L2-L3 BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY

The Organic Chemistry 1 module covers the study of the major classes of organic compounds (organometallic compounds, alcohols, amines, and carbonyl derivatives) and their reactivity. Carboxylic acids and their derivatives are also discussed in the chapters devoted to the reactivity of organometallic compounds, alcohols, and carbonyl derivatives.

Special emphasis is placed on understanding reaction mechanisms based on the fundamental concepts learned in the first year.

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This course is partly intended to build upon the knowledge covered during the first semester of the first year (General Physics). With this in mind, we will cover positioning in three-dimensional space, the associated kinematics, and mechanics in non-Galilean reference frames. This course is also intended to broaden the scope of applications covered in L1S1. In this vein, we will cover fluid statics, the dynamics and energetics of the harmonic oscillator, and the motion of celestial bodies (Kepler’s laws).

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This course is the first step in university-level electromagnetism instruction. It covers electrostatics, steady-state currents, and magnetostatics.

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The two main objectives of physics are, on the one hand, to better understand—or gain a deeper knowledge of—the world we live in, and, on the other hand, to contribute to the advancement of techniques and technologies. Its purpose is to develop theories and test them against experimental evidence.

In this module, you will conduct experiments that illustrate concepts in mechanics, electricity, and thermodynamics that were introduced in the^first-year bachelor’s degree modules.

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Use the basic principles of thermodynamics of equilibrium to predict whether a reaction is possible, in which direction it proceeds spontaneously, and to determine the proportions of the reactants at equilibrium based on the equilibrium constant. Application to homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria and to specific cases of precipitation reactions. (Acid-base and redox reactions, if time permits). Number of hours: 19.5.

In the second part, we will discuss kinetic aspects and, consequently, reaction rates. Only first-order reactions will be studied this year. Total hours: 7.5.

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This course builds on the mathematics covered in the first year of the bachelor’s program. Students will study the mathematical tools required for physicists in the field of analysis, with a focus on functions of several variables, differential operators, generalized and multiple integrals, and sequences and series—including power series and Fourier series.

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The first step is to review various concepts in wave physics (D'Alembert’s equation, traveling waves, standing waves, reflection, transmission) through the study of various physical systems—mechanical (springs, strings, acoustics...), electrical (telegraph lines, coaxial cables, etc.), or electromagnetic systems, and to arrive at a general framework for the study of linear wave phenomena.

Next, after studying standing waves, we will examine interference (wave tanks and other devices) and the related physical concepts: phase shift, path difference, conditions for constructive interference, and destructive interference.

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This module provides an introduction to using Python for students pursuing a degree in the sciences. It covers concepts in algorithms and the Python language, but the focus is primarily on practical applications in the sciences. The examples will therefore address issues related to other first-year courses.

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The first part of this course aims to reinforce the concepts of magnetostatics and to establish the relationships governing the behavior of the electromagnetic field at the interface of a plane of charges or currents. We also introduce the expression for Laplace’s forces (force and torque) acting on volumetric or filiform circuits. The second part is devoted to the properties of fields and potentials in a time-varying regime. After introducing Faraday’s law, which describes induction phenomena, we derive the time-dependent Maxwell’s equations. An energy-based approach allows us to define the electric and magnetic energies, as well as the Poynting vector. We apply these concepts to various examples, such as electromechanical conversion or induction heating via eddy currents. A final chapter is devoted to the equations of propagation of fields and potentials, and their application in systems approximated as a vacuum, as well as in perfect conductors and insulators. The concept of skin depth is also introduced.

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The first part of this course presents the fundamentals of quantum chemistry for chemists and physical chemists. It begins by reviewing the principles of quantum mechanics and its governing equation, the Schrödinger equation. Solving the Schrödinger equation in simple cases and the concepts of wave functions and quantization are presented and illustrated using simple examples. The hydrogen atom is then studied.

