Physics (PHYS)
An introduction to Physics and its subfields, and the Physics curriculum. Emphasis on study skills and problem solving. A challenge problem will be presented and a laboratory experiment will be performed. Includes seminars by guest speakers. Primarily for Physics majors, but may be taken by others interested in the sciences or Engineering. 50 minutes lecture/discussion.
Continuation of PHYS 1010. An introduction to resume writing and internships in Physics. Emphasis on mathematical tools used in Physics. A challenge problem will be presented and a laboratory experiment will be performed. Includes seminars by guest speakers. Primarily for Physics majors, but may be taken by others interested in the sciences or Engineering. 50 minutes lecture/discussion.
Historical development of modern astronomy. Contents of the universe, the solar system, stars, and galaxies. Stellar evolution and solar processes. The planets. Modern cosmology. 100 minutes lecture and 150 minutes laboratory per week. Satisfies general education requirement Area B1.
Continuation of PHYS 1020. An introduction to professional societies in Physics and graduate study in Physics. Emphasis on statistical methods and error analysis. A challenge problem will be presented and a laboratory experiment will be performed. Includes seminars by guest speakers. Primarily for Physics majors, but may be taken by others interested in the sciences or Engineering. 50 minutes lecture/discussion.
Continuation of PHYS 2010. An introduction to fields related to Physics and career opportunities in these fields. Emphasis on the role of simulations and models in science. A challenge problem will be presented and a laboratory experiment will be performed. Includes seminars by guest speakers. Primarily for Physics majors, but may be taken by others interested in the sciences or Engineering. 50 minutes lecture/discussion.
An introduction to the analysis of electrical circuits. Use of analytical techniques based on the application of circuit laws and network theorems. Analysis of DC and AC circuits containing resistors, capacitors, inductors, dependent sources and/or switches. Natural and forced responses of first and second order RLC circuits; the use of phasors; AC power calculations; power transfer; and energy concepts. 150 minutes lecture and 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHYS 2220 with a grade of C- or better, or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. Cross-listed as ECE 2070 or ENGR 2070 or PHYS 2070.
This course is intended for students needing a one-year course in Physics as requirement by their major program. Offered with non-calculus based text. Newtonian mechanics with emphasis on kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, fluids, mechanical waves and sound, thermodynamics and statistical physics. This class includes an introduction to logarithms, exponentials and trigonometry. 150 minutes of lecture and 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 1040 or MATH 1050 or equivalent.
Students work on questions or problems related to the PHYS 2110 coursework. Emphasis on qualitative conceptual reasoning. Students will generally work in teams of about four to discuss, analyze, understand, and solve physics problems. 50 minutes discussion. Credit/no-credit grading. Corequisite: PHYS 2110.
This course is intended for students needing a one-year course in physics as requirement by their major program. Offered with non-calculus based text. Maxwellian electromagnetics with emphasis on electrostatics, magnetism, DC circuits, optics, and modern physics. 150 minutes of lecture and 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 2110 or equivalent.
Students work on questions or problems related to the PHYS 2120 coursework. Emphasis on qualitative conceptual reasoning. Students will generally work in teams of about four to discuss, analyze, understand, and solve physics problems. 50 minutes discussion. Credit/no-credit grading. Corequisite: PHYS 2120.
Algebra-based thermodynamics for science majors. 75 minutes of lecture and 75 minutes of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor.
Trigonometry-based electricity and magnetism for science majors. 75 minutes of lecture and 75 minutes of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor.
Intended for students majoring in the physical sciences and engineering. An introduction to kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, gravitation, simple harmonic motion, and fluids. 150 minutes lecture and 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisites: MATH 2310 or MATH 2510 or MATH 2020.
Students work on questions or problems related to the PHYS 2210 coursework. Emphasis on qualitative conceptual reasoning. Students will generally work in teams of about four to discuss, analyze, understand, and solve physics problems. 50 minutes discussion. Credit/no-credit grading. Corequisite: PHYS 2210.
Intended for students majoring in the physical sciences and engineering. Core topics include electrostatics, magnetism, DC and AC circuits, Maxwell's equations, thermodynamics, and statistical physics. 150 minutes lecture and 150 minutes laboratory. PHYS 2210 and MATH 2320 or MATH 2520 or MATH 2020 or permission of the instructor.
Students work on questions or problems related to the PHYS 2220 coursework. Emphasis on qualitative conceptual reasoning. Students will generally work in teams of about four to discuss, analyze, understand, and solve physics problems. 50 minutes discussion. Credit/no-credit grading. Corequisite: PHYS 2220.
Intended for students majoring in the physical sciences and engineering. Core topics include waves, geometric optics, optical instruments, wave optics, special relativity, and introduction to quantum mechanics. Additional possible topics include atomic physics, condensed matter, nuclear physics, and particle physics. 150 minutes lecture and 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 2220 with a grade of C- or better or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
Students work on questions or problems related to the PHYS 2230 coursework. Emphasis on qualitative conceptual reasoning. Students will generally work in teams of about four to discuss, analyze, understand, and solve physics problems. 50 minutes discussion. Credit/no-credit grading. Corequisite: PHYS 2230.
