Focus on current topics in physics not covered in existing departmental offerings. Oral presentation required. Class attendance mandatory.
Vector calculus, integration techniques, complex variables, ordinary differential equations, and Taylor series. Emphasis on applications to advanced physical sciences and engineering.
Relativity, atomic and nuclear physics, cosmology, and introduction to quantum mechanics.
(3 Laboratory) Lab course introducing students to error analysis techniques and experiments in modern physics, including atomic physics, radioactivity, and quantum effects.
Concurrent Prerequisite
PHYS 321 with a minimum grade of D-
Intermediate course in classical mechanics. Reference frames, Newton's Laws, work and energy, oscillatory, central force and rigid body motion, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics.
Intermediate study of classical electromagnetism. Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric and magnetic fields in matter, and electrodynamics.
Continued intermediate study of classical electromagnetism. Electrodynamics continued, electromagnetic waves and radiation, electrodynamics and relativity.
(2 lecture, 3 laboratory) Analysis of analog and digital circuits.
Wave functions and probability, Schrodinger equation, Dirac notation and matrix formulation of quantum mechanics.
(3 lecture, 3 laboratory) Geometrical, wave, and physical optics, lenses, mirrors, and optical instruments.
(2 lecture, 2 laboratory) Introduction to MATLAB with specific applications to physical problems, simulation of systems, and data acquisition and analysis.
(1 lecture, 3 laboratory) Advanced laboratory skills and analysis methods in physics.
Independent experimental, computational or theoretical research in physics. Conferences with research advisor and a research proposal are required. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours per credit hour.)