Prerequisites

Take MATH-121 or MATH-134 or permission of Physics department chair;PHYS L111 taken concurrently

Course Credits

3.00

Description

Introduction to the fundamental principles of physics. Study of vectors, Newton's laws, rotations, rigid body statics and dynamics, simple harmonic motion, heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory. The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

PHYS 111 and Concurrently with PHYS L112

Course Credits

3.00

Description

Continuation of the fundamental principles of physics. Study of electric forces and fields, electric potential, DC circuits, electromagnetic induction, magnetic fields, AC circuits, introduction to optics, introduction to atomic, nuclear and particle physics.

Term Offered

Offered Spring Term

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

Take MATH-121 or MATH 165. PHYS L151 concurrently

Course Credits

3.00

Description

Introduction to the fundamental principles of physics using calculus. The course includes the study of vectors, Newtons laws, rotations, rigid body statics and dynamics, simple harmonic motion, heat and temperature.

Term Offered

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

PHYS 151, PHYS L152 concurrently

Course Credits

3.00

Description

This calculus based course begins with topics in kinetic theory and the laws of thermodynamics. It then covers electric charge and field, Gauss' law, electrical potential and capacitance, electric currents and DC circuits. Next magnetism, electromagnetic induction, Faraday's law and AC circuits are discussed. This is followed by Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, and properties of light.

Term Offered

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

Take MATH-121 or MATH-165;

Course Credits

4.00

Description

This calculus based course is the introduction of the topics of modern physics. It begins with special relativity, the Lorentz transformation, relativistic momentum and energy, addition of relativistic velocities, then covers early quantum theory, blackbody radiation, photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, photon interactions, pair production, and the Bohr theory of the atom. Then Schrodingers equation is introduced with use of wave functions, particle box, barrier penetration, quantum mechanical tunneling, the Pauli Exclusion principle, the development of the periodic table, and the x ray spectra. Development of solid state physics with bonding in molecules, band theory of solids and semiconductor behavior. The final topics cover nuclear physics, radioactivity, half-life, nuclear fission and fusion, medical uses of radiation, elementary particle physics and introduction to astrophysics.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: PHYS 151-152

Course Credits

4.00

Description

An introduction to the concepts and methods of astrophysics; including a history of astronomy from the ancients to Newton; light; telescopes; sun, earth, moon planets, comets, asteroids, meteors, space programs, science and technology in society. Astronomy of the cosmos; sun, stars, interstellar materials, galaxies, pulsars, quasars, black holes; nature of time relativity, cosmology.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

Chem 111-112 or Phys 111-112 Or Permisson of Instructor

Course Credits

4.00

Description

This course is designed as an introduction to nanotechnology and some of its important uses. It is aimed at science majors who have taken basic courses in physics or chemistry. The course will cover the properties and uses of carbon-nanotubes, nanocomposites, and other nanomaterials that are being fabricated in labs and industries around the world. It will serve as an introduction to the important role of nanomaterials in solving the modern-day energy problems.

Term Offered

Occasional

Prerequisites

Take ECE-225 and ECE-L225;

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Applications of specific mathematical methods to problems in physics. Topics include complex analysis, integral transforms, eigenvalue problems, partial differential equations and group theory.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

PHYS 152 ; MATH 265 which may be taken concurrently

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Newton's laws of motion, projectiles, momentum, energy, conservation laws, oscillations, Lagrange equations, generalized momenta, central forces, orbits.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

PHYS 361

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Mechanics in non-inertial frames, rotational motion of rigid bodies, coupled oscillations, nonlinear mechanics and chaos, Hamiltonian mechanics, collision theory, continuum mechanics.

Term Offered

Offered Spring Term

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: PHYS 361-362

Course Credits

2.00

Description

Astrophysical instrumentation. Astronomical observations. Reduction techniques.

Term Offered

Summer

Prerequisites

Senior Standing

Course Credits

4.00

Description

The senior project is the capstone research experience of the undergraduate Physics Major. This one semester course requires students to work one on one with faculty in an area of mutually agreed upon research. In general, the effort will involve the use of mathematical and programming skills, laboratory techniques, and possibly field work. The end result will be both a paper and a formal presentation to both faculty and students.