The course also examines approximation methods used to determine the properties of complex systems where the Schrödinger equation cannot be solved directly. The effect of spin on the electronic properties of atoms and molecules will also be discussed.

The second part of this course focuses on the quantum description of molecular properties and reactivity. The qualitative construction of molecular orbitals using symmetry properties will be introduced, and the connection between molecular orbital diagrams and chemical bonding will be explained. The relationship between molecular geometry and electronic structure will be discussed. This course will then examine the Hückel method, which is used to obtain molecular orbital diagrams for π systems. The classical concepts of conjugation, delocalization, donor and acceptor character, and aromaticity will thus be studied within this framework. Bound orbital theory is used to explain molecular reactivity (cycloadditions, electrocyclization) and molecular geometries.

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Statistical physics is one of the fundamental branches of modern physics; through its probabilistic approach, it establishes relationships between the microscopic and the macroscopic. It deals with the behavior of systems containing a very large number of particles (atoms, molecules, photons, etc.) and links macroscopic quantities—such as pressure, temperature, etc.—that characterize their state of thermodynamic equilibrium to quantities that define the microscopic state of their constituents. This course unit, an introduction to statistical physics, will cover the microcanonical and canonical ensembles and establish the connection between the partition function and thermodynamic quantities such as average energy, pressure, temperature, and entropy. These results will be illustrated using ideal gases and a few simple quantum systems.     

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This course is a simplified introduction to quantum physics.
We will begin by providing a historical overview of the early days of quantum mechanics: atomic emission spectra, blackbody radiation (we will explore the logic behind this term), the photoelectric effect, etc.
A simplified introduction to Fourier transforms will help us understand the relationship between spectral line width and time evolution at first,
and later on, help us understand Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
A significant portion of the course will be devoted to matter waves, through the Schrödinger equation, in very simple special cases.
Finally, we will conclude with a few aspects of magnetism (which is, of course, quantum in nature).

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The first part of the module will introduce metals and alloys through the lens of crystallography (from the “ideal” crystalline solid to defects and solid solutions), followed by a second part devoted to their characterization by X-ray diffraction, and the final part will address their synthesis using their solid-liquid binary phase diagram (description and construction) and the various solid-state transformations.

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Thermodynamics: Microscopic and Macroscopic Aspects

Thermodynamics is the tool of choice for studying matter on a macroscopic scale. In particular, when it comes to chemical reactions, it allows us to predict the direction in which they proceed and their equilibrium state. In the early years of the bachelor’s program, the focus is on describing the principles of thermodynamics and their direct application to chemistry in the case of simple, single-phase equilibrium reactions or reactions between homogeneous phases. This course will expand on this knowledge in two directions.

First, we will generalize this macroscopic thermodynamic descriptive framework to more complex systems, such as interfacial systems where surface tension plays a role, or non-uniform phases where the composition is not the same everywhere due to an external field. We will also study phase transitions and equilibrium displacements.

Next, we will examine the connection to the microscopic world, where matter is described at the atomic scale. We will show that the evolution predicted by thermodynamics is statistical in nature, with the equilibrium state corresponding to the most probable macroscopic state given the constraints imposed on the system. This will allow us to deduce the macroscopic thermodynamic properties of a physicochemical system from its microscopic description.

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At the beginning of this course unit, we will review, on the one hand, the concepts of light rays and the conditions for the approximation of geometric optics and, on the other hand, the concepts in wave physics that are important for physical optics.

Then, starting with the scalar approximation of light waves—a special case of electromagnetic waves—we will describe light sources, interference phenomena involving two waves and N waves, and then diffraction in the Fraunhofer approximation.

We will continue by studying various widely used physical systems, focusing on their resolving power and applications: the microscope, the telescope, the Michelson interferometer, the diffraction grating spectrometer, and the Fabry-Pérot interferometer.

Finally, we will conclude with the concepts of spatial and temporal coherence of light sources and their applications (stellar interferometry, speckle, etc.)

