2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Department of Physics and Astronomy

PHYS 220 Introductory Physics I

(4 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: MATH 124 or high school algebra. First semester of algebra-based physics. Areas covered are classical mechanics and heat. (LAC, gtP)

5

PHYS 221 Introductory Physics II

(4 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: PHYS 220. Second semester of algebra-based physics. Areas covered are waves, sound, light, electricity, magnetism and modern physics.

5

PHYS 240 General Physics I

(4 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: MATH 131 or take concurrently. First semester of calculus-based introductory physics. Kinematics, Newton's laws, momentum, work, energy, gravity, oscillatory systems, heat and thermodynamics. (LAC, gtP)

5

PHYS 241 General Physics II

(4 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisites: PHYS 240, MATH 132 or take concurrently. Second semester of calculus-based introductory physics. Electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic radiation, wave motion, sound, light, geometric and physical optics.

5

PHYS 301 Seminar in Physics

Focus on current topics in physics not covered in existing departmental offerings. Oral report required. Repeatable, maximum of two credits.

1

PHYS 320 Mathematical Methods I

Prerequisite: MATH 132. Survey of mathematical applications in advanced physical sciences, including vector calculus, integration techniques, complex variables, Laplace and Fourier transforms and matrix algebra.

3

PHYS 321 Elementary Modern Physics

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisites: PHYS 221 or PHYS 241. PHYS 241 may be taken concurrently. Important topics in physics of 20th century, including relativity, atomic, nuclear, quantum concepts, uncertainty, lasers.

4

PHYS 340 Mechanics

Prerequisite: PHYS 241. Intermediate course in classical mechanics. Includes Newton’s laws, work and energy, oscillatory, central force and rigid body motion, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics.

4

PHYS 341 Electricity and Magnetism

Prerequisite: PHYS 241. Intermediate study of classical electromagnetism. Includes electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric and magnetic fields in matter, electrodynamics, electromagnetic waves, and radiation.

4

PHYS 343 Electronics

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisites: PHYS 241. Analysis and design of electronic circuits, including analog and digital electronics, computer interfacing, and integrated circuits.

4

PHYS 345 Quantum Mechanics I

Prerequisites: PHYS 241, PHYS 321. First in a sequence of two courses. Introduction to quantum mechanics, including wave functions, the timeindependent Schrodinger equation, and the matrix formulation of quantum mechanics.

3

PHYS 347 Optics

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisites: PHYS 241, MATH 132. Geometric and physical optics, instrumentation, wave theory, light sources and lasers.

4

PHYS 360 Laboratory Physics I

(1 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: PHYS 321. First in a sequence of two courses. Advanced laboratory skills and methods in physics.

2

PHYS 370 Research I

Prerequisite: Two years of physics courses that apply to major. Independent experimental or theoretical research in physics. Weekly conferences with research advisor. A research proposal is required. Repeatable, maximum of six credits.

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PHYS 420 Mathematical Methods II

Prerequisite: PHYS 320. Continuation of PHYS 320. Boundary value problems, partial differential equation, numerical integration, numerical solutions to differential equations, contour integration, probability and statistics. Emphasis on applications to physics and engineering.

3

PHYS 422 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

1 - 3

PHYS 440 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Prerequisite: MATH 132 (prerequisite or concurrent enrollment). Introduction to kinetic theory and statistical mechanics, thermodynamic systems, equations of state and laws of thermodynamics.

4

PHYS 443 Devices

Prerequisite: PHYS 241. Theory of electronic devices for collecting and processing signals.

3

PHYS 445 Quantum Mechanics II

Prerequisite: PHYS 345. Second in a sequence of two courses. Applications of quantum mechanics, including perturbation theory, scattering, and many particle systems.

3

PHYS 447 Electro-optics

Prerequisite: PHYS 347. Lasers, holography and holographic interferometry, fiber optics (including communications) and electro-optic devices.

2

PHYS 448 Nuclear and Particle Physics

(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisites: PHYS 321, MATH 233. Nuclear properties, models, and reactions, radioactive decay and detection of radiation, elementary particle physics, and other extensions.

4

PHYS 455 Computer Applications in Physics

(1 lecture, 2 laboratory) Prerequisites: PHYS 320 or MATH 233 and PHYS 240, PHYS 241. Introduction to fundamentals of MATLAB and LabVIEW, with specific applications to physical problems, including simulation of systems and data acquisition and analysis.
2

PHYS 460 Laboratory Physics II

(1 lecture, 3 laboratory) Prerequisite: PHYS 360. Advanced laboratory projects.

2

PHYS 470 Research II

Prerequisite: PHYS 370. Independent experimental or theoretical research in physics. Weekly conferences with research advisor. A paper and oral presentation are required. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits.

1 - 3

PHYS 495 Special Topics in Physics

Prerequisites: PHYS 221 or PHYS 241. Consent of instructor. Topics of special interest in areas of physics not covered by other courses. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

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