Physics

Reflection, Refraction, Mirrors, Lenses; Interference and Diffraction; Light and our Atmosphere; Electromagnetic Radiation; Light Waves and Photons; Waves and Sound; Standing Waves; Music and Harmonics; Doppler Effect.

The Creation; What is Science?; Heliocentric System; Gravity on Earth; Newton's Laws; Gravity in the Universe; The Atom and Nucleus; Electromagnetic Forces; Strong Nuclear Force; Radioactivity; Elementary Particles; Standard Model; Anthropic Principle.

An examination of the underlying physical principles governing sports, with exploration of such questions as how curve balls curve, why golf balls have dimples, and why sailboats can sail almost directly into the wind.

Experiments to accompany MSE 2602.

Experiments to accompany MSE 2603.

Experiments to accompany MSE 2604.

Open only to incoming freshmen with declared science majors whose acceptance was conditional on completing a high school physics course prior to enrollment in their first semester of college. Assumes no physics background and emphasizes concepts as background for a first year of college physics.

Evolution of the descriptions given to Nature's laws, from determinism, to uncertainty, and recently to a unified and somewhat beautiful picture, extending from the components of the nucleus to the entire universe. Laboratory experience integrated with lecture.

Continuation of the first semester. Modern applications of the physical laws, with particular topics selected based on the student's interests. Ethical issues associated with the modern discoveries.

Mechanics, heat and sound. Recommended for Biology majors.

Selected experiments in mechanics, heat and sound. Recommended for Biology majors.

A continuation of PHY 1100; light, electricity and modern physics. Recommended for Biology majors.

Selected experiments in light and electricity. Recommended for Biology majors.

Historical and analytical survey of the concept of light from classical to modern view points. Open to VSB and Arts majors (fulfills Arts core science requirement when taken with PHY 1501).

A set of experiments in optics designed to complement the principles and ideas covered in PHY 1500, The Concept of Light lectures. Designed for VSB and Arts majors (fulfills Arts core science requirement).

Gravitational force and the laws governing the motion of objects; Newton and Einstein's theories; role in the evolution of the universe; interaction with other forces of nature. Non-calculus based. For VSB and Arts majors (fulfills Arts core science requirement when taken with PHY 1503).

A set of experiments on gravity and laws of motion designed to complement the principles and ideas covered in PHY 1502. Designed for VSB and Arts majors (fulfills Arts core science requirement).

Introduction to Mechanics. Designed for students in the College of Engineering.

Electrostatics, DC Circuits, magnetism, and AC circuits. Designed for students in the College of Engineering.

Selected experiments illustrating the principles of Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism. Designed for students in the College of Engineering.

Vectors, kinematics, and dynamics of particles, rigid bodies, and fluids. Recommended for Science majors.

Selected experiments demonstrating the fundamental principles of Mechanics and Waves with emphasis on techniques of measurements and data analysis. Recommended for Science majors.

Electrostatics, DC circuits, magnetism, and AC circuits. Recommended for Science majors.

Recommended for Science majors.

Heat, kinetic theory of gases, first and second laws of thermodynamics, wave motion acoustics, geometrical and physical optics. Recommended for Science majors.

Selected experiments in heat, waves and optics. Recommended for Science majors.

Special theory of relativity, atomic theory, quantum physics, the Schrodinger equation, solid-state physics, nuclear physics, elementary particles and cosmology. Recommended for Science majors.

Interference; Franck Hertz experiment; Photoelectric effect; Michelson interferometry; Millikan oil drop experiment; Electron Spin Resonance (ESR); Ferroelectricity; Superconductivity; Low Temperature physics experiments. Recommended for Science majors.

Vectors, kinematics, and dynamics of particles, rigid bodies, and fluids. Recommended for Physics and Astronomy Majors.

Selected experiments demonstrating the fundamental principles of Mechanics and Waves with emphasis on techniques of measurements and data analysis. Recommended for Physics and Astronomy Majors.

Electrostatics, DC circuits, magnetism, and AC circuits. Recommended for Physics and Astronomy Majors.

Selected Experiments in Electricity and Magnetism.