Term Offered

Offered Spring Term

Prerequisites

Course Credits

4.00

Description

The senior project is the capstone research experience of the undergraduate Astrophysics major. This one-semester course requires students to work one-on-one with faculty in an area of mutually agreed upon research. In general, the effort will involve use of mathematical and programming skills.

Term Offered

Offered Spring Term

Prerequisites

PHYS-153;

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Topics include atoms and elementary particles, atomic, molecular and nuclear systems. Quantum states and probability amplitude, wave mechanics and thermal properties of matter. Atomic spectra and structure, and molecular systems. Nuclear reactions, alpha and beta decay and high energy physics.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

PHYS 361 and PHYS 362.

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Non-relativistic study of particle systems, wave mechanical treatment, development of the concepts of observables, state vectors, operators and matrix representations. Hilbert space, angular momenta, coupling, symmetries, scattering, and perturbation theory. Harmonic oscillator and Hydrogen atom.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

PHYS 461, PHYS 361 and PHYS 362.

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Non-relativistic study of particle systems, wave mechanical treatment, development of the concepts of observables, state vectors, operators and matrix representations. Hilbert space, angular momenta, coupling, symmetries, scattering, and perturbation theory. Harmonic oscillator and Hydrogen atom.

Term Offered

Offered Spring Term

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: PHYS 463

Course Credits

4.00

Description

The Milky Way. Galactic astronomy. Galactic Dynamics.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: Computer Science Option, PHYS 463, PHYS 465

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Computers in astronomy. Astrophysical simulations. Multiple timescale numerical problems. Supercomputing.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

PHYS-362

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Electrostatic field energy, methods for solution of boundary value problems. The magnetostatic field and magnetic circuits. Electromagnetic field energy, plane waves, wave guides and cavity resonators. Interatction of charge particles with electromagnetic fields.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Prerequisites

Course Credits

4.00

Description

Directed reading, lectures, seminar and research in selected areas of special interest.

Term Offered

Occasional

Prerequisites

PHYS 111 concurrently

Course Credits

1.00

Description

Introduction to the fundamental principles of physics. Study of vectors, Newton's laws, rotations, rigid body statics and dynamics, simple harmonic motion, heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory. The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course. Error propagation, use of Excel, laboratory notebooks and formal reports required.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

PHYS 111 and PHYS L111; PHYS 112 must be taken concurrently

Course Credits

1.00

Description

Continuation of the fundamental principles of physics. Study of electric forces and fields, electric potential, DC circuits, electromagnetic induction, magnetic fields, AC circuits, introduction to optics, introduction to atomic, nuclear and particle physics. The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course. Error propagation, use of Excel, laboratory notebooks, and formal reports required.

Term Offered

Offered Spring Term

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

PHYS 151 concurrently

Course Credits

1.00

Description

The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course: measurements, propagation of errors, vectors, Newton's laws, work and energy, momentum, rotations, oscillations, simple harmonic motion, fluid. Knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, differentiation and integration required.

Term Offered

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

PHYS 151 and L151 and PHYS 152 must be taken concurrently

Course Credits

1.00

Description

The laboratory consists of experiments to illustrate the basic concepts studied in the course: heat, gas laws, electric forces, field, and potential, DC and AC circuits, magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, Faraday's law, optics. Calculus, algebra, trigonometry are required. Error propagation, use of Excel, laboratory notebooks, and formal reports required.

Term Offered

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Course Types

NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BA BFA & BSJ,NATURAL SCIENCE FOR BS

Prerequisites

PHYS 451 and PHYS 452 or equivalent.

Course Credits

2.00

Description

Classical and modern experiments in physics; Experiments may include Frank Hertz experiment, Hall effect, nuclear magnetic resonance, quantum dots, detection of muons, x-ray spectroscopy, ellipsometry, physics of timbre of musical instruments, data acquisition.

Term Offered

Offered Fall Term