Physics of Contemporary Challenges | 2026-Fall

Course Name
Physics of Contemporary Challenges
Course Number
ph315
Year/Term
Fall-2026
Course Credits
3
Class meeting times
3 hours of lecture per week
Prerequisites
Recommended: PH 211
Course description
An introduction to thermal and quantum physics in the context of contemporary challenges faced by our society, such as power generation, energy efficiency, and global warming.
Topic/Day
Activities
Resources
Homework Due
Course Overview
Course Info
Course Lecture Notes
Course Canvas
PH 315 Syllabus (full length version)
Textbooks
Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air (SEWHA)
Six Ideas, Unit T (OSU login required)
Six Ideas, Unit Q (OSU login required)
Homework and LaTeX
Writing answers to HW questions
9 Rules for Typography in Physics
A quick guide to LaTeX
Gradescope (homework submission site)
315 Homework Template (from LA Alex!)
Help Hours
Wednesday 2-3: Alex in 304F
Thursday 9-10: Alex in 304F
Thursday 2-3: Patti in 485
Friday 3-4: Patti in 485
Week 0 Wednesday (9/23)
Introduction

Lecture notes for today

SEWHA Ch 1 - Motivations
SEWHA Ch 2 - Balance Sheet
Optional: Lecture by David MacKay, the author of SEWHA.

Hydroelectric power from a coarse-grained model.
Columbia river gorge
SEWHA Ch 8 - Hydroelectricity
Week 0 Friday (9/25)
Coarse-Grained Models
Rain Power Estimate
Homework 0
Homework 0 (pdf)
Classroom Norms
Classroom norms