PHYSICS (PHYS)
PHYS 1101. Introductory
PHYS 1101L. Introductory Physics I Laboratory. (1) (S) Corequisite: PHYS 1101. Laboratory investigations
illustrating experimental techniques and fundamental principles of natural
phenomena. Three laboratory hours each week. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
PHYS 1102. Introductory Physics II. (3) (S) Corequisite: PHYS 1102L; Prerequisite: PHYS 1101. A
continuation of PHYS 1101. (Fall, Spring,
Summer)
PHYS 1102L. Introductory Physics II Laboratory. (1) (S) Corequisite: PHYS 1102; Prerequisite: PHYS 1101L. A
continuation of PHYS 1101L. Three laboratory hours each week. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
PHYS 1130. Introduction to Astronomy. (3) (S) Historical beginnings of astronomy. Motions of celestial bodies.
Introduction to space science. The solar system. Optical and radio astronomy.
Structure and evolution of stars. Galaxies, cosmology. Three lecture hours each
week. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
PHYS 1130L. Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory. (1) (S) Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 1130. Experimental
investigations relating to the acquisition of and interpretation of
astronomical data. One three-hour laboratory each week. (Fall, Spring) (Evenings)
PHYS 2101. Physics
for Science and Engineering I. (3) (S) Prerequisite: MATH 1241.
Corequisite: PHYS 2101L, MATH 1242.
First semester of a two semester calculus-based introductory sequence in
general physics with topics selected from kinematics and dynamics of particles,
momentum, work, energy, conservation laws, mechanics of rigid bodies, heat,
thermodynamics, fluids, electricity and
magnetism, wave motion and sound, geometrical and physical optics. Three lecture hours and one recitation hour
each week. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)
PHYS 2101L. Laboratory I.
(1) (S) Corequisite: PHYS
2101. Experiments selected from
mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, wave motion and optics. Use of the computer for organizing, graphing
and analyzing data. Two
laboratory hours each
week. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)
PHYS 2102. Physics
for Science and Engineering II. (3) (S) Prerequisite: PHYS 2101 with a grade of C or better, and
MATH 1242. Continuation of PHYS
2101. Three lecture hours and one
recitation hour each week. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)
PHYS 2102L.
Laboratory II. (S) (1) Prerequisite: PHYS 2101L.
Corequisite: PHYS 2102.
Continuation of PHYS 2101L. Two
laboratory hours each week. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)
PHYS 2181. Electronics and Microcomputer Interfacing. (4) Prerequisites: PHYS 2102 and 2102L (or PHYS 1102) with a
grade of C or better, and MATH 1242.
Study of analog and digital electronics and microcomputer interfacing,
including logic gates, counters, decoders, flip-flops, latches, memories,
operational amplifiers, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters,
IEEE-488, RS-232C and current loop interfaces, interrupts, BASIC programming,
and microcomputer input-output techniques.
Six lecture/laboratory hours per week.
(Spring)
PHYS 3000. Topics in Physics. (1-4) (S) Prerequisite: consent of Department. Special topics which
are introductory in nature. May not be applied toward the degree requirements
for "additional hours at the 3000/4000 level" without approval of the
departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee. May be repeated. (On demand)
PHYS 3101. Topics
and Methods of General Physics. (4) (S)
Prerequisites: For physics majors, PHYS 2102 or 1102 with a grade of C or
better, and MATH 1242; Others: consent of the instructor Exercises and problems
to further explore topics in PHYS 2101 and 2102 with emphasis on understanding
of physical concepts and developing computer methods of exploration and
solution using Mathematics and Excel. (Spring)
PHYS 3121. Classical
Mechanics I. (3) Prerequisites: PHYS 3101 (or ECGR 3121 or MEGR 2142) with a
grade of C or better, and MATH 2171.
Corequisite: MATH 2241. First
course of a two-semester sequence treating particle dynamics, the motion of
systems of particles, rigid body motion, moving coordinate systems. Lagrange’s equations, Hamilton’s equations and
small oscillations. (Fall)
PHYS 3141.
Introduction to Modern Physics.
(3) Prerequisite: PHYS 2102 (or
PHYS 1102) with a grade of C or better, MATH 1241. Corequisite: MATH 1242. Special relativity, kinetic theory,
quantization of charge, light, and energy, the nuclear atom, electron waves,
molecular and solid state physics, statistical physics, and an introduction to
the physics of atoms. (Fall)
PHYS 3151. Thermal
Physics. (3) Prerequisites: PHYS 3141 with a grade of C or better, CHEM
1251 and 1251L, MATH 2241. An
introduction to heat, thermodynamics, kenetic theory, and statistical
physics. Topics include classical
thermodynamics, classical and quantum theory of specific heats,
Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions. Three lecture hours a week. (Spring)
(Alternate years)
PHYS 3281. Advanced Laboratory in Waves and Optics.
(2) Prerequisites:
PHYS 2102 and 2102L (or PHYS 1102) with a grade of C or better, and MATH
1242. Selected laboratory work in
physical optics. Areas of study include
properties of light sources and detectors; interferometry; fiber optics;
optical retardation; and dispersion. Emphasis
on the development of sound laboratory techniques, methods of data analysis,
and the writing of formal laboratory reports.
Three hours of laboratory each week.
