Questions for interview for MS Physics

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The discussion centers around preparing for an MS Physics interview, specifically focusing on Classical, Quantum, and Statistical Mechanics, as well as Mathematical Methods for Physics. Participants suggest essential resources, with Boas' "Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences" recommended for review. There's uncertainty about the interview format, whether it will involve problem-solving on paper or informal discussions on a blackboard. Suggested study materials include Landau's mechanics and practice problems from previous coursework. Key topics for preparation include the limitations of classical thermodynamics in explaining black body radiation, the advantages of Lagrangian mechanics, differences between classical and quantum harmonic oscillators, derivation of the ideal gas law, and the implications of the Stern-Gerlach experiment.
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Please I need Help!

Hello everyone,
I am going to appear in interview for MS Physics. They asked to prepare Classical, Quantum and statistical mechanics and Mathematical methods for Physics. Please guide me what kind of questions should I prepare for interview and secondly please suggest me any site or book to prepare these sections.

Thanks in advance.
 
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If you're just doing a review, I recommend going through Boas' "Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences". It's a great reference.
 
Thank you for your advice lisab. I will go through it
 
tayyaba786 said:
Hello everyone,
I am going to appear in interview for MS Physics. They asked to prepare Classical, Quantum and statistical mechanics and Mathematical methods for Physics. Please guide me what kind of questions should I prepare for interview and secondly please suggest me any site or book to prepare these sections.

Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure how an "interview" on these subjects would go, will they quiz you on pen and paper or informally on a blackboard? I sure hope so or it would be extremely awkward.

Perhaps read a few chapters from Landau's mechanics (or the whole thing, it's pretty short) and review some practice problems from your past courses... If it's not actual problem solving you're being tested on, I don't know what they'd ask you. I can come up with some questions of my own:

What is wrong with deriving the power output of a black body using classical thermodynamic arguments? (ie: what's wrong with the Rayleigh-Jeans law and how the problem is solved). Similar for the specific heat of solids at low temperatures, non-linear dependence that comes from QM arguments.

What is the advantage of Lagrangian mechanics over Newtonian methods? Maybe solve the double or triple pendulum, or a point mass in a rotating cone/tube or something.

What's the difference between the classical and quantum HO and how do you recover the classical regime from the latter?

Work out the ideal gas law from first principles? Or Planck's law.

Describe the Stern-Gerlach experiment and what are its consequences?
 
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