Courses for Non-Science Majors

These courses are intended for students majoring in the humanities, social sciences, business, music, and education. Little or no background in science is assumed. Mathematics at the level of one year of high school algebra is used. These courses are not open to physics majors. No credit is given in these courses for students who have previously passed P201-P202 or P221-P222.

• PHYS–P 101 Physics in the Modern World (4 cr.) CASE N&M Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory period each week. Includes elements of classical physics and the ideas, language, and impact of physics today. No credit in this course for students who have already passed P201-P202 or P221-P222.

• PHYS–P 105 Basic Physics of Sound (3-4 cr.) CASE N&M Physical principles involved in the description, generation, and reproduction of sound. Topics include physics of vibrations and waves, propagation, Fourier decomposition of complex wave forms, harmonic spectra, standing waves and resonance, sound loudness and decibels, room acoustics, analog/digital recording/ reproduction. For interested students, P109 is an optional companion laboratory course.

• PHYS–P 108 Audio Technology Acoustics Laboratory (2 cr.) CASE N&M P or C: P105 or consent of instructor. For audio technology and telecommunications majors. Provides in-depth investigation of vibrating systems, wave phenomena, interference, complex wave synthesis, analysis, resonance, transducers. Study of analog, digital electronic circuits, amplifiers, oscillators, band pass filters, digital sound. Provides instrumentation experience, oscilloscopes, function generators, spectrum analyses. Credit given for only one of P108 or P109.

• PHYS–P 109 Introductory Acoustics Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: P105 or SPHS S302 or consent of instructor. Laboratory experiments investigating properties of vibrating systems and waves, standing waves and resonances, filtering, analysis and synthesis of complex sounds, formants and speech recognition, and transducers for sound. Credit given for only one of P108 or P109.

• PHYS–P 110 Energy (2 cr.) A scientific approach is used to examine various aspects of energy consumption, including demand, fuel supplies, environmental impact, and alternative fuel sources. Credit given for only one of P110 or P120.

• PHYS–P 111 Physics of Extraterrestrial Life and Death (3 cr.) CASE N&M Physical basis of search for extraterrestrial life. Origin of Universe, solar system, life, and man. Comets, asteroids, and impact of Shoemaker Levy-9 with Jupiter. Probable cause of death of dinosaurs, exploration of Mars and Europa. Discovery of extrasolar planets. Radio searches for extraterrestrial intelligence.

• PHYS–P 120 Energy and Technology (3 cr.) CASE N&M Provides physical basis for understanding the interaction of technology and society, and for solution of problems, such as energy use and the direction of technological change. Credit given for only one of P120 or P110.

• PHYS–P 125 Energy in the Twenty-first Century (3 cr.) CASE N&M Examination of how physical science applies to our present sources and uses of energy, our alternatives to fossil fuels, and how to plan for long-term future energy needs.

• PHYS–P 150 How Things Work (3 cr.) CASE N&M An exploration of the physics involved in our technology; the course introduces ideas from physics needed to understand the function of a selection of modern devices and systems.

• PHYS–P 151 Twenty-first-century Physics (3 cr.) CASE N&M An introductory class to the concepts of modern physics, especially relativity and the quantum world, and their use in much of our new technology. Medical, electronic, and energy applications will be discussed. Will not fulfill science requirement for education majors.

• PHYS–P 199 Physical Science through Inquiry (3 cr.) CASE N&M Fulfills the physical science requirement for elementary education majors; recommended for students interested in elementary and middle school science education. Topics introduced include sound, scale models, balance, forces, simple machines, mobiles, states of matter, light, color, the eye and vision, electricity, magnetism, and motion.

• PHYS–P 211 Global Energy Problems: Technological Options and Policy Choices (3 cr.) CASE N&M The science of energy; energy resources and uses; conservation; the health and environmental effects of energy conversion. Existing energy policy and its consequences; a comparative look at energy policy; the principles and practice of sound energy management and policy.

