Physics | PHYS
P Prerequisite | C Co-requisite | R Recommended
I Fall Semester | II Spring Semester | S Summer Session/s
- PHYS-N 190 The Natural World (3 cr.) Introduces students to the methods and logic of science, and helps them understand the importance of science to the development of civilization and the contemporary world. Provides a context within which to evaluate the important scientific and technological issues of modern society. Interdisciplinary elements.
- PHYS-P 201 General Physics 1 (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 115 or equivalent. Credit not given for both PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 221. Newtonian mechanics, wave motion, heat, and thermodynamics. Application of physical principles to related scientific disciplines, especially life sciences. Intended for students preparing for careers in the life sciences and the health professions. Three lectures, one discussion section, and one two-hour laboratory period each week. S
- PHYS-P 202 General Physics 2 (3-5 cr.) P: PHYS-P 201. Credit not given for both PHYS-P 202 and PHYS-P 222. Electricity and magnetism; geometrical and physical optics; introduction to concepts of relativity, quantum theory, and atomic and nuclear physics. S
- PHYS-P 221 Physics 1 (3-5 cr.) C: MATH-M 215. Credit not given for both PHYS-P 201 and PHYS-P 221. Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, heat and thermodynamics.
- PHYS-P 222 Physics 2 (3-5 cr.) P: PHYS-P 221. C: MATH-M 216. Credit not given for both PHYS-P 202 and PHYS-P 222. Primarily electricity, magnetism, and geometrical and physical optics.
- PHYS-P 281 Solid State Electronics I (3 cr.)
Circuit theory, principles of operation and equivalent circuits for semiconductor devices, general amplifier and oscillator characteristics, feedback systems, operational amplifiers, power supplies. For the physics major, science major, and non-science major.
- PHYS-P 303 Digital Electronics (1-4 cr.) P: MATH-M 115 or equivalent. A laboratory course dealing with digital devices, decoders, multiplexers, light-emitting displays, flip-flops, multivibrators, memories, registers, microcomputer construction and programming. Three hours of laboratory work per week for each credit hour. Course may be retaken up to a total of three credit hours. I, II
- PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory (2-3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 222. Fundamental experiments in physics with emphasis on modern physics. The course aims to develop basic laboratory skills and data analysis techniques. II (even years)
- PHYS-P 321 Techniques in Theoretical Physics (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 222. Particle motion in 1, 2, and 3-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 323 Physics 3 (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 222. Third semester of a four-semester sequence. Special relativity, introduction to quantum theory, Schroedinger equation, the hydrogen atom, many-electron atoms, statistical physics, molecules, and solids. I
- PHYS-P 324 Physics 4 (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 323. Fourth semester of a four-semester sequence. Conduction in metals; semiconductors; superconductivity; nuclear structure, reactions, and applications; radioactivity; elementary particles; cosmology; introduction to general relativity. II (odd years)
- PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism (3 cr.) P: PHYS-P 222, MATH-M 216. Electrostatitic 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.
- PHYS-P 334 Fundamentals of Optics (3 cr.) P: PHYS-P 222, MATH-M 216. Geometrical optics: matrix formulation of the laws of reflection and refraction, ray tracing with computers, aberrations. Physical optics: interference, diffraction, polarization, lasers, holography.
- PHYS-P 340 Thermodynamic and Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 323. Intermediate course covering the three laws of thermodynamics, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, and some applications. II (even years)
- PHYS-P 410 Computing Applications in Physics (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 222. Computing methods and techniques applied to a broad spectrum of physics problems. Emphasis on least-squares method and other curve-fitting techniques of non-linear functions; monte carlo methods; data manipulation, including sorting, retrieval, and display.
- PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics 1 (3 cr.) P: PHYS-P 222, MATH-M 216. C: MATH-M 343 or consent of instructor. Elementary mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, treated by methods of calculus and differential equations. I (even years)
- PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.) P: PHYS-P 323. C: MATH-M 343 or consent of instructor. 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 (odd years)
- PHYS-P 473 Introduction to String Theory (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 216, PHYS-P 323. Introduction to the fundamentals of string theory and some of its current applications. Main themes include the formulation of relativistic strings in terms of the Nambu-Goto action and the quantized string state space of open and closed strings. Applications include string compactification, T-duality of open and closed strings, and D-branes.
- PHYS-S 106 Contemporary Physics Seminar (1 cr.) This course provides early exposure to current and exciting topics in physics and related fields at a qualitative level. Sessions include presentations by faculty, advanced students, and visiting scientists. I, II
- PHYS-S 405 Readings in Physics (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Independent reading under supervision of a faculty member. Study in depth of a topic of interest to the student, culminating in a research paper.
- PHYS-S 406 Research Project (1-6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. 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.
- PHYS-S 490 Physics Capstone (0 cr.) This capstone course is for senior physics majors, and it will include the presentation of a research project to faculty and other students, sitting for a standardized physics exam, discussions regarding post-graduation career options, and the completion of an exit interview. I
- PHYS-T 105 Physical Science for Elementary Teachers (4 cr.) P: MATH-T 101, MATH-T 102, MATH-T 103. Principles of physical science with focus on elementary chemistry and physics. Laboratory, demonstration, and exploration enrich course material which is designed at developing the expertise needed for success in the elementary school classroom. I