Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electrodynamics, Optics, and Special Relativity

Lecture/demonstration, four hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisites: course 1A, 1B, Mathematics 32A, 32B. Enforced corequisite: Mathematics 33A. Magnetic fields, Ampere's law, Faraday's law, inductance, and alternating current circuits. Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, light, geometrical optics, interference and diffraction. Special relativity. P/NP or letter grading.

Review Summary

Clarity
6.7 / 10
Organization
8.3 / 10
Time
15-20 hrs/week
Overall
8.3 / 10

Reviews

    Quarter Taken: Spring 2020 Online
    Grade: B+

    Corbin is by far the best Physics 1 series lecturer: he's taught each class so many more times than the other instructors. I had bad experiences in Physics 1A and 1B, and Corbin got me the most excited about physics that I've ever been. Ask him about his ham radio!

    Corbin is also by far the hardest physics professor. He lectures very quickly, and you have to take good notes on his example if you want to do well. Homeworks will take a lot of time. During my quarter, we didn't have a midterm but instead 5 quizzes spread out throughout the quarter. Each quiz question was brutal. The final was brutal. You will question everything as you try to figure out the questions. But at least the class is curved pretty nicely!

    If you want an easy A, go with someone else. But if you don't mind taking a GPA hit, take physics with Corbin. Even if you aren't a physics major, you'll appreciate the things Corbin teaches.

Course

Instructor
Brent Corbin
Previously taught
23F 20F 20S 19F 19S 18F 17F 16F 15F 13F 13W 12F 11F 10W 07W 04W

Grading Information

  • No group projects

  • Attendance not required

  • No midterms

  • Finals week final

  • 0% recommend the textbook