2004-2005 Academic Catalog

Science and Mathematics School of Engineering, Nursing, and Science 185 PHYS- 2120 General Physics II – Fa,Sp 4 hours Basic concepts of electricity and magnetism, light, and 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 –Sp 2 hours Basic concepts of heat and thermodynamics and a basic introduction to modern physics, including introductory concepts of relativity and quantum theory. 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 –Sp 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 his/her prospectus for his/her 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 –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-3350 Thermal Physics –Fa 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 I –Fa 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. (even years) PHYS-3800 Research Methods in Physics –Fa 1 hour Designed to reinforce concepts of the advanced physics courses and develop 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 –Fa 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. (even years) PHYS-4410 Electromagnetic Theory II –Sp 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. (odd years) PHYS-4450 Optics –Sp 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. (odd years) PHYS-4510 Modern Physics II –Sp 3 hours Introduction to statistical physics, solid state, superconductivity, nuclear structure, kinetic theory, nuclear physics applications, and particle physics. Prerequisite: PHYS-3510 Modern Physics I. (even years) PHYS-4800 Senior Seminar–Physics –Sp 1 hour A presentation of the basic principles of the major disciplines of the sciences with a focus on the inter-relationships of the science disciplines to each other. Students present a paper from library or laboratory research in their areaof physicswitha focus on integration. Each student must obtain approval of the topic from his/her advisor and seminar instructor and must set the date of presentation before enrolling in the course. Material for this course is an outgrowth of a topic chosen by the student in PHYS-4110 Advanced Physics Lab. A paper and oral presentation are required, that include the background, setup, data collection, analysis, and conclusions from his/her research. Guest lecturers and faculty members may present papers at the invitation of the instructor. Prerequisite: PHYS-4110 Advanced Physics Lab; permission of instructor. PHYS-4880 Topics in Physics 1-3 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. Prerequisites: PHYS-2130 General Physics III; MATH-2710 Calculus III. PHYS-4900 Independent Study in Physics 1-3 hours Independent research in the various branches of physics and allied fields of application. Submission and approval of a research proposal must precede registration. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (Fee: $25/hour)