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This course is a simplified introduction to quantum physics.
We will begin by providing a historical overview of the early days of quantum mechanics: atomic emission spectra, blackbody radiation (we will explore the logic behind this term), the photoelectric effect, etc.
A simplified introduction to Fourier transforms will help us understand the relationship between spectral line width and time evolution at first,
and later on, help us understand Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
A significant portion of the course will be devoted to matter waves, through the Schrödinger equation, in very simple special cases.
Finally, we will conclude with a few aspects of magnetism (which is, of course, quantum in nature).

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Thermodynamics: Microscopic and Macroscopic Aspects

Thermodynamics is the tool of choice for studying matter on a macroscopic scale. In particular, when it comes to chemical reactions, it allows us to predict the direction in which they proceed and their equilibrium state. In the early years of the bachelor’s program, the focus is on describing the principles of thermodynamics and their direct application to chemistry in the case of simple, single-phase equilibrium reactions or reactions between homogeneous phases. This course will expand on this knowledge in two directions.

First, we will generalize this macroscopic thermodynamic descriptive framework to more complex systems, such as interfacial systems where surface tension plays a role, or non-uniform phases where the composition is not the same everywhere due to an external field. We will also study phase transitions and equilibrium displacements.

Next, we will examine the connection to the microscopic world, where matter is described at the atomic scale. We will show that the evolution predicted by thermodynamics is statistical in nature, with the equilibrium state corresponding to the most probable macroscopic state given the constraints imposed on the system. This will allow us to deduce the macroscopic thermodynamic properties of a physicochemical system from its microscopic description.

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At the beginning of this course unit, we will review, on the one hand, the concepts of light rays and the conditions for the approximation of geometric optics and, on the other hand, the concepts in wave physics that are important for physical optics.

Then, starting with the scalar approximation of light waves—a special case of electromagnetic waves—we will describe light sources, interference phenomena involving two waves and N waves, and then diffraction in the Fraunhofer approximation.

We will continue by studying various widely used physical systems, focusing on their resolving power and applications: the microscope, the telescope, the Michelson interferometer, the diffraction grating spectrometer, and the Fabry-Pérot interferometer.

Finally, we will conclude with the concepts of spatial and temporal coherence of light sources and their applications (stellar interferometry, speckle, etc.)

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This course unit covers a review and in-depth study of programming techniques, as well as an introduction to computational physics. We will begin with a review of procedural programming using Python 3. We will then introduce the use of numerical methods relevant to simulation and the solution of physics problems.

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- Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

- Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) 

- Infrared (IR) spectroscopy

- UV-visible spectroscopy

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The supervised project is an experimental or numerical simulation project carried out in groups of three students. It takes place in a lab, focusing on one of the many physics and chemistry topics offered. It exposes students to the project-based approach and draws on their creativity, initiative, independence, and attention to detail in conducting experiments. The project concludes with a report and a presentation, which are first evaluated by peers and then by a panel of judges.

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This course builds on the material covered in the first- and second-year courses on the dynamics of a point and a rigid body. The aim here is to provide an introduction to the mechanics of deformable continuous media, primarily within the small-deformation limit, covering linear elasticity, viscoelasticity, and viscosity. Emphasis is placed on simple cases and common applications.

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This course unit covers a review and in-depth study of programming techniques, as well as an introduction to computational physics. We will begin with a review of procedural programming using Python 3. We will then introduce the use of numerical methods relevant to simulation and the solution of physics problems.

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- Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

- Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) 

- Infrared (IR) spectroscopy

- UV-visible spectroscopy

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This course builds on the material covered in the first- and second-year courses on the dynamics of a point and a rigid body. The aim here is to provide an introduction to the mechanics of deformable continuous media, primarily within the small-deformation limit, covering linear elasticity, viscoelasticity, and viscosity. Emphasis is placed on simple cases and common applications.

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