Physics (PHYS)

Head of Department: Professor William C. Stwalley
Department Office: Room 101, Physics Building

For major requirements, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this Catalog.

101Q. Elements of Physics

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or the equivalent. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 121, 131, 141 or 151. 

Basic concepts and applications of physics for the non-science major.  Scientific principles and quantitative relationships involving mechanics, energy, heat and temperature, waves, electricity and magnetism, and the theory of the atom are covered.  A laboratory provides hands-on experience with the principles of physics. CA 3-LAB.

103Q. Physics of the Environment

Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or equivalent. Not applicable to any requirement that specifies a course in "general physics." 

Concepts of physics applied to current problems of the physical environment: energy, transportation, pollution. No previous knowledge of physics is assumed. CA 3.

104Q. Physics of the Environment with Laboratory

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or the equivalent. No previous knowledge of physics is assumed. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 103Q. 

Concepts of physics applied to the physical environment, particularly to current problems related to energy, transportation, and pollution. These relationships will be further explored in the laboratory section.
CA 3-LAB.

105. Inquiry-Based Physics

Second semester. Four credits. One class period and three 2-hour laboratory periods. Best

 Selected topics from physics, with an emphasis on a depth of understanding. Provides background for teaching physical science as a process of inquiry, and develops scientific literacy. Particularly for pre-service elementary school teachers.

107Q. Physics of Music

First semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or equivalent.

Basic principles of physics and scientific reasoning will be taught in the context of the production and perception of music, emphasizing the historic and scientific interplay between physics and music. Basic quantitative laboratories pertaining to sound, music, and waves. No previous knowledge of physics or music is assumed. CA 3-LAB.

121Q-122Q. General Physics

Either semester. Four credits each semester. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: MATH 112 or 109 or 118 or passing score on the Calculus Placement Survey or equivalent. PHYS 121 not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 131, 141 or 151. PHYS 122 not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 132, 142 or 152. PHYS 121 required for PHYS 122. 

Basic facts and principles of physics. The laboratory offers fundamental training in precise measurements. CA 3-LAB.

123. General Physics Problems

Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 122 and MATH 114 or 116, both of which may be taken concurrently. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 141 or 151. 

Problems, emphasizing applications of calculus, dealing with topics in general physics.  Intended for those students who have taken or are taking PHYS 122 and who desire to have a calculus-based physics sequence equivalent to PHYS 131-132.

125. General Physics Problems for Engineers

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 1-hour recitation period. Prerequisite: PHYS 122 and MATH 114 or 116, both of which may be taken concurrently. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 123, 141 or 151. 

Problems, emphasizing applications of calculus, dealing with topics in general physics. Intended for those students who have taken or are taking PHYS 122 and who desire to have a calculus-based physics sequence equivalent to PHYS 141-142 or 151-152.

127. Physics for the Health Sciences

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: MATH 112 and 113, or MATH 115, or MATH 135. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 123, 131, 132, 141, 142, 151, or 152.

Survey of the principles of physics and their application to the health sciences. Basic concepts of calculus are used. Examples from mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, fluids, waves, and atomic and nuclear physics.

131Q-132Q. General Physics with Calculus

Either semester. Four credits each semester. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation for PHYS 131: MATH 113 or 115. Prerequisite for PHYS 132: PHYS 131. Recommended preparation for PHYS 132: MATH 114 or 116.  PHYS 131 is not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 141 or 151. PHYS 132 not open for credit to students who have passed 142 or 152. PHYS 131 may be taken for not more than 2 credits, with the permission of the instructor, by students who have received credits for PHYS 121. PHYS 132 may be taken for not more than 2 credits, with the permission of the instructor, by students who have received credit for PHYS 122. 

Quantitative study of the basic facts and principles of physics. The laboratory offers fundamental training in physical measurements. This course is recommended for students planning to apply for admission to medical, dental or veterinary schools. It is also recommended for science majors for whom a one year introductory physics course is adequate. CA 3-LAB.

140Q. Introduction to Modern Physics

First semester. Four credits. Three class periods, one recitation period and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or equivalent and MATH 109, which may be taken concurrently, or passed the Calculus Placement Survey.

Quantitative exploration of the structure of matter, including gas laws, electric and magnetic forces, the electron, x-rays, waves and light, relativity, radioactivity, and spectra. This course is recommended for prospective Physics majors. CA 3-LAB.

141Q. Fundamentals of Physics I

Second semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation:  MATH 113 or 115, or 135, any of which may be taken concurrently. MATH 135 is preferred for Physics majors. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 131 or 151. May be taken for not more than three credits, with the permission of the instructor, by students who have received credit for PHYS 121. 

