Introductory Mechanics This calculus-based course examines fundamental topics in motion and mechanics, including inertia, force, Newton's laws of motion, work, energy, linear momentum, collisions, gravitation, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, and oscillatory motion, emphasizing applications in physics and engineering.  Laboratory explorations of topics covered in lecture will build students’ physical intuition and problem-solving skills.

Quantum Physics Classical theories of physics fail to adequately explain the behavior of the smallest and most fundamental objects in nature. In this course we introduce quantum theory, which makes accurate predictions by describing fundamental particles as wave-like and measurements as inherently probabilistic. Students will utilize prior knowledge of wave behavior to explore the foundational principles of quantum theory, including the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the Schrödinger wave equation and wave-particle duality. These principles and techniques are then applied to explain the properties of elementary particles, atoms, molecules, and nuclei. (PHYS 0216) Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 0218 and PHYS 0202.

Waves and Fourier Analysis Wave mechanics provides our most fundamental description of all known forms of matter, radiation, and their interactions. In this course we will develop the physics of oscillations and waves and the associated mathematics of Fourier series and transforms, orthogonal functions, and solutions of ordinary and partial differential equations, focusing especially on solutions of initial and boundary value problems by separation of variables in Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinates. (PHYS 0109 or PHYS 0108 and PHYS 0111 or PHYS 0114 and MATH 0122) Students may not receive credit for both PHYS 0212 and PHYS 0216. 4.

Senior Project Independent research project incorporating both written and oral presentations.

Observational Astrophysics This is a lecture and laboratory course covering techniques in modern observational astrophysics, at an advanced level. Students will be trained to operate the telescope in the Mittelman observatory on campus and will gain expertise in the acquisition and analysis of digital images. Students will design and conduct a variety of observational projects from canonical experiments that illuminate the nature of stars and galaxies to originally conceived projects such as photometric studies in the time domain. Skills in computer-based data reduction, analysis, and presentation will be developed and emphasized. The course may also include theoretical modeling techniques that would make use of advanced computation and data mining methods. Students will write up their observing projects and results in comprehensive reports to satisfy the College writing requirement. Nighttime attendance at the observatory outside of formal class meeting time will be required.

Cosmology Cosmology is the study of the Universe as a whole entity, including the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the entire Universe. In this course we will study the Big Bang, inflation, primordial nucleosynthesis, the cosmic microwave background, the formation of galaxies, and large-scale structure. The course will link observations to theory in order to address some of the current open questions in cosmology such as: what are the forms of matter and energy distributed in the Universe? What is the expansion rate of the Universe and how has it changed with time? What is the age of the Universe? What is the shape of the Universe?

The Milky Way Galaxy - Our Island Universe In this course we will learn how we came to know that we live in a galaxy that is distinct from the other hundreds of billion galaxies in the observable Universe – a fact that only became accepted in the mid 1920’s. We will discuss the history and philosophy of humanity’s effort to find our place in the Universe, focusing on how progress is made in science and how we settle scientific debates. We will examine the anatomy of the Milky Way, including the disk of rotating stars in which our Sun resides, the globular clusters that are scattered throughout, the dark matter that holds the Galaxy together, and the black hole quietly sitting at its center. Throughout, we will explore how historical events, as well as human creativity and ingenuity, drove the major discoveries that give us an understanding of our place in the Universe.

An Introduction to Astrophysics In this course students will learn the fundamental concepts and techniques used by astronomers to understand the universe and its contents. These include the physics of light (which conveys the properties of astrophysical phenomena) and gravity (the fundamental force that drives orbits). We will apply these techniques to learn about the physics of stars including stellar interiors and stellar atmospheres as well as their nuclear energy generation processes. We will use real astrophysical data to explore the wide-ranging properties of stars and stellar evolution from birth to death. Students will engage with the literature and learn to use data analysis tools, including Python programming, to analyze real data. No prior experience with programming is required. (PHYS 0111 OR PHYS 0114) AND

Ancient Astronomy In this course we will learn about astronomy through the lens of ancient civilizations. By studying the civilizations of the Babylonians and Greeks, as well as selected civilizations around the world, we will learn how ancient astronomers determined the sizes of the Earth and Moon as well as distances to bodies in the solar system and how celestial phenomena motivated religious and cultural practice. We will employ hands-on, lab-like activities, and naked-eye observations of the sky along with moderate use of mathematics to learn how our ancestors understood our place in the cosmos.

An Introduction to the Universe Our universe comprises billions of galaxies in a rapidly expanding fabric. How did it begin? Will it expand forever, or how may it end? How do the stars that compose the galaxies evolve from their births in clouds of gas, through the tranquility of middle age, to their often violent deaths? How can scientists even hope to answer such cosmic questions from our vantage point on a small planet, orbiting a very ordinary star? Are there other planets, orbiting other stars, where intelligent beings may be pondering similar issues? This introductory astronomy course, designed for nonscience majors, will explore these and other questions. Students will also become familiar with the night sky, both as part of our natural environment and as a scientific resource, through independent observations and sessions at the College Observatory. The approach requires no college-level mathematics, but students should expect to do quantitative calculations using scientific notation and occasionally to use elementary high-school algebra.

Quantum Physics and Applications This course introduces quantum theory and statistical mechanics, and explores the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the Schrödinger wave equation, and wave mechanics. These techniques are then applied to atomic, molecular, nuclear, and elementary particle systems.

Electromagnetic Waves Maxwell's theory of the electromagnetic field provides the basis of our understanding of the nature of light, radio waves, infrared radiation, X-rays, and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. This course examines the behavior of electromagnetic waves starting from Maxwell's equations, the fundamental laws of electromagnetism. Topics include wave propagation in different materials; reflection and refraction at interfaces; applications in space communications, optics, and other fields; and relativistic electrodynamics. (PHYS 0301) 3 hr. lect.

Eilat Glikman

Reviews and ratings for Eilat Glikman at Middlebury College.Eilat Glikman teaches Introductory Mechanics, Quantum Physics, Waves and Fourier Analysis and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Eilat Glikman good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I think that many people did find Prof Glikman's teaching style poor and unclear. While I can understand these arguments I did find that I learned fairly well in this class and enjoyed her constant connections to astronomy.

This class was mostly about how to normalize the wave function and solving boundary condition differential equations. Glikman usually writes on the board pretty quickly so sometimes its hard to keep up but if you ask questions she will go back and explain. 

I really enjoyed physics in high school, and was looking forward to it in high school. However, I was unfortunately dissapointed with this class. It was mostly review from high school, but I kept thinking my high school teacher explained all of the concepts much better. Unfortunate that it is required for the major, even for those who did well in physics in high school.