PHYS 101     General Physics I (Lab)  (4)

An introduction to classical mechanics. Topics may include kinematics, Newton's Laws, energy and momentum conservation, torques, fluids, and wave motion.

PHYS 102     General Physics II (Lab)  (4)

A continuation of Physics 101. Topics include thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, circuits, optics, nuclear and atomic physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 101.

PHYS 103     Modern Mechanics (Lab)  (4)

An introduction to classical mechanics. Topics may include kinematics, Newton's Laws, energy and momentum conservation, torques, fluids, and wave motion. Open only to new first-year students. Prerequisite or Corequisite: MATH 101 or MATH 102 or MATH 207.

PHYS 104     Electric and Magnetic Interactions (Lab)  (4)

A continuation of PHYS 103. Topics include thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, circuits, optics, nuclear, and atomic physics. Open only to new first-year students. Prerequisite: PHYS 103 and (MATH 101 or MATH 102 or MATH 207).

PHYS 106     Foundations of Global Warming  (4)

A study of the physical principles and mechanisms underlying global warming. Influences of the sun, earth surface, atmosphere, and oceans are considered. Observational records that describe surface temperatures and changes in the gaseous atmosphere are examined. Also discussed are effects of global warming and possible future scenarios.

PHYS 120     The Science of Music  (4)

An introductory course on musical acoustics which includes the principles of sound production, propagation, and perception through inquiry-based methods. The ways in which different sounds are produced are explored through experimentation with both existing and student-constructed instruments (e.g., string, woodwind, brass, percussion). Modern digital music technologies and concepts are also introduced as well as issues related to room and concert hall acoustics. Open only to new first-year students and first-year students.

PHYS 201     Optics  (4)

A study of the fundamental principles of geometrical and physical optics with lasers and holography used extensively in the laboratory. Lecture, three hours.

PHYS 203     Electronics  (4)

Exploration of how classical electric and magnetic theories apply in action. Topics include electrostatics, electric and magnetic properties of materials, steady-state magnetism, and electromagnetic induction. Alternating and direct-current circuits with passive and active components are tested. Prerequisite: PHYS 102 or PHYS 104.

PHYS 204     Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II  (4)

Exploration of how classical electric and magnetic theories apply in action. Topics include electrostatics, electric and magnetic properties of materials, steady-state magnetism, and electromagnetic induction. Alternating and direct-current circuits with passive and active components are tested. Prerequisite: PHYS 203.

PHYS 207     Modern Physics  (4)

Description Surveys important developments in physics during the twentieth century, including general and special relativity, superconductivity, quantum theory and its applications to the description of the atomic and subatomic world. Prerequisite: (PHYS 102 or PHYS 104) and MATH 102.

PHYS 302     Thermodynamics  (4)

Thermodynamics, entropy, thermodynamic potentials, phase changes, chemical reactions, kinetic theory, distributions, phase space, transport phenomena, fluctuations; classical and quantum statistical mechanics, application to solids, radiation, superfluids, lasers, and astrophysics.

PHYS 303     Mechanics  (4)

This course provides a comprehensive coverage of foundational and advanced principles of classical mechanics. Topics may include Newton’s laws of motion, energy, momentum, oscillations, the central-force problem, rigid body motion, moving coordinate systems, and accelerated reference frames. Special focus is given to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics, providing students with powerful tools for describing and predicting the motion of physical systems. Prerequisite: PHYS 102 or PHYS 104.

PHYS 304     Theoretical Mechanics  (4)

Moving coordinate systems, rigid-body dynamics, Lagrangian mechanics, and variational principles. Prerequisite: PHYS 303.

PHYS 305     Advanced Laboratory  (4)

This course introduces the practice of experimental physics. Experimental topics can include spectroscopy from gamma energies into the infrared, NMR, visible and infrared optics, holography and diffractive optics, scanning electron microscopy, and advanced electronics with computer interfacing. Programming languages such as LabVIEW, MatLab, and Mathematica are used. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PHYS 203 or PHYS 206.

PHYS 312     Junior Seminar  (2)

A series of lectures by faculty, students, and invited speakers. Students present at least one talk on a topic of their choice in physics.

PHYS 350     Special Topics  (2 or 4)

A selection of topics are explored depending on interest. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic differs. Prerequisite: PHYS 207.

PHYS 401     Quantum Mechanics  (4)

The mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics is developed and applied to potential wells, the harmonic oscillator, and the hydrogen atom. Dirac notation is introduced and used in the description of angular momentum and electron spin. Prerequisite: PHYS 207.

PHYS 412     Senior Seminar  (2)

A series of lectures by faculty, students, and invited speakers. Students present at least one talk on a topic of their choice in physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 312.

PHYS 421     Advanced Electromagnetic Theory  (4)

Boundary-value problems in rectangular, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates are discussed. The solutions of the wave equation for conducting and non-conducting media are applied to selected topics in optics and plasma physics. Prerequisite: MATH 212 and PHYS 204.

PHYS 444     Independent Study  (2 or 4)

For selected students. Prerequisite: Instructor prerequisite override required.

PHYS 494     Mentored Research  (2 or 4)

Students engage in original research in physics under the mentorship of a faculty member. Students apply and integrate knowledge from their coursework while learning both specific laboratory techniques and practical problem-solving skills. Discussion of proper laboratory record-keeping, responsible conduct of research, presentation of research results, and laboratory safety are also emphasized. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic differs. Prerequisite: Instructor prerequisite override required.