Courses for Science Majors

These courses are primarily intended for students majoring in the biological, mathematical, and physical sciences; however, students are urged to also consider the courses listed under “Courses for Physics Majors.” With the exception of P309 and P310, the courses listed here are not recommended for physics majors.

• PHYS–P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.) CASE N&M P: MATH M026 or high school equivalent. Newtonian mechanics, oscillations, and waves. Bulk properties of matter and thermodynamics at the discretion of the instructor. Applications of physical principles to related scientific disciplines, including life sciences. Three lectures, one discussion, and one two-hour laboratory period each week. Credit may be obtained only for either P201 or P221. I Sem., II Sem., SS.

• PHYS–P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.) CASE N&M P: P201 or high school equivalent. Electricity and magnetism, physical optics. Geometrical optics and modern physics at the discretion of the instructor. Applications of physical principles to related scientific disciplines, including the life sciences. Three lectures, one discussion section, and one two-hour laboratory period each week. Credit may be obtained only for either P202 or P222. I Sem., II Sem., SS.

• PHYS–P 302 Elementary Electronics (2 cr.) P: One course in physics; or junior standing and consent of instructor. Integrated lecture and laboratory course. Characteristics of semiconductor circuit elements, amplifier circuits, power supplies, operational amplifiers, digital and switching circuits, oscilloscopes, and other laboratory test equipment. I Sem., II Sem.

• PHYS–P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: P 301. Fundamental experiments in physics with emphasis on modern physics. The course aims to develop basic laboratory skills and data analysis techniques.

• PHYS–P 310 Environmental Physics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P201 or P221 and MATH M211 or M215; or consent of instructor. For biological and physical science majors. Relationship of physics to current environmental problems. Energy production, comparison of sources and byproducts; nature of and possible solutions to problems of noise, particulate matter in atmosphere. I Sem.

• PHY–P 314 Introduction to Medical Physics (3 cr.) P: P201 or P221, or consent of instructor. R: P202 or P222. For biological and physical science majors. Applications of physics to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human disease: diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, radiation protection; radiation detection, dosimetry, exposure, instrumentation, cavity theory, non-ionizing radiation imaging, radiation biology, radiation oncology techniques, cancer biology, medical imaging technologies. Preferred for Physics majors: P371 (and P472).

• PHYS–P 317 Signals and Information Processing in Living Systems (3 cr.) P: P201 and P202 or P221 and P222; MATH M119 and M120 or M211 or M215. Introduction to quantitative methods for life sciences, emphasizing how living systems process information. Topics include noise in sensory signals; consequences for sensory processing; uncertainty and decision making; neural networks, excitable waves in neurons and muscle; stability/instability; models of development and morphogenesis. Open to students in the physical or life sciences.

Courses for Physics Majors

These courses are recommended for physics majors and those students who desire a strong background in physics. Prospective physics majors are strongly encouraged to consult with the physics department undergraduate advisor, to start the P221-P222 sequence in their freshman year, and to strongly consider enrolling in the honors section of P221-P222.

• PHYS–P 221 Physics I (5 cr.) CASE N&M C: MATH M211 or consent of instructor. First semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence intended for science majors. Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, heat and thermodynamics. Three lectures, two discussion sections, and one 2-hour lab each week. Physics majors are encouraged to take P221 in the fall semester of the freshman year. Credit not given for both P201 and P221. I Sem., II Sem.

• PHYS–P 222 Physics II (5 cr.) CASE N&M P: P221. C: MATH M212 or consent of instructor. Second semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence intended for science majors. Primarily electricity, magnetism, and geometrical and physical optics. Three lectures, two discussion sections, and one 2-hour lab each week. Physics majors are encouraged to take P222 in the spring semester of the freshman year. Credit not given for both P202 and P222. I Sem., II Sem.

• PHYS–P 301 Physics III (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P222 (or P202 with consent of instructor). Third semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence. Special theory of relativity; introduction to quantum physics; atomic, nuclear, condensed matter, and elementary particle physics. Intended for science and mathematics majors. Three lecture-discussion periods each week. Credit may be obtained only for either P300 or P301. I Sem., II Sem.

