DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS — COURSES

Course Prerequisites

Please note that MATH 240 and 310 are required for all 300-level theory courses. The selection of courses may reflect a student’s experimental, theoretical, or topical interests, and should be made in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Courses

PHYSIC 107
College Physics I

Non-calculus introductory physics for life-science students and others with a program requirement for a year of physics at this level. Topics include mechanics, fluids, wave motion, kinetic theory of gases, temperature and heat. Students who need or want laboratory work in physics should enroll concurrently in PHYSIC 181. Note: Students may not receive credit for both PHYSIC 107-108 and 113-114.

Prerequisite: MATH 130 or equivalent placement or permission of instructor.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
Distribution II Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 1 Disc Hr, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 108
College Physics II

A continuation of PHYSIC 107. Topics include thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism; optics; and a preview of modern physics. Students who need or want laboratory work in physics should enroll concurrently in PHYSIC 182. Note: Students may not receive credit for both PHYSIC 107-108 and 113-114.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 107 or permission of instructor.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
Distribution II Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 1 Disc Hr, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 113
Fundamentals of Physics I

The first semester of calculus-level introductory physics. Topics include mechanics, fluids, waves, kinetic theory, and heat. Students who need or want laboratory work in physics should enroll concurrently in PHYSIC 181. Note: Students may not receive credit for both PHYSIC 107-108 and 113-114.

Corequisite: MATH 140 and, for physics majors, PHYSIC 181.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
Distribution II Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 2 Disc Hrs, 4 Credits

PHYSIC 114
Fundamentals of Physics II

The second semester of calculus-level introductory physics. Topics include thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, geometrical and wave optics. Students who need or want laboratory work in Physics should enroll concurrently in PHYSIC 182. Note: Students may not receive credit for both PHYSIC 107-108 and 113-114.
Corequisite: MATH 141 and, for physics majors, PHYSIC 182.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 113 or permission of instructor.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
Distribution II Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 2 Disc Hrs, 4 Credits

PHYSIC 121
Introduction to Astronomy

Descriptive introduction to astronomy and astrophysics. Topics include introductory material on light, telescopes, and spectroscopy; properties of stars and stellar evolution, including the formation of stars, stellar energy cycles, red giants, white dwarfs, supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes; galactic structure; the expansion of the universe; cosmology; the past and future of the universe.

Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
Distribution II Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 123
Concepts of Modern Physics I

A view of the natural world as revealed by physics. Emphasizing basic concepts and unifying principles, the course is presented at a level accessible to non-science students. The material is developed in historical context and includes topics of contemporary interest.

Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 124
Concepts of Modern Physics II

A continuation of PHYSIC 123.
Prerequisite: PHYSIC 123 or permission of instructor.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 126
Solar System Astronomy

Descriptive introduction to the study of the solar system and its structure. Topics include the historical development of early astronomy; the properties of the sun; the planets and their satellites; comets, asteroids, and meteorites; the results of spacecraft exploration.

Prerequisite: MATH Q114 or equivalent placement.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
Distribution II Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 132
Energy

The problems of energy—what it is, how it is obtained and used, limitations on its generation from various sources and on its utilization—are considered from all perspectives: scientific, technical, environmental, economic. Topics include theory of energy; generation of energy from fossil, nuclear, solar, geothermal, atmospheric, and other sources; general problems related to the production and consumption of energy, and problems specific to particular sources.

Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 140
Understanding Earth’s Environment

This course is designed to help non-science students understand the physics of environmental problems, and ramifications of human activities. It includes such topics as ethical and practical dilemmas involved in the use of energy, generation of fossil and nuclear electricity, transportation, alternative transportation modes and energy sources, natural resources, solar and other renewable alternatives, and conservation and recycling.

Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 181
Physics Laboratory I

Exploration of basic phsical phenomena through laboratory work. Experiments in kinematics, mechanics and hydrostatics. This course is designed to accompany either level of introductory physics.

Corequisite: PHYSIC 107 or 113.
3 Lab Hrs in alternate weeks, 1 Credit

PHYSIC 182
Physics Laboratory II

Exploration of basic physical phenomena through laboratory work. Experiments in thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism and optics. This course is designed to accompany either level of introductory physics.

Corequisite: PHYSIC 108 or 114.
3 Lab Hrs in alternate weeks, 1 Credit

PHYSIC 211
Introduction to Contemporary Physics

The third semester of calculus-level introductory physics. Topics include special relativity; the historical development of quantum theory; elements of quantum mechanics; with applications to atomic, molecular, solid state, nuclear and particle physics. Students who need or want laboratory work in modern physics should enroll concurrently in PHYSIC 281.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 114 or permission of instructor.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 214
Thermodynamics

An introduction to the principles of thermodynamics. Concepts include temperature, internal energy, heat, free energy, entropy, work, and the laws which relate them to each other. Application is made to systems including ideal gases, heat engines and refrigerators.

