• Capacitors, R and RC circuits

• Magnetic forces and magnetic fields

• Magnetic induction and induced currents

Conservation Laws and Gobal Constraints

• Conservation of energy and momentum

• Conservation of charge

• First and Second Laws of thermodynamics

Thermal Processes at the Molecular Level

• Thermal motions: Brownian motion, thermal force (collisions), temperature, equilibrium

• Boltzmann’s law, kT, examples

• Ideal gas statistical concepts using Boltzmann’s law, pressure

• Diffusion limited dynamics, population dynamics

Waves, Light, Optics, and Imaging

• Oscillators and waves

• Geometrical optics: rays, lenses, mirrors

• Optical instruments: microscopes and microscopy

• Physical optics: interference and diffraction

• X-ray scattering and structure determination

• Particle in a box; energy levels; spectroscopy from a quantum viewpoint

• Other microscopies: electron, scanning tunneling, atomic force

Collective Behaviors and Systems far from Equilibrium

• Liquids, laminar flow, viscosity, turbulence

• Phase transitions, pattern formation, and symmetry breaking

• Dynamical networks: electrical, neural, chemical, genetic

RECOMMENDATION #1.4

The committee recommends that life science majors be exposed to engineering principles and analysis. This does not necessarily require that they take a course in a school of engineering; courses in physics, biology, and other departments can provide exposure to these concepts. Students should have the opportunity to participate in laboratories that give them hands-on experience, so that