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Physics: Major (PHYS)
PHYS-2110 General Physics I
–Fa, Sp
4 hours
Basic concepts of mechanics using calculus. This is the
first of a three-course sequence intended for students in the
physical sciences and engineering programs. Topics include
linear and rotational motion in three dimensions, oscillatory
motion, gravitation, fluid mechanics, and basic concepts of wave
motion. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: MATH-1710 Calculus I; Corequisite: MATH-1720
Calculus II.
(Fee: $100)
PHYS-2120 General Physics II
–Fa, Sp
4 hours
Basic concepts of electricity and magnetism, light, and optics
using calculus. This is the second of a three-course sequence
intended for students in the physical sciences and engineering
programs. Topics include electricity, magnetism, Maxwell’s
equations, DC and AC circuits, geometrical and physical
optics. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: MATH-1720 Calculus II; PHYS-2110 General
Physics I.
(Fee: $100)
PHYS-2130 General Physics III
–Fa
2 hours
Basic concepts of thermodynamics and modern physics using
calculus. This is the third of a three-course sequence intended for
students in the physical sciences programs. Topics include heat
and thermodynamics, relativity theory, quantum theory, atomic
and nuclear physics.
Prerequisites: MATH-1720 Calculus II; PHYS-
2120 General Physics II; PHYS-2120 may be co-enrolled with
permission of instructor.
PHYS-3110 Intermediate Physics Laboratory
–Fa
2 hours
Designed to reinforce concepts of the advanced physics
courses and develop critical research and analysis skills.
This course provides laboratory experience in such topics
as oscillatory motion and waves, mechanics, electricity and
magnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. During
this semester the student will develop their prospectus for their
advanced laboratory project. Laboratory skills for planning, setup,
documentation, and analysis using the scientific method will
be emphasized.
Prerequisite: 3 hours of a 3000- or 4000-level
physics course.
(Fee: $100)
PHYS-3310 Theoretical Mechanics I
–Sp
3 hours
Derivation of the motion of a point object through three-
dimensional space. Topics include an advanced treatment
of Newtonian mechanics in three dimensions, oscillatory
motion, accelerated frames of reference, central forces, and an
introduction to Lagrangian mechanics.
Prerequisites: PHYS-2120
General Physics II; MATH-2740 Differential Equations; MATH-2740
may be co-enrolled with permission of instructor.
(even years)
PHYS-3330 Acoustics
–Fa
3 hours
This course will study the generation, transmission and
reception of sound. Topics include wave propagation through the
air, resonance conditions for strings, bars, membranes and air
cavities, acoustic filters, measurement and human perception of
sound. Applications will be made to musical instruments, room
acoustics, microphones, and speakers.
Prerequisites: MATH-2710
Differential Equations; PHYS-2110 General Physics I.
(even years)
PHYS-3350 Thermal Physics
–Sp
3 hours
Study of the relationship between energy and matter through
the use of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Topics
include the laws of thermodynamics, heat, work, entropy, phase
transformations, statistical distributions, and kinetic theory.
Prerequisite: PHYS-2130 General Physics III.
(odd years)
PHYS-3410 Electromagnetic Theory I
–Fa
3 hours
Electricity and magnetism from an advanced viewpoint using
the methods of vector calculus. Includes electrostatics, Gauss’
Law, Poisson’s equation, Laplace’s equation, dielectric media,
electric currents, and magnetostatics.
Prerequisites: PHYS-2120
General Physics II; MATH-2710 Calculus III.
(odd years)
PHYS-3510 Modern Physics
–Sp
3 hours
Introduction to relativity theory, quantum theory, including
Schrodinger’s Equation, and its basic applications, and atomic
structure.
Prerequisite: PHYS-2130 General Physics III.
PHYS-3800 Research Methods in Physics
–Sp
1 hour
Reinforces concepts of the advanced physics courses and
develops critical research and analysis skills. This course will
focus on basic library, research, and laboratory skills for planning,
setup, documentation, and analysis using the scientific method.
Selected software will be introduced and used to collect data,
analyze results, and document findings. There will be several
laboratory sessions with experiments selected from oscillatory
motion and waves, intermediate mechanics, intermediate
electricity, intermediate magnetism, thermodynamics, or quantum
mechanics.
Prerequisite: PHYS-2130 General Physics III.
(Fee:
$50)
PHYS-4110 Advanced Physics Laboratory
–Sp
2 hours
The advanced laboratory experience is designed to
reinforce concepts of the advanced physics courses and to
develop critical research design, documentation, analysis, and
presentation skills. The advanced laboratory provides additional
experience in optical, radiation, wave, advanced mechanics,
advanced electromagnetism, advanced thermodynamics, and
quantum mechanics. During this semester the students will be
conducting their advanced laboratory project, collecting data,
and documenting results. Laboratory skills for planning, setup,
documentation, analysis, and briefing using the scientific method
will be emphasized.
Prerequisite: PHYS-3110 Intermediate Physics
Lab.
(Fee: $100)
PHYS-4210 Mathematical Methods for Physicists
–Fa
3 hours
Advanced mathematical methods used in the solution of
physics problems. Topics include curvilinear coordinates, vector
analysis, and solutions to partial differential equations using
Fourier, Bessel and Legendre functions.
Prerequisites: MATH-2710
Calculus III; MATH-2740 Differential Equations; 3 hours of a 3000
or 4000-level physics course
. (odd years)
PHYS-4310 Theoretical Mechanics II
3 hours
Principles of mechanics applied to systems of particles. Topics
include rigid body motion, Hamilton’s equations, continuous media
and nonlinear oscillators.
Prerequisites: PHYS-3310 Theoretical
Mechanics I.
PHYS-4410 Electromagnetic Theory II
3 hours
Continuation of PHYS-3410. Includes magnetic properties
of matter, electromagnetic induction, magnetic energy, slowly
varying currents, Maxwell’s equations and their applications,
and introductory electrodynamics.
Prerequisite: PHYS-3410
Electromagnetic Theory I.
PHYS-4450 Optics
3 hours
Introduction to the study of classical and modern optics,
including geometric optics, wave optics, and quantum optics.
Topics include thin lenses, thick lenses and systems of lenses,
mirrors, aberrations, lens design, interference, coherence,
diffraction, polarization, and holography.
Prerequisites: PHYS-2120
General Physics II; MATH-2710 Calculus III.
PHYS-4520 Quantum Mechanics I
–Fa
3 hours
An introduction to the principles and theory of quantum
mechanics including: the wave function, the time-independent
Schrodinger’s Equation, mathematical formalism of quantum
mechanics, quantum mechanics in three dimensions, and systems
of identical particles.
Prerequisite: PHYS-3510 Modern Physics.
(even years)
2017–18 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
Page
293
Course Descriptions
PHYS-2110 – PHYS-4520
SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS