Undergraduate

The undergraduate program in Physics offers students the opportunity to understand the fundamental laws of nature. The flexibility provided by several field options enables students to pursue subsequent professional work in physics or astrophysics, as well as in applied physics in areas such as electronics, medicine, or computational physics.

Physics students are expected to appreciate knowledge in fields other than physics. They are encouraged to develop interests through courses offered by other departments and to deepen this interest in one disciplinary area by selecting courses in a specific distribution field.

The Physics Department collaborates with all engineering and science departments in offering double-major programs to graduates and undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.00 or above. The students may at the same time earn a degree in physics by successfully completing a prescribed list of courses.

First Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 101 Physics I
Vectors, kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, work and energy, conservation of energy, linear momentum and its conservation, rotation of rigid bodies about a fixed axis, angular momentum and its conservation. (One laboratory session every week). Physics I (3+1+2) 4 ECTS 8
 4 4 8 8
MATH 101 Calculus I 4 4 6 6
CHEM 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry 4 4 6 6
PHYS 197 Analytical Methods in Physics
Properties of elementary functions; their graphs and values at special arguments. Expansions and approximation techniques used in scientific problems. Coordinate systems, areas and volumes of basic geometrical objects. Algebra of Space and Time Translations. Rotations in two and three dimensions. Galilei and Lorentz transformations and their generators. Introduction to Clifford algebra and Pauli Spin matrices.(3+2+0) 3 ECTS 6
 3 3 6 6
AE111/ AE112*,** Critical Skills in English I/II 3 3 3 4
Total:
18
Total:
18
Total:
29
Total:
30
Second Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 102 Physics II
Equilibrium of rigid bodies, oscillations, gravitation, fluid statics and dynamics, waves in elastic media, introduction to thermodynamics and kinetic theory, sound. (One laboratory session every week).Physics II (3+1+2) 4 ECTS 8
 4 4 8 8
MATH 102 Calculus II 4 4 6 6
PHYS 198 Numerical Methods in Physics 
Approximate calculations. Errors and rounding. Numerical approximations of functions. Numeric differentiation and integration. Monte Carlo methods. Random numbers. (3+2+0) 3 ECTS 6
 3 3 6 6
-- -- Specified Science Elective 3 3 7 7
HSS HSS Elective 3 3 5 5
Total:
17
Total:
17
Total:
32
Total:
32
Third Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 201 Physics III
Charge and matter, the electric field, Gauss law, electrostatic potential,capacitance, current and resistance electromotive force and circuits, the magnetic field, Ampére’s law, Faraday’s law, inductance, magnetic properties of matter. (One laboratory session every week.) Physics III (3+1+2) 4 ECTS 6
 4 4 6 6
PHYS 221 Thermal Properties of Matter
Elements of probability theory, Bernoulli, Poisson and Gaussian probability distributions. Random walk and diffusion. Thermal motion, molecular distribution of energy in crystals and gases, definition of temperature and the Boltzmann factor, statistical characterization of thermal equilibrium, entropy. Entropy and heat: second law of thermodynamics. Entropy of mixing. Open systems and free energy minimum principles. Applications of the equilibrium conditions: the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, Raoult’s law, Henry’s law, Osmotic pressure. Ideal gases with internal degrees of freedom. Third law of thermodynamics. (3+2+0) 3 ECTS 5
 3 3 5 5
MATH 201 Matrix Theory 4 4 5 5
EC 101/-- Pr. of Microecon./Unrest. El. 3 3 6 6
HSS HSS Elective 3 3 5 5
TK 221 Turkish I 2 2 3 3
Total:
19
Total:
19
Total:
30
Total:
30
Fourth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 202 Physics IV
Electromagnetic oscillations, AC circuits. Maxwell’s equations,electromagnetic waves, light and its propagation, reflection, refraction, geometrical optics, interference and diffraction, gratings and spectra, polarization, the particle-like properties of electromagnetic radiation: photons, Bohr model and the spectrum of the hydrogen atom.Physics IV (3+1+2) 4 ECTS 6
 4 4 6 6
EE 210 Intro. to Electrical Engineering 3 3 6 6
MATH 202 Differential Eq. 4 4 7 7
EC102 Pr. of Macroecon 3 3 6 6
HSS HSS Elective 3 3 5 5
TK 222 Turkish II 2 2 3 3
Total:
19
Total:
19
Total:
33
Total:
33

