1996-1997 Academic Catalog

Science and Mathematics MATH-490 Independent Study in Mathematics 1-4 hours Independent research in the various branches of mathematics and allied fields of application. Submission and approval of a research proposal must precede registration. Prerequisite: major in math– ematics and permission of research advisor. Physics PHYS-172 College Physics I-A 5 hours Basic concepts of mechanics, including kinematics, motion in two dimensions, force and motion, work and energy, momentum, circular motion, and gravitation. Four lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: high school trigonometry or GSCI-185 Precalculus or equivalent. (Fee: $35). (even years) PHYS-173 College Physics 11-W 5 hours Fluids, liquids and gases, heat and thermodynamics, waves, electricity and magnetism, and AC circuits. Four lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS-172 College Physics I or equivalent. (Fee: $35). (even years) PHYS-174 College Physics III-Sp 5 hours Geometrical and physical optics, relativity theory, quantum theory, and other topics from modern physics. Four lectures and one two– hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS-173 College Physics II or equivalent. (Fee: $35). (even years) PHYS-271 General Physics 1-A,Sp 5 hours Basic concepts of linear and rotational motion in three dimensions, oscillatory motion, gravitation, and fluid mechanics. Four lectures and one two-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: MATH- 281,282,283 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I,II,III. MATH-283 may be co-enrolled with permission of instructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-272 General Physics 11-A,W 5 homs Basic concepts of wave motion, thermodynamics and electricity, and magnetism. Four lectures and one two-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: MATH-281,282,283 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I,II,III; PHYS-271 General Physics I. (Fee: $35) PHYS-273 General Physics 111-W,Sp 5 hours Intermediate concepts in electricity and magnetism, light, optics, and a basic introduction to modern physics. Four lectures and one two-hour laboratory each week. Prerequisite: MATH-281,282,283 Analytical Geomehy and Calculus I,II,III; PHYS-272 General Physics II; permission of instructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-301,302 Intermediate Physics Lab I,11 2 hours each quarter Designed to reinforce concepts of the advanced physics courses and develop critical research and analysis skills. The Intermediate Laboratory sequence over two quarters provides experience in oscillatory motion and waves, intermediate mechanics, intermediate electricity, intermediate magnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. During the two-quarter sequence, laboratory skills for planning, setup, documentation, and analysis using the scientific method will be emphasized. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics III; permission of instructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-311 Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics 5 homs Derivation of the motion of a point object through three dimen– sional space. Topics include an advanced treatment of Newtonian mechanics in three dimensions, accelerated frames of reference, central forces, and an introduction to Lagrangian mechanics. Corequisite: MATH-387 Differential Equations. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics III. (odd years) PHYS-331 Thermal Physics 5 hours A study of the relationship between energy and matter through the use of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Topics include: heat, work, entropy, phase transformations, statistical distributions, and kinetic theory. Prerequisite: MATH-283 Analytic Geomehy and Calculus III. (odd years) PHYS-352 Electromagnetic Theory I 5 hours Electricity and magnetism from an advanced viewpoint using the methods of vector calculus. Includes electrostatics, Gauss' Law, circuit theory, introductory electronics, Poisson's equation, Laplace's equation, dielectric media, electric currents, magnetic fields. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics III; MATH-388 Advanced Calculus I. PHYS-378,379 Modern Physics I,II-A,W 5 homs each quarter An extension of basic concepts of modern physics learned in PHYS-271,272,273 General Physics I,II,III. Topics include structure of matter, electricity and light, kinetic theory, x-rays, nuclear reactions, atomic and nuclear structure, and radioactivity. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics. (even years) PHYS-401,402 Advanced Physics Lab I,II 2 hours each quarter Advanced laboratory experience designed to reinforce concepts of the advanced physics courses and to develop critical research design, documentation, analysis, and presentation skills. The Advanced Laboratory sequence over two quarters provides additional experi– ence in optical, radiation, wave, advanced mechanics, advanced electromagnetism, advanced thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. Laboratory skills for planning, setup, documentation, analysis, and briefing using the scientific method will be emphasized. Prerequisite: PHYS-302 Inte1mediate Physics Laboratory II; permission of instructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-451 Optics 5 homs An introduction to the study of classical and modern optics, including the electromagnetic basis of optics, geometric optics, interference, diffraction, dispersion, and holography. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics III; MATH-388 Advanced Calculus I. PHYS-452 Electromagnetic Theory II 5 hours A continuation of PHYS-352. Includes electromagnetic induction, magnetic properties of matter, magnetic energy, slowly varying currents, Maxwell's equations and their applications, and introduc– tory electrodynamics. Prerequisite: PHYS-352 Electromagnetic Theo1y I. PHYS-491 Mathematical Methods for Physicists 5 hours Advanced mathematical methods used in the solution of physics problems. Topics include curvilinear coordinates, vector analysis, and Fourier, Bessel, and Legendre solutions to partial differential equations. Prerequisite: PHYS-311 Theoretical Mechanics or PHYS-378 Modern Physics I; MATH-387 Differential Equations; MATH-388 Advanced Calculus I. PHYS-499 Topics in Physics 5 hours A study of topics of interest from modern and classical physics such as quantum theory, relativity, statistical mechanics, lasers, solid state physics, advanced classical mechanics and atmospheric physics. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics III; MATH-388 Advanced Calculus I. Prehea/th profession students gain excellent emergency 1/1edical experience by se111ing with the Emergency lvfedical Service.