Physics

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

 

 

Classes

PHYS 001 : General Physics Lec-Rec-Lab I

These lecture-laboratory-recitation courses deal with mechanics, heat, sound and waves. This course is algebra-based.

Credits

5

Prerequisites

algebra, trigonometry.

PHYS 002 : General Physics Lec-Rec-Lab II

These lecture-laboratory-recitation courses deal with light, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. This course is algebra-based.

Credits

5

Prerequisites

algebra, trigonometry.

PHYS 002 : General Physics I (Laboratory)

These lecture-laboratory-recitation courses deal with mechanics, heat, and sound in PHYS-001; and light, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics in PHYS-002; and are algebra-based.

Credits

5

Prerequisites

algebra, trigonometry.

PHYS 007 : Physics for Allied Health

This lecture/laboratory/recitation course treats the topics of general physics, with emphasis on examples for nursing and allied health students.

Credits

5

PHYS 008 : Physics for Architects

Lecture/recitation course treats mechanics, gravity, sound, thermodynamics, fluids, electricity, magnetism, light, optics, waves, and some modern physics topics with emphasis on topics of interest to architecture students.

Credits

4

PHYS 010 : General Astronomy

Learn about our Solar System and historical attempts to explain the observed phenomena of the sky. Techniques of contemporary astronomical science, the physical nature of the sun and planets, current ideas about the origin, age and fate of the Solar System are presented.

Credits

3

PHYS 013 : Phys for Sci & Engr Lec I

This lecture/recitation calculus-based course deals with Newtonian mechanics, heat and sound. Pre- or Coreqs.: MATH- 156.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

MATH - 156

PHYS 014 : Phys for Sci & Engr Lec II

This lecture/recitation calculus-based course covers electricity and magnetism, light, and optics. Pre- or Coreqs.: MATH 157.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

MATH - 157

PHYS 015 : Intro to Modern Physics

Lectures include special relativity and an introduction to quantum phenomena with applications in molecular, atomic, nuclear, sub-nuclear and condensed matter physics. Prereqs.: PHYS 014 and MATH 156 and MATH 157.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 014 and MATH 156 and MATH 157.

PHYS 093 : Senior Departmental Honors II

In this Directed Readings course, students are senior Physics Majors in the COAS Honors Program who are working with a Faculty Mentor to develop proposals for their Honors Theses. In Sophomore Honors, the student works with the mentor to develop the research question and define the study.

Credits

3

PHYS 130 : Introduction to Laser Physics

Provides an introduction to laser theory via a unified description of laser behavior. Emphasis is on the fundamental principles of lasers and the application of laser principles. Prerequisite: PHYS 178, PHYS 190.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 178, PHYS 190

PHYS 131 : Plasma Physics

Topics include single particle motions, plasmas as fluids, waves in plasma, diffusion and resistivity, equilibrium and stability, kinetic theory, nonlinear effects. Course prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 178 or consent of instructor.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 178 or Instructor's consent

PHYS 132 : Into to Nuclear and Particle Physics

Topics may include nuclear phenomenology, particle phenomenology, experimental methods, quark dynamics, weak interactions and electroweak unification, models and theories of nuclear physics, nuclear physics applications. Course prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 157, PHYS 190 or with Instructor's consent.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

MATH 157, PHYS 190 or Instructor's consent

PHYS 140 : Intro to Astron. & Astrophysics I

Topics include celestial mechanics, light and matter, special relativity, binary systems, stellar spectra, interiors of stars,interstellar medium, stellar evolution, stellar pulsation, massive stars, remnants of stars, terrestrial planets, giant planets, minor bodies in the solar system, galaxies, active galaxies, and cosmology. Prereq. PHYS - 015 and MATH - 157.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 015, MATH - 157

PHYS 141 : Intro Astronomy & Astrophysics II

Topics include celestial mechanics, light and matter, special relativity, binary systems, stellar spectra, interiors of stars,interstellar medium, stellar evolution, stellar pulsation, massive stars, remnants of stars, terrestrial planets, giant planets, minor bodies in the solar system, galaxies, active galaxies, and cosmology. Prereq. PHYS 140

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 140

PHYS 143 : Observational Astronomy

Topics may include data sources, statistics and probability, data modeling, properties of CCD's, photometry and telescopes, spectroscopy, infrared astronomy, high energy astronomy, radio astronomy, and adaptive optics.  Co- or pre-req. Phys. 140 or instructor's approval.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 140 or instructor's approval

PHYS 154 : Intro to Computational Physics I

An introduction to computational physics where various techniques for solving physics problems numerically using traditional programming will be taught using the Python language.

