Faculty of Science, Department of Physics
PCS 213: Light & Modern Physics
Fall 2025, Sections 01–12
Instructor Information
●
●
●
●
●
Instructor Name: Sean P. Cornelius
Office Location: KHE-329E
Office Hours: See D2L.
Course Website: my.torontomu.ca
Email Address: cornelius@torontomu.ca
Email Policy
Please include the text PCS213F2025 (no spaces) in the subject of your emails to
ensure a prompt response. Under normal circumstances, I will reply to student emails
within 3 business days.
Course Description
Ray and wave models of light; reflection, refraction and interference; lenses and mirrors;
diffraction and polarization of light; Planck's hypothesis, Bohr's atomic model, the
photoelectric effect, the uncertainty principle, Schrödinger's equation; nuclear properties
and binding energy; radioactivity; nuclear reactions.
Teaching Methods
Lecture
Three (3) hours of lecture per week (2 + 1) over 13 weeks.
Labs
Students will complete five (5) required labs held approximately biweekly throughout the
term. Each lab session is two (2) hours.
Page 1 of 10
The labs will be performed on a two-week cycle, with students in even-numbered
sections of the course performing the lab one week, and students in odd numbered
sections performing the lab on the other week.
Please consult MyServiceHub for the day/time/classroom of your lab session.
Tutorial
There is no tutorial component to this course.
Course Materials
Textbook (required)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, 10th ed. by Raymond A.
Serway and John W. Jewett, Jr. ISBN: 978-1337553278.
Available on e.g. Amazon for $160 at the time of this writing.
iClicker Cloud (optional)
We will use the iClicker system for class response questions during lecture. Students
wishing to participate in and earn points from this activity will need an active
subscription to iClicker Cloud for the duration of the course. See Evaluation below for
more details.
WebAssign (optional)
We will use WebAssign—an online platform provided by the textbook publisher—to
administer homework assignments. Students wishing to do the assignments and earn
points from them will need an active WebAssign subscription for the duration of the
course. Said subscription may or may not have been included in your textbook
purchase. See Evaluation below for more details.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the successful student should have acquired analytical
thinking and be able to:
1. Develop further knowledge of science in support of application to engineering
problems. (1a)
Page 2 of 10
2. Apply mathematical principles, skills, and tools to solve engineering problems,
highlighting limitations or a range of applications. (1b)
3. Evaluate sources of information, check the feasibility of design based on the obtained
results, assesses the reliability of conclusions. (2a)
4. Describe the limitations of both theory and measurement, including
precision/accuracy; apply mathematical and scientific principles to predict behavior of
systems or processes. (3b)
5. Construct hypotheses or problem statements consistent with the information available
and the constraints/parameters of the problem. (3d)
6. Identify and address own educational needs in a changing world in ways sufficient to
maintain competence and to allow them to contribute to the advancement of knowledge.
(12)
Note: Numbers in parentheses refer to the graduate attributes required by the Canadian
Engineering Accreditation Board.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is integral to your learning, the credibility of your degree or
certification, and the integrity of the university as a whole. Senate Policy 60: Academic
Integrity defines academic misconduct, provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of
behaviours that may be considered as academic misconduct, and explains how
academic misconduct concerns are evaluated and decided. The entirety of the policy
applies in this course. As well, please note that submitting work created in whole or in
part by artificial intelligence tools unless expressly permitted by the Faculty/Contract
Lecturer, is considered a violation of Policy 60.
Generative AI Course Policy
Use of Generative AI (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Grammarly, Perplexity,
DeepL Translator) is expressly prohibited in this course. Use of Generative AI will be
considered a breach of Policy 60.
Page 3 of 10
Turnitin
Turnitin is a plagiarism prevention and detection service to which TMU subscribes. It is
a tool to assist instructors in determining the similarity between students’ work and the
work of other students who have submitted papers to the site (at any university),
internet sources, and a wide range of books, journals and other publications. While it
does not contain all possible sources, it gives instructors some assurance that students’
work is their own. No decisions are made by the service; it generates an “originality
report,” which instructors must evaluate to judge if something is plagiarized.
