Physics Courses
The Physics courses listed below can be divided into three broad categories:
Lower Division Courses,
Upper Division Courses and
Graduate Courses. The
courses in the first group are required of all students concentrating
in Physics and are only available to Undergraduate students for credit
towards a degree. The courses in the second group are open to
to upper division Undergraduate students, many being required for students
concentrating in Physics. Graduate students may take a limited number of
these courses for credit toward a degree. The courses in the third group
are the core of the Graduate programs and are open only to advanced
Undergraduate students who wish to have an in-depth Physics preparation for
graduate study. Each course description is
followed by three numbers in parentheses representing Lecture Hours,
Laboratory Hours, and Course Credits, respectively.
Lower Division Physics Courses
Courses taken by Freshmen, Sophomore and Junior level students.
These courses are required for a major in Physics but may
not be taken for Graduate credit.
PHYS 100 Introduction to the Profession
Introduction to the physical sciences, scientific method, computing tools, and the
interrelations of physical sciences with chemistry, physics and other professions.
(2 - 0 - 2)
PHYS 120 Astronomy
A descriptive survey of observational astronomy, the solar system, stellar evolution, pulsars, black holes, galaxies, quasars, the origin and
fate of the universe. (3-0-3)
PHYS 123 General Physics I: Mechanics
Vectors and motion in one, two and three dimensions. Newton's Laws, particle dynamics, work and energy. Conservation laws and collisions. Rotational kinematics and dynamics, angular momentum and equilibrium of rigid bodies. Simple harmonic motion, gravitation. Corequisite MATH 151 or permission of department. (3 - 3 - 4)
Course Objectives
- Understand measurement, units, kinematics and vector.
- Understand Newton's Laws, forces and momentum
- Understand work, conservation of energy and Hooke's Law.
- Understand systems of particles, center of mass and conservation of momentum.
- Understand rotational motion of rigid bodies, torque, angular momentum, rolling and static equilibrium.
- Operate experimental equipment, take and analyze data, and communicate results in written and graphical form.
PHYS 211 Basic Physics I
Intended to give students in architecture an understanding of the basic
principles of physics and an appreciation of how the results of physics
influence contemporary society. Topics covered include mechanics, sound,
heat and electricity and magnetism. This course does not count toward
graduation in any engineering or science program. (3 - 0 - 3)
Course Objectives
- Understand linear and rotational motion, projectile motion, and Newton's Laws.
- Understand work, kinetic and potential energy, and conservation of energy.
- Understand conservation of momentum and collisions.
- Understand the properties of solids and fluids.
- Understand temperature, heat, thermodynamics.
- Understand wave motion and sound waves.
PHYS 212 Basic Physics II
Continuation of PHYS 211. This course does not count toward
graduation in any engineering or science program. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 221 General Physics II: Electricity & Magnetism
Charge, electric field, Gauss' Law and potential. Capacitance, resistance, simple a/c and d/c circuits. Magnetic fields, Ampere's Law, Faraday's Law, induction and Maxwell's equations. Traveling waves, electromagnetic waves and light.
Prerequisite PHYS 123 or permission of department.
(3 - 3 - 4)
PHYS 223 General Physics III
Sound, fluid mechanics and elasticity. Temperature, first and second laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory and entropy. Reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction. Special relativity. Quantization of light, charge and energy. Prerequisite PHYS 221 or permission of department. (3 - 3 - 4)
PHYS 224 General Physics III for Engineers
Sound and fluid mechanics. Temperature, first and second laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory and entropy. Reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction. Special relativity. Light and quantum physics, structure of the hydrogen atom. Atomic physics, electrical conduction in solids, nuclear physics , particle physics and cosmology. Prerequisite PHYS 221 or permission of department. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 240 Computational Science
This course provides an overview of introductory general physics in a computer
laboratory setting. The aim is to teach students basic programming skills using Fortran
or C by practical applications to basic physics problems. Students learn introductory
level computational physics techniques such as the Euler-Newton method for solving
differential equations, the trapezoidal rule for numerical quadrature and simple
applications of random number generators. Students work in a computer laboratory
setting using a UNIX based operating system. The aim of the course is to illustrate the
role of computational techniques in investigating and visualizing fundamental physics.