Computer applications, data analysis and presentation, algorithms and programming, numerical methods, and basic graphics for Physics and Astronomy majors. Prerequisite: Any Intro Physics course (may be taken concurrently).

Continuation of Computational Physics I.

Heat, kinetic theory of gases, first and second laws of thermodynamics, wave motion acoustics, geometrical and physical optics. Recommended for Science majors.

DC and AC analysis including network theorems, power, resonance, filters, bridge circuits, amplifiers, integrated circuits, active devices, digital logic circuits and applications.

Laboratory experiments are chosen to supplement the Physics 3310 lectures and to give experience with sophisticated electronic equipment.

Special theory of relativity, atomic theory, quantum physics, the Schrodinger equation, solid-state physics, nuclear physics, elementary particles and cosmology. Recommended for Science majors.

Electrostatics, Coulomb's and Gauss' Laws, Maxwell's first two equations, Laplace's equation and boundary value problems, dielectrics, currents in conductors.

Selected experiments in the field.

Magnetism, Biot-Savart's law, Faraday's law, Maxwell's third and fourth equations, electromagnetic wave equation, radiation.

Selected experiments in the field.

Newtonian Mechanics, oscillations (simple, non-linear and driven), Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, central force motion and scattering, special theory of relativity.

Dynamics of rigid bodies, coupled oscillations, wave phenomena, fluid mechanics (steady and turbulent flow, the equations of Euler and Navier-Stokes).

Vector and tensor analysis, matrices and determinants, infinite series, functions of a complex variable.

A continuation of PHY 4200; second order differential equations, orthogonal functions, integral transforms, integral equations.

Introduction to experimental methods in Physics. Applications of spectroscopic techniques in nuclear, solid-state, and materials Physic. Detection of particle and electromagnetic radiation, signal processing, spectral analysis and interpretation.

Introduction to experimental methods in Physics continued: X-Ray and Mossbauer Spectroscopy; interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter; resonant versus non-resonant scattering cross-sections; hyperfine interactions in solids, crystal field splittings and dynamic magnetic relaxation phenomena in nonoscale systems; introduction to nanotechnology. Course is Writing Intensive.

Introduction to advanced experimental physics.

Continuation of Experimental Physics I

Operators, Schrodinger Equation, one dimensional problems, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, scattering theory.

A continuation of Quantum Mechanics.

Statistical methods, statistical thermodynamics, Ensembles, Partition functions. Quantum statistics. Kinetic theory of transport processes.

Structure of subatomic particles and nuclei, symmetries and conservation laws, interactions and nuclear models, radioactivity and passage of radiation through matter. A writing intensive course.

Description of crystal structure, diffraction of X-rays, classification of solids, thermal properties of solids, dielectric properties, diamagnetism and paramagnetism, free electron theory of metals, band theory of solids.

A continuation of PHY 5500. Brillouin zones. Band structure of solids. Semiconductor crystals, rectifiers and transistors. Ferromagnetism. Superconductivity. Applications.

Techniques and instrumentation of advanced experiments.

A continuation of PHY 5701.

Lagrange, Hamilton and Hamilton-Jacobi forms of mechanics.

An introduction to independent research in Physics.

A continuation of Research Experience I.

A continuation of Research Experience I.

Abstract formulation of quantum mechanics, perturbation and variational methods; applications to atomic and molecular structures.

Topics in geometrical and physical optics.

Transmission, reflection, refraction, absorption and generation of sound waves, acoustical measurements.

Introduction to Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Differential geometry, equivalence principle, geodesics, and the Einstein equations. Applications to black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology.

Introduction to Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, Newtonian Gravitational and Tidal Forces. Linear Field Approximation. Gravitational Waves. Space-Time Measurements. Riemannian Geometry. Schwarzchild Solution. Black Holes and Gravitational Collapse. Cosmology.

Reading and/or laboratory work in a selected branch of physics under the direction of a member of the staff. Restricted to the Permission of the Instructor.

Reading and/or laboratory work in a selected branch of physics under the direction of a member of the staff.

Same as PHY 6500 with increased number of hours.

Lecture course in an area of Physics. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.