(Fall)
PHYS 3282. Advanced
Laboratory in Modern Physics. (2) (W,O) Prerequisites: PHYS 3141 with a grade of C or better, ENGL
2116. Selected laboratory work in areas
such as atomic spectra, radioactive decay, and the interaction of radiation
with matter. Emphasis on development of
sound laboratory techniques, methods of data analysis, oral communication of
results, and the writing of formal laboratory reports. Three hours of laboratory each week. (Spring)
PHYS 3283. Advanced
Laboratory in Classical Physics. (2) (W) Prerequisite:
PHYS 3101 with a grade of C or better, ENGL 2116. Selected laboratory work in areas such as
mechanics, electricity and magnetism, acoustics, and thermal physics. Topics are chosen for their relation to
important principles and techniques, or for their historical significance.
Emphasis on development of sound laboratory techniques, methods of data
analysis, and the writing of formal laboratory reports. Three hours of laboratory each week. (Fall)
PHYS 3400. Internship in Community Education and Service.
(3) Prerequisites: junior standing,
acceptance into the internship program and approval by the Physics Department.
A project oriented, service‑learning internship with cooperating
community organizations. Does not count as credit toward departmental
requirements in physics. May be repeated once with permission of the
Department. This course is offered on a Pass/No
Credit basis. (On demand)
PHYS 3590. Physics Cooperative Work Experience. (O) Prerequisites: junior standing and consent of Department.
Registration in PHYS 3590 is required of Co‑Op students during each of
the semesters they are working. (Fall,
Spring, Summer)
PHYS 3900. Senior Project. (2‑3) Prerequisites: senior standing and consent of the faculty
member overseeing the project; PHYS 3282 and 3283. Independent investigation
under the supervision of faculty member on a project that is approved by the
departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee. (On demand)
PHYS 4000. Selected Topics in Physics. (1‑4) Prerequisite: consent of Department. Advanced special
topics. May not be applied toward the degree requirements for "additional
hours at the 3000/4000 level" without approval of the departmental
Undergraduate Studies Committee. May be repeated. (On demand)
PHYS 4140. Nuclear
Physics. (3) Prerequisites: PHYS 3141 with a grade of C or better, and
MATH 2171. A study of the nucleus,
radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, fusion, interactions of radiation
with matter and measurement of radiation.
(Spring) (Alternate years)
PHYS 4181. Solid
State and Semiconductor Physics Laboratory.
(3) Prerequisite: PHYS 4241 or MEGR
3131 or consent of instructor. Laboratory
in solid state physics and semiconductor device physics, including electrical
and photoconductivity; fluorescence, photoluminescence and Raman Scattering;
semiconductor device characteristics; superconductivity; and the Hall Effect. Six laboratory hours each week. (On
demand)
PHYS 4210. Theoretical Physics. (3) Prerequisite:
consent of Department. Topics include:
Matrices, power series, solutions to ordinary and partial differential
equations. Hilbert space, Fourier
integrals, boundary value problems, Green's functions, and complex
analysis. (Fall)
PHYS 4231. Electromagnetic Theory I. (3) Prerequisites: For physics majors, PHYS 3121 with a grade
of C or better; Others: consent of the instructor; MATH 2171, MATH 2241.
Corequisite: MATH 2242. (Spring)
PHYS 4232.
Electromagnetic Theory II. (3) Prerequisites: PHYS 4231 with a grade of C or better. (Fall)
PHYS 4241. Modern
Physics I. (3) Prerequisites: For
physics majors, PHYS 3141 with a grade of C or better; Others: consent of the instructor;
MATH 2241 and 2171. The first semester
of a two semester sequence providing a senior-level treatment of physical
systems at the level of atoms. Topics
selected from: relativity, quantum
phenomena, ionic and covalent bonding in molecules, electrical, thermal, and
magnetic properties of solids, Mazwellian and Boltzmann distributions,
solutions of the one-dimensional Schrodinger wave equation, the hydrogen atom
and spin, the helium atom, atomic and molecular spectra. (Fall)
PHYS 4242. Modern Physics
II. (3) Prerequisite: PHYS 4241.
A continuation of PHYS 4241. (Spring)
PHYS 4271. Waves and
Optics. (3) Prerequisites: PHYS
2102 with a grade of C or better, senior standing, and MATH 2171. Exceptions by consent of the instructor.
Topics include the mathematics of wave motion, light as an example of an
electromagnetic wave, the superposition of periodic and non-periodic waves, and
selected topics from geometrical and physical optics. (Fall)
PHYS 4281. Advanced
Laboratory in Modern Optics. (3) Prerequisite: PHYS 4271 or consent of the instructor. Laboratory in modern optics. Characteristics of light sources and
detectors; interferometry; fiber optics and fiber optics sensors; holography;
heterodyned optical signals. Emphasizing
sound techniques, methods of data analysis, and written laboratory
reports. Credit cannot be obtained for
both PHYS 3281 and PHYS 4281. Six hours
each week. (Fall)
PHYS 4800. Investigations. (1‑2) Prerequisite: junior standing. An independent investigation
on a topic approved by the Department Undergraduate Studies Committee. May be
repeated for up to four hours credit. No more than two credit hours may be
applied toward the degree requirements for "additional hours at the
3000/4000 level." (On demand)