Topics and prerequisites to be announced. May be repeated for credit with different topics.
Students will perform a number of experiments chosen from Speed of Light, Photoelectric Effect, Blackbody Radiation, Millikan's Oil-Drop Experiment, Faraday Rotation, and others. Experimental equipment consists of self-contained units with detailed manuals. 50 minutes lecture/discussion and 300 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 2230.
Introduces basic analog circuit designs that emphasize practical applications. Includes properties of diodes and transistors; operational amplifies for use as filters, amplifiers, oscillators, and function generators. 100 minutes lecture/discussion and 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 2070 or ENGR 2070 or ECE 2070 with a grade C- or better.
An intermediate level course intended for majors in the physical sciences. Newtonian and Lagrangian dynamics of particles and systems. Topics covered in PHYS 3110 and PHYS 3120 may include conservation laws, harmonic oscillators, damped and forced oscillations, nonlinear systems, gravity, central-force motion, non-inertial reference frames, coupled oscillators, waves, and special relativity. 100 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisites or corequisites: PHYS 2230 or PHYS 223, PHYS 3500 and MATH 2533 or MATH 204 or permission of instructor.
An upper-level course intended for majors in the physical sciences. Classical theory of electric and magnetic phenomena. Topics covered in PHYS 3210 and PHYS 3220 may include: Coulomb's Law, electric fields, electric potential, electrostatics, motion of charges in static fields; conductors and dielectrics, steady currents, polarization. Magnetic fields and magnetostatics, vector potential; magnetization, magnetic materials; induction, development of Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves and radiation. 100 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisites: PHYS 2230 or PHYS 223 and PHYS 3500, or permission of the instructor.
Elements of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Applications may include heat engines, distribution functions, magnetism, classical and quantum gases and more. 150 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisites: PHYS 2230 and PHYS 3500.
Advanced topics in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Applications may include: non-ideal gases, phase equilibrium, ionization equilibrium, thermodynamic fluctuations, phase transitions elements and critical phenomena, and elements of the kinetic theory. 100 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisites: PHYS 3310.
An upper-level course intended for majors in the Physical Sciences and Engineering to demonstrate the use of Calculus and Vector Algebra in real-world problems. Introduction of mathematical tools such as Fourier series, Dirac's delta function, the calculus of variations, complex analysis and the theory of residues. 100 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: MATH 2533 or MATH 204 or permission of the instructor and prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 2230 or PHYS 223.
Development of quantum and relativistic physics. Quantum description of atoms, solids, and nuclei. Fundamental forces of nature, introduction to particle physics and quantum fields. 100 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: PHYS 2230.
Computer solutions to scientific problems. Symbolic manipulations and array processors. Mathematical operations, plotting, and symbolic and numerical techniques in calculus. Numerical methods such as histogramming, Monte Carlo methods, statistical analysis, curve fitting and numerical algorithms. Prior knowledge of computers is not required. 100 minutes lecture/discussion, 150 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 2230.
Students will perform a number of experiments chosen from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Lifetime of Muons in Cosmic Rays, Wave Particle Duality, and others. Continuation of PHYS 3010, but students may need to design and define the scope of the experiments. 300 minutes laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 3010.
Continuation of PHYS 4410, including the hydrogen atom, angular momentum, atoms and molecules, introduction to perturbation theory. 100 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: PHYS 4410.
Introduction to crystal structure, direct and reciprocal lattices, x-ray diffraction analysis, thermal, electronic, magnetic and optical properties of crystalline solids. 150 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: PHYS 4410.
Spectra of one- and many-electron atoms; hyperfine structure; interaction of radiation with matter; selection rules; rotational and vibrational spectra of molecules; electronic transitions in diatomic molecules; lasers. 150 minutes lecture/discussion. Prerequisite: PHYS 4410.
Students may gain experience in teaching Physics at the High School level or at the lower division level. The determination of course credits, evaluation, and grading are the responsibility of the departmental faculty in consultation with the student's supervisor. Offered on a credit, no-credit basis only. Department will determine application of credit. Prerequisite: Major or minor in Physics or permission of the instructor. May be repeated.
Topics and prerequisites to be announced. Typical courses include astrophysics, advanced electronic systems, advanced mechanics, and statistical physics. Prerequisite: Major or minor in Physics and permission of the instructor. May be repeated for credit with different topics.
Individual study, under supervision, in scientific investigation. (Experience as a research assistant does not count for credit.) May include research in the areas of curriculum and materials development. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Presentation of papers and discussion by faculty and students. Topics to be chosen in consultation by faculty. Participants will be grouped by disciplinary and interdisciplinary interests. Prerequisite: Major or minor in Physics or consent of the instructor.
Design and construction of a Physics experiment/demonstration or Engineering project under faculty supervision. Students are expected to work in small groups. Projects are presented in a formal report, describing all phases of the project, including data taking and analysis, and a formal oral presentation. Prerequisite: Major or minor in Physics.