Prerequisites: MATH 141 and PHYSIC 114.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 281
PHYSICal Laboratory I

Basic principles of experimental physics and error analysis. Experiments in modern physics and optics, including spectroscopy, electromagnetism, atomic, and nuclear physics.

Corequisite for physics majors: PHYSIC 211.
Prerequisite: PHYSIC 182 or permission of instructor.
Distribution I Area: Natural Sciences.
4 Lab Hrs, 1 Lect Hr, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 312
Mechanics

Principles of Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, gravitational potential theory, and conservative fields, central forces, oscillatory systems, rigid body rotation, and relativistic mechanics.

Corequisite: MATH 310.
Prerequisite: PHYSIC 211 or permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 321
Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I

Basic concepts of electric and magnetic fields, electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric currents, electromagnetism, development of Maxwell’s equations and simple applications, physical optics, reflection, dispersion, polarization, and diffraction.

Prerequisite: MATH 240, PHYSIC 312, or permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 322
Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II

A continuation of PHYSIC 321. Description of the phenomena of electricity and magnetism in mathematical terms, boundary value problems and boundary conditions, transmission lines, wave guides, radiation from a moving charge, and special relativity.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 321.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 331
Optics

An introductory treatment of the physics of light. Topics include geometrical optics, interference and diffraction of light, electromagnetic wave theory, polarization, propagation of light in dispersive media and crystals, optical instruments, holography, lasers.

Prerequisites: PHYSIC 114 and 182, or permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 350
Statistical Physics

Topics in heat, thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and elementary statistical mechanics.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 312 or permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 382
Intermediate Laboratory

Experiments in geometrical and physical optics, electronics, atomic physics, and nuclear physics. Individual program of experiments for each student according to his or her interests and previous experience.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 281 or permission of instructor.
1 Lect Hr, 4 Lab Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 391
Basic Electronics with Lab

A brief introduction to semiconductor physics, leading to physical characteristics of pn junction diodes, bipolar junction transistors, and field effect transistors. Circuit models for diodes, transistors and operational amplifiers and their use in practical circuits. Analysis of linear circuits based on application of circuit models of devices and circuit theory. (If not offered, students may substitute ENGIN 365.)

Prerequisites: PHYSIC 114, 182.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Lab Hrs, 4 Credits

PHYSIC 392
Digital Electronics with Lab

Concepts of digital measurements, counting, timing and switching, basic logic concepts, basic theorems in Boolean algebra, manipulation of logic statements, binary information gates, application of logic gates, flip-flops and multivibrators, counters, registers and readouts, and other combinational and sequential circuits. (If not offered, students may substitute ENGIN 241.)

Prerequisites: PHYSIC 114, 182.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Lab Hrs, 4 Credits

PHYSIC 421
Atomic Physics and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

The fundamental and elementary applications of quantum mechanics with emphasis on physical content rather than formalism. Elementary wave mechanics developed and applied to simple atomic structure. Topics include spectroscopic and other phenomena which form the experimental basis of modern atomic physics, the role of the Pauli principle and spin in determining periodic atomic properties, and radiation phenomena.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 312 or permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 422
Nuclear and Particle Physics

A continuation of PHYSIC 421. The basic properties of nuclei, particle scattering, radioactivity, nuclear stability, dynamics of nuclear reactions, potential well and barrier problems in quantum mechanics, and particles.

Prerequisite: PHYSIC 421.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 430
Introduction to Solid State Physics

An introductory treatment of the physics of solids. Includes crystal geometry, elastic vibrations, electronic states in solids, semiconductors, solid-state electronic devices.

Prerequisites: PHYSIC 350 and 421.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

PHYSIC 479
Readings in Physics I

Supervised individual study of special topics in physics that are not available in regular courses.

Prerequisites: Junior standing and approval of plan of study by supervising instructor and by department chairperson.
Hrs by arrangement, 1-3 Credits

PHYSIC 480
Readings in Physics II

See PHYSIC 479.

ENRPHY 481-482
Engineering Physics Advanced Projects Lab and Seminar

(See the “Engineering Physics” section of this publication.)

PHYSIC 487
Research in Physics I

Supervised research.

Prerequisite: Junior standing, and approval of plan of study by supervising instructor and department chairperson.
Hrs by arrangement, 1-3 Credits

Graduate Courses

Some graduate-level courses in physics are open to undergraduates. Please contact the department office for further information.