Physics Undergraduate Course Register
- L/L 001. General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound. (C)
- Prerequisites: Entrance credit in algebra and trigonometry.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- An introduction to the classical laws of motion and thermodynamics not requiring a background in calculus. Suggested for students in a pre-health program.
- L/L 002. General Physics: Electromagnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics. (C)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 1.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- A continuation of PHYS 1 emphasizing an introduction to classical electricity and magnetism, relativity theory, optics, and the quantum theory of matter. Suggested for students in a pre-health program.
- L/R 003. (ASTR002, GEOL003) Physical Evolution. (C)
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- The big bang, origin of the elements, stars, Earth, continents and oceans.
- L/R 005. The World of Physics. (C)
- Prerequisites: Entrance credit in algebra and trigonometry.
- Fulfills the Physical World Dristribution Requirement.
- An introduction to the physical theories of the mechanical universe. The course focuses on the development and principles of Newtonian mechanics, relativity and the reativistic mechanics of Einstein, and the quantum mechanics needed to describe atomic and nuclear phenomena. This course cannot be taken for credit by a student also receiving credit for PHYS 1 and/or 2, 8, or any physics course numbered 100 or greater.
- 008. Topics in Physics - for Architects. (A)
- Prerequisites: Entrance credit in algebra and trig.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- Inroductory course for students in architecture stressing statics, but also covering such topics as fluid flow, waves, electricity, and energy. This course cannot be taken for credit by a student also receiving credit for PHYS 1 and/or 2, or any physics course numbered 100 or greater.
- 021. Physics of Music. (A)
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement. Freshman seminar.
- This seminar will be an experimental inquiry into physics of music. The concepts of simple harmonic oscillation, damping, coupling, resonance, and harmonic analysis will be applied to a laboratory study of selected musical instruments, the voice, and rooms. Attention will be given to driving mechanisms, instabilities, sound radiation, transients, harmonic series. This course cannot be taken for credit by a student also receiving credit for PHYS 1 and/or 2, 8, or any physics course numbered 100 or greater.
- 037. Understanding the Universe. (A)
- Fulfills the Science Studies Distribution Requirement.
- In the last two decades, enormous progress has been made in understanding both the fundamental nature of matter at the submicroscopic level (elementary particle physics) and also the beginnings, large scale structure, and probable future of the universe (Cosmology). Furthermore, these two fields have become increasingly interconnected. In this course our present knowledge of these topics, as well as current work, open problems and foreseeable future trends, will be described. There are no prerequisites for this course. The treatment will be completely nonmathematical and necessary topics in physics and astrophysics will be introduced as needed. This course cannot be taken for credit by a student also receiving credit for PHYS 1 and/or 2, 8, or any physics course numbered 100 or greater.
- L/L 150. Principles of Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion. (C)
- Corequisites: MATH 140.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- Recommended for science majors and engineering students. Classical laws of motions; interactions between particles; conservation laws and symmetry principles; particle and rigid body motion; wave motion; and kinetic theory.
- L/L 151. Principles of Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation. (C)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 150 or 170.
- Corequisites: MATH 141.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- Electric and magnetic fields; Coulomb's, Ampere's, and Faraday's laws; Maxwell's equations; emission, propagation, and absorption of electromagnetic radiation; interference, reflection, refraction, scattering, and diffraction phenomena.
- L/L 170. Honors Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion (A)
- Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
- Corequisites: MATH 140.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- This course parallels and extends the content of PHYS 150. It is the first semester of a small-section three-semester sequence for well-prepared students. Classical laws of motion; interaction between particles; conservation laws and symmetry principles; rigid body motion; wave motion; kinetic theory and thermodynamics.
- L/L 171. Honors Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 150 or 170 and permission of instructor.
- Corequisites Math 141.
- Fulfills the Physical World Distribution Requirement.
- This course parallels and extends the content of PHYS 151. Electric and magnetic fields; Coulomb's, Ampere's, and Faraday's laws; Maxwell's equations; emission, propagation and absorption of electromagnetic radiation; geometrical and physical optics.
- 240. Inroduction to Quantum Mechanics and Relativity. (C)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 151 or 171.
- Special relativity, an introduction to the principles of quantum mechanics, properties of electrons, protons, neutrons, and the elements of atomic structure and nuclear structure. Electromagnetic radiation and photons; interaction of photons with electrons, atoms, and nuclei.
- L/L 250. Principles of Physics III: Modern Physics. (C)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 151 or 171.
- Special relativity, an introduction to the principle of quantum mechanics, properties of electrons, protons, neutrons, and the elements of atomic structure and nuclear strucute. Electromagnetic radiation and photons; interaction of photons with electrons, atoms, and nuclei.
- L/L 270. Honors Physics III: Modern Physics. (A)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 151 or 171 and permission of instructor.
- This course parallels and extends the content of PHYS 250. Special relativity, introduction to the principles of quantum mechanics, properties of electrons, protons, neutrons and the elements of atomic and nuclear structure.
- 299. Independent Study. (C)
- Repetitive credit.
- Special projects and independent study under the direction of a faculty member.
- 351. Analytical Mechanics (A)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 151 or 171.
- Corequisites: MATH 240 and PHYS 151 or 171, or permission of instructor.
- An intermediate course in the statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies with special emphasis on the theory of motion under central forces.
- 352. Analytical Mechanics. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 351.
- Corequisites: MATH 241.
- A continuation of PHYS 351, with a special emphasis on generalized coordinates and Lagrangin mechanics, small vibrations, rotational motion, and relativistic mechanics.
- 361. Electromagnetism I: Electricity and Potential Theory. (A)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 151 or 171, and MATH 241.
- An intermediate course. Electrostatic fields and potentials , dielectrics, and direct currents.
- 362. Electromagnetism II: Magnetism, Maxwell's Equations, and Electromagnetic Waves. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 361.
- A continuation of PHYS 361. Magnetic fields and potentials, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, and radiation.
- L/L 364. Measurements Laboratory. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 151 or 171.
- Introduction to the electronic techniques of modern physical measurements.
- 401. Thermodynamics and the Introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Kinetic Theory. (A)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 250 or 270.
- Temperature, entropy and generalized potentials, phase transitions, and introduction to ensemble theory and distribution functions.
- 411. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I.(A)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 250 or 170, 270, or equivalent, and MATH 241.
- An introduction to the principles of quantum mechanics designed for physics majors and graduate students in physics-related desciplines. The Schrodinger equation operator formalism, central field problem, angular momentum, and spin. Application to one-dimensional and central field problems.
- 412. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 411.
- Perturbation theory, variational principle, application of the quantum theory to atomic, molecular, and nuclear systems, and their interaction with radiation.
- 414. Laboratory in Modern Physics. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 364 and 411.
- Supervised experiments in modern physics.
- L/L 421. Modern Optics. (B)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 250 or 270 and 362, or permission of instructor.
- Interaction of light with matter. Interference and diffraction, absorption, and dispersion, stimulated emission and coherence, spectroscopy, non-linear processes.
- 499. Senior Honor Thesis. (C)
- Prerequisites: PHYS 412 and 414.
- Experimental and theoretical research projects in various areas of physics planned by student in consultation with a member of faculty. A written thesis and an oral presentation and defense are required.
Paul Langacker
August 1997