Physics Course Descriptions

Faculty | Minor | Physics Course Descriptions | Astronomy Course Descriptions
Other Departments

PHYS 101   Introduction to Physics   3 Credit Hours
Required of most freshmen majoring in physics.
An elementary course consisting of lectures on physics topics in their historical context from Galileo to the present. Covers fundamental techniques which are useful for learning this discipline. Class notes and library reading will be required.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 203 and PHYS 204   College Physics I and II  Each Semester   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite or corequisite for PHYS 203: PHYS 253
Prerequisite for PHYS 204: PHYS 203 and PHYS 253
Prerequisite or corequisite for PHYS 204: PHYS 254
This course presents physics in a manner suitable for students who do not have a strong background in mathematics. The course is designed primarily to help the non-scientist act in an informed way in today's technically oriented society. Topics covered in the two-semester course include mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 221 and PHYS 222   Physics with Calculus, I and II  Each Semester
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites for PHYS 221: MATH 131, MATH 107, or HONR 107 (May be taken concurrently with MATH 131 with permission of the head of the Department of Physics).
Prerequisite for PHYS 222: PHYS 221
Calculus-based introductory physics sequence designed to address the needs of students majoring in engineering and sciences. Kinematics, dynamics, electricity and magnetism, fluid statics and dynamics, thermodynamics and optics covered with no assumption of prior knowledge of physics.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 231, PHYS 232   Applications of Physics with Calculus, I and II  Each Semester
1 Credit Hour
Corequisite or prerequisite for PHYS 231: PHYS 221
Corequisite or prerequisite for PHYS 232: PHYS 222
Supplementary introductory physics course designed to address the needs of students majoring in sciences and preparing them for upper-division physics courses in mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism.
Lecture: one hour.

PHYS 253 and PHYS 254   Physics Laboratory for College Physics I and II
Each Semester   One Credit Hour
Prerequisite or corequisite for PHYS 253: PHYS 203
Prerequisite or corequisite for PHYS 254: PHYS 204
These laboratories are designed to correlate with the lecture material in PHYS 203 and PHYS 204, respectively. The experiments are designed to illustrate and emphasize the physical phenomena discussed in the corresponding lecture courses.
Laboratory reports stress writing to learn.
Laboratory: two hours.

PHYS 271, PHYS 272Laboratory for Physics with Calculus, I and II  Each Semester
1 Credit Hour
Corequisite for PHYS 271: PHYS 221
Corequisite for PHYS 272: PHYS 222.
The laboratories parallel and supplement the lecture material in PHYS 221 and PHYS 222, respectively. The laboratories utilize modern measuring equipment including computer interface experiments, oscilloscopes, spectroscopes, etc. PHYS 271 concentrates on the fundamental concepts of physics and their application to the study of material properties. PHYS 272 concentrates on the procedures and techniques used in the experimental laboratory. Emphasis is placed on proper experimental technique, error analysis, and technical report writing. Experiments represent all the areas of physics included in the lecture: measurement, statics, linear and rotational dynamics, wave phenomena, sound, light, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism and geometric optics.
Laboratory: two hours.

PHYS 301   Biological Physics   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 206 and PHYS 256 or PHYS 212 and PHYS 262; MATH 107 or MATH 132
The applications of physics to the processes occurring in living systems. Among the topics to be discussed will be bioenergetics, radiation, biophysics, sensory biophysics, and bioelectricity. Attention also will be given to biomedical instrumentation.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 307   Electronic Instrumentation    3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 206 and PHYS 256 or PHYS 212 and PHYS 262; MATH 107 or MATH 132
Corequisite: PHYS 357
Required of all physics juniors.
Brief review of DC and AC circuits. Introductions to theory and applications of solid-state diodes, transistors and other semiconductors, amplifiers, waveform generators, operational amplifiers, transducers, and digital electronics.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 308   Optics 3   Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 206 and PHYS 256 or PHYS 212 and PHYS 262; MATH 107 or MATH 132
Required of all physics juniors.
Principles of geometrical and physical optics presented with attention to engineering applications. Topics covered include geometrical imaging, a-b ray analysis, fiber optics, interferometry, thin film optical filters, and polarization. Matrix methods are applied to lens systems, thin films, and polarization.
Lecture: Three hours.