Students agree by taking this course that their written work will be subject to submission
for textual similarity review to Turnitin. Instructors can opt to have student’s papers
included in the Turnitin database or not. Use of the Turnitin service is subject to the
terms-of-use agreement posted on the Turnitin website. Students who do not want their
work submitted to this plagiarism detection service must, by the end of the second week
of class, consult with their instructor to make alternate arrangements. Students who
choose not to have their papers screened for textual similarity review by Turnitin may be
required to submit additional work. For example:
● an annotated bibliography of each source used in your paper; and/or
● a version of the document with tamper-proof edit/draft history (e.g. using Google
docs)
● the first few pages of each cited source used in your paper
Even when an instructor has not indicated that a plagiarism detection service will be
used, or when a student has opted out of the plagiarism detection service, if the
instructor has reason to suspect that an individual piece of work has been plagiarized,
the instructor is permitted to submit that work in a non-identifying way to any plagiarism
detection service.
Topics and Course Schedule
Please refer to the course schedule and reading list posted on D2L.
Page 4 of 10
Evaluation
Assessment Weighting Breakdown
Evaluation Component
Percentage of Final Grade
Assignments (5)
5%
Class Response (iClicker)
5%
Labs (5)
20%
Midterm Exams (2)
40%
Final Exam
30%
Total:
100%
The weight above will be divided evenly among assessments in the given category.
E.g., each midterm will be worth 20% of your final mark.
Assignments
Each student will have up to 10 attempts for any given WebAssign problem before the
due date of the associated assignment. Only the best score on each problem will count
toward the assignment mark. As such, students are encouraged to use the assignments
as exam practice—attempting each problem with minimal reference material—without
fear of getting a bad mark.
For all students, the Assignments weight (5%) of your grade will be automatically
reallocated to your midterm/final exams (1.666% each) if that would result in a higher
final grade. In particular, this means that students who do not have or choose not to
purchase a WebAssign will not be penalized.
Labs
•
The lab instructions and pre-lab readings for each lab will be posted to D2L in
advance of your lab session.
Page 5 of 10
•
•
•
•
•
•
Each lab has accompanying pre-lab questions (PLQ), which contribute to the lab
report mark. As the name implies, the PLQs must be completed beforehand, and
submitted by the start of the lab session. Late submissions will receive a score of
zero on the PLQ portion.
After each lab session, each student or group should write a concise report of the
methodology experimental methodology and findings, to be submitted on D2L.
In the case of group work, all students in a group must contribute equally to the
report.
Your lab report will be due one week (seven 24-hour periods) after the end of the
corresponding lab session. For example, you conducted Lab #2 on a Monday
from 3:00–5:00 PM, your Lab 2 report should be submitted no later than 5:00 PM
the following Monday.
If you are unable to attend a lab because of an excused absence, you should
submit an academic consideration request. See Policies on Missed
Classes/Evaluations, below.
If academic consideration is granted in such a case, the student will be allowed
to conduct a make-up lab session on a scheduled date.
Class Response (iClicker)
Most lectures will contain 1-3 such questions. Each question will be worth 2 points.
Students will receive 1 point for submitting any response to the question, and an
additional point of that response was correct.
To allow for occasional absences from lecture, your iClicker points will be marked out of
80% (so that full points on 8 of every 10 questions results in a grade of 100%). No
student may achieve an iClicker mark exceeding 100% as a result of this adjustment.
For all students, the iClicker portion (5%) of your grade will be automatically reallocated
to your midterm/final exams (1.666% each) if that would result in a higher final grade. In
particular, this means students who do not have or choose not to purchase an iClicker
subscription will not be penalized.
Policy on Returned Evaluations
Under normal circumstances, marks for assignments, labs, and exams will be made
available to students within two weeks of submission.
Page 6 of 10
By Friday November 14, 2024, students will have the preliminary results of all
examinations written before that date, as well a all assignments/labs submitted at least
two weeks prior to that date.
Policy on Late Work
Late submission of assignments will not be allowed in the absence of academic
consideration.
For labs, reports submitted late may be marked but with a penalty of 10 percentage
points per day late (rounded up), up to a maximum of 5 days (120 hours). Lab reports
submitted more than 5 days (120 hours) after the deadline will receive a score of zero.
Policies on Missed Classes/Evaluations
Students are required to inform their instructor(s) of any situation arising during the term
that may have an adverse effect upon their academic performance, and must request
any considerations and accommodations according to university policies, in advance
unless circumstances forbid. Failure to do so will jeopardize any academic appeals.
•
•
•
Medical certificates – If a student misses the deadline for submitting an
assignment, or the date of an exam or other evaluation component because of
illness, he or she must submit a TMU Student Medical Certificate AND an
Academic Consideration form within 3 working days of the missed date. Both
documents are available at:
www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/medical.pdf.