• PHYS–P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: P 301. Fundamental experiments in physics with emphasis on modern physics. The course aims to develop basic laboratory skills and data analysis techniques.

• PHYS–P 310 Environmental Physics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P201 or P221 and MATH M211; or consent of instructor. For biological and physical science majors. Relationship of physics to current environmental problems. Energy production, comparison of sources and byproducts; nature of and possible solutions to problems of noise, particularly matter in atmosphere.

• PHYS–P 318 Scattering Methods in Materials Science (3 cr.) P: P222, or P202 and consent of instructor. Introduction to neutron and X-ray scattering techniques used in materials physics. Basic scattering theory; structural measurements of ordered, disordered, and nano materials; stress and strain measurements; imaging; inelastic neutron and X-ray scattering; EXAFS and NEXAFS; polarized neutrons and X-rays; proposal writing.

• PHYS–P 321 Techniques in Theoretical Physics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P or C: P301. Particle motion in one, two, and three dimensions in the presence of forces; construction of forces from fields, and relationships between fields and sources; energies and potentials; complex oscillations and circuit analysis; classical and quantum mechanical waves and probabilities.

• PHYS–P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P202 or P222 and MATH M312 (for scientists), or consent of instructor. Electrostatic fields and differential operators, Laplace and Poisson equations, dielectric materials, steady currents, power and energy, induction, magnetic fields, scalar and vector potentials, Maxwell’s equations. I Sem.

• PHYS–P 332 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P331 or consent of instructor. Magnetic materials, wave equations and radiation, energy transfer and conversion. Pointing vector and momentum, retarded potentials, dipole radiation, transmission lines and wave guides, relativity. II Sem.

• PHYS–P 340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P202 or P222; MATH M311 concurrently. Intermediate course, covering three laws of thermodynamics, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, and some applications.

• PHYS–P 350 Applied Physics Instrumentation Laboratory (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P221-P222 (or P201-P202 with permission of the instructor). C: P309. Instrumentation, data acquisition, and control for research, development, industrial applications depending upon coordination of electrical sensors, instruments, personal computers, and software. Covers the essentials of electronic signal measurements, transducers, computer control of instruments, design of automated measurement and control algorithms, real-time data analysis and instrument calibration.

• PHYS–P 371 Radiation Science Fundamentals (3 cr.) P: P221 and P222, or equivalent, or consent of instructor. R: P301. Introduces principles and concepts related to radioactive decay, interactions of ionizing radiation with matter, dosimetry and the human health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation; reviews fundamental concepts of atomic and sub-atomic processes, modern physics, Special Theory of Relativity, wave/particle duality and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

• PHYS–P 400 Analog and Digital Electronics (3 cr.) CASE N&M Practical electronics as would be encountered in a research laboratory or industrial setting. Both analog (filters, power supplies, transistors, amplifiers, op-amps, comparators, oscillators, transducers including the analysis of circuits using computer-aided techniques) and digital devices (storage elements, discrete gates, and programmable devices).

• PHYS–S 405 Readings in Physics (1–3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Independent reading under supervision of faculty member. Study in depth of topic of interest to student, culminating in research paper. I Sem., II Sem.

• PHYS–S 406 Research Project (1–6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor or supervisor. Research participation in group or independent project under the supervision of a faculty member in departmental research areas; or topic agreed upon between the student and supervisor. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• PHYS–S 407 Applied Physics Internship (1 cr.) P: Consent of instructor or supervisor. Internship in industry or national laboratory, arranged between the student, the student’s faculty mentor, and an internship supervisor. S/F grading. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• PHYS–P 408 Current Research in Physics (1 cr.) A series of introductory talks by 15 different faculty members on the current research activities of the Department of Physics. For senior-level students. II Sem.

• PHYS–S 409 Applied Physics Thesis (1–4 cr.) P: S407 and consent of instructor. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students prepare a written thesis that presents previous research work. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours.