Computational projects include the study of periodic and chaotic motion, the motion of
falling bodies and projectiles with air resistance, the conservation of energy in
mechanical and electrical systems, satellite motion, using random numbers to simulate
radioactivity and the Monte Carlo method, and classical physical models for the
hydrogen molecule and the helium atom. Students also develop experience with a word
processing software package such as LATeX in the course of writing reports for the
course. Prerequisites PHYS 221 or permission of the department. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 300 Instrumentation Laboratory
Basic electronic skills for scientific research. Electrical measurements, basic circuit
analysis, diode and transistor circuits. Transistor and integrated amplifiers, filters, and
power circuits. Basics of digital circuits, including Boolean algebra and design of logic
circuits. Corequisite PHYS 221. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 304 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Statistical basis of thermodynamics, including kinetic theory, fundamentals of statistical mechanics, fluctuations and noise, transport phenomena and the Boltzmann equation. Thermodynamic functions and their applications, first and second laws of thermodynamics. Prerequisite: PHYS 223. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 308 Classical Mechanics I
Newton's Laws, one dimensional motion, vector methods, kinematics, dynamics,
conservation laws, and the Kepler problem. Collisions, systems of particles, and
rigid-body motion. Approximation techniques, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian
formulations of classical mechanics, small oscillations. Prerequisites PHYS 223, MATH
252. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 309 Classical Mechanics II
Continuation of PHYS 308. Newton's Laws, one dimensional motion, vector methods, kinematics, dynamics,
conservation laws, and the Kepler problem. Collisions, systems of particles, and
rigid-body motion. Approximation techniques, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian
formulations of classical mechanics, small oscillations. Prerequisite PHYS 308. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 348 Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers
An introduction to modern physics with the emphasis on the basic concepts that can be
treated with elementary mathematics. Subjects covered include Einstein's special theory
of relativity, black body radiation, the Bohr atom, elementary wave mechanics, and
atomic and molecular spectra. Prequisite PHYS 223. (3 - 0 - 3)
Upper Division Physics Courses
Courses available to Junior and Senior level students and in limited
numbers to Graduate students for credit.
PHYS 403 Relativity
Introduction to the special and general theories of relativity. Lorentz covariance. Minkowski space. Maxwell's equations. Relativistic
mechanics. General coordinate covariance, differential geometry, Riemann tensor, the gravitational field equations. Schwarzschild
solution, astronomical and experimental tests, relativistic cosmological models. Prerequisites: PHYS 309, MATH 251, or consent of
instructor. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 404 Subatomic Physics
Historical introduction; general survey of nuclear and elementary particle physics; symmetries and conservation laws; leptons, quarks,
and vector bosons; unified electromagnetic and weak interactions; the parton model and quantum chromodynamics. Prerequisite PHYS
348. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 405 Fundamentals of Quantum Theory I
A review of modern physics including topics such as blackbody radiation, the
photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, the
correspondence principle and the DeBroglie hypothesis. The course continues with a
treatment of the quantum mechanical wavefunction, fundamental topics in one
dimensional quantum mechanics such as the particle in an infinite potential well,
reflection and transmission from potential wells, barriers and steps, the finite potential
well and the quantum harmonic oscillator. General topics such as raising and lowering
operators, Hermitian operators, commutator brackets and the Heisenberg Uncertainty
Principle are also covered. Many particle systems and the Pauli Exclusion Principle are
discussed. The course finishes up with a treatment of three dimensional quantum
mechanical systems, orbital angular momentum and a detailed treatment of the
hydrogen atom using the Schrödinger equation. Prerequisites PHYS 308, PHYS 348,
MATH 252 or permission of department. (3 - 0 - 3).
PHYS 406 Fundamentals of Quantum Theory II
This course covers the effects of magnetic and electric fields on atomic states, including
the Zeeman and Stark Effects. Other topics dealt with include addition of spin and
orbital angular momentum, the matrix representation of quantum mechanical
operators, the physics of spin precession and nuclear magnetic resonance. Time
independent and time dependent perturbation theory are treated in detail, including the
derivation of Fermi's Golden Rule and the physics of radiation emitted in the course of
atomic transitions. The role of indistinguishable particles in quantum mechanics is
presented, using the helium atom as an illustration. Scattering theory is treated using
partial wave analysis and the Born approximation. Prerequisite PHYS 405. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 410 Molecular Biophysics
Thermodynamic properties of biological molecules. Irreversible and open systems, information theory. Biophysical measurements.
Structure and properties of proteins. Enzyme action. Structure and properties of nucleic acids. Genetics at the molecular level. Molecular
aspects of important biological systems. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 411 Astrophysics
Celestial mechanics and planetary motion; stellar structure and evolution; energy generation in stars; theory of white dwarfs, pulsars
(neutron stars), and black holes; quasars; cosmology, background microwave radiation, and the big bang model. Prerequisite PHYS 348 or
consent of instructor. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 412 Modern Optics and Lasers
Geometrical and physical optics. Interference, diffraction, and polarization. Coherence and holography. Light emission and absorption.
