PHYS - Physics

Prerequisite: Level III placement on the Basic Math Skills Inventory or MATH 120. Credit by exam. An introduction to the principles of physics: kinematics, mechanics, rotational motion, mechanical waves, sound and thermodynamics; the development of physical laws; application to practical problems.

Prerequisite: PHYS 101. Credit by exam. A continuation of PHYS 101. Wave motion, electricity, magnetism, static and time varying fields, light and optical phenomena, lenses; application to practical problems.

Prerequisite: MATH 201 or concurrent enrollment in MATH 201. Credit by exam. Open to students who have not had PHYS 101. Topics essentially identical to those in PHYS 101, although this is a more analytical course that is primarily for majors in the sciences and mathematics. Physical laws and theories developed by application of calculus. Designed to prepare students for advanced work in the physical sciences.

Prerequisites: PHYS 203 and MATH 202, or concurrent enrollment in MATH 202. Credit by exam. Open to students who have not had PHYS 102. Continuation of PHYS 203. Topics essentially identical to those in PHYS 102, but continuing the analytical approach and use of calculus.

Prerequisites: PHYS 101, PHYS 102 or PHYS 203, PHYS 204 and MATH 201, MATH 202. A study of selected topics from atomic theories of matter, atomic spectra, special relativity, solid state and nuclear physics.

Prerequisites: PHYS 204. Analog and digital circuits including diodes, transistors, mathematical circuit analysis, operational amplifiers, digital logic gates, flip-flops, registers, counters, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and development of the central processing unit (CPU).

Prerequisite: PHYS 203. An introduction to the literature in the physical sciences. Database searches and journal article critiques will allow students to develop an understanding of the chemical, biochemical, and physics literature, which can then be applied in their future coursework.

Prerequisites: PHYS 101, PHYS 102 or PHYS 203, PHYS 204, and MATH 201, MATH 202. A mathematical study of statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies including work and energy, stability of equilibrium, motion under the action of a central force, fixed axis rotation and oscillatory motion.

Prerequisites: PHYS 101, PHYS 102 or PHYS 203, PHYS 204 and MATH 201, MATH 202. Topics chosen from among electrostatics, Gauss’ law, dielectrics, steady current, magnetic field of a current, motion of a charge in a magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell’s equations, magnetic material, Poynting vector and electromagnetic radiation.

Prerequisites: PHYS 204. Geometrical and wave optics including interference, diffraction, polarization, scattering, and other phenomena of light; optical spectroscopy. Lab activities will include classic optics experiments and introduction to lasers, photon scattering, and Fourier optics.

May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits. An opportunity for qualified students to assist in PHYS 101, PHYS 102, PHYS 203 and/or PHYS 204 by tutoring students, correcting problem sets and/or helping set up equipment for the laboratory in these courses. Assistants work under the supervision of the physics faculty and are selected by the department. Grading is on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Prerequisites: PHYS 222 An introduction to medium energy (nuclear) and high energy (particle) physics. Discussion of the nuclear model, nucleon-nucleon forces, the Standard model, quarks, leptons, and bosons. Fenyman diagrams, symmetry and conservation laws.

Prerequisites: PHYS 222. The course provides an opportunity for making measurements with complex physics equipment to learn both classical and modern physics experiments. The student will gain practice in communicating results in both written and oral formats.

Prerequisites: 6 credits of 200-level coursework in physics, and permission of the department. Independent study, reading and problems in a selected field of physics.

An upper-level special topics course offered at the discretion of the department. The content and methods vary with the interest of students and faculty members

Prerequisites: PHYS 351. Introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular structure and spectroscopy.

Prerequisite: PHYS 431. A continuation of PHYS 431. A study of statistical methods, thermodynamics and kinetics.

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 431 or permission of the instructor. Investigation of atomic and molecular structure and spectroscopy in a series of laboratory experiments and computer-based exercises.

Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 432 or permission of the instructor. Principles of statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and kinetics are investigated in a series of experiments and computer-based simulations.