Religious observance – If a student needs accommodation because of religious
observance, that student must submit a Request for Accommodation of Student
Religious, Aboriginal and Spiritual Observance AND an Academic Consideration
form within the first 2 weeks of the class or, for a final examination, within 2
weeks of the posting of the examination schedule. If the required absence
occurs within the first 2 weeks of classes, or the dates are not known well in
advance (for example if they are linked to other conditions), these forms should
be submitted with as much lead time as possible in advance of the absence.
Both documents are available at:
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/forms/relobservforminstr.pdf.
Students who need academic accommodation support should register with the
Academic Accommodation Support office (formerly called the Access Centre) as
early as possible in the course. Before the affected work is due, registered
Page 7 of 10
students should inform their instructors through an “Accommodation Form for
Professors” that (i) the student is registered with Academic Accommodation
Support; and (ii) what specific accommodations are required.
If you are a full- or part-time degree student, then you should submit all relevant forms
to your own program department or school. If you are a certificate or non-certificate
student, then you should submit the forms to the staff at the front desk of the Chang
School.
As indicated in Evaluation (above), academic consideration will not be granted for
missed lectures for the purpose of Class Response (iClicker) points.
University Policies
Students must be reminded that they are required to adhere to all relevant university
policies found in their online course shell in D2L and/or on the Senate website.
Important Resources Available at Toronto Metropolitan University
● The University Libraries provide research workshops and individual consultation
appointments. There is a drop-in Research Help desk on the second floor of the
library, and students can use the Library's virtual research help service to speak
with a librarian, or book an appointment to meet in person or online.
● Student Life and Learning Support offers group-based and individual help with
writing, math, study skills, and transition support, as well as resources and
checklists to support students as online learners.
● You can submit an Academic Consideration Request when an extenuating
circumstance has occurred that has significantly impacted your ability to fulfill an
academic requirement. You may always visit the Senate website and select the
blue radio button on the top right hand side entitled: Academic Consideration
Request (ACR) to submit this request.
For Extenuating Circumstances, Policy 167: Academic Consideration allows for a
once per semester ACR request without supporting documentation if the
absence is less than 3 days in duration and is not for a final exam/final
assessment. Absences more than 3 days in duration and those that involve a
final exam/final assessment, always require documentation. Students must notify
Page 8 of 10
their instructor once a request for academic consideration is submitted. See
Senate Policy 167: Academic Consideration.
● If taking a remote course, familiarize yourself with the tools you will need to use
for remote learning. The Remote Learning Guide for students includes guides to
completing quizzes or exams in D2L Brightspace, with or without Respondus
LockDown Browser and Monitor, using D2L Brightspace, joining online meetings
or lectures, and collaborating with the Google Suite.
● Information on Copyright for Faculty and students.
● Information on Academic Integrity for Faculty and students.
Accessibility
Academic Accommodation Support
Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) is the university's disability services office.
AAS works directly with incoming and returning students looking for help with their
academic accommodations. AAS works with any student who requires academic
accommodation regardless of program or course load.
● Learn more about Academic Accommodation Support.
● Learn how to register with AAS.
● Learn about Policy 159: Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities
Academic Accommodations (for students with disabilities) and Academic Consideration
(for students faced with extenuating circumstances that can include short-term health
issues) are governed by two different university policies. Learn more about Academic
Accommodations versus Academic Consideration and how to access each.
Wellbeing Support
At Toronto Metropolitan University, we recognize that things can come up throughout
the term that may interfere with a student’s ability to succeed in their coursework. These
circumstances are outside of one’s control and can have a serious impact on physical
and mental well-being. Seeking help can be a challenge, especially in those times of
crisis.
Page 9 of 10
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 and go to the nearest
hospital emergency room. You can also access these outside resources at anytime:
●
Distress Line: 24/7 line for if you are in crisis, feeling suicidal or in need of
emotional support (phone: 416–408–4357)
●
Good2Talk: 24/7-hour line for postsecondary students (phone: 1-866-925-5454)
●
Keep.meSAFE: 24/7 access to confidential support through counsellors via My
SSP app or 1-844-451-9700
If non-crisis support is needed, you can access these campus resources:
●
Centre for Student Development and Counselling: 416-979-5195 or email
csdc@torontomu.ca
●
Consent Comes First – Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education:
416-919-5000 ext 3596 or email osvse@torontomu.ca
●
Medical Centre: call (416) 979-5070 to book an appointment
We encourage all Toronto Metropolitan University community members to access
available resources to ensure support is reachable. You can find more resources
available through the Toronto Metropolitan University Mental Health and Wellbeing
website.
Page 10 of 10