Two exams are administered, almost always on Thursday and Friday, the week before the fall semester begins. At this time, we are not offering the exam in the spring or at any other time. Each exam typically has 9 problems, distributed among the different physics topics, classical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, etc. The exam is aimed at a difficulty level well within the experience of an advanced undergraduate or first-year graduate student. The two exams cover topics in classical and modern physics as indicated below. From year to year, minor adjustments can be found in the configuration of the exams. Specific and detailed instructions will be provided for you during the exam.

Some general rules associated with the process of taking the exam:

• Students can solve as many problems as they wish, but only the first six will be graded. So please do not turn in more than six questions
• Students are given 4 hours to complete each exam. The exams start at 1:00 PM and will end at 5:00 PM each day. Additional time could be allowed at the discretion of the proctor. However, no more than 15 extra minutes are allowed.
• Students are allowed a writing implement, a calculator, and a math handbook such as “Handbook of Mathematical Functions With Graphs, Formulas, Graphs and Mathematical Tables” by Abromowitz and Stegun. Scratch sheets will be provided by the proctors or “Schuam’s outlines Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables” by M. Spiegle, S. Lipshutz, and J. Lui.
• Students should work out their solutions on the paper provided. You will not need to bring in anything but the items mentioned above.

For the Classical Physics exam, you must do at least two each from “Part A” and “Part B” and one from “Part C” to pass the test. One extra problem from any of the parts for a total of 6 problems altogether. The topics covered are divided into Parts as follows:

• Part A: 3 problems from classical mechanics
• Part B: 4 problems from electromagnetism
• Part C: 2 problems from thermodynamic and statistical mechanics

For the Modern Physics exam, you must do at least two problems from each “Part”. Two extra problems from either part for a total of 6 problems altogether. The topics covered by the Modern Physics exam are also divided into “Parts” as follows:

• Part A: 5 problems from quantum mechanics
• Part B: 4 problems from special relativity and modern physics

A breakdown of the topics covered in each exam, by category, are incldued below. In principle, there is no constraint on topics that can be included in any given exam, but this survey, conducted in 2019 of past exams, may provide you with some insights as to what is likely to be on your exams. The 2019 survey