Principles of laser action, characterization of lasers, and laser applications. Same as EE 413. Prerequisites: PHYS 348 or consent of
instructor, CS 105. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 413 Electromagnetism I
Differentiation and integration of vector fields, and applications in electrostatics and
magnetostatics. Calculation of capacitance, resistance, and inductance in various
geometries. Prerequisite PHYS 308, MATH 252. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 414 Electromagnetism II
Propagation and generation of electromagnetic radiation. Antennas and waveguides.
Maxwell's equations. Electromagnetic properties of materials. Classical
electrodynamics; special relativity. Prerequisite PHYS 413. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 415 Solid State Electronics
Energy bands and carrier transport in semi-conductors and metals. Physical principles of p-n junction devices, bipolar junction
transistors, FETS, Gunn diodes, IMPATT devices, light-emitting diodes, semiconductor lasers. Same as EE 415. Prerequisite: PHYS 348
or consent of instructor. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 418 Introduction to Lasers
Nature of light. Coherence and holography. Light emission and absorption. Principles of laser action. Characteristics of gas lasers, organic
dye lasers, solid state lasers. Laser applications. Same as EE 418. Prerequisite: PHYS 348 or consent of instructor. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 427 Advanced Physics Laboratory I
Experiments related to our present understanding of the physical world. Emphasis is on
quantum phenomena in atomic, molecular, and condensed matter physics, along with
techniques of measurement and data analysis. Prerequisite PHYS 300 or consent of instructor.
(2 - 3 - 3)
PHYS 428 Advanced Physics Laboratory II
Continuation of PHYS 427. This course stresses project-oriented experiments on modern topics including spectroscopy, condensed
matter physics, and nuclear physics. Prerequisite PHYS 427 or consent of instructor.
(2 - 3 - 3)
PHYS 437 Solid State Physics
Crystal structure and binding, lattice vibrations, phonons free electron model, band
theory of solids. Electrical, thermal, optical, and magnetic properties of solids.
Superconductivity. Prerequisite PHYS 348 or consent of instructor. (3 - 0 - 3)
PHYS 440 Computational Physics
This course provides the student with an advanced background in computational
techniques and their application to physics. It is intended as a follow-up to PHYS 240.
The computational techniques discussed include root finding using the
Newton-Raphson method, interpolation using Cubic Splines and Least Squares Fitting,
solving ordinary differential equations using Runge-Kutta and partial differential
equations using Finite Difference and Finite Element techniques, numerical quadrature
using Simpson's Rule, Gaussian Quadrature and the Monte Carlo Method and spectral
analysis using Fast Fourier Transforms. These techniques are applied to a wide range of
physics problems such as finding the energy levels of a finite quantum well using a root
finding technique, solving the Schrödinger equation using the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg
technique, using random numbers to simulate stochastic processes such as a random
walk, using the Fast Fourier Transform method to perform a spectral analysis on
non-linear, chaotic systems such as the Duffing oscillator and using auto-correlation
functions to simulate sonar or radar ranging problems. The computer languages used in
the course are Fortran and C. Students will also develop a practical knowledge of basic
UNIX and a word processing software package such as LATeX for writing reports.
Prerequisites PHYS 240, PHYS 308, PHYS 348, PHYS 405 or permission of
department. (2 - 3 - 4)
PHYS 485 Physics Colloquium
Lectures by invited scientists in areas of physics of general interest. Junior or Senior standing required. May not be used to satisfy General Education Requirements. (1 - 0 - 1)
Graduate Physics Courses
Courses which constitute the Graduate programs and which are open to
advanced Undergraduate students.
PHYS 501 Methods of Theoretical Physics I
PHYS 502 Methods of Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 505 Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS 507 Electrodynamics
PHYS 508 Analytical Dynamics
PHYS 509 Quantum Theory I
PHYS 510 Quantum Theory II
PHYS 511 Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 512 Advanced Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 515 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 521 Quantum Electronics
PHYS 533 Group Theory in Physics
PHYS 537 Physics of the Solid State I
PHYS 538 Physics of the Solid State II
PHYS 545 Elementary Particle Physics
PHYS 553 Quantum Field Theory
PHYS 561 Radiation Biophysics
PHYS 568 Business Principles
PHYS 570 Introduction to Synchrotron Radiation
PHYS 571 Radiation Physics I
PHYS 572 Radiation Physics II
PHYS 573 Standards Statutes and Regulations
PHYS 575 Case Studies in Health Physics
PHYS 576 Internal Dosimetry
PHYS 577 External Dosimetry
PHYS 578 Therapeutic Medical Physics I
PHYS 579 Therapeutic Medical Physics II
PHYS 585 Physics Colloquium
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