• PHYS–P 410 Computing Applications in Physics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P301, and CSCI A201 or CSCI A304, or consent of instructor. Computing methods and techniques applied to a broad spectrum of physics problems. Emphasis on least-squares method and other curve-fitting techniques of nonlinear functions; Monte Carlo methods; data manipulation, including sorting, retrieval, and display.

• PHYS–P 411 Computing Applications in Physics II (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P410 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Continuation of P410 including introduction to stochastic modeling, statistical mechanics and quantum systems, improving code performance.

• PHYS–P 425 Introductory Biophysics (3 cr.) CASE N&M Overview of cellular components; basic structures of proteins, nucleotides, and biological membranes; solution physics of biological molecules; mechanics and motions of biopolymers; physical chemistry of binding affinity and kinetics; physics of transport and initial transduction; biophysical techniques such as microscopy and spectroscopy; mathematical modeling of biological systems; biophysics in the post-genome era, etc.

• PHYS–P 441 Analytical Mechanics I (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P201-P202 or P221-P222. C: MATH M343. Elementary mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, treated by methods of calculus and differential equations. I Sem.

• PHYS–P 442 Analytical Mechanics II (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P201-P202 or P221-P222. C: MATH M343. Elementary mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, treated by methods of calculus and differential equations. II Sem.

• PHYS–P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I (3 cr.) P: P301 and P309, or equivalent. R: P453-P454 concurrently. P452 can be taken independently of P451. Advanced laboratory for senior physics majors. Experimental investigations and selected topics in nuclear, atomic, and solid state physics. P451, I Sem.; P452, II Sem.

• PHYS–P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P301 and P331. R: P332 concurrently. The Schroedinger equation with applications to problems such as barrier transmission, harmonic oscillation, and the hydrogen atom. Discussion of orbital and spin angular momentum and identical particles. Introduction to perturbation theory. II Sem.

• PHYS–P 454 Modern Physics (4 cr.) CASE N&M P: P453 or equivalent. Structure of multielectron atoms. Experimental facts and theoretical models in solid state physics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics. I Sem.

• PHYS–P 455 Quantum Computing I (3 cr.) P: MATH M118, M211, and M303, or consent of instructor. Covers the interdisciplinary field of quantum information science and aims at senior undergraduate and graduate students majoring in computer science, physics, mathematics, philosophy, and chemistry. Quantum Information Science is the study of storing, processing, and communicating information using quantum systems. Cross-listed as MATH M455. Credit given for only one of P455 and MATH M455.

• PHYS–P 456 Quantum Computing II (3 cr.) P: MATH M118, M211, M303, and M455, or consent of instructor. Covers the interdisciplinary field of quantum information science and aims at senior undergraduate and graduate students majoring in computer science, physics, mathematics, philosophy, and chemistry. Quantum information science is the study of storing, processing, and communicating information using quantum systems. Cross-listed as MATH M456. Credit given for only one of P456 and MATH M456.

• PHYS–P 460 Modern Optics (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: P331 or consent of instructor. Physical optics and electromagnetic waves based on electromagnetic theory, wave equations; phase and group velocity; dispersion; coherence; interference; diffraction; polarization of light and of electromagnetic radiation generally; wave guides; holography; masers and lasers; introduction to optical spectroscopy.

• PHYS–P 470 Introduction to Accelerator Physics (3 cr.) P: Approval of instructor. Overview of accelerator development and accelerator technologies. Principles of linear and circular accelerators, storage rings, colliders. Transverse phase space motion of a particle in an accelerator. Radio frequency acceleration and synchrotron light sources. Basics of free electron lasers. Spin dynamics in cyclic accelerators and storage rings.    

• PHYS–P 472 Radiation Oncology Physics (3 cr.) P: PHYS-P371 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Introduces the physical principles, equipment, processes, imaging guidance and clinical techniques involved in the treatment of cancer patients with external radiation beams and radioactive sources; energy deposition characteristics are described; treatment planning dose calculation algorithms and point dose calculations; international dosimetry protocols for radiation beam calibrations are covered in detail.