Credits

3

PHYS 155 : Intro to Computational Physics II

Part 2 of an introduction to computational physics where various techniques for solving physics problems numerically using traditional programming will be taught using the Python language. Prereq PHYS 154

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 154

PHYS 174 : Introduction to Biophysics

Topics considered include the levels of organization within biological systems, flow of energy in living things with an introduction to the thermodynamic systems utilized in biological research, and an introduction to the physical techniques used in the study of biological systems. Prereq.: PHYS 002.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 002

PHYS 175 : Thermodynamics

Introduces the laws of thermodynamics and applications, along with kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. Prereqs. PHYS 002 or PHYS 014 and MATH 157 and MATH 159

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 002 or PHYS 014 and MATH 157 and MATH 159

PHYS 176 : Optics

Explores refraction, optical instruments, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Prereqs.: PHYS 002 or PHYS 014 and MATH 157 and MATH 159

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 002 or PHYS 014 and MATH 157 and MATH 159

PHYS 178 : Electricity & Magnetism I

One year intermediate level course which covers electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric circuits, Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves. Prereqs.: PHYS 002 or PHYS 014, and MATH 156,-157 and -159.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 002 or PHYS 014, and MATH 156,-157 and -159.

PHYS 179 : Electricity & Magnetism II

One-year intermediate level course that covers electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric circuits, Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves. Prereqs.: PHYS 002 or PHYS 014, and MATH 156, -157 and -159.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 002 or PHYS 014, and MATH 156, -157 and -159.

PHYS 182 : Physical Mechanics I

Part 1 of a one-year course which examines particle and rigid body dynamics, central forces, vector analysis, oscillatory motion, and Lagrangian mechanics. Prereqs.: PHYS 001 or PHYS 013, and MATH 156, -157 and -159

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 001 or PHYS 013, and MATH 156, -157 and -159

PHYS 183 : Physical Mechanics II

Part 2 of a one year course which examines particle and rigid body dynamics, central forces, vector analysis, oscillatory motion, and Lagrangian mechanics. Prereq.: PHYS 182.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 182

PHYS 190 : Quantum Physics I

Introduction to quantum physics and relativity. Includes discussion of Schrodinger equation and its application to atomic and molecular spectra, a brief introduction to lasers, solid state, nuclear physics,elementary particles. Prereqs.: PHYS 183 and MATH 156, -157 and -159.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 183 and MATH 156, -157 and -159

PHYS 191 : Quantum Physics II

Part 2 of an introduction to quantum physics and relativity. Includes discussion of Schrodinger equation and its application to atomic and molecular spectra, a brief introduction to lasers, solid state, nuclear physics,elementary particles. Prereqs.: PHYS 190

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 190

PHYS 192 : Intro to Mathematical Physics

Treats vectors and tensors, linear transformations, complex variables, calculus of residues, partial differential equations of physics, Green's functions, Strum-Liouville theory, orthogonal functions, and Fourier transform methods.

Credits

3

PHYS 193 : Intro to Math Physics II

Part 2 of a one year course that treats vectors and tensors, linear transformations, complex variables, calculus of residues, partial differential equations of physics, Green's functions, Strum-Liouville theory, orthogonal functions, and Fourier transform methods. Prereq: PHYS 192

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS - 192

PHYS 196 : Senior Thesis

Research problems for senior physics majors.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 194 and senior status in physics.

PHYS 702 : Experimental Physics I

Research training including data reduction and error analysis for physicists. Topics include instrumental and statistical uncertainties, propagation of error, probability distributions, method of least squares, curve fitting, and experimental design. Selected experiments in mechanics, heat, optics, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, and electronics, and computer programming. Technical writing skills for the production of scientific publications and reports are emphasized. The course PHYS 194 is the same as PHYS 702 Experimental Physics WRTG.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 014, PHYS 015 or Instructor's consent

PHYS 890 : Study Abroad

Study Abroad. Experiences vary by department, topic, semester, and locale.

Credits

3 - 12

Prerequisites

Department Approval