Physics

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

PHYS 103: Everyday Physics

Everyday Physics is a study from non-technical and non-mathematical viewpoints of the aims, methods (experimental and theoretical), and achievements in the attempts to understand the basic principles governing the physical world. The course begins with commonplace observations and concrete examples and then proceeds to generalizations and hypotheses which unify them. This course is designed for non-science majors. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. 

PHYS 151: Astronomy

This course is designed to introduce the non-science major to the field of astronomy. Topics include the history of astronomy, light and spectra, the solar system, stars and stellar evolution, galaxies, and the past and future history of the universe. Although the course is primarily descriptive, physical principles underlying astronomical phenomena are studied. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. Laboratories include evening observation sessions and a field trip. An additional course fee is required. 

PHYS 160: Physics for the Life Sciences I

Physics for the Life Sciences is a two-semester algebra-based introduction to physics with applications to living organisms, particularly the human body. The first semester focuses on motion, forces, torques, work, energy, and fluids. The second semester covers thermodynamics, optics, and electricity and magnetism. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week.

PHYS 161: Physics for the Life Sciences II

Physics for the Life Sciences is a two-semester algebra-based introduction to physics with applications to living organisms, particularly the human body. The first semester focuses on motion, forces, torques, work, energy, and fluids. The second semester covers thermodynamics, optics, and electricity and magnetism. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week.

PHYS 201: General Physics I

General Physics is a two-semester introduction to classical physics for science majors. The first semester focuses on classical mechanics, including kinematics and dynamics in two and three dimensions, momentum, energy, and rotational motion. The second semester covers electricity and magnetism, wave mechanics, and optics. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. Students must have taken or be currently enrolled in MATH 201 or equivalent.

PHYS 202: General Physics II

General Physics is a two-semester introduction to classical physics for science majors. The first semester focuses on classical mechanics, including kinematics and dynamics in two and three dimensions, momentum, energy, and rotational motion. The second semester covers electricity and magnetism, wave mechanics, and optics. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. Students must have taken or be currently enrolled in MATH 201 or equivalent.

PHYS 222: Electronics

The student is presented with the fundamentals of digital and analog circuit analysis. Among topics originally specific to analog circuits are DC circuit analysis using Kirchoff’s laws, mesh equations, transformations, the use of multimeters and oscilloscopes, AC circuit analysis using complex impedances, capacitors, and inductors, resonance, step function analysis, and transitions. Among the topics originally specific to digital analysis are simple logic gates, IC chips, Boolean algebra, adders, flip-flops, shift registers, and counters. After the fundamentals are covered, the emphasis shifts to circuit analysis involving knowledge of both perspectives. This course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. (This course may be taken for credit as CPSC 222.)

PHYS 241: Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences

This course is primarily intended for students with one year of calculus who want to develop, in a short time, a basic competence in each of the many areas of mathematics needed in junior to senior courses in physics and chemistry. Thus, it is intended to be accessible to sophomores (or freshmen with AP calculus from high school). Topics include ordinary and partial differential equations, vector analysis, Fourier series, complex numbers, eigenvalue problems, and orthogonal functions. (This course may be taken for credit as MATH 241.)

PHYS 251: Mechanics

This course is a study of particle mechanics, central force motions, free oscillations, rotations about an axis, moving coordinates systems, conservation theorems, Lagrange’s equations, and Hamilton’s equations.

PHYS 261: Electricity and Magnetism

Topics in this course include electrostatics, magnetostatics, scalar and vector fields, Poynting’s vector, Laplace’s equation, and boundary value problems.

PHYS 300: Modern Physics

This course uses mathematical and physical reasoning to present the foundations of modem physics. It emphasizes the subjects of special relativity, kinetic theory, atomic theory, and introductory quantum mechanics on the level of the Schrodinger equation. The course is intended for chemistry, mathematics, physics, or pre-engineering majors.

PHYS 301: Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaotic Systems

This course explores the latest developments in the analysis of nonlinear systems using computer enhanced analysis and novel mathematical approaches to these systems. Emphasis is placed on the special case of nonlinear dynamics known as chaotic systems.

PHYS 302: Thermodynamics

This course is a study of the physics of thermodynamic systems. Most of the course is devoted to the macroscopic properties of systems, including the first and second laws of thermodynamics, heat, entropy, imposed and natural constraints, equations of state, and applications. Statistical mechanics is briefly introduced to derive the large scale properties of systems from the microscopic behavior of their elements.

PHYS 303: Plasma Physics

This course examines the properties of plasmas, a collection of charged particles that exhibit collective behavior, and which are much more common than the other phases of matter (solids, liquids, and gases) when the entire known universe is considered, and which are becoming increasingly common in modem technologies.

PHYS 318: Advanced Physics Laboratory

This course is designed to build on students’ previous laboratory experience by acquainting them with more advanced experimental equipment and techniques. Students are taught to think like an experimentalist: to analyze and reduce error; to understand statistical inference; to interpret results; to write clear, thorough laboratory reports. Experiments in modem physics, optics, nuclear, and solid state physics are emphasized.

PHYS 401: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

This course is a continuation of the study of classical quantum mechanics begun in PHYS 300. Topics include the three-dimensional Schrodinger equation, selection rules, addition of angular momentum, fine structure in hydrogen, exchange symmetry, the Zeeman effect, and stimulated emission.

PHYS 490: Senior Project

This course offers seniors independent work on research problems in theoretical or experimental physics. Experimental physics projects are offered in such areas as applied optics, electronics, radio astronomy, electron spin resonance, optical fibers, and various solid state subjects: conductivity measurements in semiconductors, charge-coupled devices, GaAs/GaAlAs quantum wells, and others. Theoretical physics projects are unlimited in scope and often involve computer modeling of physical systems. All projects are arranged through consultation with the student’s advisor.