Fundamental principles of mechanics, statistical physics, and thermal physics. Basic concepts of calculus are used. This course is recommended for prospective Physics majors. CA 3-LAB.

142Q. Fundamentals of Physics II

First semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: PHYS 141, and MATH 114 or 116 or 136, any of which may be taken concurrently. MATH 136 is preferred for Physics majors. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 132 or 152. May be taken for not more than three credits, with the permission of the instructor, by students who have received credit for PHYS 122. 

Fundamental principles of electromagnetism, optics and wave propagation.  Basic concepts of calculus are used. This course is recommended for prospective Physics majors. CA 3-LAB.

151Q. Physics for Engineers I

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: PHYS 101 or secondary school physics; and CE 211 or 213, as well as either MATH 210 or 230, which may be taken concurrently. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 131 or 141. PHYS 151 may be taken for not more than 2 credits, with the permission of the instructor, by students who have received credit for PHYS 121. 

Basic facts and principles of physics. Elementary concepts of calculus are used. Classical dynamics, rigid-body motion, harmonic motion, wave motion, acoustics, relativistic dynamics, thermodynamics.
CA 3-LAB.

152Q. Physics for Engineers II

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: PHYS 151. Not open for credit to students who have passed PHYS 132 or 142. PHYS 152 may be taken for not more than 2 credits, with the permission of the instructor, by students who have received credit for PHYS 122. 

Electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, quantum effects, introduction to atomic physics. CA 3-LAB.

154Q. Introductory Astronomy

Either semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or equivalent. Not open to students who have passed PHYS 155Q.

A basic introductory astronomy course without laboratories, including principles of celestial coordinate systems and telescope design; applications of fundamental physical laws to the sun, planets, stars and galaxies; evolution of stars, galaxies and the universe; recent space probe results, modern cosmology, astrobiology. Night observing sessions are an integral part of the course. CA 3.

155Q. Introductory Astronomy with Laboratory

Either semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: MATH 101 or equivalent. Not open to students who have passed PHYS 154Q.

A basic introductory astronomy course including principles of celestial coordinate systems and telescope design; applications of fundamental physical laws to the sun, planets, stars and galaxies; evolution of stars, galaxies and the universe; recent space probe results, modern cosmology, astrobiology. Basic quantitative laboratory techniques relevant to astronomy. Night observing sessions are an integral part of the course.  CA 3-LAB.

209. Intermediate Physics I

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 132 or 142 or 152 or, with consent of instructor, PHYS 122. 

Classical mechanics, electricity, and magnetism.

210. Intermediate Physics II

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 132 or 142 or 152 or, with consent of instructor, PHYS 122. 

Kinetic theory, introduction to quantum mechanics.

220C. Computational Physics 

Second semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Prequisite: PHYS 123 or 125 or 132 or 142 or 152 and MATH 211, any of which may be taken concurrently; or instructor consent. Open to sophomores or higher. 

A basic introduction to numerical and mathematical methods required for the solution of physics problems using currently available scientific software for computation and graphics.

230. The Development of Quantum Physics

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 132 or 142 or PHYS 152, which may be taken concurrently; or PHYS 122 with consent of instructor. Open to sophomores or higher. 

The inadequacies of classical physical concepts in the submicroscopic domain. The revision of physical principles that led to special relativity and modern quantum theory. Application to topics chosen from atomic and molecular physics, solid state physics, nuclear physics and elementary particle physics.

242. Mechanics I

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 142; or, with consent of instructor, PHYS 123 or 125 or 132  or 152 or 209; MATH 210 or 230, which may be taken concurrently. Open to sophomores or higher. 

Newton's Laws of motion applied to mass points, systems of particles, and rigid bodies.

246. Mechanics II

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: MATH 211 or 221 and PHYS 242 or CE 212. Open to sophomores or higher. 

Further applications of Newton's Laws; continuous media; Lagrange's and Hamilton's formulation of dynamics.

255. Electricity and Magnetism I

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 142; or, with consent of instructor, PHYS 123 or 125 or 132  or 152 or 210; MATH 210 and 211, or 230 and 221. 

Properties of electric and magnetic fields; direct and alternating current circuits.

256. Electronics

Second semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: PHYS 132 or 142 or 152. 

The principles of devices and their applications to instrumentation in science and engineering. Rectification, filtering, regulation, input and output impedance, basic transistor circuits, operational amplifiers, preamplifiers for photodiodes and other transducers, logic gates, and digital circuits.

257. Electricity and Magnetism II

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 255. 

Mathematical theory of the electromagnetic field; electric and magnetic properties of matter.

