1998-1999 Academic Catalog

School of Engineering, Nursing, and Science 18 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 trigonomet1y, or GSCI-185 Precalculus, or equivalent. (Fee: $35) (even years) PHYS-173 College Physics II-W 5 hours Fluids, liquids and gases, heat and thermodynamics, waves, electric– ity 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 HI-Sp 5 hours Geometrical and physical optics, relativity theory, quantum theo1y, 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 Geneml Physics I-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 Geomet1y and Calculus I, II, Ill. MATH-283 may be coenrolled with permission ofinstructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-272 General Physics II-A,W 5 hours Basic concepts of wave motion, thermodynamics and electricity, and magnetism. Four lectures and one two-hour laborat01y per week. Prerequisite: MATH-281,282,283 Analytic Geomet1)' and Calculus I,Il,JII; PHYS-271 General Physics I. (Fee: $35) PHYS-273 General Physics III-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 laborato1y per week. Prerequisite: MATH-281,282,283 Analyti– cal GeometJ)' and Calculus I, II, III; PHYS-272 General Physics II; permission of instructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-301,302 Intermediate Physics Lab I,II 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 oscillato1y 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 hours Derivation of the motion of a point object through three dimensional space. Topics include an advanced treatment of Newtonian mechanics in three dimensions, accelerated frames of reference, central forces, and an introduction to Lagrangian mechanics. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics III. Corequisite: MATH-387 Differential Eq11atio11s. (odd years) PHYS-331 Thermal Physics 5 hours 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 theo1y. Prerequisite: PHYS-273 General Physics 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. Prereq11i– site: PHYS-273 General Physics Ill; MATH-388 Advanced Calculus I. PHYS-378,379 Modem Physics I,II-A,W 5 hours each quarter 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 experience in optical, radiation, wave, advanced mechanics, advanced electromag· netism, advanced thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. Laboratory skills for planning, setup, documentation, analysis, and briefing using the scientific niethod will be emphasized. Prerequisite: PHYS-302 Intermediate Physics LaboratOI)' II and permission of instructor. (Fee: $35) PHYS-451 Optics 5 hours 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 Calcul11s I. PHYS-452 Electromagnetic Theory II 5 hours 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 p1:oblems. Topics include curvilinear coordinates, vector analysis, and Fourier, Bessel, and Legendre solutions to partial differential equations. Prerequisite: PHYS-311 Theoretical Mechanics or PHYS- 378 Modem Physics I; MATH-387 Differential Equations; MATH- 388 Advanced Calculus I. PHYS-499 Topics in Physics 5 hours 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 Ill; MATH-388 Advanced Calculus I. Students learn how to exercise stewardship of creation and its Creator with the goal of making a difference in their chosen vocation.