Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - PHYS 255 D100

Vibrations and Waves (3)

Class Number: 4990

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, Fri, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 11, 2025
    Thu, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PHYS 126 or PHYS 121 or PHYS 141, with a minimum grade of C-, or PHYS 102 with a minimum grade of B. Corequisite: MATH 251; MATH 232 or MATH 240. Recommended Corequisite: MATH 260 or MATH 310.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The physics of vibrations and waves. Topics include periodic motion, including free and forced oscillations, coupled oscillators, normal modes, and waves in one and higher dimensions. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

The MATH 232/240 corequisite can be waived for the Fall 2025 semester due to a scheduling conflict.

1.     Free vibrations

2.     Damped vibrations

3.     Forced vibrations and resonance

4.     Superposition

5.     Free and forced anharmonic vibrations

6.     Coupled oscillators

7.     Non-dispersive waves

8.     Wave impedance, reflection from boundaries

9.     Standing waves

10.  Energy in waves

11.  Fourier analysis, modulation, Fourier transform

12.  Dispersion

13.  Evanescent waves

14.  Electromagnetic waves

15.  Polarization

16.  Plane waves at boundaries

17.  Diffraction


Course Delivery:

Lectures will be in-person. Notes will be posted on canvas after the lectures.

Participation will include canvas quizzes/polls during class (instead of i-Clickers) and active participation in tutorials.

Tutorials will be in-person.

Midterms (dates to be announced) will be during regular class time.

Grading

  • Written Assignments 10%
  • Answers to Reading Questions 10%
  • Two mid-term exams (2 x 15%) 30%
  • Final Exam 50%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Textbook:

Walter Fox Smith, Waves and Oscillations: A Prelude to Quantum Mechanics (available online through the SFU library)

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students who cannot write their exam during the course's scheduled exam time must request accommodation from their instructor in writing, clearly stating the reason for this request, within one week of the final exam schedule being posted.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.