PHYS 315 and PHYS 316   Analytical Mechanics    3 Credit Hours
Each Semester
Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and PHYS 262; MATH 231
Required of all physics juniors.
Statics and dynamics of rigid bodies, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, collision kinematics, central-force motion, oscillating systems, introduction to relativity.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 320   Mathematical Physics   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 212 and PHYS 262; MATH 231
Required of all physics juniors.
Emphasis on mathematical methods of theoretical physics. Topics may include coordinate transformations, vector calculus techniques, special functions, definite integrals, approximations, numerical methods of data reduction, eigenvalue problems, boundary-value problems, representation theory, perturbation theory.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 323   Modern Physics   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 221 and PHYS 222.
Required of all physics majors and minors; open to others as an elective. A continuation of the 221/222 physics sequence.
The course material covers a selection of topics from twentieth century physics. It progresses from Maxwell equations, propagation of electromagnetic waves, and the wave theory of light to the elements of special relativity, early quantum theory of radiation, then to the principles of quantum mechanics. It discusses the fundamental experiments in modern physics and the principal discoveries in the area of atomic, solid state, nuclear and elementary-particle physics.
Lecture: three hours

PHYS 333   Applications of Modern Physics    1 Credit Hour
Corequisites or prerequisite: PHYS 323.
Supplementary introductory physics course designed to address the needs of students majoring in sciences and preparing them for upper-division physics courses in optics and quantum mechanics.
Lecture: one hour

PHYS 357   Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory    1 Credit Hour
Corequisite or prerequisite: PHYS 307
Required of all physics majors.
Laboratory parallels and supplements lecture material in PHYS 307.
Laboratory: two hours.

PHYS 358   Optics Laboratory   1 Credit Hour
Corequisite or prerequisite: PHYS 308
Required of all physics majors.
Laboratory parallels and supplements lecture material in PHYS 308.
Laboratory: two hours.

PHYS 373   Modern Physics Laboratory    1 Credit Hour
Prerequisites: PHYS 271 and PHYS 272.
Required of all physics majors and minors; open to others with the permissoin of the instructor. This lab concentrates on the role of the apparatus and technology in the experimental laboratory. Experiments include student versions of several fundamental experiments of modern physics.
Laboratory: two hours.

PHYS 403 and PHYS 404   Electricity and Magnetism Each Semester   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 212; MATH 231
Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 320
Required of all physics seniors.
The electrostatic field and its effect on matter, the properties of magnetic fields and magnetic materials, electromagnetic effects, vector potentials, displacement currents, Maxwell's equations, Lorentz force on particles, periodic currents.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 405 and PHYS 406   Quantum Mechanics Each Semester   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 308, PHYS 313, PHYS 316
Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 320
Required of all physics seniors.
An introductory course in quantum mechanics with emphasis on both physical principles and mathematical techniques. Stress is placed on understanding how quantum mechanics is used in explaining the behavior of physical systems.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 409   Intermediate Optics   3 Credit Hours
Corequisite or Prerequisite: PHYS 308 and MATH 232
This course is a continuation of Optics PHYS 308. It develops the Fourier analysis approach to physical optics. Topics covered include the optical transfer function, the wave theory of aberrations, spatial filtering, holography and applications, fiber optics, and nonlinear optics.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 410   Thermodynamics   3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHYS 206 and PHYS 256 or PHYS 212 and PHYS 262; MATH 107 or MATH 132
Required of all physics seniors.
Principles of thermodynamics presented with attention to engineering, chemical, and biological applications. First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics, especially as applied to closed hydrostatic systems and open steady-flow systems. Concepts of internal energy, heat flow, enthalpy, and entropy. Perfect gas processes. Carnot cycle for heat engines, heat pumps, refrigerators. Power output; mass flow equations; quality factor for mixed systems.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 415   Special Topics in Physics    3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Topics may vary by semester according to student interest and availability of instructor. The subject for a semester will be chosen from such topics as space physics, special relativity, and solid state physics.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 416   Advanced Topics in Physics    3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.
Similar to PHYS 415. The subject for a semester will be chosen from such advanced topics as group theory in quantum mechanics, magnetic resonance, and plasma physics.
Lecture: three hours.

PHYS 419   Research Planning   2 Credit Hour
Required of all physics seniors.
An outstanding recent development in physics is chosen by one or more students and studied intensively.
Lecture: one hour
Laboratory: two hours.

PHYS 420   Senior Research Project    3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: PHYS 419
Required of all physics seniors.
The project started in PHYS 419 (Research Planning) is completed to include a written thesis and an oral presentation.
Lecture: one hour.
Laboratory: four hours.

PHYS 451   Advanced Laboratory Physics    2 Credit Hours
Required of all physics seniors.
Experiments selected from famous fundamental measurements.
Laboratory: four hours.