Physics

PHYS 100. Conceptual Physics (4)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. An introduction to fundamental concepts in physics with  emphasis on devices and applications. Topics include motion,  energy, momentum, matter and waves as applied to one or more of the major subfields of physics. Fundamental knowledge of algebra recommended.

PHYS 104. Astronomy (3)
Three hours per week. A study of the behavior of astronomical systems. Topics include understanding observations made from a moving reference frame such as the earth, the development of modern astronomy, telescopes, the solar system, stars and stellar evolution, galaxies, cosmology and life in the universe.

PHYS 111. Principles of Physics I (4; F, Su)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. Co-requisite: MATH 110 or MATH 112. Measurement and error analysis. An algebra-based treatment of classical mechanics, including kinematics and dynamics of translational and rotational motion, oscillations, waves and fluids.

PHYS 112. Principles of Physics II (4; S, Su)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 111. An algebra-based treatment of electricity and magnetism, AC and DC circuits and geometrical optics.

PHYS 116. Astronomy Laboratory (1)
Three hours laboratory per week. Co-requisite: PHYS 104. Selected experiments in astronomy, optics, radiation, and orbital mechanics.

PHYS 125. Aviation Physics (4; F, S)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. Co-requisite: MATH 110 or MATH 112. This course will not serve as a prerequisite for PHYS 112 or PHYS 152. An algebra/trigonometry based treatment of principles of physics relevant to aviation science, including mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetism, with application to pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, and mechanical instrumentation and controls.

PHYS 150. General Physics: Waves, Optics & Modern Physics (4; F)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. Co-requisite: MATH 140. An introduction to wave phenomena and modern physics. Laboratory experiments are used as the basis for development of fundamental principles in wave phenomena, optics, the special theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.

PHYS 151. General Physics: Mechanics (4; F, S)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. Prerequisite: MATH 140. A calculus-based treatment of classical mechanics, including kinematics, dynamics of translational and rotational motion, and simple harmonic motion.

PHYS 152. General Physics: Electricity & Magnetism (4; F, S)
Six hours of integrated lecture/laboratory per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 151 and MATH 141. A calculus-based treatment of electricity and magnetism, including electrostatics, magnetic fields, Maxwell’s equations, AC and DC circuits, magnetic properties of matter and electromagnetic oscillations.

PHYS 199. Introduction to Special Topics in Physics (var. 1-4; AR)
This course may be offered on demand. Covers predetermined introductory special topics of student interest and physics significance.

PHYS 203.  Intermediate Modern Physics (4; S)
Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 152, MATH 300 and MATH 331. Relativistic mechanics, and an introduction to quantum mechanics with application to atomic and nuclear physics including the Bohr model and atomic structure.

PHYS 208. Optics (4; F)
Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 152. Geometrical optics, and an introduction to matrix techniques in ray optics. Dispersion and refraction effects. Theory and applications of optical instruments.

PHYS  305. Advanced Mechanics (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 151, MATH 300, and MATH 331. Co-requisite: MATH 351. Newtonian  mechanics of particles and mechanical systems. Linear and nonlinear oscillations. Minimization techniques as applied to physics. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Rigid body motion.

PHYS 310. Electromagnetic Theory I (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 152 and MATH 331. Co-requisite: MATH 351. Static electric fields and solution of electrostatic problems using vector analysis and differential equations. Electric currents and electrical properties of materials.

PHYS 311. Electromagnetic Theory II (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisite: “C” or better in PHYS 310 or consent of instructor. Static and time-varying magnetic fields. Magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell’s equations. Plane electromagnetic waves. Wave propagation in media, transmission lines, and wave guides.

PHYS 413. Quantum Mechanics (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisites: MATH 300, and MATH 331, and a “C” or better in PHYS 203 or consent of instructor. The Schrodinger equation. Wave packets and free particle motion. The linear harmonic oscillator. Constant potential in one dimension. Central forces and the hydrogen atom. Angular momentum. Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics.

PHYS 322. Thermodynamics (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 152, CHEM 104, MATH 300 and MATH 331. An introduction to the laws of thermodynamics, entropy, the ideal gas law and the statistical foundation of classical thermodynamics.

PHYS 331. Electro-Optics Laboratory (1)
Six hours per week. Selected experiments in electro-optics using techniques in optics and electronics to analyze in detail both electronic signals and optical waves. Instruments used include a high-powered laser, spectrum analyzer, spectrometer, and several electro-optic and fiber-optic devices. Fast Fourier Transform analysis accomplished on the microcomputer.

PHYS 332. Junior Lab (1 or 2)
Three to six hours per week. May be repeated for up to three credit hours if the included experiments are different. Selected experiments in thermodynamics, advanced optics, holography, mechanics, or modern physics.

PHYS 405. Advanced Topics (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. May be repeated for credit provided the content is different. The topics covered will vary and will depend upon the instructor teaching the course.

PHYS 410SI/WI. Physics Seminar I (1)
One hour per week. A speech and writing-intensive seminar about  recent problems in physics, and the history and philosophy of physics designed to enable students to communicate effectively in situations encountered by professionals in physics. Two oral presentations will be given in class: the first will be as a contributed talk at a professional meeting, and the second will be as an invited talk at a professional meeting. Each presentation will be accompanied by an abstract and a written report. Written critiques of class presentation will be required.

PHYS 425. Photonics (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisite: MATH 300 and MATH 331 or consent of instructor. The nature of light and the theory of its generation, transmission and detection. Optical modulators, fiber optics, electro-optics and selected topics in modern quantum optics.

PHYS 480WI/SI. Senior Project (var. 1-2; F, S)
Two hours per week. Prerequisite: any 300-level or above physics lecture course. May be repeated for up to four hours credit. A writing and speech intensive senior research project. The various forms of written communication will be practiced. The student is expected to conduct experimental or theoretical research under the guidance of the physics faculty. The student is required to submit a research paper (6,000 word minimum) and make an oral presentation of results as well as critique the work of others.

PHYS 495. Research Participation (var. 1-3; max. 3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be taken for credit more than once, but only three credit hours will be counted toward satisfying the departmental degree requirements. Student participation directed by a member of the sciences or engineering faculty.