258WC-259C. Laboratory in Electricity, Magnetism, and Mechanics 

Both semesters. Three credits each semester. One class period, one 3-hour laboratory period, and additional assignments on the theoretical interpretation of experiments. One hour lecture per week. Time by arrangement. A written presentation of methods and results is required for each experiment. Prerequisites: First semester, PHYS 121 or 131 or 141 or 151; Second semester, PHYS 122 or 132 or 142 or 152. Both semesters prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Open to sophomores or higher. 

Experiments with mechanical phenomena. Experiments with electric and magnetic phenomena, including their interaction with matter. The handling of experimental data. The use of computers in experimental physics.

261-262. Introductory Quantum Mechanics

Both semesters. Three credits each semester. Prerequisite: PHYS 230; MATH 210 and 211, or 230 and 221. 

Elementary principles of quantum mechanics; applications to electrons, atoms, molecules, nuclei, elementary particles, and solids.

271. Statistical and Thermal Physics

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 123 or 125 or 132 or 142 or 152; MATH 210 and 211, or 230 and 221.

The laws of thermodynamics and their microscopic statistical basis; entropy, temperature, Boltzmann factor, chemical potential, Gibbs factor, and the distribution functions.

273. Introduction to Solid State Physics

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 123 or 125 or 132 or 142 or 152.

Crystal lattices, lattice waves, thermal and electronic properties, imperfections in solids.

274. Nuclei and Particles

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 261 or equivalent. 

Properties of nuclei and particles, conserved quantities, isospin, quark model, Fermi gas model, electroweak interaction, high energy scattering.

275. Principles of Lasers

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 257 and 261, or consent of instructor. Recommended preparation: PHYS 281 . 

The physics of lasers, including optical pumping and stimulated emission, laser rate equations, optical resonators, Gaussian beam propagation, Q-switching, mode-locking and nonlinear optics. Applications to gas, solid-state and tunable laser systems.

276. Astrophysics and Modern Cosmology

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 257 and 261, or equivalent, or instructor consent. Mallet

Basic principles of contemporary astrophysics; applications to stars, galaxies, and modern cosmology.

277. Physics of the Earth's Interior

(Also offered as GEOL 274.) First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 123 or 132 or 142 or 152, which may be taken concurrently; MATH 113 or 115 or 135, which may be taken concurrently, not open to students who have taken GEOL 264Q. Cormier

The composition, structure, and dynamics of the Earth's core, mantle, and crust inferred from observations of seismology, geomagnetism, and heat flow.

278. Fundamentals of Planetary Science

(Also offered as GEOL 276.) Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 123 or 132 or 142 or 152, which may be taken concurrently; MATH 114  or 116 or 136, which may be taken concurrently, not open to students who have taken GEOL 266Q. Cormier

Evolution of the solar system, celestial mechanics, tidal friction, internal composition of planets, black-body radiation, planetary atmospheres.

281. Optics

First semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: PHYS 255.

An introduction to geometrical and physical optics. Thick lenses, stops, aberrations, interference, diffraction, polarization.

285C. Experimental Physics Design Laboratory 

Either semester. Three credits. Two 3-hour laboratory periods and additional reading assignments. A written description of the proposed method must be submitted and approved before each experiment, and a subsequent written critical evaluation of each experiment is required. Prerequisite: PHYS 230, 242 or 246, and 257; PHYS 261, which may be taken concurrently; and PHYS 258 or 259 or ECE 262 or MMAT 236.

Experiments in modern and classical physics are independently designed, performed, and evaluated. Experiments are chosen from the areas of atomic, solid state and thermal physics, as well as from acoustics and optics. Computers are utilized for control of the experimental process, data acquisition and analysis.

290. Undergraduate Research

Either semester. Credits, not to exceed three each semester, and hours by arrangement. Open only with consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

Introduction to original investigation performed by the student under the guidance of a faculty member. The student is required to submit a brief report at the end of each semester.

291. Seminar in Current Topics

Either or both semesters. One credit. One class period. To be taken concurrently with any of the following: PHYS 242, 246, 255, 257, 261, 262, 271 or 281. Open only with consent of instructor. With a change in content this course may be repeated for credit only once. 

Lectures on topics relevant to current research.

292W. Research Thesis in Physics

Either semester. Three credits. Hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Open only with instructor consent.

293. Foreign Study

Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit. Consent of Department Head required, normally to be granted prior to the student's departure. May count toward the major with consent of the advisor. 

Special topics taken in a foreign study program.

295. Variable Topics

Either semester. Three credits. With a change in topic, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

298. Special Topics

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. With a change in content, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

299. Independent Study

Either or both semesters. Credits by arrangement, not to exceed 3 each semester. Open only with consent of instructor. With a change of topic, this course may be repeated for credit.