical slcills, it probably could not be de- 

• layed' a full year. 

?

•

?

Lastly, 

it is 

the opinion of those physics faculty mem•• 

?

bers who matriculated in Canada that four lectures per 

• .e1c by one man on one subject is ineffective compared 

with two per weeic by two men on each of two subjects. 

?

•

IV, • BUDETAR 'AND SPACE 'FACTORS 

?

• ? 

•' 

S ?

•• 

A AlYf' the present physics faculty are competent to 

teach all of these courses. 

?

S ?

special space and/or major equipment additions 

?

are necessitated by these changes. 

?

C. Scheduling problems may be eased. Science stidents' 

timetables are typically slacic. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 

•

• ? 

on

which days two-semester-hour courses conveniently fit. 

The popular 

9:3

Monday-Wednesda 

r

-Friday slot becomes • ? 

• •: ? 

•

• ? 

available so that a science student can more easily sche- • 

dule his 

electives, ? 

•• ? 

• ' 

•APPROVAL -.• Faculty Underxaduat: Curriculum CQmmit.tee

I CALENDAR INFORMATION

Department: Physics 

?

Course Number: 236-i 

Title: Introductory Physics Laboratory D 

Sub-title or Description: Experiments chosen from 

several in mechanics, heat, optics, electricity, magne- 

tisn, atomic and nuclear physics 

'Credit Hours: one 

?

Vector Description: (0-0-2) 

Ere ? 

quisite[j: A 200 level physics course must precede 

or be taKen concurrently. No more than six semester-hours 

of credit may be obtained in Introductory Physics Labora- 

tory courses. 

II ENROLMENT ANT) SCHEDULING 

•

Es'

imated Enrolment: fewer than five 

Semester Offered (e.g. Yearly, every Spring; twice yearly 

Fall and Spring): Every semester 

When course will first be offered: Summer semester 1970 

III. 

?

JUSTIFICATION 

A.

This course is needed so that students may maice up 

six semester-hours of credit by using a three- 

p

a two- 

and a one-semester--hour laboratory instead of being re- 

stricted to the choice of three twos or two threes. It 

may also prove useful to transfer students from other 

institutions who lacK only one semester hour in an equi- 

valent course. 

B.

Topics/project are drawn from the same selection 

available to students in the other Introductory Physics 

Laboratory courses. 

C.

All comments pertinent to the justification of courses 

233-2, 

23

1

4-2, 

and

235-2 (.v. ) 

apply here as well, inclu- 

ding calendar changes. 

D.

This one -- semester -hour course exploits the intrinsic 

W ?

-

?

flexibility of both the trimester system and the project- 

t

?

physics laboratory, enabling the student to plan 

his program of studies considerably more easily than is 

presently possible. 

- 2 - 

W

Lr

BUDGETARY AND 

_SPACE _ FA 

CTORS 

A.

This course will require no extra faculty because it 

will be run by the faculty in charge of the Introductory 

•

?

Physics Laboratory courses. 

?

:.

B.

No additional space and/or equipment will be required. 

?

:.

APPROVAL - • Faculty Undergraduate Curriculum Committee: O 

-TbGQ

FaCUU>r, 

?

Si'/: 

FACULTY OF SCIENCE 

NEW COURSE PROPOSAL 

CALENDAR INFORMATION 

Department: Physics 

?

Course Number: 

Title: Periphysical Topics

199-3 

Sub-title or Description: Selected topics from sciences 

closely allied with physics. 

Credit Hours: three ? 

Vector Description: (3-1-0) 

Pre-reguisite(s): B.C. High School Physics 11 

or equiva-

lent, and Mathematics 12. 

II ENROLMENT AND SCHEDULING 

Estimated Enrolment: Uncertain, probably a minimum of 10 

Semester Offered (e.g. Yearly, every Spring; twice yearly, 

Fall and Spring): 

Each 

Fall when 

arrangements can be made. 

5 ?

When course will first be offered: Fall 

1970

III JUSTIFICATION 

Because we feel that.Physics students, and perhaps some 

others as well, will likely want to take a phyics course 

in their first semester, we think it would be ialuabie to 

teach the following course which will not be required as 

part of any program. It would be accessible to many Arts 

and Education students as well. 

tI

perphysical Topics t! 

is

a course in which the content would vary from semester 

semester. Typical topics would be geophysics, astronomy, 

physical oceanography, atmospheric physics, astrophysics, 

and other such topics which are strongly related to physics. 

While some of these topics could be handled adequately 

by present faculty members, it is possible and desire.able 

that visiting faculty, perhaps often from U.B.C., he com- 

missioned to teach the course. It would he offered in 

the Fall semester only. 

I

While this course is not part of any program it would be 

a valuable addition to our offering and an attractive 

course to non-science 

students

as well. The number is 

riot that of a so-called general education course because 

this course, unlilce Physics 

001.-3, 

will be fairly maths- 

mat ical. 

-2 - 

IV BUDGETARY AND SPACE FACTORS 

A.

Which faculty will be available to teach this course? 

Two from U.B.C. have indicated interest. 

B.

What are the special space and/ô e 

q uipment require- 

ments for this course? 

None 

C.

Any other budgetary implications of mounting this 

course: 

Financial

support for the lecturer would 

usually

be

required. 

APPROVAL - 

Faculty

Undergraduate Curriculum Committee: 

Faculty: 

Senate: 

.