The Basic Physics Option

Fifth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics I
Review of basic mathematical tools used in mechanics. Dynamics of particles and systems of particles, motion under a central force, conservation of energy and momentum, dynamics of rigid body motion. Introduction to the mechanics of continua. Relativistic dynamics.
 3 3 6 6
PHYS 311 Modern Physics I
The aim of the course is to expose students to the basic idea of relativity, quantum physics and to the wide range of applications of these ideas. A survey of applications include the structure of atoms, molecules and nuclei, radioactivity and nuclear reactions, elementary particles, solid-state physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Emphasis on understanding physics of quantal phenomena and on order of magnitude estimates rather than formalism.
 3 3 7 7
PHYS 325 Math. Meth.of Phys.I
Infinite series, ordinary differential equations: solutions in closed form, power series solutions, special functions. Functions of a complex variable: calculus of residues, contour integration, contour integral representations of special functions. Linear vector spaces: vectors and matrices, the eigenvalue program. Abstract formulation of vector spaces: function spaces, expansions in orthogonal bases, The Dirac delta function, integral transforms.
 3 3 5 5
PHYS 331 Electronics for Physics I
A treatment of the fundamental concepts of electronic circuits and circuit components to provide an adequate understanding of electronic techniques used in modern instrumentation and experimental physics: diode and transistor characteristics, transistor biasing and thermal stabilization. Small and large signal low frequency transistor models transistor amplifier circuits, field-effect transistors. Integrated circuits-operational amplifiers, feedback amplifiers and oscillators. Impedance matching. Large signal amplifiers, rectifiers and filters. (One laboratory session every week)
 3 3 5 5
HTR 311 Hist. Turk. Rep. I 2 2 3 3
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 4 4
Total:
17
Total:
17
Total:
30
Total:
30
Sixth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 302 Classical Mechanics II
Review of conservation principles, oscillations in one dimension, damped forced oscillations, non-linear oscillations and introduction to classical perturbation theory. Oscillations in more than one dimension: coupled oscillations, normal modes and coordinates. Introduction to analytical mechanics. Lagrange and Hamilton’s equations, conservation principles. Small oscillations, selected applications. Canonical transformations.
 3 3 3 3
PHYS 312 Modern Physics II
The aim of the course is to expose students to the basic idea of relativity, quantum physics and to the wide range of applications of these ideas. A survey of applications include the structure of atoms, molecules and nuclei, radioactivity and nuclear reactions, elementary particles, solid-state physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Emphasis on understanding physics of quantal phenomena and on order of magnitude estimates rather than formalism.
 3 3 5 5
PHYS 326 Math. Meth. of Phys II
Curvilinear coordinates and tensor analysis. Further applications of complex variables: conformal mapping asymptotic methods, steepest descent, stationary phase, WKB method. Partial differential equations: boundary value problems involving the Laplace, wave and diffusion equations. Introduction to groups and group representations.
 3 3 6 6
PHYS 442 Experimental Phys. I
Experiments illustrative of basic experimental techniques in modern physics such as photoelectric effect, charge to mass ratio of the electron, scattering, Cavendish torsion balance, study of counting statistics, x-ray scattering, radioctivity, quantization of atomic energy levels. Furthermore, quick review of data analysis: statistics, probability distributions, least squares method, Chi-square test. (2+0+4) 4
 4 4 7 7
HTR 312 Hist. Turk. Rep. II 2 2 3 3
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 6 6
Total:
18
Total:
18
Total:
30
Total:
30
Seventh Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 401 Electromagnetism I
Vector analysis, solution of electrostatic problems: Poissons’s and Laplace’s equations, method of images. Electrostatics in dielectric media, electrostatic energy. Electric current, magnetic field of steady current, electromagnetic induction, magnetic properties of matter, magnetic energy.
3 3 4 4
PHYS 411 Quantum Mech. I
Basic postulates of quantum mechanics. Wave and matrix mechanics. The Schrödinger equation. Orbital angular momentum. Exactly soluble bound state problems. The independent perturbation theory and applications. Spin angular momentum. Addition of angular momenta, variational methods.(3+2+0) 3
3 3 6 6
PHYS 421 Statistical Mech. I
Review of thermodynamics. Microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles. Classical and quantum gases. Applications.(3+2+0) 3
3 3 6 6
PHYS 443 Experimental Phys. II
Continuation of Phys 442 Experimental Physics I. Hall effect in semiconductors, gamma-ray attenuation, laser applications, Na-doublet wavelength separation, Fabry-Perot interferometer, coherence length, diffraction of matter waves, Stefan Boltzman law and other modern physics experiments. A quick review of computers, programming, internet, vacuum techniques, particle accelerators, passage of radiation through matter and radiation safety. (2+0+4) 4
 4 4 8 8
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 6 6
Total:
16
Total:
16
Total:
30
Total:
30
Eighth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 402 Electromagnetism II
Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves, interaction of radiation with matter: the physical origin of the refractive index, Fresnel’s equations. Multipole expansions of the radiation field: electric dipole, magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole radiation. Waveguides and cavity resonators. Theory of diffraction. Electrodynamics, special theory of relativity and transformations of the electric and magnetic fields.
3 3 6 6
PHYS 412 Quantum Mechanics II
Time dependent perturbation theory and applications. Scattering theory. Born approximation, partial waves, phase shifts and cross sections. Spin dependent scattering amplitudes. Introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics.(3+2+0) 3
3 3 6 6
PHYS -- Dept. Elective 3 3 6 6
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 6 6
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 6 6
Total:
15
Total:
15
Total:
30
Total:
30
ECTS ECTS 2
Total:
139
Total:
139
Total:
244
Total:
245

