Physics Department Courses


PHYS 104, ESC 104 N – Introductory Astronomy: Solar System, 4 credits. E1. This course is an introduction to our solar system designed for students in all disciplines. Topics include: light and telescopes, a historical overview of astronomy, a study of the components of the solar system and a discussion of the formation of the solar system. Past, present and future space exploration missions are also covered. Three class periods and one laboratory/observing period each week. Prerequisite: high school algebra and geometry or MATH 110 – Precalculus
PHYS 106, ESC 106 N – Introductory Astronomy: Stars, Nebulae and Cosmology, 4 credits. E2. This course is an introduction to the universe beyond our solar system designed for students in all disciplines. Topics include: light and telescopes, the appearance of the sky, negotiating star maps, the physical nature of stars and their formations and life cycles, clusters of stars, gas clouds, and laboratory/observing period each week. (PHYS 104 – Introductory Astronomy: Solar System is not a prerequisite.) Prerequisite: high school algebra and geometry or MATH 110 – Precalculus
PHYS 111 – General College Physics I, 4 credits. E1. Topics in mechanics and thermal physics are discussed. Techniques general to all areas of physics are developed. Three class periods and one three-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: competence in mathematics (algebra and trigonometry) equivalent to concurrent registration in MATH 110 – Precalculus or a good high school background
PHYS 112 – General College Physics II, 4 credits. E2. This is a continuation of PHYS 111 – General College Physics I. Techniques are expanded, and topics in electricity, optics and modern physics are added. Three class periods and one three-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: PHYS 111 – General College Physics I or permission of instructor
PHYS 128 N – Physics for Scientists and Engineers I, 4 credits. E1. This is an accelerated introduction to mechanics, waves and thermal physics. Three class periods and one three-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in or completion of MATH 121 – Calculus I or equivalent
PHYS 153 N – Science of Sound and Music, 4 credits. E2. Methods, epistemology, strengths and limitations of scientific inquiry are discussed. Physical concepts underlying sound are introduced, including forces, motion, and the character and perception of waves. Acoustic topics include intensity, pitch, tone quality, temperament; sound generation by voices, stringed, brass, reed and percussion instruments; sound recording and reproduction; room and auditorium acoustics. Three 70-minute lecture/demonstration classes and one two-hour laboratory per week.
PHYS 211 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers II, 4 credits. E2. This is a continuation of PHYS 128 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers I. Topics include thermal physics, electricity, magnetism and optics. Three class periods and one three-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in or completion of MATH 122 – Calculus II or equivalent
PHYS 215 N – Physical Science, 4 credits. E. Designed for students with little background in science, this course explores concepts in physics, astronomy, geology and meteorology. Three class periods and one two-hour laboratory each week.
PHYS 216 – Physical Science II, 1 credit. A2-B4 (2013-2014). This is a continuation of PHYS 215. This course is designed for elementary education majors seeking a concentration in science. Topics include vector addition, motion and forces in two dimensions, conservation of energy, conservation of momentum and waves. One 100-minute class period each week. Prerequisite: concurrent registration in or completion of PHYS 215 – Physical Science
PHYS 224 – Introductory Modern Physics I, 4 credits. E1. This is an introduction to special relativity and quantum mechanics. These disciplines are applied to studies of atoms and molecules. Three class periods and one three-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 211 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers II, and concurrent registration or completion of MATH 122 – Calculus II or permission of instructor
PHYS 225 – Introductory Modern Physics II, 4 credits. E2. This is a continuation of PHYS 224. Topics include statistical mechanics, condensed matter, nuclear and particle physics, general relativity and astrophysics. Three class periods and one three-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 224 – Introductory Modern Physics I, and concurrent registration or completion of Math 223 – Calculus III or permission of instructor
PHYS 314 – Classical Mechanics, 4 credits. A1 (2013-2014). Newton’s laws are applied in specific situations. Topics include forces, fields, non-inertial reference frames, oscillations, collisions, planetary motions, rigid body dynamics, and an introduction to Lagrangian mechanics. Three 70-minute class periods each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 128 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers I, and concurrent registration or completion of MATH 223 – Calculus III
PHYS 315 – Electrodynamics, 4 credits. A1 (2012-2013). The fields of fixed and moving charges and their effects on other charges are described. The behavior of fields in conducting, dielectric and magnetic media, and the propagation of electromagnetic waves are studied. Three class periods each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 211 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers II, and concurrent registration or completion of MATH 223 – Calculus III
PHYS 316 – Statistical Physics, 4 credits. A2 (2013-2014). The behavior of matter at macroscopic and microscopic levels is discussed. Techniques of statistical mechanics are used to describe the behavior of ideal gases, heat engines, heat transfer and magnetic effects. Three class periods each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 225 – Introductory Modern Physics II, MATH 223 – Calculus III or permission of instructor
PHYS 317 – Optics, 4 credits. D. This course is an introduction to geometrical optics, lenses, mirrors, ray tracing and aberrations, followed by a detailed discussion of physical optics, electromagnetic character of light, reflection, interference, diffraction and lasers. Three class periods each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 211 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers II, PHYS 315 – Electrodynamics or consent of instructor
PHYS 327 – Techniques for Experimental Physics, 4 credits. A2 (2012-2013). A laboratory-intensive exploration of advanced methods in experimentation. Emphasis is on topics in quantum physics: energy spectroscopy of photons and particles, nuclear reactions and optical spectroscopy. Other areas to be explored are optical diffraction and electromagnetic waves. Two two-hour lecture/laboratory sessions each week. Prerequisites: concurrent registration or completion of PHYS 225 – Introductory Modern Physics II
PHYS 380 – Special Topics, 2 to 4 credits. D. Courses covering various topics of interest in this particular discipline are offered regularly. Contact department or program chair for more information.
PHYS 390 – Cooperative Education, 1 to 8 credits. E.
PHYS 429 – Quantum Mechanics, 4 credits. A2 (2012-2013). One of the great intellectual accomplishments of the modern era, quantum physics presents a radical new picture of the material world. This course covers the principles and techniques of basic quantum mechanics, including the uncertainty principle, Schrödinger’s equation, matrix mechanics and perturbation theory. Three class periods each week. Prerequisites: PHYS 224 – Introductory Modern Physics I, MATH 223 – Calculus III, concurrent registration or completion of MATH 311 – Differential Equations, or permission of instructor
PHYS 430 – Senior Seminar, 4 credits. E1. This course uses the seminar format to assist students in becoming members of the physics community. The students will discuss and reflect on professional and ethical issues in physics, as well as read and discuss current research articles in physics. Each student will work on a senior thesis paper under the supervision of the instructor, and the paper will be presented to the seminar for criticism and discussion. Prerequisites: senior standing and major or minor in physics
PHYS 480 – Independent Study, 1 to 4 credits. E. This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct in-depth research of a particular topic under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Contact the department or program chair for more information.