The Astrophysics, Computational Physics, Physical Electronics and Medical Physics Options

Fifth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics I
Review of basic mathematical tools used in mechanics. Dynamics of particles and systems of particles, motion under a central force, conservation of energy and momentum, dynamics of rigid body motion. Introduction to the mechanics of continua. Relativistic dynamics.
 3 3 6 6
PHYS 331 Electronics for Physics I
A treatment of the fundamental concepts of electronic circuits and circuit components to provide an adequate understanding of electronic techniques used in modern instrumentation and experimental physics: diode and transistor characteristics, transistor biasing and thermal stabilization. Small and large signal low frequency transistor models transistor amplifier circuits, field-effect transistors. Integrated circuits-operational amplifiers, feedback amplifiers and oscillators. Impedance matching. Large signal amplifiers, rectifiers and filters. (One laboratory session every week)
 3 3 5 5
HTR 311 Hist. Turk. Rep. I 2 2 3 3
-- -- Option Elective 3 3 6 6
-- -- Distribution Elect. 3 3 6 6
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 5 5
Total:
17
Total:
17
Total:
31
Total:
31
Sixth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 302 Classical Mechanics II
Review of conservation principles, oscillations in one dimension, damped forced oscillations, non-linear oscillations and introduction to classical perturbation theory. Oscillations in more than one dimension: coupled oscillations, normal modes and coordinates. Introduction to analytical mechanics. Lagrange and Hamilton’s equations, conservation principles. Small oscillations, selected applications. Canonical transformations.
 3 3 3 3
PHYS 380 Introduction to Electromagnetic Radiation
Review of Maxwell's equations, and derivation of their differential form. Importance of continuity equation and displacement current. Derivation of EM wave equation in vacuum, simple solutions and their basic properties, including Poynting's vector etc. Interaction of radiation with matter, physical basis of the index of refraction. Boundary conditions and simple discussion of reflection and refraction of EM waves from conductors and insulators.
 3 3 5 5
HTR 312 Hist. Turk. Rep. II 2 2 3 3
-- -- Option Elective 3 3 6 6
-- -- Distribution Elect. 3 3 6 6
-- -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 6 6
Total:
17
Total:
17
Total:
29
Total:
29
Seventh Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 325 Math. Meth.of Phys.I
Infinite series, ordinary differential equations: solutions in closed form, power series solutions, special functions. Functions of a complex variable: calculus of residues, contour integration, contour integral representations of special functions. Linear vector spaces: vectors and matrices, the eigenvalue program. Abstract formulation of vector spaces: function spaces, expansions in orthogonal bases, The Dirac delta function, integral transforms.
 3 3 5 5
PHYS 407 Advanced Quantum Physics I
Fundamental concepts of relativity and quantum physics and their applications to the structure of single and multielectron atoms. Introduction to mathematical foundations of quantum physics. Emphasis on understanding quintal phenomena and order of magnitude estimates. Cannot be taken for credit in addition to PHYS 311.
 3 3 7 7
-- -- Option Elective 3 3 6 6
-- -- Distribution Elect. 3 3 6 6
-- -- Unrestricted Elect. 3 3 6 6
Total:
15
Total:
15
Total:
30
Total:
30
Eighth Semester
Kredi ECTS
PHYS 408 Advanced Quantum Physics II
Continuation of PHYS 407 involving applications of relativity and quantum physics to molecules, nuclei, radioactivity and nuclear reactions elementary particles, condensed matter physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Cannot be taken for credit in addition to PHYS 312.
 3 3 6 6
PHYS 442 Experimental Phys. I
Experiments illustrative of basic experimental techniques in modern physics such as photoelectric effect, charge to mass ratio of the electron, scattering, Cavendish torsion balance, study of counting statistics, x-ray scattering, radioctivity, quantization of atomic energy levels. Furthermore, quick review of data analysis: statistics, probability distributions, least squares method, Chi-square test. (2+0+4) 4
 4 4 7 7
PHYS -- Dept. Elective 3 3 6 6
-- -- Distribution Elect. 3 3 6 6
-- -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 5 5
Total:
16
Total:
16
Total:
30
Total:
30
ECTS ECTS 2
Total:
138
Total:
138
Total:
244
Total:
245

Students who choose one of the Option Fields,

1) The Astrophysics Option
2) The Computational Physics Option
3) The Medical Physics Option
4) The Physical Electronics Option

are required to select four of their distribution electives from one of the following Distribution Fields.

1) Archeometry
2) Business Administration
3) Chemistry
4) Environmental Studies
5) Foreign Languages
6) Humanities
7) Mathematical Economics
8) Molecular Biology
 

These fields include courses jointly approved by the Physics Department and other related departments. Detailed lists are available at the Physics Department.

* Students who pass the preparatory year with an English proficiency level of C are required to take AE111 or AE112.

** Studens whose Proficiency Exam scores are B and above are required to take EC 101.

+ Students who have taken AE 111/112 first semester are required to take EC 101. The rest should take an Unrest. Elective.

Last updated: 30/07/2022